Topic: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Hello.

I would like to connect 12mic-d to UFX III using optical MADI.

I have the optical fiber connected correctly because I can see the 12mic-d microphone signal in TotalMix and hear it on the monitors connected to UFX III. There is a problem with clock synchronization.

Can you tell me if the settings on the attached screenshots are correct and why I have a time synchronization error on 12mic-d?

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0img01.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0img02-scaled.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0img03-scaled.jpg

Regards, Daniel

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Have you connected MADI both ways? If not, that's the problem, the 12Mic is looking for a signal and can't find one.

Now I see that MADI optical seems to be connected and used as fallback, in the absence of a signal on coax. Set the 12Mic to sync to optical.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

RME Support wrote:

Have you connected MADI both ways? If not, that's the problem, the 12Mic is looking for a signal and can't find one.

Should I use a coaxial and optical connection together then? I don't quite understand what you mean.

RME Support wrote:

Now I see that MADI optical seems to be connected and used as fallback, in the absence of a signal on coax. Set the 12Mic to sync to optical.

Is this option available in the web interface of 12mic? I'm asking because I can't find it there.

In LCD, there is no option to set it to optical.

Regards, Daniel

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

From the manual:

11.2. Clock Reference
In its default state, the 12Mic uses an internal clock signal ("leader"/"master"). This means that any connected device must synchronize to it ("follower"/"slave").
Alternatively, one of the digital inputs (word clock, MADI optical, MADI coaxial, and each of the four AVB streams) can be chosen as clock reference. This activates SteadyClock™ FS, a technology that extracts a low jitter clock signal from the incoming signal.
Intelligent Clock Control (ICC) automatically changes thIntelligent Clock Control (ICC) automatically changes the clock source when the chosen clock reference input does not detect a valid signal. Using the feedback of SyncCheck™, the 12Mic will change to another source signal that can be used as a clock reference. If no other source is available, the device will fall back to its internal clock until the chosen clock reference has recovered. Due to the excellent performance of RME’s clock technology, disconnection and re-connection of a clock reference is likely to be performed without losing a sample in the outgoing audio signal.

11. CLOCK Section
ICC switches the clock source between word clock, MADI optical, MADI coaxial, and internal, seamlessly, when the MADI optical, coaxial or word clock inputs fail and the other port is locked - or to internal.


https://i.imgur.com/xPBbAzO.jpeg

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Thx for your replay. Unfortunately I'm not able to set Madi as clock source because there is no option for that in web and lcd panel. There is no "Set as Clock Source" button under Madi optical button.

Regards, Daniel

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

I have included more screenshots of web and lcd interface.

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-web-01.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-web-02.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-web-03.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-lcd-01.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-lcd-02.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-lcd-03.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/01-lcd-04.jpg

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

And more thing. I'm not able to set preference of Madi optical over Madi coaxial. I can choose that option but it is not saved.

Regards, Daniel

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Is your unit's firmware up to date?

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Yes, it is - 1.3.0

10 (edited by sinolonis 2025-06-03 15:11:43)

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Yes it is up to date. Current firmware version: 1.3.0 (v50)
UFX 3: firmware v20, driver v4.21

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

One more additional piece of information. This device was recently in the service for repair because after an update it wouldn't start due to a damaged boot partition.

Regards, Daniel

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Deactivate Auto Input mode...
https://i.imgur.com/3t01XT3.jpeg

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Problem solved. Thank You. Disabling auto input option did the job. But I must say its a bit confusing. With this option on, shouldn’t the system automaticly recognize which cable is inputed?
Regards

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

That's what it's doing - BNC is not connected, so it's switching to optical.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

Hi Daniel,

glad you've been able to figure it out! I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this:

I'm not able to set preference of Madi optical over Madi coaxial. I can choose that option but it is not saved.

Especially: What makes you assume that it's not saved.

In your case (only one MADI connected), it doesn't matter if Auto Input is set or not, the unit's behaviour is identical. So it must have been the way we show information to you that is somehow confusing. Trying to understand what exactly that is, so we can improve the user interface in the future.

Thanks
Marc

16 (edited by sinolonis 2025-06-09 12:15:36)

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

With auto input option enabled there was no „set as external clock preference” under madi optical (as is shown above on the picture). You could only set word and madi coax as external clock preference but not the optical madi. This option appeared under madi optical after disabling auto input option. From the begining there was only optical connection.

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

daniel.chojecki wrote:

Hello.

I would like to connect 12mic-d to UFX III using optical MADI.

I have the optical fiber connected correctly because I can see the 12mic-d microphone signal in TotalMix and hear it on the monitors connected to UFX III. There is a problem with clock synchronization.

Can you tell me if the settings on the attached screenshots are correct and why I have a time synchronization error on 12mic-d?

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0img01.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0img02-scaled.jpg

https://defbrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0img03-scaled.jpg

Regards, Daniel


Hi Daniel, which routing software are you using? picture on left side

Re: Fireface UFX III with 12mic-D - clock problem

seasideresortnj wrote:

Hi Daniel, which routing software are you using? picture on left side

This is the web/network interface in a browser window.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME