• Registered: 2008-06-15
  • Posts: 72

Topic: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

I've got an ancient multiface (actually, Nuendo-branded "multiset").  It's literally coming up on a quarter century old.  I have noticed at times I get a small amount of random audio glitching, which sometimes grows in frequency and intensity to the point where audio played out of Cubase is almost unrecognizable.

Another symptom is that, sometimes, the glitching gets bad and the computer itself gets slower and slower, to where mouse movements take seconds to minutes to register.

Also seemingly correlated, if I shut everything down, put an ice pack on top of the Multiface until it gets notably cold, then restart everything, I can generally work glitch-free, at least for a good while. 

My initial impression is that this seems to correlate with warmer room temperatures, and/or longer times on and working.

Is this a known failure symptom of something Multiface-related?

The unit is mounted in open air on a pair of arms.  So it has free air on all sides.  I have also run it with a fan blowing directly on it, but that in itself (without the ice pack) doesn't always help.

The problem is intermittent, so it's hard to reliably reproduce/test.

Windows 10
Cubase 14

Does this ring any bells?  When the unit is working, it still works beautifully.  In warm weather, it seems to be a crapshoot.

Thanks...

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,208

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

Not really a known issue, but age might play a part here.
Should be repairable, but I can't totally guarantee that every possible component is still available.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • waedi
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 7,813

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

glittle wrote:

then restart everything, I can generally work glitch-free, at least for a good while.

I think the issue can be on the PCI-card.
How is the computer looking inside ?
Do you open the housing and clean it from time to time ? Are the fans working free of dust ?
Put the PCI-card into a different slot...?

M1-GoldenGate, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 3,206

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

And even try to clean the PCI contacts of the card with a pencil eraser gum. PCI cards are notorious for oxidation.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • Registered: 2008-06-15
  • Posts: 72

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

Thanks for the suggestions.  It actually uses expresscard (through adapters) to connect to the computer USB.  I have re-seated everything, but a more thorough contact cleaning isn't a bad idea, nor is doing another periodic laptop fan/airway cleaning.  I do find it interesting that the highest probability way to get it to work is to ice down the I/O interface box itself, since now that I think about it aren't most of the smarts in the expresscard?

Are there any reasonably workable diagnostics (for someone without much in the way of test equipment) to see if I can narrow down the problem?  I'm not averse to replacing the unit if I can at least confirm that the problem is the RME and not the laptop or even a Windows/drivers/cubase issue.  I can't complain about how many years of service and ongoing driver support that I've gotten from this 2002 piece of gear. smile

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,208

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

No way to connect Expresscard to USB and have the MF working...

In any case, if this is reproducibly an issue of temperature and the MF itself, then some components seem to be aging. You could send it in and have it diagnosed. Or look for a second-hand replacement.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2008-06-15
  • Posts: 72

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

Thanks Daniel.  Yeah, I am one of those running the RME Expresscard through a couple of adapters (I believe it is EC to firewire, then firewire to USB) to end up with USB into the computer.  It works great, I can run 32-sample buffers for the most part unless Windows itself decides to muck up the works, which it does more often than I'd like but that's a whole other issue.

-glenn

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,208

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

I have no idea how this is supposed to work - neither with FireWire nor with USB. There is no way to get Expresscard to work with USB... Wondering what exactly this might be.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2008-06-15
  • Posts: 72

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

Ah, shoot, sorry, I misspoke.  I said "firewire" when I meant "thunderbolt".  Not looking at the computer right now, but I believe it is something like:

ExpressCard -> Sonnet Echo Pro (EC to Thunderbolt)

Then to a StarTech to convert Thunderbolt2 to Thunderbolt3.

Then to the laptop.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,208

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

That makes sense... :-)

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Kubrak
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2023-08-03
  • Posts: 1,628

Re: multiface (multiset) heat glitch issue?

Also latest USBs might work, here and there. They may support TB communication layer.

FF UCX II, Digiface USB, Babyface Pro FS