Musikmesse 2013: RME Announce a Range of New Products

At this years’ Messe RME announced an exciting variety of new products due for release this year. The MADiface USB, the MADiface XT, the Octamic XTC and the TotalMix FX App – also announced five new products in a striking new design: the new MADI Router, the ADAT Router and ADAT Converter, and the AES3 Router and AES3 Converter.

Image courtesy of RME

 
Here’s some of the the official info we’ve got for each:

MADIface USB:

The MADIface USB is a compact device that provides MADI I/O via USB2 while supporting the format’s full 64 channels. Its sturdy and bus-powered design makes it as easy to use as reliable in operation. SteadyClock as well as RME’s well known MADI compatibility ensure hassle-free operation with other devices.

MADIface XT:

Three MADI ports, each carrying up to 64 audio channels, and additional connectors for microphones, line levels, AES/EBU, MIDI and headphone signals are providing audio engineers not only with a device that fits perfectly into their professional recording environment – but that also fits easily into their bags for recording on the road. An exciting novelty is the use of USB 3.0. As done before with PCI, FireWire and USB, RME do not use any off-the-shelf USB 3 chip, but use their own USB 3 core programmed into a flexible FPGA. Combining this approach with RME’s matured Hammerfall technology and TotalMix FX created an incredible powerful and flexible device. As usual the USB 3 connector is downward compatible to USB 2. In USB 2 mode, the MADIface XT still sends and receives more than 64 channels each and simultaneously – another world’s first from RME, eagerly awaited by professional users all around the world.

OctaMic XTC:

RME proudly presents a new generation of microphone, line and instrument preamp, A/D converter, digital patchbay and format converter, monitoring device and even a flexible frontend for the iPad®- the OctaMic XTC! With the OctaMic XTC eight microphone and line inputs, 4 switchable to Hi-Z mode, meet an unrivaled variety of digital connection protocols – from common ADAT and AES/EBU to sophisticated 64-channel MADI optical.

TotalMix FX App:

TotalMix FX for iPad now adds full control over hardware mixer and DSP effects for Fireface UFX, UCX and Babyface when in Class Compliant mode, and lets users create, store and load complete mixes directly from the iPad. Additionally hardware controls like phantom power for microphone inputs, mic/line/instrument switching and sample rate are supported. TotalMix FX has been ported to the iPad carefully to be used safely while maintaining the tablet’s feel and way of use. Landscape and portrait view, two zoom levels for detail view and overview, horizontal and vertical scrolling via swipe gestures, newly designed Retina graphics and much more make it both a breeze and joy to use.

The MADI Router has four groups of three different MADI I/Os each and is used as patch bay and format converter between those. Apart from the fully transparent, stream-wise operation between its ports it excels the well-known MADI Bridge by letting users create output signals that combine audio channels from different MADI inputs.

The ADAT Router is based on the design of the ADI-648, providing eight optical ADAT inputs, eight ADAT outputs, and MADI connectors for optical, coaxial, and MADI Twisted Pair connections. All audio channels can be freely routed between MADI and ADAT.

Following into the footsteps of the ADI-642 and ADI-6432, RME presents a device that takes the best of both units: channel-wise routing and multiple AES3-MADI conversion capabilities. Apart from optical, coaxial and twisted pair MADI connections, the AES3 Router provides four D-sub 25-pin ports, carrying 32 audio channels both in and out of the device. However, the ports can be configured to be send-only or receive-only ports, resulting in 64 audio channel outputs or 64 audio channel inputs.

All three routers are equipped with a TFT display for easy operation and status overview, redundant (double) power supplies, and USB ports for preset storage and firmware updates.

The ADAT Converter is an extension to either one of the routers, providing the required power to the converter over the MADI Twisted Pair connection. Therefore, no additional power supply is needed. The ADAT Converter translates the signals of up to eight ADAT inputs to MADI TP, and sends the signals from its MADI input to the eight ADAT outputs.

Also the new AES3 Converter acts as an extension to either one of the routers. It can be configured to convert the attached MADI signal to send and receive 32 audio channels, or, if required, either send or receive 64 audio channels.

For more in-depth info please see this link