• Registered: 2013-03-01
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Topic: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

I know it must be me...but I checked a couple of times and I cant get the FX working in Total Mix

I know it used to work years ago.
Havent touched it in a long time - recently I needed it and couldnt get it to work.

As you can see on the picture I send into the FX but there isnt a return signal showing up.
Sometimes when I first open Total Mix there is a noise kinda feedback/distorted signal on the FX out.
But as soon as I switch the Reverb on/off/on  its gone and there is nothing.
So it seems like a muted loopback false routing, but I have no idea where its coming from.
https://i.ibb.co/h1TKvPtb/FX-Return.jpg

UFX is updated to the latest firmware (1.63) and Total Mix is version 1.98 (2) x64
win 10 latest version

Thank you!

  • Jeff
  • Jeff
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

Sorry, that is a hardware issue with the FX RAM.

Unfortunately, due to the age, the parts are not available now to repair this. You can try sending it to RME for repairs, but it's unlikely this particular issue can be fixed now.

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • Registered: 2013-03-01
  • Posts: 7

Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

@Jeff
thank you for this information!
It was probably announced at some point, but I didnt know about it.

Might it be an option to go back to some older TM version?
Since there came another very minor problem with the latest driver, im getting this "mismatch detected error" message on every PC start.
So I guess it might be better for me to go back to some older TM version anyway.

  • waedi
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

You could let the FX section in Totalmix just stay OFF.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2013-03-01
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

@waedi   Sure I do this on a daily basis.
but that wasnt exactly the point of my topic smile

I still love the Fireface and ofc I keep working with it.
Though it might be time to upgrade to an UFX II or III

6 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2025-03-19 09:07:18)

  • ramses
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

vanielik wrote:

@Jeff
thank you for this information!
It was probably announced at some point, but I didnt know about it.

Might it be an option to go back to some older TM version?
Since there came another very minor problem with the latest driver, im getting this "mismatch detected error" message on every PC start. So I guess it might be better for me to go back to some older TM version anyway.

The TM FX software is only for controlling the unit.
The FX RAM is required for providing / processing FX on your unit, if the FX RAM is defective, then FX won't work at all.
How can you fix this hardware defect by choosing an older software? Sorry, but this makes no sense at all.

Regarding "mismatch detected" message. You mean the window on startup/login that tells you that there is a mismatch between TM FX settings in the unit and the last settings stored on PC when TM FX closes on shutdown of your computer?
This only happens if you used the unit in standalone operation mode and change a setting while the computer is down.
This can be fixed by a TM FX setting in preferences (F2):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0qe3l1snd40r0p61oblb4/2025-03-19-TM-FX-Always-init-device.jpg?rlkey=n4w29c0as4qhwvy1lu9bdm871&st=dznsaeir&dl=1

Then the last TM FX settings on your PC (when TotalMix FX is being closed on shutdown) is being written to the file with the last settings and the devices is automatically initialized with this settings on the next start/login without prompting you.

Overview about TM FX config files and content/purpose you can see from this blog article that I wrote some time ago
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … nd-backup/

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, M-1620 Pro D, RayDAT, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10

7 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2025-03-19 09:25:18)

  • ramses
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

vanielik wrote:

I still love the Fireface and ofc I keep working with it.
Though it might be time to upgrade to an UFX II or III

The price difference between UFX II and UFX III is currently very low, ONLY €300 !!!
You should get an UFX III if you can afford this.
https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_fireface_ufx_iii.htm €2399
https://www.thomann.de/de/rme_fireface_ufx_ii.htm €2099

[I remember that the UFX III originally cost €2900 and the manufacturer's recommended retail price of the UFX+ was €2699]

More reasons:

Two ADAT ports can be full too quickly, so MADI would give you more flexibility for future expansions.
It is also very useful to have a port reserve for creating some submixes for loopback recording, especially if the analog and digital ports (1x AES, 2x ADAT) are already in use.
With 64 additional MADI ports (at single speed) you can easily take some of the last ports for this purpose.

Having to sell and upgrade later has several disadvantages:
a) you lose money by selling and buying new
b) it might be that prices will go up again depending on the surrounding conditions of the market
c) you would have to redo the whole configuration, as you can't load the workspace of an UFX II into an UFX III later

Differences between the different flagship interfaces, see my blog article:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … x-and-ufx/

The UFX III is a fantastic unit. Also the UFX II is not bad, the same as the UFX III (only without MADI and thus without USB3), but you really need to know whether this is all that you need.
If you want to compare USB interfaces, see my comparison Excel, here where you can find it:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=35156

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, M-1620 Pro D, RayDAT, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10
  • EBH
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

Hello, I have this problem with my UCX, no signal in the FX out but the EQ and Dynamics are both still working.
Jeff pointed out a hardware problem with the FX RAM and the issue with the parts at this moment.
Would it be possible to have an official RME answer on the matter?
Thanks a lot.

Ed.

9 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2025-05-07 14:20:33)

  • waedi
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

EBH wrote:

Hello, I have this problem with my UCX, no signal in the FX out but the EQ and Dynamics are both still working.
Jeff pointed out a hardware problem with the FX RAM and the issue with the parts at this moment.
Would it be possible to have an official RME answer on the matter?
Thanks a lot.

Ed.

Post number 2 is very official RME, you can trust it.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

10 Reply by EBH

  • EBH
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

Thanks waedi, appreciated.
I was just trying to get more information about the issue, I'm in love with this thing, the unit has been rock solid for me for all of these years.
When Jeff said, “You can try sending it to RME for repairs, but it's unlikely this particular issue can be fixed now.”…it sounds to me like there is hope… smile
Later, ramses explains… “The FX RAM is required for providing / processing FX on your unit, if the FX RAM is defective, then FX won't work at all.”… that let me wondering what can be the cause for the FX RAM to become defective all of a sudden?…should I'd be worried?…is my beloved UCX become too old?…
Thank you guys and apologies for the drama.

Best regards.
Ed.

  • waedi
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

The RAM is a weak part and people often let the FX run without using it, just forgot to switch off and it is working inside over years.

There is of course a chance RME has spare parts somewhere.

Ask your retailer for repair options.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

12 Reply by EBH

  • EBH
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Re: Fireface UFX - no signal on FX out

Thank you very much, waedi.