The RME Fireface 802 FS is a professional studio audio interface with high-end studio sound, rock-solid stability and ultra-low latency.
The Fireface is known for its reference-class AD/DA conversion, working up to 24-bit/192kHz and now backed by RME's renowned active SteadyClock FS jitter suppression.
Loaded with four high-end preamps, 60 channels of killer low-latency I/O, powerful DSP mixing, the RME Fireface 802 FS USB 2.0 audio interface is the interface for your studio. With its transparent microphone preamps, integrated instrument inputs, balanced signal paths and reference-class converters, the Fireface 802 lets you capture any sound source in exquisite detail. A full complement of digital I/O makes integration with the rest of your studio equipment easy, too. Speaking of easy, the Fireface 802 FS is fully compatible with RME's Advanced Remote Control USB (optional), giving your entire desktop access to its latency-free, DSP-controlled monitoring and effects.
analog signal path meets top-quality digital conversion
Ask any enginear at Klundert Music and they'll tell you that RME is synonymous with top-quality audio. So we weren't at all surprised by how fantastic the RME Fireface 802 FS audio interface sounds. It all starts with the I/O. First, there's the set of eight TRS balanced analog inputs and outputs, in addition you get two independent headphone outputs and four front panel XLR/DI combo preamps straight from the OctaMic II. In case you're not familiar with these low-distortion, fully symmetrical microphone preamps, these are the preamps professionals use on location to record full orchestras and other critical applications. A set of amazing AD/DA converters with jitter suppression provides audio with up to 192 kHz resolution and a dynamic range of a whopping 118 dBA, so every detail reaches your DAW. And on top of the 12 x 12 analog I/O, the Fireface 802 FS offers an additional 18 channels of digital I/O on optical and AES/EBU connectors.
RME Fireface 802 Hybrid Audio Interface features
- impressive 30-in/30-out audio interface with high-speed USB connectivity
- 12 analog inputs including TRS line jacks and 4 combination DI/XLR microphone preamps based on the acclaimed OctaMic II
- RME's top-shelf converters with active jitter control deliver extreme clarity and superior stereo imaging
- optical and XLR digital I/O support up to 18 channels including ADAT, SMUX and AES/EBU protocols
- DSP-controlled mixer offers latency-free monitoring with EQ, dynamics, reverb and delay
- setup mixing and complex routing from your computer or iPad
- RME's Advanced Remote Control USB (NOT INCLUDED) provides full monitor control and custom commands to enhance your workflow
DSP-driven TotalMix FX mixer offers latency-free effects and routing
Low-latency converters are one thing, but when it comes to monitoring, your entire signal path should have as little latency as possible. RME's solution was to equip the Fireface 802 FS with their amazing TotalMix FX DSP mixer. This high-end signal routing tool sits in front of your DAW, allowing you to set up mixes that bypass the vast majority of latency in your system as you record. Of course, your plug-ins then drop out, but that's why RME has a selection of integrated DSP processing, including EQ, dynamics and reverb/delay effects that you can use for recording and monitoring. And you can control all the routing, effects and processing on board the Fireface 802 FS directly from your computer or your iPad, making it easy to design complex setups for any application.
Specifications:
- USB audio interface
- 8 balanced audio inputs
- 8 balanced audio outputs
- 4 microphone preamplifiers with phantom
- preamplifiers based on OctaMic 2
- very low harmonic distortion
- AES/EBU, up to 192 kHz supported
- TotalMix mixer / software
- BNC Word Clock
- works with Windows and Mac
- solid metal housing
- rack size: 1 HE
- optional: extended remote control (RME ARC USB)
Connections:
- 4x XLR/jack combo
- 2x headphone connection
- 8x balanced line input (6.3 mm TRS jack)
- 8x balanced line output (6.3 mm TRS jack)
- AES/EBU in/out (XLR)
- 2x ADAT I/O
- Word Clock in/out (BNC) with Remote
- MIDI in/out (5-pin DIN)
- USB-B port
What are the differences between the RME Fireface 802 and RME Fireface 802 FS?
So the new Fireface 802 FS replaces previous versions of the Fireface 802. The Fireface 802 FS has a new digital board with a new FPGA, the Spartan 7.
The current analog board now has the same technical specifications as the latest UFX III.
The front of the 802 FS looks the same at first glance, however, only the FireWire LED has been replaced with a yellow CC LED. Since the 802 FS has the same analog I/Os as before, the back also looks almost the same. However, the old ARC mini-DIN connector has been replaced with a USB-A connector and the FireWire connector has been removed. The ARC USB can now be connected directly to the device.
The recessed switch (near the WordClock jacks) allows the Fireface to be set to CC mode.
What's new on the Fireface 802 FS?
The new digital board gives the 802 FS two features of its bigger brother, the UFX III:
- SteadyClock FS: The Fireface 802 FS can now handle even low-frequency jitter below 50 Hz on WordClock, SPDIF AES and MADI input signals.
At the same time the Lock, Sync and Varipitch behavior remains at the usual RME level: fast, reliable and compatible.
- 30 channels in USB 2 Class Compliant Mode: The maximum number of channels in USB 2 CC Mode was limited to a maximum of 24 channels due to the lack of high bandwidth support. The 802, like the UFX, could only handle a maximum of 22 channels of I/O up to 96 kHz, 192 kHz was not supported.
The revised analog PCB board of the Fireface 802 FS now includes DC-coupled analog outputs, following the other newer RME interfaces.
All 8 analog output channels have no frequency limitation and thus no phase error in the bass range. Headphone outputs 9-12 are not DC-coupled.
