Fireface 800 Operation

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Fireface 800 Operation

Hello,

I am having a difficult time understanding how my rme fireface 800 controls the volume output of my imac.

Is there someone out there that has a fireface 800 that would be willing to help me understand a couple things?

I have the rme fireface 800 connected to my imac via the firewire 800. I have Dynaudio powered monitors connected to outputs of the fireface 800 7+8. All I'd like to do is have the fireface 800 control the output with the master fader of a mackie control universal pro. I just purchased the mcu recently to use with logic studio and to have the capability to control my itunes and logic output with the mcu fader instead of the software mixer. It is a PITA to control volume with a mouse.

I guess I don't understand how to setup the patchbay in the fireface software. I have read the manual and it is pretty difficult to understand, at least for me.

http://www.GlacierAmps.com

Posted on Dec 15, 2007 12:17 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 15, 2007 1:48 PM in response to Verbolo

You'll get faster and more precise answers here:

http://rme-audio.de/forum/viewforum.php?id=4

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Answer 2

Verbolo Author

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Dec 15, 2007 2:20 PM in response to Sampleconstruct

Duh that would make sense! Thanks for the link.

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Answer 3

Dec 16, 2007 1:36 AM in response to Verbolo

If you haven't found the answer you're looking for yet, I would first make sure you have the Fireface Mixer setup correctly.

If you have your Dynaudio monitors connected to outputs 7 & 8, you would have to make sure the faders in the Fireface Mixer middle row (Playback section) are sending a signal to the Analog Output of the Fireface Mixer which is the bottom row.

Under every fader in the middle Playback row, you'll see where that fader is sending it's signal to. Since most every program will default to sending signals to the analog outs of the Fireface 800 via Out 1 and Out 2, make sure these outputs are sending their signals out through AN 7+8 since you have your monitors connected to the outputs 7 & 8 of your Fireface 800. Every output channel in the middle row of the Fireface mixer has it's Analog destination so you would just click underneath the fader to change the destination.

After you have that set up correctly you can bring your mackie control into the picture I believe.

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Answer 4

Verbolo Author

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Dec 16, 2007 12:16 PM in response to freezerburrn

I hope I am close to figuring this out. Thanks for your help.

I have audio passing through the ff800. Itunes music and Logic Pro are both controlled by the bottom row linked faders in total mix, which are set to AN7 and AN8. I did set the playback fader in total mix to AN 7+8.

So far so good.

Now, how should I connect the midi of the mackie control surface to the ff800?

I would think to connect the midi out on the mackie to the midi input on the ff800. Is this all I need to do?

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Answer 5

Verbolo Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 16, 2007 12:56 PM in response to Verbolo

Got it figured out.

Once I connected the midi properly the master volume fader on the mackie works as it should.

Oh well, I learned a few things.

Thanks again.

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Answer 6

Dec 16, 2007 1:52 PM in response to Verbolo

I'm glad you're getting things sorted out. The Fireface 800 is a beauty to work with with Logic, at least for me. I actually don't use a hardware mixer with my setup and rely totally on Totalmix which is a really powerful mixer in itself.

Make sure you take advantage of the 0ms delay monitoring the Fireface 800 has 😀 and turn software monitoring in Logic off.

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Answer 7

Verbolo Author

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20 points

Dec 16, 2007 2:17 PM in response to freezerburrn

I have much to learn with this new setup.

I have been purchasing and building gear bit by bit for the past 5 years.

I have been busy and haven't had much time figure the ff800 out.

I bought the ff800 with the intentions to connect the mic pre's I have built to it. I figured that the ff800's converters would be quality enough for what I am doing.

Would you tell me a little more about how to set the 0ms delay monitoring and turn the software monitoring off in Logic? I'd be very appreciative.

I just noticed that when I close Logic Pro I lose the master volume function for itunes music. I like to listen to my itunes library when I am working on equipment at my bench. I can keep logic pro open all of the time but I shouldn't have to right?

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Answer 8

Dec 16, 2007 2:15 PM in response to Verbolo

Choose the FF800 as your Main Computer output in the Audio Midi Configuration. Then you can listen to itunes through the FF. Software monitoring can be turned off in the Audio preferences->drivers->Software monitoring (untick the little box).

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Answer 9

Verbolo Author

Level 1

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Dec 16, 2007 2:25 PM in response to Sampleconstruct

OK I have had the ff800 setup in audio/midi as the default and system output.

I searched the preferences in Logic and found the software monitoring. I deselected it.

When I close logic the faders on the mackie lower to the bottom of the surface and the lcd screen goes blank. This is not a big deal...I still can control the itunes audio with the controller but the master fader does not stay where I want it. After I move it up the fader jumps back down to the ∞ setting. I see that the faders are controlling the total mix faders. I get it now.

One last question...What is the software monitoring for? Do I need to select this to monitor what is going on it Logic when I am using it?

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Answer 10

Dec 17, 2007 2:28 AM in response to Verbolo

Software monitoring is mainly used for "all in the box productions". If you have an external Mixing board or an Interface that has Monitoring capabilities you don't need this Software Monitoring. It has an audible latency as well if your buffer is not set to 64 at least, so I usually always monitor directly from my Mixing desk to avoid this latency issue.

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