RME Fireface UFX III 188-Channel Audio Interface

The RME Fireface UFX III is a 188-channel USB 3.0 audio interface in a single rack unit, with four mic preamps on the front, eight balanced line outputs on the back, and 64 channels of MADI on top. It is the interface you buy when the channel count has to grow past what the analog panel shows.

What 188 channels actually means

The analog side is 12 in and out: four XLR/TRS combo inputs on the front for microphones, instruments or line sources, eight line inputs on the rear, eight balanced line outputs, two stereo XLR monitor outputs and two independent headphone outputs on 6.3 mm jacks. Everything above that number arrives digitally.

MADI carries 64 channels over the optical SC port. The BNC word clock connector can be switched to coaxial MADI, and a split mode runs both MADI ports at once, 32 channels optical and 32 coaxial. Add 2 x ADAT, 1 x AES/EBU and 2 x SPDIF and the interface reaches its full count. Over USB 3.0 the computer sees up to 94 channels of input and output at once.

Preamps and converters

Inputs 9 to 12 are the microphone preamps, with 75 dB of gain and equivalent input noise of -129.8 dBu at 60 dB gain. Maximum input level at 0 dB gain is +18 dBu. The same inputs switch to instrument mode with 42 dB of gain and accept up to +21 dBu at 8 dB gain, so a bass with an active preamp does not clip the front end.

The rear line inputs run 116 dB signal to noise measured to AES17, 118 dBA, with THD+N below -110 dB, or 0.00032 percent, at -1 dBFS. Line outputs 3 to 8 measure 116.5 dB AES17, 118.5 dBA at the same distortion figure. Input and output levels are switchable between Hi Gain, +4 dBu and -10 dBV to match whatever the outboard expects.

Sample rates run from 28 kHz to 200 kHz. Clocking is SteadyClock FS.

Recording without a computer

DURec records up to 80 channels straight to a USB drive of up to 2 TB, taken from any mix of inputs and outputs, and plays them back the same way. For a live capture or a rehearsal room the interface is the recorder, and the laptop is optional. Class Compliant mode covers connection to an iPad.

TotalMix FX

Every input, playback stream and output is routed in TotalMix FX, RME's DSP mixer, with EQ, dynamics, reverb and delay running on the interface rather than on the host CPU. DIGICheck handles metering and analysis, and TotalMix Remote controls the mixer from another machine on the network. The outputs are DC coupled, so the interface can send CV and gate to modular gear.

UFX III or UFX II

The UFX II is 60 channels over USB 2.0 with the same four 75 dB preamps and the same DURec recording. The UFX III adds USB 3.0, MADI in both optical and coaxial form, and the jump from 60 to 188 channels. If the studio has a MADI stagebox, converter or a second interface to connect, the UFX III is the one that reaches them. If the channel count stops at 30 in and 30 out, the UFX II does the same job for less.

Specifications

• Channels: 188 total, 24 bit / 192 kHz
• USB: RME USB 3.0, up to 94 channels I/O, Class Compliant mode
• Analog I/O: 12 in and out
• Mic preamps: 4 (inputs 9 to 12), 75 dB gain, +18 dBu max at 0 dB gain
• EIN at 60 dB gain: -129.8 dBu
• Instrument inputs: 42 dB gain, +21 dBu max at 8 dB gain
• Line input SNR: 116 dB (AES17), 118 dBA at Lo Gain
• Line input THD+N: Below -110 dB, 0.00032 percent at -1 dBFS
• Line output SNR: 116.5 dB (AES17), 118.5 dBA at Hi Gain
• MADI: 1 x optical SC (64 ch), 1 x coaxial via BNC, split mode 32 plus 32
• Other digital: 2 x ADAT I/O, 1 x AES/EBU I/O, 2 x SPDIF I/O
• Word clock: 1 x BNC I/O
• MIDI: 2 x MIDI I/O on 5 pin DIN
• Sample rates: 28 kHz to 200 kHz
• Clock: SteadyClock FS
• Recording: DURec direct to USB drive, up to 80 channels, drives to 2 TB
• Software: TotalMix FX, DIGICheck, TotalMix Remote
• Outputs: DC coupled for CV and gate
• Dimensions: 483 x 44 x 210 mm with rack ears, 1U
• Weight: 3 kg
• Power: 22 to 25 W typical

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