User`s guide
16 
User's Guide HDSPe MADIface © RME 
11.2 Settings dialog - DDS 
Usually soundcards and audio interfaces generate their internal clock (master mode) by a 
quartz. Therefore the internal clock can be set to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, but not to a value in be-
tween. SteadyClock, RME's sensational Low Jitter Clock System, is based on a Direct Digital 
Synthesizer (DDS). This superior circuitry can generate nearly any frequency with highest pre-
cision. 
DDS has been implemented into 
the MADIface with regard to the 
needs of professional video appli-
cations, as well as to maximum 
flexibility. The dialog DDS includes 
both a list of typical video frequen-
cies (so called pull up/pull down at 
0.1% and 4%) and two faders, 
which allow to freely change the 
basic sample rate in steps of 1 Hz 
(!). 
Application examples 
DDS allows for a simultaneous 
change of speed and tune during 
record and playback. From align-
ment to other sources up to crea-
tive effects – everything is possi-
ble. 
DDS allows to intentionally de-tune 
the complete DAW. This way, the 
DAW can match instruments which 
have a wrong or unchangeable 
tuning. 
DDS allows to define a specific 
sample rate. This feature can be is 
useful in case the system randomly changes the sample rate – for unknown reasons. It also 
prevents a change from Double Speed (96 kHz) to Single Speed (48 kHz), which would cause 
configuration and routing problems by the changed amount of MADI channels. 
The DDS dialog requires the MADIface to be in clock mode Master! The frequency setting 
will only be applied to this one specific card! 
Changing the sample rate in bigger steps during record/playback often results in a loss of 
audio, or brings up warning messages of the audio software. Therefore the desired sample 
rate should be set at least coarsely before starting the software. 










