RME Premium LINE HDSPe MADI FX

The new RME PCI Express HDSPe MADI FX interface represents a true revolution in the audio interface industry. Until now there has been no similar system in terms of performance and number of channels (390!)

Three MADI I/Os-two optical and one coaxial-an AES/EBU I/O and an analog output for monitoring. Four MIDI I/Os and a Word Clock connection complete the package. Like all RME cards, the technology and connections are integrated within an extremely compact solution. Only one free PCIe slot on the motherboard is needed, and another free slot on the computer case.

To provide the low-latency performance characteristic of RME interfaces, the HDSPe MADI FX takes advantage of the brand-new, ultra-high-tech Hammerfall Pro Audio Core modular system. The new core can process up to 3 times as many channels as RME's previous MADI generation; at the same time it reduces the load on the processor and allows latency buffers of up to 32 samples to be used on newer computers.

The new system automatically turns off unused channels so as not to consume computing resources or bandwidth. Simple stereo playback produces no more load on the system than a stereo audio interface, despite the fact that this is a professional multi-channel system with nearly 400 channels.

The HDSPe MADI FX has a special version of the TotalMix FX that allows this number of channels to be handled conveniently and effectively. RME has optimized system performance so that the MADI FX's 4096-channel mixer responds as smoothly as its 1800-channel counterpart in the Fireface UFX. The new, more powerful DSP allows even more EQs and compressors to be added.

The new TotalMix layout makes it extremely easy to manage the huge number of channels. You can hide unused channels and save and recall these display setups. One click is all it takes to switch between setups, such as from seeing just the drum mix to the full band channels.

The 192 kHz effects engine enables zero-latency monitoring with various effects such as EQ, compressor, reverb and delay directly from the board hardware, totally independent of the DAW.

The TotalMix matrix allows the card to be used as a powerful MADI router. Unlike most other routing solutions, you can determine the assignment of each individual channel, with different levels for each routing. The TotalMix's unbeatable flexibility allows the most complex and unthinkable applications to be turned into reality.