The Multichannel Flagship Interface
The Fireface UFX III is the center of any multitrack studio, handling up to 94 channels I/O with ease. Its unprecedented flexibility, compatibility, the inclusion of DURec (Direct USB Recording) and RME’s famous low latency hardware and driver designs guarantee flawless operation in any mode and application.
Packed with professional features, including SteadyClock FS, MADI I/O (64 channels), a powerful DSP, USB 3.0 (full 94 channel I/O Class Compliant ready), TotalMix FX, Direct USB Recording, and support for the Advanced Remote Control USB (available separately), the Fireface UFX III is the professional’s preferred tool for multitrack recording, mixing and mastering.
The Fireface UFX III is based on a newly developed analog and digital board. While the analog board offers, for example, DC-coupled analog outputs as well as new AD and DA converters with improved THD+N value, the digital board also enables interesting new features thanks to updated high-tech components.
Connectivity and Features
4 x XLR/TRS Mic/Inst/Line
1 x Word Clock I/O / MADI Coaxial
AutoSet Digital Gain Control
Powerful USB 3 Performance
The front panel of the Fireface UFX III provides four high-performance XLR/TRS combo inputs for microphone, instrument and line signals, two stereo headphone jacks with +19 dBu output level, MIDI I/O, and a USB port. In combination with the DURec function (Direct USB Recording), the USB port allows independent recording of selected input and output signals (up to 80 channels) to a connected USB storage medium.
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.
Comprehensive MADI Connectivity
The Fireface UFX III opens the doors to a host of RME and 3rd party digital and analog I/O solutions. Expanding your analog channel count, the ability to route/mix within the digital domain through numerous sources presents many flexible options. Multiple external MADI devices can also be connected in series.
To further enhance MADI flexibility, the Fireface UFX III boasts some typical RME-style features. For example in USB 2 mode, which is limited to 30 channels I/O (12 analog plus 16 ADAT plus AES), the MADI I/O is still available via RME’s integrated hardware mixer TotalMix FX. Word Clock I/O (BNC) can be switched to MADI I/O (coaxial), and a special split mode even supports the use of both MADI I/Os simultaneously, with 32 channel each on optical and coaxial.
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
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