• mhch
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  • Registered: 2010-05-30
  • Posts: 1

Topic: FF UC and USB3

I read a number of discussions on other forums about whether the Fireface UC could benefit from the arrival of USB3 interfaces. To me, there are two different aspects involved in this.

1) A new driver is needed, else the FF UC is probably seen as a USB2 device by the USB3 port which can also act as a USB2 one

2) And most likely some hardware upgrade is required to support a 10x faster interface

Could RME shed some light on this, especially on the second point ? Thanks in advance

2 Reply by uwekirst (edited by uwekirst 2010-06-01 17:33:22)

  • Registered: 2008-06-26
  • Posts: 151

Re: FF UC and USB3

The fireface UC is USB2 (480MBit), but it will work if you connect it to an USB3 connector, since the USB3 connector also includes an USB2 port.
There is no benefit of USB3 for audio, the bandwidth of 480MBit is enough for more than 100 channels,
/Uwe

  • Registered: 2007-06-10
  • Posts: 105

Re: FF UC and USB3

uwekirst wrote:

There is no benefit of USB3 for audio, the bandwidth of 480MBit is enough for more than 100 channels,
/Uwe

Would there be any issues using a FFUC with a USB 3 port? Would it be better to use a USB 2 port?

4 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
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Re: FF UC and USB3

As can be read in this forum the first USB 3 ports seem to make trouble with USB 2 audio.

http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8312

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2007-06-10
  • Posts: 105

Re: FF UC and USB3

Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate the info.

  • Registered: 2008-06-26
  • Posts: 151

Re: FF UC and USB3

We found an minor issue with the NEC usb3 Controller.
If you want to use the NEC usb3 Controller with the Fireface UC and the current driver you should set the buffersize to 256 Sample (SS) or below for the WDM driver.
Buffersizes > 256 Sample are ASIO only at the moment.

/Uwe

7 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
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Re: FF UC and USB3

These issues have been fixed with firmware 111. While not working in USB 3 mode the UC is now at least compatible to the Nec USB 3 chip and can be connected and operated without problems. As the incompatibility had been caused by a general 'hardware' problem in our firmware we expect it now to be compatible to other USB 3 chips as well.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website