not sure why my comment was deleted, it said I been using RME babyface for years and also don't really understand totalmix! Would like some more indepth tutorial on that as well.
To be fair motu are very good as well like that I am still using a 2408 mark 3 system from well over 20 years ago and it works absolutely perfectly with Windows 11.
My Fireface 800 is also 15 (or maybe it's 18 now -- don't remember!). Never a hiccup of any kind. The limit now is finding firewire cards compatible with new DAW hosts (window$). You're saying that the M1 is firewire capable, or did you have to go through a format converter? And yes on a Totalmix walk through. For something used relatively infrequently, it's easy to forget and the UI is a pain. Even a few graphical design changes would help.
@@googleantispy3850 run some freq sweeps in and out and I think you’ll be shocked at how much bottom end you will be losing. After only 10 years the 22uf 16v caps on the ins and outs will need replacing. It’s a slow deterioration as they dry up and stop holding capacity. I’ve had to refurbish several units now. No stress though it’s easy, (though tedious) but cheap and makes them sound new again.
@@MichaelDowComposer that’s great to hear. My old 24IO Motu system (20 years ago) was rock solid and I only stopped using it because it needed a PCI card. The school I work at purchased much more recent Motu 24 I/O usb/ethernet interfaces and they died in under two years. The quality seems to have dropped markedly on their high end units.
what people don't realise about RME that no other manufacturer does is they use FPGA chips. Reprogrammable, so regardless of what happens to the usb standard, or computer OS, they can adapt with a firmware update. this is why they last decades, no other manufacturer has this control, they are beholden to the 3rd party usb controllers and other hardware in their products they have no control over. its just the icing on the cake that their converters are pretty good too.
They can, but they don't. The Digi9656 has drivers up to Windows 7 32bit. They could… the Linux kernel of today still has drivers for this old FPGA-based PCI card. Now of course you can argue that nobody has a PCI slot any more…
@@samuelbotstein4264 Allen&Heath and Digico are using FPGAs in their digital mixing consoles, too. It's probably cheaper for them since compared to other electronic devices in the world, they are not producing large such a large number of units, so custom chips would not pay off. Plus it is likely that they can transfer functions in form of code from one device to the other at a low cost.
RME UFX III is the best investment I have ever made in my studio. I'm running Sequoia on a purpose build PC with Windows 11 and it is rock solid and sounds amazing.
For what it's worth - I really like the idea of answering a question per video especially in longer form. As an engineer who's always learning, 30 second answers hidden in the middle of 15 minute Q A videos makes me feel like I'm not really getting the answer I'm looking for... Also sometimes annoyed in trying to find them. You rock dude
I have been using RME equipment for more than a decade and everything works absolutely perfectly. The best audio equipment I know. A course on Totalmix is a great idea. If you somehow manage to solve the latency problem in the Reaper then be sure to do an episode on that topic.
RME are amazing. Your setup is insane brother. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Long time user and big time RME fan boy. If youre struggling with Total Mix i highly recommend Barry John’s tutorial videos over at his channel. Also i dig this type of video. Great job.
When you buy an RME inteface, you buy once. Many other companies drop drivers support after a few years, forcing you to buy again. The first ever interface I bought WAY back in 2001 (HDSP MultiFace) STILL has current drivers for all current OSs. I don't know of ANY other company in any other field that offers this level of support without expensive yearly service contracts. I love thei products for the rock-solid performance, low-latency, driver support and the routing behemoth that is TotalMix.
Bought the ADI-2 Pro FS R because of your video from 2 years ago. Coming from the Motu 828es it mad a HUGE difference. It opened up my speakers and i heard every sound much clearer with great detail and placement in the room... fantastic and worth every cent. But that box gets really really hot
I've been using RME interfaces since 2004. And while everyone was complaining about bad latency and crashes with other interfaces, I've been enjoying rock solid performance all these years.
And there is also Ferrofish for I/O setup, also from Germany, with same quality and functions and half the price. A good RME for pres and monitoring, an RME madi converter and a Ferrofish A32Pro for outboards is a pretty perfect setup for midsize studio. update: Fireface UFX III is enough with A32Pro since it handles 64 io madi. 6000€ and you have a wonderful studio core setup, also capable for SoundID room correction integration. Yes… RME is great, still. I have an Apollo x6, will keep it, but sometimes I miss my old Fireface400, which was superclean even 14 years ago. :)
About the reaper issue, just go to the forums and post there in the right section - Justin sometimes reads the posts and if there's something serious, he will answer.I personally went as low as 64, with a round-trip latency under 4ms (also RME card).
I use 64 as well with my RME Fireface 802 interface and using Reaper as my DAW. Pretty old computer but it seems to work fine for recording (as long as I don't have too many high CPU load VSTs). Switch it up higher for when I'm mixing. The interface has been by far the most reliable I have ever had.
Sounds like an Apple Silicon issue. Perhaps Reaper or certain plugins are running in the emulation layer? I haven't used an Apple Silicon product yet. Certainly on Windows I find it more efficient than Ableton Live.
I also quit MOTU for the exact same reasons as you and I also went for the HDSPe MADI FX but with Ferrofish converters. I've to say I've very glad I went this way thanks to you ! 🤩
Love my Fireface UFX! The most rock solid audio interface I have ever had. Also Totalmix is amazing and very straight forward to use if you get to know it, would love to see a video on it!
Hello! I own the BabyFace Pro FS released in 2019, there are regular updates, without me encountering any particular problems by the way, it is excellent, the sound quality especially of the headphone amps are the same as on the ADI-2 Pro, it is easily transportable, resistant. RME listens to users to improve their products and they are serious, it's important not to buy "a new problem to solve" but rather something reliable, we need it in terms of musical creations. I take this opportunity to give a nod to the Olympics taking place in France and my broken English! best !
Went with rme because of their rock solid hardware and driver reputation, and so happy they have bought the M-1620 out. Huge price tag but 0 regrets! PS total mix is confusing, but only because it can do anything
For what it’s worth, the Reaper crew is addressing some stuff with low block sizes in the next update fwiw. Maybe that’ll solve the issues you’re experiencing. Totally unrelated - as a mastering engineer, what’s your take on headroom in the mixes you receive? The internet says anywhere from 3-8 dBtp while the pros I work with say it doesn’t matter as long as the mix is not clipping or limiting
I use UAD Apollos for years. No doubt, good sound. For Keyboarder/pianist live setup I tried a focusrite scarlett. No way, I sended it back. Next step was a little RME- Interface. It sounds definately better, clearer, truer than the Apollos. There is a obvious difference. Because in times of Apples M1-3 there is no more need for DSP-power, it was a logical step. I can say "yes", there are some parts in the audio chain that can make a big difference, what I also did not expect. Amplifiers included.
