This is a complaint about defective or misrepresented RME products and poor technical support.

The following Features of Fireface 800 are given on the RME Website:

Via an insert slot on the back, a Time Code Option (TCO) for synchronizing to LTC and video can be added.

Driver support

Mac OS X (10.3 or higher) PPC and Intel: Core Audio, Core MIDI.

FIREFACE 800 TiIME CODE OPTION

The little module provides the Fireface with a Word Clock input and offers a synchronization to LTC and video.

Under Mac OS X the TCO-FF provides the SMPTE position as MTC Sync.

THE PROBLEM

I wish to record audio using Cubase 6 on a Mac computer running OS 10.6, synchronized via Fireface 800 (Timecode option installed) to the time code (TC) of a video camera.

Cubase 6 running on a Mac with OS 10.6 will not sync to external video time code via Fireface 800/TCO-FF.  I have communicated with RME support on the RME Forum and with Synthax Inc., RME Technical support for the USA, and they have not offered any solution to this problem.

Therefore, either the Fireface 800/TCO hardware or the Fireface 800 MTC Core Audio Driver is defective.

A brief summary of some tests is given below.

1. Video Camera TC out and Video out to LTC in and Video In on TCO-FF of Fireface 800 with MTC setting, Firewire 800 cable to Mac Pro running on OS 10.6, Cubase 6 setup for MTC sync – Won’t sync to video camera, Doesn’t Work!

Same as 1. above but using Motu MTP AV (Midi Time Piece AV) and Motu 1224 digital interface instead of RME 800, Syncs perfectly to video, Works fine!

Same as 1. above but with internal setting on Fireface 800 for ASIO Audio Device, Mac Pro running under Windows 7/Boot Camp, Cubase 6 setup for ASIO Audio Device, Syncs perfectly to video, Works fine!

Same as 1. above but with internal setting on Fireface 800 for ASIO Audio Device, PC running under Windows 7, Cubase 6 setup for ASIO Audio Device, Syncs perfectly to video, Works fine!

Thus, either the Fireface 800/TCO hardware or the
Fireface MTC Core Audio Driver is defective.

Detailed setup of 1. above.

Panasonic HPX-300 video camera
1080-59.94i
AVC—I100/30p
Drop frame
TCG: R-Run (TC is generated during recording)
TC Out: TCG/TCR (outputs TC during video recording and playback)
TC Video Synchro: Video Out
GL Phase: Composite

BNC cable from HPX300 Video Out to Video In on TCO of Fireface 800
BNC cable from HPX300 TC Out to LTC In on TCO of Fireface 800

Fireface 800 with TCOFF option installed (unit #CEC69178, device driver 2.77)

Fireface Audio Device Page Settings (version 3.06):
Clock Mode: Autosync [Status: Input LTC & Freq. 48 kHZ]
Preferred Synch Ref: TCO [Input Status: Sync]
Sample Rate: 48,0000 Hz
System Clock Status: Mode Slave & Freq. 48 kHz

Fireface TCO Page Settings:
48 kHz
Sync Source: Video or LTC (neither works)
Sync Source Status: lock
Frame rate: 29.97 dfps
Video/Word: 75 Ohm Terminated
MIDI Input: Enable MTC
Frequency Status: near 48,000 Hz
LTC In Status: same TC as generated by HPX-300 TC
Input State Status: LTC valid, 30 fps, drop, video NTSC

Firewire 800 cable connecting Fireface 800 and a Mac Pro

Mac OS X Version 10.6.7
2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
8 GB 1066 MHz DDR3

Cubase 6.0.5 (neither 32 bit or 64 bit works)
Device Setup/VST Audio System: ASIO Driver - Fireface 800 (178), Externally Clocked, Control Panel Buffer Size – 512 & Device Attenuation – O db
Project Setup: 29.97 dfps Frame Rate, 48,000 Hz Sample Rate, 32 bit float Bit Resolution (to match Fireface)

Project Synchronization Setup: Timecode Source – MIDI Timecode, MIDI Timecode Source – Fireface 800 (178) Port 1, Cubase – Auto-Detect Frame-Rate Changes, all other settings are left blank/unchecked

Problem: If Cubase is put into the “record ready” mode by selecting Sync/Idle on the Transport panel and pressing the Red recording button, and video recording is initiated on the video camera, Sync on Cubase does not go from idle to Sync and audio recording on Cubase does not start as it is supposed to!

Does anyone have any information related to this problem?  Does anyone have any suggestions to solve this problem?