RME Fireface UFX III - 188-Channel USB 3 Audio Interface

Comprehensive connectivity

The rear panel reveals the full connectivity of the Fireface UFX III. Besides another MIDI I/O, the two optical ADAT I/Os, an AES/EBU I/O, and eight balanced analog outputs with line level (including XLR stereo monitor outputs) are available. With the new Multi-Mode, the two ADAT I/Os can be used as separate optical SPDIF inputs and outputs in addition to the AES I/O.

Furthermore, the Fireface UFX III offers an optical MADI interface (SC) with 64 bidirectional channels. The Word Clock connectors (BNC) work as additional coaxial MADI input and output if required. The Fireface UFX III is connected to the computer via USB 3.0. In compatible USB 2.0 mode, all analog and digital I/Os are available, except for the MADI channels. The second USB port on the rear panel is used to connect an optional ARC USB remote control.

SPECS

Fireface UFX III

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
As AD, but:

• 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
As AD, but:

• 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)
As DA, but:

• 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)
As DA, but:

• Output: 2 x 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