• Registered: 2017-02-07
  • Posts: 7

Topic: How to (re)install Totalmix FX?

Hi folks,

I have what seems to be a simple issue.  How do you download and install the latest version of the Totalmix FX application on Windows 7?  I recently uninstalled the version I had in order to solve a launch problem.  Supposedly Totalmix FX comes bundled with the Fireface drivers, but after I install the drivers, there’s still no shortcut or Windows tray icon or anything else I could find to start Totalmix FX.   It doesn’t start automatically.  I can't find a “Totalmix” or “Firefacemix” file on the hard drive.  The process I followed was to download the latest driver file (driver_fw_win_3122.zip as of today), then extract and run the rmeinstaller.exe file that's in the zip file.  The driver installation seems to complete normally, since it does create the entry “Windows Driver Package – RME Fireface (12/15/2106 3.1.22.0)” under “Programs and Features” in the Windows Control Panel.  There are some older driver package versions listed there as well.

I’m using a ten year old Fireface 400 (updated firmware in 2013) connected via firewire to a 4-year old Windows 7 PC (64bit, Service Pack 1) with an AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.40 GHz processor.  Totalmix had been working fine until a few months ago, but lately it had been refusing to open the mixer window (it would start a process in the background, but I couldn’t make it open a window no matter what I did).  I uninstalled it, but now I can’t do the reinstall at all.  I see some others have had the launch problem, but first things first.

Any help is sincerely appreciated!

  Jack C.

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 13,210

Re: How to (re)install Totalmix FX?

TM FX should start up automatically after Boot regardless whether a recording interface is connected or not.
You should see then the TotalMix FX icon in the Windows 7 notification area in the lower right.
Ensure that you do not hide this TM FX icon, maybe best idea to make it permanently visible.

TM FX becomes installed by the proper driver package.
After installation you should find TM FX here: C:\Windows\System32\TotalMixFX.exe

Do you find the TM FX executeable in that location ?
Can you start it up manually ?

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • vinark
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  • Registered: 2009-06-05
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Re: How to (re)install Totalmix FX?

Go to device manager and update the driver for the fireface from there. Choose I want to choose a driver and point it to the folder you mentioned.

Vincent, Amsterdam
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4 Reply by StormOfWords (edited by StormOfWords 2017-02-08 03:04:24)

  • Registered: 2017-02-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: How to (re)install Totalmix FX?

Thanks very much for your comment.  I got it working.  The Fireface 400 wasn't listed in device manager, which was a clue that Windows wasn't finding it.  See my other reply in this thread.
  -  Jack

  • Registered: 2017-02-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: How to (re)install Totalmix FX?

ramses wrote:

TM FX should start up automatically after Boot regardless whether a recording interface is connected or not.
You should see then the TotalMix FX icon in the Windows 7 notification area in the lower right.
Ensure that you do not hide this TM FX icon, maybe best idea to make it permanently visible.

TM FX becomes installed by the proper driver package.
After installation you should find TM FX here: C:\Windows\System32\TotalMixFX.exe

Do you find the TM FX executeable in that location ?
Can you start it up manually ?

I finally got it working!  But it wasn’t intuitive.  Thanks for your help, which helped me know what to look for.

I couldn’t reinstall the drivers using Windows Device Manager because my FF400 didn’t show up there at all.  So I removed and reinstalled the drivers again from the latest RME download.   The installation didn’t fail but it didn’t seem to do anything either.  It didn’t create any icons in the system tray (even after I unhid all icons).  The only place it created the TotalMixFx.exe file was in C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\fireface.inf_amd64_neutral_6ad00fcad9c8b26d which is a sort of Windows backup repository of drivers but not where drivers are actually installed.  I wasn’t comfortable running the exe straight from there.

Also, the FF400 didn’t show up in any of the computer sound settings.  So clearly the computer was unaware of the FF400 connected to it.  The firewire cable was however delivering power to the unit, except when the computer was off of course.

I’d rebooted the PC countless times, but then I remembered that the FF400 has an on/off switch.  So I turned the FF 400 off and on again using the switch while Windows was running.  That prompted Windows to see it as a “new device” and try to install the drivers.  Windows installed the drivers perfectly and after its automatic reboot, it showed the TotalMix FX icon and Fireface Settings icon in the system tray!  I can open them normally now.  The TotalMixFx.exe file appeared in the Windows\System32 folder as promised – matching exactly the copy that was in the Driver Repository, so I have to believe that’s where Windows grabbed the file from. 

I’m not sure why Windows couldn’t recognize the FF400 until I turned it off and back on while the computer was already running.  But it’s working fine now!  Thanks again.