I still have a Hammerfall HDSP 96/32 PCI Card from RME. It works flawless from day 1 till today. If you do the research..thats about 20 years!? I run Total Mix FX in its current version on it. Mixing and routing works perfectly, but of course the FXengine is not possible on this device. You can be shure RME supports your device for yeeeeaaaars to come.... 🙂
been using rme since the original hammerfall pci card . the thing lasted longer than the bus it was designed to use and only reason it was retired. currently running an 802 with external ADAT i/o . once you change over to rme , you never have a reason to go back .
If the UFX are anything like my UCX II (which is very likely) you will be very happy with it. The only thing that I'm missing in the new RME interfaces is the possibility of using input processing (EQ, Dyn) on USB returns - I'm currently doing AES loopback with a DIY bridged DB-9 plug to pipe some channels from my computer through the RME EQ separately. The flexibility and sound are just awesome. Nice to see you happy with RME after years of professional usage :) I also like this tighly focused format for videos!
I originally wanted apollo, but in the end I bought a babyface pro. Are you saying that it really sounds better? I read that uad colors, while Rme is more transient
@@DESYNC3D_Music I have a 2013 imac with thunderbolt 2.0. The Apollo have thunderbolt 3.0. That's why I should have bought a thunderbolt adapter, which here in Hungary costs 185 dollars (Startech)I sad fuck,hell no. That's why I finally chose the Babyface.The other thing is that Rme driver support is legendary, which is quite important. The main thing is that I didn't regret my decision, but the UAD plugins would be needed.
Yes please, create total mix and routing tutorial, I have Motu and I really like the mixer and the routing system of them, and I'm planning to transfer myself to RME, so it will be very helpful if you will explain where everything that in Motu system, in RME system.
Use case scenarios with diagrams on how all the RME interfaces, converters and preamps work together, would be a great topic. An example is where I'm planning to get an ADI 2 Pro for monitoring and a simple mastering chaining. My understanding it would be connected to my UCX II via AES/EBU. Another is connecting 12Mic (or other mic preamps) via MADI and analog summing using AD/DA converters. Aa a side note. An RME console would be out of this world. Great Tutorial!
I've been using RME interfaces since 2003, the main reason is the Drivers, specifically ASIO on Windows. They make the best drivers. Totalmix is Amazing and replaced my console for recording/monitoring. I use Mytek 192DSD mastering converters for my main out/monitoring and Apogee ADA for the rest as I just love the sound of the analog section of the converters. RME has been good to me. :-) 96k here too, as not only do most plugins benefit, but there is something about the depth and width that happens when more info is captured.
Coming late to the comments and watching your video. I am a two channel listener and purchased the RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BE for use as my dac. I have used it as a linestage and dac yet it comes alive as a dac only. I have listened tonother dac's and yes they sound different yet they change the music and I prefer to hear it as recorded. I chose the pro unit over the dac unit and have no regrets. It just works and sounds great with my SPL gear.
Got two RME interfaces, Babyface PRO & Fireface UFX III. Very happy with RME (also considered MOTU, Ferrofish, UAD and Antelope but ultimately decided for RME) which sounds very clean, wide and transparent on my Gelenecs so I won't change them soon, probably will expand with another RME, possibly with RME M-1610 Pro. True, TotalMix is not really user-friendly, but when you make an effort to understand it - it really does its job. Never had any issues with RME, not even one.
Fireface UFX III is superb and solid and with TotalMix (being controlled several ways, KeyBoard Maestro, ElGato, Novation LaunchPad X.... Amazing. .... So I've got my dream setup, impossible before with my other interfaces (UA and Focusrite)
Having started some 15 years ago on a small Focusrite, upgraded to a RME UFX II, then on to an Orion 32+, having loved and missed RME TotalMIx FX, I went back to an AVB Tool via a Digiface AVB, I've just (last week) gone back to an RME UFX but an upgraded UFX III - it's fantastic, using the AES output direct to the monitor, and using MADI with my old Orion 32+ to interface with a BURL B32. I love TotalMix FX, and its flexibility.
I have had my RME Multiface for over 20 years and it still works amazing. Curious about your issue with Reaper. Could it be the Apple silicon is the issue? I use it on Windows 10 and I can go down to 32 samples in a 6th gen i5 CPU.
Thank you for sharing. I do music myself, and was debating to buy rme. After a friend told me how much he likes it, and now you also. I will buy a baby face model since I do as a hobby. Thx again
I did a LOT of research before buying an RME UCX, it was 10 months before I could get the drivers working and the Total Mix software is like 'It works - Don't touch it!' Honestly I'm a seriously nerdy PC guy and former programmer but Total Mix i just use to adjust the input gain and switch phantom power on and off, thast it. Thats said, now it is working, it is totally solid. And Yes, a Total Mix tutorial would be manna from heaven for me, RME don't want to know. One other thing, there is an open source RME driver project for Linux for their older hardware as the digital side has stuff like DigiCheck which is why they are so solid.
I got a UCX II thinking it might be overkill as I anyway planned to use only my external mixer output to record things, so a Babyface FS could have done the job. Recently RME made it possible to import Sonarworks measurements into their newish Room EQ to have all the sound going through the soundcard processed internally with their DSP and with 0 latency. I feel reborn. No more hassle with SoundID latency and VST setup. Thank you RME and thank you Sonarworks!
I can't find anything about the video by Glen (Glenn?) about the audio buffer issue in Reaper, not being able to go below 256 because of the audio engine issue? Anyone have a link? @Whiteseastudio Do you have a link? There's none in the description. Thanks.
I am using my Fireface 400 since 2010! Big thumbs up for the driver updates! I have never had ANY issues ... after I understood the totalmix ;-) You just need to understand that you can route any hardware inputs and software playbacks to the hardwareoutput you just clicked before. Et voila!
I've used a RME Fireface UC as my main interface for years. And since I upgraded my studio to a Digiface Dante and a 12Mic, I use the UC as a DA Converter. RME is such a great company!
