User Manual

User’s Guide DMC-842 © RME

15. Analog Outputs

The DMC-842 has 8 balanced XLR outputs on the back panel.

The electronic output stage does not operate servo balanced! When connecting unbal-

anced equipment, make sure pin 3 of the XLR output is not connected. A connection to

ground can cause a higher THD value (higher distortion)!

The button ANALOG OUT is used to define the analog reference level at the analog outputs.

The reference level is reached at full scale of the AD-converters, thus matching the front panel

level meter's level indication.

Reference 0 dBFS @ Analog Headroom

+24 +24 dBu 3 dB

+19 +19 dBu 8 dB

+13 +13 dBu 14 dB

The DMC-842 delivers an undistorted maximum level of +27 dBu. The referencing is based on

full scale of the DA-converters. 0 dBFS will be reached at +13, +19 or +24 dBu output level

respectively.

The different output levels guarantee optimal conversion results, while still being compatible to

any attached analog equipment. Note that ANALOG OUT has no influence on the technical

specifications – distortion, frequency response and signal to noise ratio do not change, or rather

exactly like the analog overall gain.

Set to +13 dBu and +19 dBu the DMC-842 is fully compatible to all RME devices having +4 dBu

and Lo Gain as input reference.

Reference 0 dBFS @ Headroom @ +4 dBu

Lo Gain +19 dBu 15 dB

+4 dBu +13 dBu 9 dB

Set to +24 dBu the DMC-842 is compatible to SMPTE (+24 dBu @ 0 dBFS, +4 dBu with 20 dB

of headroom).