User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
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31.2 The User Interface
The visual design of the TotalMix mixer is a result of its capability to route hardware inputs and
software playback channels to any hardware output. The Fireface 800 provides 28 input chan-
nels, 28 software playback channels, and 28 hardware output channels:
56 channels don't fit on the screen side by side, neither does such an arrangement provide a
useful overview. The input channel should be placed above the corresponding output channel.
Therefore, the channels have been arranged as known from an Inline desk, so that the row
Software Playback equals the Tape Return of a real mixing desk:
• Top row: Hardware inputs. The level shown is that of the input signal, i. e. fader independ-
ent. Via fader and routing field, any input channel can be routed and mixed to any hardware
output (bottom row).
• Middle row: Playback channels (playback tracks of the audio software). Via fader and routing
field, any playback channel can be routed and mixed to any hardware output (third row).
• Bottom row (third row): Hardware outputs. Here, the total level of the output can be adjusted.
This may be the level of connected loudspeakers, or the necessity to reduce the level of an
overloaded submix.
The following chapters explain step by step all functions of the user interface.