I am running a fairly similar setup since 10 years now. Also based on the RME HDSPe MADI card. Not a single issue (!) in that time. For converters I use 2x DireOut Andiamos to give me 64 channels of I/O at 96 kHz. I am a Logic User since the 90ies. My mobile rig consists of a RME BabyFace together with a DIY 8 Channel API Preamp containing a Focusrite ADAT converter. If you are looking for a mobile setup check the new MADIface XT II together with the DirectOut Prodigy ;-) This can be configured to your needs - this is nuts!!! The Prodigy can run on AES67 or Dante as well and you can go without the MADIface XT II. TotalMix is crazy, once you get how to operate it - a video on that would surely be welcomed... Keep up the good work
I've been using an Antelope Orion 32+ Gen 3 over thunderbolt on Windows with REAPER for the past 4 years or so. I've just added the same RME MADI FX card so i can use totalmix instead of the Antelope mixer, in particular for cue/headphone sends for musicians. The Orion has MADI I/O so i can use it as a stand alone 32ch AD/DA with the RME as the core interface. The antelope built-in routing is fine but the mixing setup is frustratingly limited. TotalMix has a seperate mix for every output pretty much, plus reverb etc for headphones if needed. Can't get much more flexible than that! I'll report back on the MADI FX latency on windows in REAPER when I've used it for a while.
Ive had my FFace 800 since 2005 and is still the hub of my medium size studio. It still sounds good, have a couple of intefaces expanded to create and extra 17 ad inputs as well as it connecting tube gear and various outboard. It had a power supply failure about 2 years ago but has pretty well been turned on since the time I installed it. The pres still sound great for ribbons eg R88 and although it took a while to sort out totalmix...it is so powerful...it was worth it as I also have routing of 4 sets of monitors (although I only use the "auratone" and main custom concrete spherical monitors) I turfed my ns10s and got a set of HS5 and still have trusty ATCs for when contracted mixers come in. I recycled an old kore controller and it does all the switching and monitor setups from Control room in cubase but being able to spilt up command via Bome so that I can selectively control from 1 central surface has been solid for many years. You get what you paid for...Im pretty sure the caps went in the power supply as sometimes Im not here with the air con in summer and it gets really warm on the 1st floor This brings up the question of reliability...and you have to actually manage your gear with appropriate resources and cooling in a rack...its par for the course. If you cant touch the components approx 65 deg, you are running stuff WAY too hot. After the failure and because I had ditched all but the best analog gear, I moved it into an open mobile rack for the main unit and can wheel it around and use extremely short cables too...which is another story. Get an oscilloscope and stop listening to doubters about cables...please. I cant recommend them enough. They have a sound which I have come to love and done a couple of shootouts over the last number of years to make sure Im still up to scratch. TBH I added a ur824 so that I have a dedicated IO for the percussion rig set up permanently in the studio but sometimes I still break into a VMP4000e pre for the overheads as it adds such a diff detail but dont rubbish stuff until you try it...I mean not take YT word for it. Mics etc all play a part and preamp loadings etc. You need to spend time...real time studying the gear you have; they are parts of the overall instrument of your studio just like eg a guitar.
RME has EXCELLENT support. Seriously, I've owned a firewire 800 for many years and the technician over the phone really knew his stuff. They helped me get parts over the years and were friendly, but at the same time didn't waste my time.
What problems are you having with low samplerate settings in Reaper? I use 64spls all the time with my RME Fireface 802 when recording guitars and stuff and I have never experienced any issues regarding that. I'm on PC though, so maybe it's only an issue on Mac?
@@alexanderkhait I have a Babyface Pro as well, and before that (like 12 years ago) an original Babyface, and neither of them have shown any issues with low samplerate settings. I guess it could be something related to either the M32 Pro or ADI-2 Pro, or it's simply because he's on Mac (although I've never heard anyone mentioning this problem with Mac+Reaper+RME).
I used RME interfaces for 10 years, switched to a UA Apollo for 5 and back to RME, so glad, what a difference. It's not the sound so much as the routing flexibility. Total mix is amazing, except for the effects, they just dont sound good. I'm using a UFX iii and Ferrofish 32 and coulnt be happier. No down time ever, I go from DAW to DAW, stereo to Atmos to stereo, software monitoring to Totalmix monitoring (when I need a large buffer size), RME is amazing!
weird issue you had with the MOTUs. I've been running 2 16A's and a MOTU Ultralite AVB in keyboard land for about 8 years now with no issues at all. I wonder if Euro AC affects them weirdly. The converters sound fine to me and I feel like they are fine for the work I do. I DO love RME stuff though and intend on going that way when the MOTUs die but so far, they have been rock solid. I think I've probably only powered them off like 10 times total though, I'm a firm believer that electronics fail when changing states and leaving them powered on is best for longevity. Also, I've been running Reaper at 128 samples for like a decade with no issues. I'm on a PC though, so maybe that is the issue? I have noticed that on my M2 Mini, Reaper is far less efficient when it comes to plugin processing (Arturia especially) and I run that buffer at about 512 for V synths.
I'm using a RME FIREFACE UCX II on PC. Got rid of my Apollo and Mac. I haven't had 1 issue with it. Probably the best interface experience I've had but I haven't had it for years like I did with Universal Audio. I've had to get used to Total Mix. Still probably not an expert with it. If spending this much money gets you rock solid drivers, with super low latency, incredible reliability and assurance it will last for years, sing me up as a RME fanboi.
I am huge fan of RME. I have used Hamerfall card back in 2000s when there was nothing remotely similar to connect digital mixer like Yamaha 02R and a PC with optics. The tightness, the speed, it is the same in modern products as it was before, proper german engineering. No marketing crap, just useful software that complement insane hardware. I did use Antelope, Universal, many other interfaces but RME is for me no brainer. Yes it will cost you, but you know what you are getting. Especially larger setups can benefit from their native connection protocols.
Ever since I started using RME almost two decades ago, there has been no going back in any way. Total mix is so powerful and you can do what ever you want with in the box. So all I can say is RME for the win.
I have a couple of RME ADI DS, bought 2d hand for 700 eur for some 4-5 years ago, still working perfectly. Solid engineering. Good components. I used to record 96/24 for some time, The RME ADI DS uses ADAT so it can only do 48/24 (the DS can do 96, but it halves the input/output). So, since I bought those I have recorded only 48/24. I doubt that you can do a blind test and pick the 96 over the 48. I’m 50+ so my own high frequency hearing isn’t 20-20k anymore. You have that at the age of 20, after that the highs start to fade, just anatomy. No cure for ageing. And since most recordings today are going to be Spotify or UA-cam or what ever. Just waste of cpu power and disc space to do anything other than 48/24. And like I said, show me a blind test anyone who can tell the diffrence.
