RME Audio Fireface 400 - Introduction; Package Contents; System Requirements; Brief Description and Characteristics

6
User's Guide Fireface 400 © RME
1. Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Fireface 400. This unique audio system is capable of transferring
analog and digital audio data directly to a computer from practically any device. The latest Plug
and Play technology guarantees a simple installation, even for the inexperienced user. The
numerous unique features and well thought-out configuration dialog puts the Fireface 400 at the
very top of the range of computer-based audio interfaces.
The package contains drivers for Windows 2000 SP4, XP, XP 64, Vista, Vista 64, Mac OS X
and Mac OS X x86.
Our high-performance philosophy guarantees maximum system performance by executing as
many functions as possible not in the driver (i.e. the CPU), but directly within the audio hard-
ware.
2. Package Contents
Please check that your Fireface 400 package contains each of the following:
• Fireface 400
• Cable IEEE1394a (FW400), 4 m (13 ft)
• MIDI breakout cable
• Power supply
• Manual
• RME Driver CD
• 1 optical cable (TOSLINK), 2 m (6.6 ft)
3. System Requirements
• Windows 2000 SP4, XP, XP 64, Vista, Vista 64, Mac OS X (> 10.3) PPC or Intel
• 1 OHCI compatible FireWire Port 400 (1394a) or 800 (1394b)
• Pentium III 866 MHz or better, G4 Dual 867 or better
Note
: Examples and detailed descriptions of suitable audio desktop systems can be found in
the Tech Info RME Reference PCs: Hardware recommendations. Information on compatibility
and performance of notebooks/laptops is included in RMEs Tech Infos about notebooks, HDSP
System – Notebook Basics and Tests.
4. Brief Description and Characteristics
• Enhanced Mixed Mode: Analog, ADAT and SPDIF I/O simultaneously usable
• 8 buffer sizes/latencies available: 1.0 / 1.5 / 2.1 / 3 / 6 / 12 / 17 / 23 ms
• All settings can be changed in real-time
• 4 channels 96 kHz/24 bit Record/Playback via ADAT optical (S/MUX)
• Clock modes slave and master
• Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control
• Unsurpassed Bitclock PLL (audio synchronization) in ADAT mode
• Word clock input and output
• TotalMix for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring
• TotalMix: 648 channel mixer with 42 bit internal resolution
• SyncAlign guarantees sample aligned and never swapping channels
• SyncCheck tests and reports the synchronization status of input signals
• 2 x MIDI I/O, 32 channels high-speed MIDI
• 1 x Hi-power headphone output
• DIGICheck DSP: Level meter in hardware, peak- and RMS calculation