Intel Fireface 800 - Manual (Page 28)

28 User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
12.6 Digital Recording
Unlike analog soundcards which produce empty wave files (or noise) when no input signal is
present, digital interfaces always need a valid input signal to start recording.
Taking this into account, RME added two important features to the Fireface 800: a comprehen-
sive I/O signal status display showing sample frequency, lock and sync status in the Settings
dialog, and status LEDs for each input.
The sample frequency shown in the Settings dialog (see chapter 11.1, screenshot Settings) is
useful as a quick display of the current configuration (the board itself and all connected external
equipment). If no sample frequency is recognized, it will read ‘No Lock’.
This way, configuring any suitable audio application for digital recording is simple. After select-
ing the required input, Fireface UC displays the current sample frequency. This parameter can
then be changed in the application’s audio attributes (or similar) dialog.
It often makes sense to monitor the input signal or send it directly to the output. This can be
done at zero latency using TotalMix (see chapter 29).
An automated control of real-time monitoring can be achieved by Steinberg’s ASIO protocol
with RME’s ASIO drivers and all ASIO 2.0 compatible programs. When 'ASIO Direct Monitoring'
has been switched on, the input signal is routed in real-time to the output whenever a recording
is started (punch-in).
12.7 Analog Recording
For recordings via the analog inputs the corresponding record device has to be chosen (Fire-
face Analog (x+x)). Apart from the three reference levels, the Fireface has no means to change
the input level. This would make no sense for the digital inputs, but also for the analog inputs
one can do without it. It doesn't matter if the Fireface is operated at a mixing desk or a mul-
tichannel mic preamp, in either case the level can be controlled directly at the source to match
the Fireface's sensitivity perfectly.
The input sensitivity of the frontside analog inputs can be adjusted using their Gain pots to
match any external source perfectly, see chapter 27.2.