• Registered: 2023-11-29
  • Posts: 17

Topic: Using Fireface UFX II/III as surround monitor controller with ARC USB

Hello people,

Just registered although I'm a satisfied RME user for a very long time.
After doing some searching on these forums I couldn't find any relevant questions so I'm starting a new topic.

I have this challenge and I'm looking for some feedback about the following.
My current setup is PC with MADI FX connected (MADI) to ADI-648 and ADAT1+2 are connected (ADAT) to a Yamaha 01v96i that acts as a routing matrix (converting 7.1 to 7.2) that connects (ADAT) to a Prism Orpheus AD/DA converter (with SPL Volume8 as passive controller) and a Kii audio remote (SPDIF coax). Yes, it's quite a mess but it organically grew that way.

My speaker setup are 2x Kii Audio three monitors connected to a Kii remote control, 2 active subwoofers Scanspeak Maxima, 5 passive Scanspeak A4 monitors using Quad 303 amps. So 2 digital inputs (spdif coax/optical) and 7 analog inputs for a 7.2 speaker setup in short.

My wish is to eliminate some of those shackles in the chain. The Orpheus only can be configured with firewire400 and in my 2nd PC I have a PCIe firewire card for just that purpose. So I thought I could use either a Fireface UFX II or III as a monitor controller with the ARC USB remote to replace the 01v96i and Orpheus. Since PC cannot use aggregate devices you need a solution that allows for the ASIO for all channels at the same time. I don't think you can mix and match ASIO from MADI FX and UFX at the same time. If I'm wrong about that I stand corrected.

The new setup would be Madi FX -> ADI-648 -> UFX II or III (with ARC USB) -> Kii remote, Maxima and Quad amps.
I wish I could use the MADI to UFX directly but all my MADI ins/outs are used already by an Antelope Orion32+ Gen3 and Ferrofish A32 Pro. Why do I have that much I/O? Because all my gear is directly connected dedicated to be used as external devices in my DAW.

Alternative setup would be MADI FX(2nd card) UFXIII (with ARC USB) -> Kii remote, Maxima and Quad amps. I do have a spare PCIe slot. Albeit this solution would be more costly. Also when I read the MADI FX manual it's stated that multiple MADI FX in the same system is possible but how this actually works is not further explained.

My question is basically can I use in this setting a Fireface UFX II or III as a stand-alone 7.2 surround monitor controller with the ARC USB as volume control?

Of course there is the need for using the USB connection for configuring the UFX Totalmix settings and then enable the ARC USB to control all I need. Can I use Totalmix for the Madi FX next to the Totalmix for the UFX?

Are there any other things I may have overlooked? I tried to be concise as possible. If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them.

If you reached this far in my long topic and you are willing to give some feedback, thank you for you interest.

  • Registered: 2023-11-29
  • Posts: 17

Re: Using Fireface UFX II/III as surround monitor controller with ARC USB

I've revised my plans after some mulling through the options. It turns out that I don't need a 2nd Madi FX card after all.

My new setup will be:
Madi FX -> UFXIII -> ADI-648 -> Madi FX

That means basically siphoning of 8 or 16 channels from the MADI for monitoring and route the rest through to the ADI-648.
UFXIII - AES -> Kii Remote control -> Kii Three
          - 1-5 -> Quad 303 amps -> Scanspeak A4s
          - 7&8 -> Scanspeak Maximas
The rest will remain the same as previously described. Then it's easier to move things around and restructure the studio setup. Sell off obsolete stuff and make space for other stuff. :-)

Next thing on the list would be to replace the ADI-648 and Antelope Orion32+ Gen3 by a Ferrofish A32 Pros. The A32 Pros are simply wonderful. Good sound, easy to use and versatile.

  • Registered: 2023-11-29
  • Posts: 17

Re: Using Fireface UFX II/III as surround monitor controller with ARC USB

A small update

UFXIII installed and configured. You can't use the UFXIII ASIO and MADI FX ASIO at the same time with the same DAW.
(Technically you can by using virtual sound interface with routing, but I'm not too keen on using that.)

ARC USB controller is directly hooked up to the UFX and working like a charm.
You can configure the ARC USB in many ways . For extra controls you can add a midi controller in on of the two din midi inputs.
Used the USB3 connection to hook it up to the computer. It comes shipped with a USB3 to USB-A and USB3 to USB-c cable.
Totalmix is extremely flexible once you get your head around it.
E.g. I'm using the room EQ gain to tweak the satellite and subs speaker volumes.

For now I'll use an ADAT port from the 648 to route it to the UFX so I can use the MADI FX as main interface and UFX as monitor controller.
When I just want to do some sound design or practice playing I can use the UFX as low latency interface. Buffer size of 32 works fine so the latency is about 1ms.

Later planned is re-arranging my 19" setup and streamline everything in such a way that helps the workflow better. That will take some work so I'm not too keen on picking that up soon. The 01v96i can make room for other 19" gear. Like a 2nd Ferrofish A32Pro which is on the wishlist.

My main gripe is with Cubase and Bitwig which are not supporting configurations for two separate ASIO drivers.
When you switch from ASIO drivers then you have to reconfigure the setup and that is way too tedious.
Guess I'll have to send them some feature requests to have the I/O setup related to ASIO drivers.
Or at least allow to save the external instrument/FX chains.
You can do a lot with a template but the I/O's are related to the ASIO driver.

  • Registered: 2023-11-29
  • Posts: 17

Re: Using Fireface UFX II/III as surround monitor controller with ARC USB

Another small update.

Using the FXIII as a monitor controller also works when you put it in between the computer and a MADI AD/DA converter. From there you can route the outputs from the computer to the UFXIII outputs and pass through all other channels going to the MADI AD/DA converter.

The physical part may require some breaking apart a dual MADI glassfiber cables and use the single cables to make a circle of 3 devices connected with MADI glassfiber.
The routing can be tricky if you're not use to totalmix.

Still I prefer using a 2nd MADI FX card because the you won't have to give up the 8 or 16 output channels.
But even though the ASIO drivers support this. Not al DAW support this. Cubase does but Bitwig doesn't. (Hopefully yet)