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The most flexible interface on the market
The Fireface UFX III packs a host of powerful connections that enable seamless audio performance and recording. On the front panel, there are four high-quality XLR/TRS combo inputs, two stereo headphone jacks with +19 dBu output level, MIDI I/O, and a USB 3 port - allowing independent recording of up to 80 channels (with the DURec function). At the back of the unit are two optical ADAT I/Os, an AES/EBU I/O, eight balanced analog outputs with line level (including XLR stereo monitor outputs), another MIDI I/O, and an optical MADI interface (SC) with 64 bidirectional channels. An additional Word Clock connection is also available via BNC connectors for use as coaxial MADI input or output.
Expand your system with ease
The flagship Fireface UFX III boasts comprehensive connectivity to ensure you can integrate your interface into any recording, mixing or live situation you'll face. Expanding your analog channel capabilities, MADI is employed on the rear of the interface, enabling you to connect, route and mix channels through the digital domain for more flexibility than ever before. Multiple external MADI devices can also be connected in series.
The Fireface UFX III comes equipped with some of RME's hallmark features to further improve MADI flexibility. For instance, even when in USB 2 mode (which only supports up to 30 channels I/O), MADI I/O is still accessible through RME's integrated hardware mixer TotalMix FX. Additionally, the Word Clock I/O (BNC) can also be converted to MADI I/O (coaxial). The device even offers a specialized "split mode" that allows for the simultaneous utilization of both MADI I/Os - with 32 channels on optical and coaxial for each.
The complete mixing and monitoring solution
Included with Fireface UFX III is TotalMix FX DSP, offering comprehensive routing and monitoring options. Encompassing everything you need to balance, pan and sculpt a mix, TotalMix FX comes with EQ, dynamics processing, reverb and delay, all with latency-free monitoring in main monitors or headphone outputs! This can all be analysed with the included DIGICheck Analyzer, allowing you to measure data in both directions in real time with maximum precision. Ideal for keeping an eye on output levels to avoid clipping or for checking your frequency balance.
TotalMix Remote is an external controller designed to manage the hardware mixer and effects featured in RME audio interfaces through TotalMix FX. With TotalMix Remote, users can access and control the entire mixing console's state, routing, FX settings, level meters, and more in real time on both iPad and Windows/Mac computers. Whether at a distance or nearby, TotalMix Remote allows users to easily adjust and customize all mixer and FX settings via Ethernet and WiFi.
DC-Coupled outlets
Where other interfaces feature AC-coupled outputs, capacitors are used to filter extremely low frequencies. This can have an adverse on the output for your interface and cause unwanted artefacts in the subfrequencies. Fireface UFX III has been designed with DC-coupled outlets, allowing you to send CV or gate information to DC-enabled input devices such as synthesizers, modular equipment or other studio hardware, all without interfering with the sound quality of your outputs.
USB-3 Class Compliant Performance
The Fireface UFX III is equipped with two distinct modes of operation to suit different needs: driver-based USB 3 and Class Compliant. As a widely adopted standard natively supported by popular operating systems like those from Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux distributions, Class Compliant mode requires no proprietary drivers and can be directly recognized once the CC firmware is loaded. This makes for a seamless integration experience without any additional installations or downloads required.
What's more, the Fireface UFX III stands out as RME's first audio interface with full USB 3.0 support in Class Compliant mode. This unlocks access to all channels for driverless operation on Linux, Mac, and even iPadOS when connected to an iPad Pro via USB C. With recording and playback capabilities of up to 94 channels through TotalMix FX for iPad and system-level access, the Fireface UFX III provides musicians and producers with unparalleled flexibility and functionality. Choose the Fireface UFX III for a hassle-free experience and exceptional performance in Class Compliant mode.
Direct USB Recording with DURec
Integrated into all inputs and outputs, Fireface UFC III enables the user to record directly to a thumb drive or hard drive via the onboard front-mounted USB port. Independent from your computer, the internal processing powers the data transfer to ensure the highest-speed transfers with immaculate stability to ensure your files are not tarnished. Transforming your interface into a dedicated recording device, DURec USB recording is perfect for live recordings on stage or for recording rehearsals or jam sessions.
