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User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
47
If several digital devices are to be used simultaneously in a system, they not only have to oper-
ate with the same sample frequency but also be synchronous with each other. This is why digi-
tal systems always need a single device defined as ‘master’, which sends the same clock signal
to all the other (‘slave’) devices.
RME’s exclusive SyncCheck tech-
nology enables an easy to use check
and display of the current clock
status. SyncCheck indicates whether
there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock)
for each input (Word Clock, ADAT1,
ADAT2, SPDIF), or if there is a valid
and synchronous signal (Sync). The
AutoSync Ref display shows the input
and frequency of the current sync
source (see chapter 37.1).
In practice, SyncCheck provides the
user with an easy way of checking
whether all digital devices connected
to the system are properly configured.
With SyncCheck, finally anyone can
master this common source of error,
previously one of the most complex
issues in the digital studio world.
Thanks to its AutoSync technique and
lightning fast PLLs, the Fireface 800
is not only capable of handling stan-
dard frequencies, but also any sam-
ple rate between 28 and 200 kHz.
Even the word clock input, most often
used in varispeed operation, allows
any frequency between 28 kHz and
200 kHz.
At 88.2 or 96 kHz: If the ADAT input has been selected in Pref Sync Ref, the sample frequency
shown in the SPDIF Freq. field differs from the one shown in AutoSync Ref. The unit automati-
cally switches to S/MUX mode here, because ADAT optical inputs and outputs are only speci-
fied up to 48 kHz. Data from/to a single input/output is spread over two channels, the internal
frequency stays at 44.1 or 48 kHz. In such cases, the ADAT sample frequency is only half the
SPDIF frequency.
22.4 Limit Bandwidth
This option allows to reduce the amount of bandwidth used on the FireWire bus. A typical ex-
ample is the use of the Fireface with a laptop. Only in rare cases both ADAT ports are needed,
in many cases even both stay unused. The option Analog+SPDIF will reduce the amount of
constantly (!) transferred data from around 5 MByte (10 in both directions) to only 2 MByte (4 in
both directions). The FireWire connection will be more stable, reliable and robust, leaving addi-
tional bandwidth for other devices. At the same time the CPU and system load is reduced, as
less channels have to be processed and to be transferred. In TotalMix, the deactivated software
playback channels will be replaced with empty plates. More details are found in chapter 37.4.
Available Settings
All channels (default) activates all 28 input and output channels.
Analog + SPDIF + ADAT1 disables channels 21–28 (ADAT2).
Analog + SPDIF activates all 10 analog channels plus SPDIF.
Analog 1-8 activates only the first eight analog channels.