On the front side, the Fireface 800 has 4 discrete balanced microphone inputs with class-A stage, separate activation of 48 V phantom power and separate XLR/TRS inputs, where the latter can also be used as adjustable Line inputs with a gain range of 50 dB! Two of the four mic inputs are permanently available as channels 9 and 10, the other two can be used together with or alternatively to the inputs 7/8 on the back.

LET'S ROCK!

The FireFace 800's Hi-Z instrument input offers an unprecedented fidelity and flexibility for the use of guitar and bass. A soft-limiter, which has been tuned especially for musical instruments, efficiently prevents overloads of the A/D-converter. The limiter does not work without distortion, it intentionally creates harmonic distortion. Due to a soft transition and deliberate creation of harmonics, the input signal is compressed steplessly according to taste, or the limiter can be used as a distortion with tube sound. A Drive circuit, which can be activated in addition, delivers broad guitar distortion. The Speaker Emulation filter, which can also be switched on separately, takes low- and high-frequency disturbances away and guarantees an optimal basic sound even when recording directly into the computer, or when monitoring through a mixing console. Signals from guitar or bass are not being alienated in this case, but pre-conditioned for later processing in the DAW, so that the known amplifier plug-ins can make the most out of the sound.

DIGITAL I/Os

Two ADAT optical I/Os allow for a connection and insertion of effects devices, mixing consoles or external converters. Of course, these 16 channels are available simultaneously with the analog channels. Using two additional ADI-8 DS, you'll get 26 analog inputs and outputs, which remain still 18 at 96 kHz. The coaxial SPDIF I/O works up to 192 kHz, so that there are still 10 analog in- and outputs at the highest sample rate, plus two digital ones. SPDIF optical, alternatively provided via the second ADAT port, also operates up to 192 kHz - another RME-only feature.