I think the preference for a brand or another depends only on your particular experience with it. I had many technical (hardware fails) problems with RME and no problems with Motu AVB systems. Maybe other the opposite so it's easy to make your conclusion basing on your experience.
You probably could have used the Madiface XT II instead of the HDSPe PCIe card. This would simplify the setup because the Thunderbolt enclosure could be omitted. However, the Madiface XT II is about double the price of the HDSPe card...
Longtime Fireface 800 and 802 User. There are still Software Updates around for ancient products and these Converters are more an investment for a lifetime. A bit more expensive than other brands? Sure. But the clock is absolutely stable, the drivers are rock solid with a low latency and TotalMix ... everyone I know who switched to RME is absolutely happy about the decision.
I have no issues with Reaper + RME Babyface. In fact by far the best latency compared other DAWs. Quite surprised that Reaper is the one giving you problems.
Rme doesn’t make pro level converters except for the adi 2 pro line. For multichannel converters that are pro level you have pretty limited options : lynx aurora n, prism titan, merging Hapi, mtrx, Burl, black lion exp
Would love a totalmix walkthrough. I currently have 128 channels of MOTU AVB for my synth studio and am considering moving to a simpler RME setup - my use cases are split between running my DAW but also being able to run the studio without the computer.
Happy RME Raydat user with Apogee converters since I don’t know when - had the fireface 800 before. One thing you don’t have to worry about anymore is the Audio Interface once you use RME
A totalmix tutorial would be awesome. I've watched the Barry Johns ones which were helpful but it would be great if you were up for doing one. I kind of get Totalmix but I still get confused. I've just joined my old UCX ii to my new UFX iii via ADAT & I now have a separate Totalmix screen for both units with the UFX acting as the master. Awesome but confusing (insert emoji woozy face). I love your videos & thanks so much for taking the time to do them all. Much appreciated 🤝
Your reviews are always great and you always bring wonderful music as examples. Please take into consideration though (and in this review it's more noticeable than normal) that a pop shield is needed for your voice - or some filter in post production. Did you change your mic? Thanks and keep the excellent work you are doing on your channel!
I loved my motu 24ai and 24ao HOWEVER one day ... they didn't update drivers at one point and my entire system was worthless until I bought new converters. I went to focusrite but I might need your setup instead. I need about 72 inputs and 30+ outputs
Using my Fireface 800 since 2000 and still use it every day even though it’s FireWire 800 it works on the latest MacOS which is amazing. I did have to go through it and replace all the smt capacitors on the ins and outs as they dried up from the continuous heat. This will almost certainly be the case with the Motu interfaces. That’s just normal end of life component failures of capacitors as they have a heat rating and known length of life. Cost $20 and a couple hours of soldering and all good again. Agree Totalmix can be a mind$&)($ at first but is very flexible. Their pre-amps are nicely neutral and just rock solid interfaces with heaps of ins and outs. I run a UA Apollo at the same time which isn’t ideal having to run both as the sync isn’t great but the RME is the more reliable interface.
Reaper is fine at 128 and 192 respectively, which is what my two RME devices go down to at 192KhZ. The issue is because Logic Pro etc. are built on Mac, so you can forgo the safety buffer, if you want. Reaper and some other DAW's do not have that option, so you gotta just settle with the normal minimum which I guess in your case would be a buffer size of 64 at 96KhZ.
Switched to an MT48 from the Apollo. I know it's not the same switch, but reliability and conversion were the deciding factors here, along with the onboard DSP which is extremely transparent. Doesn't matter how many saturation plugins it can run if it makes my Mac crash when idling and forces me to restart the computer because Console stops working randomly. Conversion should be invisible, and RME's reputation for reliability is second to none in that regard.
Totalmix tutorial is a big yes.
I second this indeed!
Yes please, been using RME Babyface for years and everytime I open Totalmix I feel like I'm launching a space-shuttle.
third this
I agree
not sure why my comment was deleted, it said I been using RME babyface for years and also don't really understand totalmix! Would like some more indepth tutorial on that as well.
yes on totalmix
You definitely should do a tutorial of total mix, regardless of if your audience needs it or not. The world needs it.😉
total mix is very simple...in few minutes you can know how that works
@@MrGreekBlade It's getting your head around the fact it's a "sends on fader" desk. Once you crack ( or are show ) that it's simple.
@@MrGreekBlade i agree, i really cant understand why people get so confused with it
Definitely I would like to get a view myself
RME software support and hardware reliability is incredible. I own an original Fireface 800 from 15 years ago and it still works with my new M1 Mac.
To be fair motu are very good as well like that I am still using a 2408 mark 3 system from well over 20 years ago and it works absolutely perfectly with Windows 11.
My Fireface 800 is also 15 (or maybe it's 18 now -- don't remember!). Never a hiccup of any kind. The limit now is finding firewire cards compatible with new DAW hosts (window$). You're saying that the M1 is firewire capable, or did you have to go through a format converter? And yes on a Totalmix walk through. For something used relatively infrequently, it's easy to forget and the UI is a pain. Even a few graphical design changes would help.
@@googleantispy3850 run some freq sweeps in and out and I think you’ll be shocked at how much bottom end you will be losing. After only 10 years the 22uf 16v caps on the ins and outs will need replacing. It’s a slow deterioration as they dry up and stop holding capacity. I’ve had to refurbish several units now. No stress though it’s easy, (though tedious) but cheap and makes them sound new again.
@@MichaelDowComposer that’s great to hear. My old 24IO Motu system (20 years ago) was rock solid and I only stopped using it because it needed a PCI card.
The school I work at purchased much more recent Motu 24 I/O usb/ethernet interfaces and they died in under two years. The quality seems to have dropped markedly on their high end units.
@@googleantispy3850 I just use an Apple USBC-thunderbolt converter AND a thunderbolt to Fireface 800 converter. Works perfectly.
I’ve been using the RME Fireface 800 for 12 years, but still dread making changes in TotalMix. So YES to a tutorial!
It's actually pretty straightforward easy once you figure it out.
@@billB101got it. like everything 😊
Yes please for a TotalMix tutorial!
I would LOVE a totalmix tutorial!