Features
- 188-Channel, 24-bit / 192kHz AD/DA converter
- DURec (Direct USB Recording)
- Reference-class digital clocking with SteadyClock FS, delivering excellent performance across all clock modes, effectively eliminating jitter
- MADI I/O (64 channels)
- TotalMix FX features impeccable routing and mixing capabilities for superior studio and live workflow and quality
- Includes RME's Digicheck, a secret weapon of high-resolution audio measurements
- Built-in DSP
- +48V phantom power
- TFT display
- AKM chips (AK5574 AD / AK4490 DA converters)
- DC-coupled analogue outputs
- Lock keys
- Remap keys
- USB 3 Class Compliant mode delivers the lowest latency and industry-leading stability
Specifications
Analog:- AD, Line In 1-8, rear:
- Input: 6.3 mm TRS, electronically balanced
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ LoGain: 116 dB (AES17), 118 dBA
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ +4 dBu: 115 dB (AES17), 117 dBA
- Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.1 dB: 8.9 Hz – 20.4 kHz
- Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 4.3 Hz – 45.2 kHz
- Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 3 Hz – 89 kHz
- Filter: Short Delay Sharp, 5 / 5 / 6 samples delay
- THD @ -1 dBFS: < -120 dB, < 0.0001
- THD+N @ -1 dBFS: < -110 dB, < 0.00032
- Channel separation: > 110 dB
- Maximum input level: +19 dBu
- Input: 6.3 mm TRS jack, electronically balanced
- Input impedance @ 1 kHz: 10 kOhm unbalanced, 10.6 kOhm balanced
- Input sensitivity: switchable between Lo Gain and +4 dBu
- Input level for 0 dBFS @ Lo Gain: +19 dBu
- Input level for 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +13 dBu
- Variable digital gain: 0 to +12 dB
- Minimum level for 0 dBFS: +1 dBu, -1.2 dBV
- Microphone In 9-12, front:
- Input: XLR, electronically balanced
- Input impedance @ 1 kHz: 3.4 kOhm
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ 0 dB Gain: 117 dB (AES17), 119.5 dBA
- THD+N @ -1 dBFS, Gain 20 dB: < -110 dB, < 0.00032
- Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.1 dB: 10.7 Hz – 20.3 kHz
- Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5.1 Hz – 45.0 kHz
- Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 3.5 Hz – 88 kHz
- EIN @ 60 dB Gain, 150 Ohm, A-Weighted: -129.8 dBu
- Gain range: 75 dB
- Maximum input level, Gain 0 dB: +18 dBu
- Maximum input level, Gain 75 dB: -57 dBu
- CLIP LED: 0 dBFS
- SIG LED: -60 dBFS
- Instrument In 9-12, front:
- Input: 6.3 mm TS jack, unbalanced
- Input impedance @ 1 kHz: 1 MOhm
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 116 dB (AES17), 118.5 dBA
- Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 2.4 Hz – 20.0 kHz
- Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -1 dB: 1.6 Hz – 28 kHz
- Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -3 dB: 0.8 Hz – 54 kHz
- THD+N @ -1 dBFS, Gain 20 dB: < -107 dB, < 0.00045
- Gain range: 42 dB
- Maximum input level, Gain 8 dB: +21 dBu
- Maximum input level, Gain 50 dB: -21 dBu
- DA Line Out 3-8, rear:
- Output: 6.3 mm TRS jack, servo-balanced
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ HiGain: 116.5 dB (AES17), 118.5 dBA
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ +4 dBu: 116 dB (AES17), 118 dBA
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ -10 dBV: 107 dB (AES17), 109 dBA
- Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.1 dB: 0 Hz – 20.2 kHz
- Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 0 Hz – 44.6 kHz
- Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 0 Hz – 77.5 kHz
- THD+N: < -110 dB, < 0.00032
- Channel separation: > 110 dB
- Output level: switchable Hi Gain, +4 dBu, -10 dBV
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ Hi Gain: +19 dBu
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +13 dBu
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: +2 dBV (+4.2 dBu)
- Output impedance: 75 Ohm
- DA Stereo Monitor Output XLR (1-2):
- Output: XLR, balanced
- Output level: switchable 24 dBu, Hi Gain, +4 dBu, -10 dBV
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ 24 dBu: +24 dBu
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ Hi Gain: +19 dBu
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ +4 dBu: +13 dBu
- Output level at 0 dBFS @ -10 dBV: +2 dBV (+4.2 dBu)
- Output impedance: 150 Ohm
- DA Stereo Monitor Output Phones (9-12):
- Output: 2x 6.3 mm TRS stereo jack, unbalanced
- Maximum output level at 0 dBFS, High: +19 dBu
- Maximum output level at 0 dBFS, Low: +2 dBV
- Max power per channel @ 32 Ohm load, 0.02 THD: 200 mW (2.5 Vrms, +10 dBu)
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ High: 116.5 dB (AES17), 118.5 dBA
- Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) @ Low: 115 dB (AES17), 117 dBA
- Output impedance: 2 Ohm
- MIDI:
- 2 x MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN jacks
- Galvanically isolated by optocoupled input
- Hi-speed mode: Jitter and response time typically below 1 ms
- Separate 128 byte FIFOs for input and output
- 2 x MIDI I/O via MADI
- Invisible transmission via User bit of channel 56 (up to 48 kHz)
- Invisible transmission via User bit of channel 28 (up to 96 kHz)
- Digital:
- Clocks: Internal, ADAT, AES, SPDIF, word clock
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- Effective clock jitter influence on AD and DA conversion: near zero
- PLL ensures zero dropout, even at more than 100 ns jitter
- Digital Bitclock PLL for trouble-free varispeed ADAT operation
- Supported sample rates: 28 kHz up to 200 kHz
Digital Inputs:- MADI:
- Optical via FDDI duplex SC connector
- 62.5/125 and 50/125 compatible
- Coaxial via BNC (Word Clock input), 75 Ohm
- High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.2 Vpp)
- Accepts 56 channel and 64 channel mode, plus 96k Frame
- Standard: up to 64 channels 24 bit 48 kHz
- S/MUX: up to 32 channels 24 bit 96 kHz
- S/MUX4: up to 16 channels 24 bit 192 kHz
- Lock range: 25 kHz – 54 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- AES/EBU:
- 1 x XLR, transformer-balanced, galvanically isolated, according to AES3-1992
- High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.3 Vpp)
- SPDIF compatible (IEC 60958)
- Accepts Consumer and Professional format
- Lock range: 27 kHz – 200 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- ADAT Optical:
- 2 x TOSLINK, format according to Alesis specification
- Standard: 2 x 8 channels 24 bit, up to 48 kHz
- Double Speed (S/MUX): 2 x 4 channels 24 bit 96 kHz
- Quad Speed (S/MUX4): 2 x 2 channels 24 bit 192 kHz
- Bitclock PLL ensures perfect synchronisation even in varispeed operation
- Lock range: 31.5 kHz – 50 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- SPDIF optical (ADAT 2):
- 2 x optical, according to IEC 60958
- Accepts Consumer and Professional format
- Lock range: 27 kHz – 200 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- Word Clock:
- BNC
- Internal termination 75 Ohm switchable
- Automatic Double/Quad Speed detection and internal conversion to Single Speed
- SteadyClock guarantees super low jitter synchronization even in varispeed operation
- Not affected by DC-offsets within the network
- Signal Adaptation Circuit: signal refresh through auto-center and hysteresis
- Overvoltage protection
- Level range: 1.0 Vpp – 5.6 Vpp
- Lock Range: 27 kHz – 200 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
Digital Outputs:- MADI:
- Optical via FDDI duplex SC connector
- 62.5/125 and 50/125 compatible
- Coaxial via BNC (Word Clock input), 75 Ohm
- High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.2 Vpp)
- Accepts 56 channel and 64 channel mode, plus 96k Frame
- Standard: up to 64 channels 24 bit 48 kHz
- S/MUX: up to 32 channels 24 bit 96 kHz
- S/MUX4: up to 16 channels 24 bit 192 kHz
- Lock range: 25 kHz – 54 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- AES/EBU:
- XLR, transformer-balanced, galvanically isolated, according to AES3-1992
- Output level Professional 4.5 Vpp, Consumer 2.6 Vpp
- Format Professional according to AES3-1992 Amendment 4
- Format Consumer (SPDIF) according to IEC 60958
- Single Wire mode, sample rate 28 kHz up to 200 kHz
- ADAT:
- 2 x TOSLINK, format according to Alesis specification
- Standard: 2 x 8 channels 24 bit, up to 48 kHz
- Double Speed (S/MUX): 2 x 4 channels 24 bit 96 kHz
- Quad Speed (S/MUX4): 2 x 2 channels 24 bit 192 kHz
- SPDIF optical (ADAT 2):
- 2 x optical, according to IEC 60958
- Accepts Consumer and Professional format
- Lock range: 27 kHz – 200 kHz
- Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (> 1 Hz)
- Word Clock:
- BNC
- Max. output voltage: 5 Vpp
- Output voltage @ 75 Ohm termination: 4.0 Vpp
- Output impedance: 10 Ohm
- Frequency range: 27 kHz – 200 kHz
- General:
- Power supply: Internal switching PSU, 100 - 240 V AC, 36 Watts
- Idle power consumption: 19 Watts
- Typical power consumption: 22-25 Watts
- Dimensions including rack ears (WxHxD): 483 x 44 x 210 mm (19" x 1.73" x 8.5")
- Dimensions without rack ears (WxHxD): 440 x 44 x 210 mm (17.3" x 1.73" x 8.3")
- Total depth: 240 mm (9.4”)
- Weight: 3 kg ( 6.6 lbs)
- Temperature range: +5° up to +50° Celsius (41° F up to 122°F)
- Relative humidity: < 75 , non condensing
- Product code: UFX-III