You can create WDM devices for non-ASIO aware applications for each of the input- and output channels.

Here a picture collection .. I only require a WDM device for my Analog Outputs 1+2, for i.e. Youtube, Games, ...
My other main applications support ASIO natively (Cubase, Sony Vegas, MusicBee, ...)

But if you need a MIC for Teamspeak or whatever, you can easily create also a WDM device for this.

Best practise is to configure only the really required number of WDM devices.
Forgot the exact reason. I think to reduce startup time as old PCs with weak CPUs needed some time,
until these devices have been created dynamically upon startup (if I am not mistaken).

For 2 ports you do not need thunderbolt, USB2 supports up to ~64 channels, see for example the MADIface USB: http://www.rme-audio.de/products/madiface_usb.php

Recording Interfaces like i.e. UC, UCX, 802, UFX, UFX II run flawlessly using USB2.

Latency with USB is no issue, see here:

And even big projects run flawlessly via USB:

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … cks-de-en/

Yes. The only difference of the USB driver is, that you can simply configure the amount of WDM devices, no pick, for which port exactly you want to have it. For more flexibility, Durec, etc eventually consider UFX II, which is the newest design with latest / better analog section, compared to old Flagship UFX. If you can afford it, go UFX II.

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … 8-RME-UFX/

Advantages of the new UFX+ / UFX II compared to old flagship interface UFX

• revised version of analog circuits and DSP

• improved SNR and THD values

• Direct USB Recording (DuRec): up to 76 channels can be recorded simultaneously - optionally with 12 analog and 64 MADI inputs

• Internal Real Time Clock, allows timestamps in DuRec filenames

• DuRec: increased reliability when using slower or multi-partitioned USB thumb devices

• Microphone inputs with + 18dBU max, no PAD

• Microphone inputs have 75 (!) DB Gain Range, which is 10dB more compared to UCX / UFX and 15dB more compared to the 802.

• Headphone outputs with only 2 ohm impedance, with +19 dBU max output level

• New Remote Control "ARC USB" (details below) for regular and stand-alone operation

• ARC USB plugable either to the UFX+ or alternatively to the computer (TotalMix FX does thenthe required interfacing)

• The two rotary encoders on the right of the display now individually adjust the volume of Phones 9/10 and 11/12.

• Fully stand-alone. There are additional settings compared to the UFX.

• UFX+: USB3 / USB2, Thunderbolt connection to Windows / Mac, supports "hot-plugging" under Windows

• UFX+: Additional 64 channels by MADI with the options auto, optical, coaxial and split

• UFX+: Wordclock BNC switchable to MADI coaxial

• UFX+: total channel count 188 channels (94 IN, 94 OUT): 24 analog, 32 ADAT, 4 AES, 128 MADI

• UFX+: MADI split mode allows 32 channels each via MADI optical / coaxial

• UFX+: MADI I/O via TotalMix is still available on USB2, despite the limitation to 30 I / O inputs (12 analog plus 16 ADAT plus AES)

Or as you said the UCX. Might have some advantages in terms of cabling, less breakout cables required.
I would definitively go UFX II then you have smth which is also able to operate standalone
and the ARC USB can i.e. be directly connected to the device for standalone operation.

If your goal is a madi based solution, to i.e. connect up to 8 XTC, then go MADI.
But .. this will definitively suck money.
An UFX II might still be the best package with the highest feature density in one rack unit.

As good as all, i.e. BBF Pro and MADIface Pro.

To get further more concrete help it would be good if you could concrete your demand on analog and digital I/Os and tell explicitely your price expectations.

Tell also if you have special requirements:
- connection to PC (USB2/3, Thunderbolt, Firewire)
- MIDI IO
- stand alone capabilities
....