Yes we totally need good total mix tutorial
+1 on RME. I have a 12 year old UCX, used it with a Windows laptop, now with an M1 Mac, still supported, still super solid. TotalMix is great to have.
what people don't realise about RME that no other manufacturer does is they use FPGA chips. Reprogrammable, so regardless of what happens to the usb standard, or computer OS, they can adapt with a firmware update. this is why they last decades, no other manufacturer has this control, they are beholden to the 3rd party usb controllers and other hardware in their products they have no control over.
its just the icing on the cake that their converters are pretty good too.
Yep, absolutely the truth. Thats why i absolutely love the company. Once i got RME no more audio problems
They can, but they don't. The Digi9656 has drivers up to Windows 7 32bit. They could… the Linux kernel of today still has drivers for this old FPGA-based PCI card. Now of course you can argue that nobody has a PCI slot any more…
RME is not the only company that uses FPGA. Lynx and Antelope do too.
@@samuelbotstein4264 good to know. Back in the early 2000s they certainly were!
@@samuelbotstein4264 Allen&Heath and Digico are using FPGAs in their digital mixing consoles, too. It's probably cheaper for them since compared to other electronic devices in the world, they are not producing large such a large number of units, so custom chips would not pay off. Plus it is likely that they can transfer functions in form of code from one device to the other at a low cost.
RME UFX III is the best investment I have ever made in my studio. I'm running Sequoia on a purpose build PC with Windows 11 and it is rock solid and sounds amazing.
Same here. Absolutely incredible piece of engineering.
For what it's worth - I really like the idea of answering a question per video especially in longer form. As an engineer who's always learning, 30 second answers hidden in the middle of 15 minute Q A videos makes me feel like I'm not really getting the answer I'm looking for... Also sometimes annoyed in trying to find them. You rock dude
I have been using RME equipment for more than a decade and everything works absolutely perfectly. The best audio equipment I know. A course on Totalmix is a great idea. If you somehow manage to solve the latency problem in the Reaper then be sure to do an episode on that topic.
RME are amazing. Your setup is insane brother. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Long time user and big time RME fan boy. If youre struggling with Total Mix i highly recommend Barry John’s tutorial videos over at his channel.
Also i dig this type of video. Great job.
Another yes please for a total mix tutorial, thanks.
When you buy an RME inteface, you buy once. Many other companies drop drivers support after a few years, forcing you to buy again. The first ever interface I bought WAY back in 2001 (HDSP MultiFace) STILL has current drivers for all current OSs. I don't know of ANY other company in any other field that offers this level of support without expensive yearly service contracts.
I love thei products for the rock-solid performance, low-latency, driver support and the routing behemoth that is TotalMix.
Bought the ADI-2 Pro FS R because of your video from 2 years ago. Coming from the Motu 828es it mad a HUGE difference. It opened up my speakers and i heard every sound much clearer with great detail and placement in the room... fantastic and worth every cent. But that box gets really really hot
I also have had rme for 3-4yrs now and reliability for me is such peace of mind 🍻
I've been using RME interfaces since 2004. And while everyone was complaining about bad latency and crashes with other interfaces, I've been enjoying rock solid performance all these years.
+1 for Totalmix tutorial. I don't love the "Snake oil" style videos.... but I like the more mello vibe of this format.
And there is also Ferrofish for I/O setup, also from Germany, with same quality and functions and half the price. A good RME for pres and monitoring, an RME madi converter and a Ferrofish A32Pro for outboards is a pretty perfect setup for midsize studio.
update: Fireface UFX III is enough with A32Pro since it handles 64 io madi. 6000€ and you have a wonderful studio core setup, also capable for SoundID room correction integration. Yes… RME is great, still. I have an Apollo x6, will keep it, but sometimes I miss my old Fireface400, which was superclean even 14 years ago. :)
I'm rocking a UFX3 with a Pulse 16 upgraded to MADI. I had all the RME lineup and upgraded this year. Great hardware
I have a UFX+ and the Pulse 16 MX. I have noticed that he Ferrofish converters have a higher noise floor than the RME does.
RME + sensibly priced other vendor external I/O is the way to go
About the reaper issue, just go to the forums and post there in the right section - Justin sometimes reads the posts and if there's something serious, he will answer.I personally went as low as 64, with a round-trip latency under 4ms (also RME card).
I use 64 as well with my RME Fireface 802 interface and using Reaper as my DAW. Pretty old computer but it seems to work fine for recording (as long as I don't have too many high CPU load VSTs). Switch it up higher for when I'm mixing. The interface has been by far the most reliable I have ever had.
Sounds like an Apple Silicon issue. Perhaps Reaper or certain plugins are running in the emulation layer? I haven't used an Apple Silicon product yet. Certainly on Windows I find it more efficient than Ableton Live.
I also quit MOTU for the exact same reasons as you and I also went for the HDSPe MADI FX but with Ferrofish converters. I've to say I've very glad I went this way thanks to you ! 🤩
YES mate! I think your style of delivery would make a fantastic TM video. Even experienced users can benefit from a proper deep dive into TM.
I had the same experience when I tried out the Neumann MT48. The sound quality and clarity was strikingly better, even than my Universal interface.
yes total mix detail ! The remote sotware for the ADI 2 pro fs r is also cool ! No more scrolling in the unit :D
Love my Fireface UFX! The most rock solid audio interface I have ever had. Also Totalmix is amazing and very straight forward to use if you get to know it, would love to see a video on it!
Hello!
I own the BabyFace Pro FS released in 2019, there are regular updates, without me encountering any particular problems by the way, it is excellent, the sound quality especially of the headphone amps are the same as on the ADI-2 Pro, it is easily transportable, resistant. RME listens to users to improve their products and they are serious, it's important not to buy "a new problem to solve" but rather something reliable, we need it in terms of musical creations.
I take this opportunity to give a nod to the Olympics taking place in France and my broken English!
best !
RME since 5 years, not a single moment of issues, absolutely solid
Went with rme because of their rock solid hardware and driver reputation, and so happy they have bought the M-1620 out. Huge price tag but 0 regrets!
PS total mix is confusing, but only because it can do anything
If only ... the M1620 would ever hit the market.
@@MFASonic It just did.
For what it’s worth, the Reaper crew is addressing some stuff with low block sizes in the next update fwiw. Maybe that’ll solve the issues you’re experiencing.
