User Manual

User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME

14.3 Instrument

The instrument input of the Fireface 800 has been optimized especially for guitar and bass. A

soft clipping function limits the level from –10 dBFS on, and offers tube-like distortion at full

overload. The extra Drive stage adds even more distortion and also increased sustain. The

Speaker Emulator gently shapes the sound for an optimal recording experience.

LIM

The distortion caused by the clipping function of the instrument input is audible. Depending on

use and application the new harmonics can be nice or disturbing:

• The guitar's volume pot can blend from clean up to full distortion

• A rhythm guitar's sound is enhanced by a popular tube-like sound

• All dynamic peaks of a slapped bass guitar are removed without audible artifacts

• An accurately played clean acoustic guitar will sound crunchy

• Steady tones sound distorted (guitar / keyboards / bass)

Distortion can be completely avoided by adjusting the input level to never exceed –10 dBFS

(so that the red LIM LED never lights up). This may sound unusual at first. But the AD-

converters of the Fireface 800 are much better than the dynamic ratio of any instrument re-

cording, so when intentionally not recording at fullest level, nothing is lost. As far as monitoring

is concerned, TotalMix can compensate up to 6 dB, and the final recording usually is normal-

ised within the software. In fact a headroom of 10 dB does not show any noticeable disadvan-

tages.

Alternatively perfectly clean recordings at full level can be done via the Line inputs of the mi-

crophone channels. Active instruments can be connected directly and be level-adjusted per-

fectly with the Gain pots. Passive e-guitars require an additional impedance buffer. Most guitar-

rists have one, but don't know that they do. Modern floor effect devices are active even in by-

pass mode, and then operate as impedance buffer.

Drive

Drive is an additional clipper, for 25 dB more gain (=sustain) plus substantially higher distortion.

It will simply blow you away. Also well suited for bass guitar.

Speaker Emulation

The basic idea of the Fireface 800 instrument input is not to alter the sound in a specific way,

but to pre-condition the sound so that it gets much easier recorded and processed within the

DAW application. This is accomplished by an optimization of the input/record signal via:

• light pre-clipping (see above)

• removing low frequency noise

• removing high-frequency noise

• a small bass and presence boost

All frequency corrections are part of the Speaker Emulation option. The name is originated by

the fact that guitar cabinets typically show a big level attenuation in the high frequency range,

making distortion sound less brilliant and harsh. After activating this option, a guitar completely

distorted by LIM and Drive will sound excellent even when played directly into a mixing desk.

14.4 Notes on Input selection

Front and rear inputs of the Fireface 800 can be used alternatively or together. An inactive

input will be muted. Front inputs are attenuated by more than 120 dB. The rear inputs will be

attenuated by about 80 dB. Therefore in specific cases the rear inputs can bleed through into

the front inputs. When using the front inputs, make sure that no high level signals are present

at the coresponding rear inputs.