RME
FIREFACE UFX III

188-channel, 24-bit/192kHz high-end USB 3 audio interface

The Multichannel flagship interface

The Fireface UFX III is the center of any multitrack studio and can manage up to 94 channels of I/O with ease. Its unparalleled flexibility, compatibility, incorporation of DURec (Direct USB Recording), and RME's famous low-latency hardware and driver design guarantee flawless operation in any mode and application.

Packed with professional features like 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 separately available Advanced Remote Control USB, the Fireface UFX III is the preferred tool for professional multitrack recording, mixing and mastering.

Powerful- USB 3 Performance

The front panel of the Fireface UFX III features 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 (Direct USB Recording) function, the USB port allows independent recording of selected input and output signals (up to 80 channels) to a connected USB storage device.

The rear panel reveals the full connectivity of the Fireface UFX III. Besides one additional MIDI I/O, two optical ADAT I/Os, one 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/Os. Furthermore, the Fireface UFX III offers an optical MADI interface (SC) with 64 bidirectional channels. The word clock connectors (BNC) serve as additional coaxial MADI inputs and outputs, if required.

Comprehensive MADI connectivity

The Fireface UFX III opens the doors to a wide range of digital and analog I/O solutions from RME and third-party suppliers. With the ability to expand the number of analog channels and route/mix through numerous sources within the digital domain, there are many flexible options. Multiple external MADI devices can also be daisy-chained.

In order to further increase MADI flexibility, the Fireface UFX III comes with some signature RME features. For example, in USB 2 mode, which is limited to 30 I/O channels (12 analog plus 16 ADAT plus AES), 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 simultaneous use of both MADI I/Os with 32 channels each on optical and coaxial.

Powerful applications for mixing, monitoring and measuring included

The Fireface UFX III is equipped with the TotalMix FX DSP mixer, which offers powerful routing and monitoring capabilities, and the DIGICheck Analyzer, which can measure and analyze digital input signals in both directions with highest precision. TotalMix FX can completely replace an external mixer and allows creating multiple latency-free monitor mixes with EQ, dynamics, reverb and delay for any outputs, including main monitors and headphone mixes for musicians.

The additional TotalMix Remote is a remote control for TotalMix FX to control the hardware mixer and effects in RME audio interfaces. TotalMix Remote mirrors the current status of the host system to the iPad and Windows/Mac - the entire mix status, the complete routing, all effect settings up to the level meters - all in real-time. Via Ethernet and WiFi all mixer and FX settings can be conveniently adjusted remotely.

DC-coupled outputs - CV/Gate Voltage Control

Most audio interfaces are traditionally equipped with so-called "AC-coupled outputs", where capacitors are used to filter out extremely low frequencies.

While these frequencies are generally considered undesirable because they can eat up the headroom and damage other devices, DC coupling is quite desirable in the world of modular synthesizers where static or slow signals are used to control various parameters like pitch values or LFOs.

All line-level outputs of the Fireface UFX III are fully DC-coupled and allow sending control voltages (CV) or gate information to modular synthesizers (like the popular Eurorack and Moog/MOTM/synthesizer formats) and other studio hardware.

All new features and changes compared to the RME Fireface UFX+

USB 3 Class Compliant Audio

The Fireface UFX III operates in two different modes: Driver-based USB 3 and Class Compliant. The Class Compliant mode is a standard that is natively supported by operating systems like Windows, Mac OSX and Linux distributions. No proprietary drivers are needed, the device is directly recognized when the CC firmware is loaded.

The Fireface UFX III is RME's first audio interface with full USB 3.0 support in Class Compliant Mode. This makes all channels available in driverless operation for Linux, Mac and iPadOS. An iPad Pro with USB C can manage up to 94 channels for recording and playback in TotalMix FX for iPad and at system level.

DURec (Direct USB Recording)

DURec is an integrated digital recorder for all inputs and outputs that records directly to USB storage devices via the front USB port. The Fireface UFX III records to USB sticks or hard disks with up to 2 TB capacity. The recording functionality is provided by the internal DSP and is thus independent of a connected Windows or Mac computer. With Direct USB Recording, the Fireface UFX series becomes both a stand-alone field recorder and a powerful multi-channel live player for prior recordings, e.g. for virtual soundchecks. Live concerts, band rehearsals or spontaneous jam sessions can be recorded and played back directly from the medium - even completely stand-alone without computer or software.