Totally unrelated - as a mastering engineer, what’s your take on headroom in the mixes you receive? The internet says anywhere from 3-8 dBtp while the pros I work with say it doesn’t matter as long as the mix is not clipping or limiting
I use UAD Apollos for years. No doubt, good sound. For Keyboarder/pianist live setup I tried a focusrite scarlett. No way, I sended it back.
Next step was a little RME- Interface. It sounds definately better, clearer, truer than the Apollos. There is a obvious difference.
Because in times of Apples M1-3 there is no more need for DSP-power, it was a logical step.
I can say "yes", there are some parts in the audio chain that can make a big difference, what I also did not expect. Amplifiers included.
I still have a Hammerfall HDSP 96/32 PCI Card from RME. It works flawless from day 1 till today. If you do the research..thats about 20 years!? I run Total Mix FX in its current version on it. Mixing and routing works perfectly, but of course the FXengine is not possible on this device.
You can be shure RME supports your device for yeeeeaaaars to come.... 🙂
been using rme since the original hammerfall pci card . the thing lasted longer than the bus it was designed to use and only reason it was retired. currently running an 802 with external ADAT i/o . once you change over to rme , you never have a reason to go back .
In a studio we use 2 hammerfall pci cards.. 20+ years and still going..
If the UFX are anything like my UCX II (which is very likely) you will be very happy with it. The only thing that I'm missing in the new RME interfaces is the possibility of using input processing (EQ, Dyn) on USB returns - I'm currently doing AES loopback with a DIY bridged DB-9 plug to pipe some channels from my computer through the RME EQ separately. The flexibility and sound are just awesome.
Nice to see you happy with RME after years of professional usage :) I also like this tighly focused format for videos!
Yes to Total Mix Tutorial, please...
I couldn't believe the difference when i switched from MOTU to Prism Sound.... first listen blew me away... could hear the difference straight away!!
The switch from UAD to RME made a bigger difference in sound than I expected...
I originally wanted apollo, but in the end I bought a babyface pro. Are you saying that it really sounds better? I read that uad colors, while Rme is more transient
@@DESYNC3D_Music I have a 2013 imac with thunderbolt 2.0. The Apollo have thunderbolt 3.0. That's why I should have bought a thunderbolt adapter, which here in Hungary costs 185 dollars (Startech)I sad fuck,hell no. That's why I finally chose the Babyface.The other thing is that Rme driver support is legendary, which is quite important. The main thing is that I didn't regret my decision, but the UAD plugins would be needed.
Yes please, create total mix and routing tutorial, I have Motu and I really like the mixer and the routing system of them, and I'm planning to transfer myself to RME, so it will be very helpful if you will explain where everything that in Motu system, in RME system.
Use case scenarios with diagrams on how all the RME interfaces, converters and preamps work together, would be a great topic. An example is where I'm planning to get an ADI 2 Pro for monitoring and a simple mastering chaining. My understanding it would be connected to my UCX II via AES/EBU. Another is connecting 12Mic (or other mic preamps) via MADI and analog summing using AD/DA converters. Aa a side note. An RME console would be out of this world. Great Tutorial!
Yes please give a tutorial on total mix
I've been using RME interfaces since 2003, the main reason is the Drivers, specifically ASIO on Windows. They make the best drivers. Totalmix is Amazing and replaced my console for recording/monitoring. I use Mytek 192DSD mastering converters for my main out/monitoring and Apogee ADA for the rest as I just love the sound of the analog section of the converters. RME has been good to me. :-) 96k here too, as not only do most plugins benefit, but there is something about the depth and width that happens when more info is captured.
Coming late to the comments and watching your video. I am a two channel listener and purchased the RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BE for use as my dac. I have used it as a linestage and dac yet it comes alive as a dac only. I have listened tonother dac's and yes they sound different yet they change the music and I prefer to hear it as recorded. I chose the pro unit over the dac unit and have no regrets. It just works and sounds great with my SPL gear.
Got two RME interfaces, Babyface PRO & Fireface UFX III. Very happy with RME (also considered MOTU, Ferrofish, UAD and Antelope but ultimately decided for RME) which sounds very clean, wide and transparent on my Gelenecs so I won't change them soon, probably will expand with another RME, possibly with RME M-1610 Pro.
True, TotalMix is not really user-friendly, but when you make an effort to understand it - it really does its job.
Never had any issues with RME, not even one.
Fireface UFX III is superb and solid and with TotalMix (being controlled several ways, KeyBoard Maestro, ElGato, Novation LaunchPad X.... Amazing. .... So I've got my dream setup, impossible before with my other interfaces (UA and Focusrite)
Having started some 15 years ago on a small Focusrite, upgraded to a RME UFX II, then on to an Orion 32+, having loved and missed RME TotalMIx FX, I went back to an AVB Tool via a Digiface AVB, I've just (last week) gone back to an RME UFX but an upgraded UFX III - it's fantastic, using the AES output direct to the monitor, and using MADI with my old Orion 32+ to interface with a BURL B32. I love TotalMix FX, and its flexibility.
Please make a Totalmix tutorial!
Yea, please do the totalmix tutorial😍
TotalMix tutorial? Yes, please!
I have had my RME Multiface for over 20 years and it still works amazing. Curious about your issue with Reaper. Could it be the Apple silicon is the issue? I use it on Windows 10 and I can go down to 32 samples in a 6th gen i5 CPU.
Thank you for sharing.
I do music myself, and was debating to buy rme.
After a friend told me how much he likes it, and now you also. I will buy a baby face model since I do as a hobby. Thx again
Welcome to the RME club!
Man, I've been wanting to cop the ADI-2 Pro FS for ages, think I'll take this as a sign. 🕵♂
I did a LOT of research before buying an RME UCX, it was 10 months before I could get the drivers working and the Total Mix software is like 'It works - Don't touch it!' Honestly I'm a seriously nerdy PC guy and former programmer but Total Mix i just use to adjust the input gain and switch phantom power on and off, thast it.
Thats said, now it is working, it is totally solid. And Yes, a Total Mix tutorial would be manna from heaven for me, RME don't want to know.
One other thing, there is an open source RME driver project for Linux for their older hardware as the digital side has stuff like DigiCheck which is why they are so solid.
