Intel Fireface 800 User Manual
Page 46

46
User's Guide Fireface 800
© RME
24. Stand-alone Operation
 
The Fireface 800 has an internal memory to permanently store all configuration data. These 
are: 
 
Settings dialog 
Sample rate, clock mode Master/Slave, configuration of the channels and the digital I/Os. 
 
TotalMix 
The complete mixer state. 
 
The Fireface loads those settings directly after power-on. A simple, yet useful application is to 
store the correct clock mode, avoiding wrong clocking and noise disturbances in a complex 
setup, caused by wrong synchronization. Usually the unit will be configured by the Windows 
driver, so for the time between power-on of the computer up to the loading of the Windows 
driver its state might be wrong. 
 
This total configuration feature in stand-alone operation - without any connected computer - 
turns the Fireface into lots of dedicated devices. Furthermore TotalMix (and with this all follow-
ing examples) can be MIDI controlled even in stand-alone operation, see chapter 32.7, Stand-
Alone MIDI Control. 
 
 
24.1 10-Channel AD/DA-Converter
 
When loading TotalMix' factory default 1 into the unit, the Fireface becomes a high quality 10-
channel AD/DA-converter, which also provides a monitoring of all 8 DA-channels via channels 
9/10 (Preset 2: also monitoring all 10 inputs). A small modification allows for a monitoring of all 
I/Os via the SPDIF I/O. 
 
 
24.2 4-Channel Mic Preamp
 
Use TotalMix to route the four microphone inputs directly to the analog outputs. This turns the 
Fireface 800 into a 4-channel microphone preamp. The AD- and DA-conversion will cause a 
small delay of the signals of around 0.4 ms (at 192 kHz, see chapter 35.2). But this is not really 
relevant, as it is the same delay that would be caused by changing the microphone's position by 
about 14 centimeter (5.6 inches). 
 
 
24.3 Monitor Mixer
 
TotalMix allows ANY configuration of all I/Os of the Fireface. For example, set up the device as 
monitor mixer for 10 analog signals, 16 digital via ADAT and 2 via SPDIF. Additionally, TotalMix 
lets you set up ANY submixes, so all existing outputs can be used for different and independent 
monitorings of the input signals. The perfect headphone monitor mixer! 
 
 
24.4 Digital Format Converter
 
As TotalMix allows for any routing of the input signals, the Fireface 800 can be used as ADAT 
to SPDIF converter, ADAT to two ADAT splitter, and SPDIF to ADAT converter. 
 
 
24.5 Analog/digital Routing Matrix
 
The Matrix in TotalMix enables you to route and link all inputs and outputs completely freely. All 
the above functionalities are even available simultaneously, can be mixed and combined in 
many ways. Simply said: the Fireface 800 is a perfect analog/digital routing matrix!
