• yavuz
  • AD/DA expert
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  • Registered: 2010-03-17
  • Posts: 43

Topic: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

I have a Fireface UC.
I am wondering if I should buy the new UCX and run together with my existing UC or sell my UC and get a UFX.
I have 8 channel of seventh circle studios high quality mike pres.
My plan is to use them and use 4 Fireface UFX ( or 2 from UC and 2 from UCX ) mike pres for a total of 12 channels of mike pres.
This way I could record 16 channels of 24/192 audio.
I can directly record to a USB flash disk with UFX and to iPad with UCX.

The questions I have are...

1.Will UCX work together with UC?
2.Will I be able to use the Total Mix FX if I combine my UC with UCX?

  • Registered: 2012-02-25
  • Posts: 12

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

UCX is far better than UC, IMO. I'd sell UC and bought two UCX (they will work great together), or one UFX.

  • Registered: 2011-01-25
  • Posts: 81

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

I also own a UC. May you tell me in which way, specifically, the UCX is far better ?
are the converters better ?
thank you

  • Registered: 2011-06-01
  • Posts: 45

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

Not sure of your track count, routing and preamp needs but I have two UFX one as a Master and the other is a 10 channel Slave to fill up the Master's 22 track count (at 24/96).  When I looked, industry wide, for a 10 A to D converter box with a few mic pres it became evident that the best value was another UFX. 

Now I am recording "Bonus Tracks" using DURec on the UFX Slave to add two, additional, live solo tracks with outboard mic pres.  I can, additionally, expand the Bonus Tracks (from 2 to 6) by adding 4x micpres/ADs thru the slave's second ADAT input. None of this would be possible with anything else but a UFX.

  • yavuz
  • AD/DA expert
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  • Registered: 2010-03-17
  • Posts: 43

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

Thanks to everyone.
I mostly record small jazz combos ( my bands ).
I will mostly need 12 to 14 tracks!
I have recorded 2 albums with UC utilizing the ADAT ins.
However, I did not like the 8 channel mike pres ( thru ADATs ).
I will probably need 8 ins for my 8 channel mike pres and use the 4 mike pres that UC + UCX has or 1 UFX.

The ability to record to USB flash drive is really tempting on the UFX side...
Decisions, decisions.

6 Reply by Fragilechild (edited by Fragilechild 2012-05-10 00:37:08)

  • Registered: 2012-02-25
  • Posts: 12

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

yavuz, I use UFX + Octamic (ADAT) + Millennia. I record mostly 12-20 channel. This setup works great for me.

esteban, IMO, UCX better than UC because of FW+USB connection, iPad compatibility, Advanced Remote Control (ARC) compatibility, better converters (UC has great converters too though), and the most important - much better latency handling.

  • Registered: 2011-01-25
  • Posts: 81

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

I didnt know about the converters. I use the UC mainly to record myself  (professionally), so latency and other gadgets are not important but converters are. Would you expand more on this ?
whats the RME product with better converters ?
thanks

  • Registered: 2012-02-25
  • Posts: 12

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

esteban, personally I think that converters in all RME products are good enough. I'm sure that no one can hear the difference between, for instance, UC and UCX converters. UCX converters are better only according to datasheet, but you never will hear the difference working with music. Maybe, if you have really good monitoring, you can hear difference on some very special test signals. So if you like your UC, then relax and keep doing great music smile

  • Registered: 2011-12-02
  • Posts: 28

Re: Decision between Fireface UCX and UFX

Personally, i would sell me UC and buy a UFX. Its pre's are amazing as is the conversion. Plus the new totalmix FX. If your using it professionally, the Durec could be a life saver if your DAW ever crashes! Thats obviously my opinion. The UCX in terms of functionality is also much improved over the UC. The fact that both the UCX and UFX are compatible with the new ARC makes it a GREAT unit :-)