Its never enought of Totalmix tutorials :)
Yes please . A Total mix tutorial would be awesome ❤
I got a UCX II thinking it might be overkill as I anyway planned to use only my external mixer output to record things, so a Babyface FS could have done the job. Recently RME made it possible to import Sonarworks measurements into their newish Room EQ to have all the sound going through the soundcard processed internally with their DSP and with 0 latency. I feel reborn. No more hassle with SoundID latency and VST setup. Thank you RME and thank you Sonarworks!
I can't find anything about the video by Glen (Glenn?) about the audio buffer issue in Reaper, not being able to go below 256 because of the audio engine issue? Anyone have a link? @Whiteseastudio Do you have a link? There's none in the description. Thanks.
I am using my Fireface 400 since 2010! Big thumbs up for the driver updates! I have never had ANY issues ... after I understood the totalmix ;-) You just need to understand that you can route any hardware inputs and software playbacks to the hardwareoutput you just clicked before. Et voila!
I've used a RME Fireface UC as my main interface for years. And since I upgraded my studio to a Digiface Dante and a 12Mic, I use the UC as a DA Converter. RME is such a great company!
I am running a fairly similar setup since 10 years now. Also based on the RME HDSPe MADI card. Not a single issue (!) in that time. For converters I use 2x DireOut Andiamos to give me 64 channels of I/O at 96 kHz. I am a Logic User since the 90ies.
My mobile rig consists of a RME BabyFace together with a DIY 8 Channel API Preamp containing a Focusrite ADAT converter.
If you are looking for a mobile setup check the new MADIface XT II together with the DirectOut Prodigy ;-) This can be configured to your needs - this is nuts!!! The Prodigy can run on AES67 or Dante as well and you can go without the MADIface XT II.
TotalMix is crazy, once you get how to operate it - a video on that would surely be welcomed... Keep up the good work
I've been using an Antelope Orion 32+ Gen 3 over thunderbolt on Windows with REAPER for the past 4 years or so.
I've just added the same RME MADI FX card so i can use totalmix instead of the Antelope mixer, in particular for cue/headphone sends for musicians. The Orion has MADI I/O so i can use it as a stand alone 32ch AD/DA with the RME as the core interface.
The antelope built-in routing is fine but the mixing setup is frustratingly limited. TotalMix has a seperate mix for every output pretty much, plus reverb etc for headphones if needed. Can't get much more flexible than that!
I'll report back on the MADI FX latency on windows in REAPER when I've used it for a while.
Please the TotalMix tutorial would come veeeeeery handy. Excellent video!
Ive had my FFace 800 since 2005 and is still the hub of my medium size studio. It still sounds good, have a couple of intefaces expanded to create and extra 17 ad inputs as well as it connecting tube gear and various outboard. It had a power supply failure about 2 years ago but has pretty well been turned on since the time I installed it.
The pres still sound great for ribbons eg R88 and although it took a while to sort out totalmix...it is so powerful...it was worth it as I also have routing of 4 sets of monitors (although I only use the "auratone" and main custom concrete spherical monitors) I turfed my ns10s and got a set of HS5 and still have trusty ATCs for when contracted mixers come in. I recycled an old kore controller and it does all the switching and monitor setups from Control room in cubase but being able to spilt up command via Bome so that I can selectively control from 1 central surface has been solid for many years.
You get what you paid for...Im pretty sure the caps went in the power supply as sometimes Im not here with the air con in summer and it gets really warm on the 1st floor
This brings up the question of reliability...and you have to actually manage your gear with appropriate resources and cooling in a rack...its par for the course. If you cant touch the components approx 65 deg, you are running stuff WAY too hot. After the failure and because I had ditched all but the best analog gear, I moved it into an open mobile rack for the main unit and can wheel it around and use extremely short cables too...which is another story. Get an oscilloscope and stop listening to doubters about cables...please.
I cant recommend them enough. They have a sound which I have come to love and done a couple of shootouts over the last number of years to make sure Im still up to scratch. TBH I added a ur824 so that I have a dedicated IO for the percussion rig set up permanently in the studio but sometimes I still break into a VMP4000e pre for the overheads as it adds such a diff detail but dont rubbish stuff until you try it...I mean not take YT word for it. Mics etc all play a part and preamp loadings etc. You need to spend time...real time studying the gear you have; they are parts of the overall instrument of your studio just like eg a guitar.
if the caps were going on your converters, it can effect the sound as there tend to be failed caps in the signal path
RME has EXCELLENT support. Seriously, I've owned a firewire 800 for many years and the technician over the phone really knew his stuff. They helped me get parts over the years and were friendly, but at the same time didn't waste my time.
What problems are you having with low samplerate settings in Reaper? I use 64spls all the time with my RME Fireface 802 when recording guitars and stuff and I have never experienced any issues regarding that. I'm on PC though, so maybe it's only an issue on Mac?
I don’t have any problems with reaper/babyface, but ofc I use only few inputs
@@alexanderkhait I have a Babyface Pro as well, and before that (like 12 years ago) an original Babyface, and neither of them have shown any issues with low samplerate settings. I guess it could be something related to either the M32 Pro or ADI-2 Pro, or it's simply because he's on Mac (although I've never heard anyone mentioning this problem with Mac+Reaper+RME).
I used RME interfaces for 10 years, switched to a UA Apollo for 5 and back to RME, so glad, what a difference. It's not the sound so much as the routing flexibility. Total mix is amazing, except for the effects, they just dont sound good. I'm using a UFX iii and Ferrofish 32 and coulnt be happier. No down time ever, I go from DAW to DAW, stereo to Atmos to stereo, software monitoring to Totalmix monitoring (when I need a large buffer size), RME is amazing!
weird issue you had with the MOTUs. I've been running 2 16A's and a MOTU Ultralite AVB in keyboard land for about 8 years now with no issues at all. I wonder if Euro AC affects them weirdly. The converters sound fine to me and I feel like they are fine for the work I do. I DO love RME stuff though and intend on going that way when the MOTUs die but so far, they have been rock solid. I think I've probably only powered them off like 10 times total though, I'm a firm believer that electronics fail when changing states and leaving them powered on is best for longevity. Also, I've been running Reaper at 128 samples for like a decade with no issues. I'm on a PC though, so maybe that is the issue? I have noticed that on my M2 Mini, Reaper is far less efficient when it comes to plugin processing (Arturia especially) and I run that buffer at about 512 for V synths.
