Fireface 802 is RME's new high-end FireWire/USB audio interface and the evolution of the Fireface 800. For the past 10 years the Fireface 800 has been one of the leading interfaces in the professional audio market. It is known for its good sound performance and its low-latency operation. In those 10 years RME has never stopped developing new products, such as the Fireface UC, the first professional USB audio interface, followed by the Fireface UFX and UCX, both offering FireWire and USB connections for maximum flexibility.
The time had come to redesign the Fireface 800 and update it with the latest technologies and innovations, already present in other, more recent RME interfaces, but without losing the soul of the original Fireface. The Fireface 802 does exactly this, keeping some features of the original model that users liked while adding the sophisticated features you would expect from an audio interface today. Like the original model, the heart of the Fireface 802 is four fully analog mic preamps with manual gain settings. While digitally controlled preamps have certain advantages, the classic technology is still preferred by many users for various reasons, such as immediate access, faster setup, or the possible loss of settings due to operating system errors.
The four front-panel inputs use combo XLR/TRS connectors and can work as instrument inputs for guitars and the like for direct recording. Fireface 802 includes two headphone outputs instead of one on the front panel. Aside from this, the rest of the design elements on the front are very similar to those of the original Fireface 800, but with a new cleaner, more modern-looking chassis.
Inside the unit, SteadyClock digital clock technology maintains ideal sound quality regardless of the clock source, while the rest of the components have been redesigned and improved, such as the latest-generation AD/DA converters with a better signal-to-noise ratio, per-channel reference level control, 2 additional analog input and output channels, and support for Advanced Remote Control. FireWire 800 port support has been dropped in favor of the new USB 2 port, since there is no performance improvement compared with the FireWire 400 port, which is still retained. To make connecting to modern computers easier, the Fireface 802 includes 6-pin and 9-pin connectors.
Total Mix FX and 60 Channels
With the latest version of TotalMix FX, the Fireface 802 not only enters the world of mixing, monitoring and effects like the Fireface UCX and Fireface UFX, but also adds Class Compliant compatibility, removing the need to install specific drivers, so it can be connected to devices such as Apple's iPad and be fully controlled from the TotalMix FX for iPad app.
Fireface 802 combines 60 channels of low-latency conversion over FireWire or USB thanks to the legendary stability of RME's drivers. It includes active jitter suppression, support for professional reference levels and fully standalone operation. Equipped with the latest A/D and D/A converter chips, all inputs and outputs can run at 192 kHz and reach a dynamic range of 118 dBA on playback, even on the headphone outputs. The high-power technology delivers high volume regardless of the impedance of the headphones in use.
TotalMix FX offers a high-end digital mixer and signal router managed through two powerful DSPs with built-in effects and integrated monitoring control. Each input and output channel includes a feature set comparable to a large-format digital console. The effects include 3-band parametric EQ, high-pass filter, auto level, compressor, expander, MS processing and phase reverse. Echo and reverb effect units are available on all channels. The Fireface 802 offers all these effects even when running at 192 kHz. TotalMix FX is also an ideal monitor controller with built-in talkback functions and much more. Control room features are available in the software or via the Advanced Remote Control. Flexible management lets you assign any physical output as a main or headphone output. Talkback, Listenback, Mono, Dim and the external output will work automatically on the assigned outputs.
The Fireface 802 outdoes its predecessor as a highly integrated professional audio solution, a complete studio housed in a 19" rack unit with the look that made the Fireface 800 famous but with RME's latest technology inside, which continues to help musicians and producers around the world. Fireface 802 makes no concessions on sound quality, stability and low-latency operation and offers professional features whether you work on a Mac or on Windows.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- 30 input channels/30 output channels
12 analog I/O
4 mic/instrument preamps with classic technology
1 AES/EBU I/O
FireWire and USB 2.0 operation
TotalMix FX
2 ADAT I/O (or 1 ADAT I/O + 1 optical S/PDIF I/O)
1 Word Clock I/O
1 MIDI I/O
