Specifications

InstantMemory
TM
All RME Premium Line units support InstantMemory, a feature that stores your setup automatically during instances of power blackout, or during
shutdown for “next day” use. All the device‘s settings are stored and recalled automatically during power down/up.
SyncCheck® and ICC
TM
SyncCheck. When working with several digital sources it is not only necessary that these are all properly locked, they also have to be totally
synchronized. Else drop outs and crackling occurs. RME’s exclusive SyncCheck checks all input signals. In clock mode Master the synchronous operation
to the internal clock is checked. This outstanding and unique technology helps to find errors immediately. The actual state of each input is displayed
in the Settings dialog.
Intelligent Clock Control (ICC). The unique SyncCheck and AutoSync technology has evolved into the new Intelligent Clock Control, the only digital
I/O-system capable of measuring and displaying the frequency of all clock sources. Even Word Clock! Based on validity and current sample rate the
system decides which clock source should be used - fully automated and performed in hardware. These technologies offer the most easiest clock
handling, plus the most advanced support when configuring the clock setup.
No Noise Pollution
RME units do not contain any kind of mechanical noise elements or audible frequency emitting components (exception: M-32 converter fans). So feel
free to put any of our units anywhere - even in very quiet surroundings like control or recording areas. Because we design our units with the lowest
power consumption and as little heating as possible, they don’t overheat easily.
In high density 19 inch mounting areas, please ensure that there’s ongoing natural ventilation and a decent outside temperature. The manuals include
further information about the specified operation temperatures.
RME’s MADI Multinorm - supported MADI formats/modes
Type Channels
Resolution
(bit)
Sample Freq.
(kHz)
Frame Rate
Word Clock
Hints
Standard 1 56 24 48 48 with ±12.5% Varispeed
Standard 2 64 24 48 48 without Varispeed
Double Wire 96/48k Mode 32 24 96 48
with sample freq. doubled the ch. data will be split
on two ch. (ADAT > S/MUX, Tascam > Dual Line)
Quad Wire 192/48k Mode 16 24 192 48
with sample frequency quadrupled the ch. data will
be split on four ch. (ADAT > S/MUX4)
Frame Rate 96
32 24 96 96 96k Frame
RME Technologies explained
SteadyClock
TM
In digital audio, the clock frequency is an essential factor, as it creates the correlation between the audio bits and the time reference. Unfortunately, the
clock frequency is not always as stable as desired. Small fluctuations of the clock frequency are referred to as „Jitter“, measured in nanoseconds (ns).
The effects of jitter on the audio conversion are manifold – from a somewhat rough sound quality, to clicks and dropouts in extreme cases. To solve
these issues, RME have developed a completely new technology for synchronization and jitter suppression in digital audio signals - SteadyClock.
Normally, the circuitry for clock synchronization consist of an analog PLL (Phase Locked Loop) and several quartzes for the various frequencies. Such
PLL systems sync very fast, but consequently have no jitter suppression. Ceramics filters or special DDS-Chips (Direct Digital Synthesis) define systems
with active jitter suppression, but with slower sync speed, and tend to be very costly.
SteadyClock works with only one crystal, an internal clock reference of 200 MHz, and an internal DDS clock generator which resides within the FPGA
(Field Programmable Gate Array). SteadyClock locks in fractions of a second to the input signal, yet provides a remarkable jitter suppression in the
audio band.
Conclusion. The SteadyClock technology guarantees an excellent performance in all clock modes. Its highly efficient jitter suppression enables RME
devices to refresh and clean up any clock signal, and to provide the clock signal as reference clock at the Word Clock output. At the same time, analog
conversion is performed on a guaranteed level of highest quality, completely independent from the kind and quality of the used reference clock.
The cleaned and jitter-freed clock signal can be used as reference clock in any application, so the quality of the external (input) clock doesn’t matter
anymore.
Quick Boot
RME PCI Express and PCI cards, like the HDSPe MADI and HDSPe AES, have implemented a boot memory option that activates the card’s key settings
immediately on power on. Rather than operating in a default mode from the moment the PC is switched on until the driver is loaded, the card will
immediately activate the last used sampling rate, master/slave configuration, thus eliminating any start-up noise or problems in the clock network at
system start or reboot.
40 RME Technologies 41
Picture 1 shows the MADI input signal with 80 ns of jitter (top
graph, yellow). Thanks to SteadyClock this signal turns into a
clock with less than 2 ns jitter (lower graph, blue).
Picture 2 This diagram shows SteadyClock’s jitter reduction for various jittery input
signals over the audio band, from 50 Hz to 50 kHz.
PREMIUM LINE