I'm using a RME FIREFACE UCX II on PC. Got rid of my Apollo and Mac. I haven't had 1 issue with it. Probably the best interface experience I've had but I haven't had it for years like I did with Universal Audio. I've had to get used to Total Mix. Still probably not an expert with it. If spending this much money gets you rock solid drivers, with super low latency, incredible reliability and assurance it will last for years, sing me up as a RME fanboi.
I am huge fan of RME. I have used Hamerfall card back in 2000s when there was nothing remotely similar to connect digital mixer like Yamaha 02R and a PC with optics. The tightness, the speed, it is the same in modern products as it was before, proper german engineering. No marketing crap, just useful software that complement insane hardware. I did use Antelope, Universal, many other interfaces but RME is for me no brainer. Yes it will cost you, but you know what you are getting. Especially larger setups can benefit from their native connection protocols.
Total mix tutorial!!! Yes please 🙏🏾
Ever since I started using RME almost two decades ago, there has been no going back in any way.
Total mix is so powerful and you can do what ever you want with in the box. So all I can say is RME for the win.
I have a couple of RME ADI DS, bought 2d hand for 700 eur for some 4-5 years ago, still working perfectly. Solid engineering. Good components. I used to record 96/24 for some time, The RME ADI DS uses ADAT so it can only do 48/24 (the DS can do 96, but it halves the input/output). So, since I bought those I have recorded only 48/24. I doubt that you can do a blind test and pick the 96 over the 48.
I’m 50+ so my own high frequency hearing isn’t 20-20k anymore. You have that at the age of 20, after that the highs start to fade, just anatomy. No cure for ageing. And since most recordings today are going to be Spotify or UA-cam or what ever. Just waste of cpu power and disc space to do anything other than 48/24. And like I said, show me a blind test anyone who can tell the diffrence.
Totalmix tutorial, yes please!
Please produce frequency response graphs so we can see the difference between converters
my old rme raydat has been handeling a buffer setting of 32 with reaper for the last ten years without one single hiccup ever.
I think the preference for a brand or another depends only on your particular experience with it.
I had many technical (hardware fails) problems with RME and no problems with Motu AVB systems. Maybe other the opposite so it's easy to make your conclusion basing on your experience.
You probably could have used the Madiface XT II instead of the HDSPe PCIe card. This would simplify the setup because the Thunderbolt enclosure could be omitted. However, the Madiface XT II is about double the price of the HDSPe card...
I’ve experienced it long ago jumping off the Focusrite Saffire Pro40 on RME Fireface 800. The clarity in low frequencies surprised me a lot.
Fireface UCX II user here, yes Totalmix how to... always appreciated !
5:08 Nice of Thomann to give you free shipping. :)
Longtime Fireface 800 and 802 User. There are still Software Updates around for ancient products and these Converters are more an investment for a lifetime. A bit more expensive than other brands? Sure. But the clock is absolutely stable, the drivers are rock solid with a low latency and TotalMix ... everyone I know who switched to RME is absolutely happy about the decision.
I have no issues with Reaper + RME Babyface. In fact by far the best latency compared other DAWs. Quite surprised that Reaper is the one giving you problems.
Rme doesn’t make pro level converters except for the adi 2 pro line. For multichannel converters that are pro level you have pretty limited options : lynx aurora n, prism titan, merging Hapi, mtrx, Burl, black lion exp
Would love a totalmix walkthrough. I currently have 128 channels of MOTU AVB for my synth studio and am considering moving to a simpler RME setup - my use cases are split between running my DAW but also being able to run the studio without the computer.
Totalmix tutorial definitely! And more info on reaper latency, please.
Happy RME Raydat user with Apogee converters since I don’t know when - had the fireface 800 before. One thing you don’t have to worry about anymore is the Audio Interface once you use RME
A totalmix tutorial would be awesome. I've watched the Barry Johns ones which were helpful but it would be great if you were up for doing one. I kind of get Totalmix but I still get confused. I've just joined my old UCX ii to my new UFX iii via ADAT & I now have a separate Totalmix screen for both units with the UFX acting as the master. Awesome but confusing (insert emoji woozy face). I love your videos & thanks so much for taking the time to do them all. Much appreciated 🤝
Interesting about your Reaper issues? I run Reaper and RME Madiface down to 32 samples buffersize.
Yes please. Rme totalmix walkthrough. Dank je wel
Please do a tutorial on TotalMIx. I was brain storming and wonder if you can use TotalMix like your own Flock patch bay. I appreciate your videos!!!!
08:54 “Glen actually made a video about this” [Reaper latency] Can you give us a link to Glen’s video?
Did you ever find this video?
Your reviews are always great and you always bring wonderful music as examples. Please take into consideration though (and in this review it's more noticeable than normal) that a pop shield is needed for your voice - or some filter in post production. Did you change your mic? Thanks and keep the excellent work you are doing on your channel!
I loved my motu 24ai and 24ao HOWEVER one day ... they didn't update drivers at one point and my entire system was worthless until I bought new converters. I went to focusrite but I might need your setup instead. I need about 72 inputs and 30+ outputs
I hav known guys to have RME interfaces for over 20 years & still running solid!
Using my Fireface 800 since 2000 and still use it every day even though it’s FireWire 800 it works on the latest MacOS which is amazing. I did have to go through it and replace all the smt capacitors on the ins and outs as they dried up from the continuous heat. This will almost certainly be the case with the Motu interfaces. That’s just normal end of life component failures of capacitors as they have a heat rating and known length of life. Cost $20 and a couple hours of soldering and all good again. Agree Totalmix can be a mind$&)($ at first but is very flexible. Their pre-amps are nicely neutral and just rock solid interfaces with heaps of ins and outs. I run a UA Apollo at the same time which isn’t ideal having to run both as the sync isn’t great but the RME is the more reliable interface.
Throwing in another vote for a Totalmix tutorial!! 🙏🏽✨
Reaper is fine at 128 and 192 respectively, which is what my two RME devices go down to at 192KhZ. The issue is because Logic Pro etc. are built on Mac, so you can forgo the safety buffer, if you want. Reaper and some other DAW's do not have that option, so you gotta just settle with the normal minimum which I guess in your case would be a buffer size of 64 at 96KhZ.
Switched to an MT48 from the Apollo. I know it's not the same switch, but reliability and conversion were the deciding factors here, along with the onboard DSP which is extremely transparent.
Doesn't matter how many saturation plugins it can run if it makes my Mac crash when idling and forces me to restart the computer because Console stops working randomly.
Conversion should be invisible, and RME's reputation for reliability is second to none in that regard.