User Manual

User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME

Another common source of trouble is incorrect synchronization. ASIO does not support asyn-

chronous operation, which means that the input and output signals not only have to use the

same sample frequency, but also have to be in sync. All devices connected to the Fireface 800

must be properly configured for Full Duplex operation. As long as SyncCheck (in the Settings

dialog) only displays Lock instead of Sync, the devices have not been set up properly!

12. Operation under GSIF (Gigasampler Interface)

Windows 2000/XP

The GSIF interface of the Fireface 800 allows direct operation with Gigastudio, with up to 28

channels, 96 kHz and 24 bit. The new GSIF 2.0 is also supported with both audio and MIDI.

Gigastudio requires a lot of a computer’s CPU performance. Optimum performance is achieved

with a stand-alone GSIF PC. However, when using the Fireface 800, the latency is always the

same as the one selected for ASIO operation. This can cause performance problems on slower

machines when using GSIF and ASIO at the same time.

Please note that the W2k/XP driver fully supports multi-client operation, including the combina-

tion MME/ASIO. So for example Cubase, Gigastudio and Sonar can be used simultaneously,

provided each of these programs use audio channels exclusively on the Fireface 800. For ex-

ample ASIO could use channels 1/2 and Gigastudio (with GSIF) channels 3/4 simultaneously,

and so on.

Simultaneous operation of GSIF and ASIO requires to use different channels. For example,

if Cubase uses tracks 1/2 these tracks can not be used by Gigastudio.

Common Problems

Please note that Gigastudio is running unexpectedly in the background (thus blocking its as-

signed audio channels), as soon as the Gigastudio MIDI ports are used – even when Gigastudio

itself hasn't been started. This causes a lot of confusion, as the driver seems to behave com-

pletely buggy, and the user does not recognize the simple reason for it – for example simulta-

neous operation of ASIO and GSIF on the same channels.

If Gigastudio starts up properly, loads gig files too, but won't play at all even when using the

virtual keyboard: Go to Hardware/Routing and select a valid MIDI input port. Note that blank is

not valid, but <none> is.