RME Fireface UCX II - 40-Channel USB Audio Interface
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Product Highlights
RME - The Professional’s Choice!
RME - The Professional’s Choice!
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Description
Description
RME Fireface UCX II - 40-Channel Advanced USB Audio Interface
The Fireface UCX II is RME's most feature-dense compact interface. It's a half-rack unit that packs in what would typically require two or three full 19" panels of equipment!
Designed for professional studio and live use, it combines a comprehensive analogue and digital I/O set, a fully standalone operation mode, direct USB recording, and RME's industry-leading TotalMix FX routing engine into a single, highly portable package.
WHY BUY THE UCX II OVER OTHER BRANDS? CLICK TO FIND OUT.
The UCX II sits in a different category to most interfaces marketed at a similar price. It isn't simply a box with more inputs, it's a complete, self-contained audio system designed for professional use in demanding environments.
The I/O density is unmatched at this size. AES/EBU, ADAT, SPDIF coaxial, word clock BNC, MIDI, and ten balanced analog channels, all in a half-rack unit. Competing interfaces from Focusrite, PreSonus, or Universal Audio at this size offer a fraction of this connectivity, and none include word clock or AES/EBU as standard.
It works without a computer. The standalone mode and DURec functionality make the UCX II genuinely useful outside of a traditional DAW setup. Recording a live show directly to a USB drive, running it as a stage monitor mixer, or using it as a fixed install device, none of this requires a computer to be present.
The headphone output is serious hardware. At 210 mW into 32 Ω, the UCX II's headphone stage can drive any headphone on the market without compromise. This is a specification more associated with dedicated headphone amplifiers than audio interfaces.
DC-coupled outputs for modular users. If you work with a hardware modular synthesizer, the UCX II eliminates the need for a dedicated expert sleepers or similar CV interface. All line outputs send CV and Gate directly to Eurorack.
TotalMix FX replaces a hardware mixer. In a live or studio environment with multiple outputs and monitoring requirements, TotalMix FX handles routing and mixing entirely on the unit's own hardware, not the host CPU. Independent monitor mixes with EQ and reverb for every output, all controllable remotely from a tablet.
Low latency that stays stable under pressure. As with all RME interfaces, the UCX II uses RME's own in-house driver stack, maintaining rock-solid stability at the lowest buffer settings.
RME's driver longevity. RME maintains and updates its own drivers independently, meaning the UCX II will continue to work reliably on future operating systems long after comparable interfaces from other manufacturers have been abandoned.
In Summary:
- More I/O in a smaller space than any comparable interface - AES/EBU, word clock, ADAT, SPDIF coaxial, and 10 balanced analog channels in half a rack unit
- Fully standalone operation with six storable device states - no computer required
- DURec records up to 40 channels directly to USB drive for live and field recording
- Headphone output delivers 210 mW @ 32 Ω - on par with dedicated headphone amps
- DC-coupled outputs send CV/Gate directly to modular synthesizers
- TotalMix FX replaces a hardware mixer - runs on the unit's own chip, not your CPU
- RME's in-house drivers guarantee long-term stability and OS support
Build & Format
The UCX II occupies just half a rack unit, making it practical for both desktop studio use and live rigs where space is at a premium.
Despite its size, it doesn't compromise on connectivity. The front panel houses mic/line preamps, instrument inputs, a headphone output, and a full colour display with direct controls, while the rear provides the full complement of balanced line I/O, digital connections, and word clock.
Audio Performance
The UCX II delivers professional-grade conversion throughout. Line inputs achieve an SNR of 112 dB (115 dBA), with THD below -110 dB. The mic preamps offer a 75 dB gain range with an EIN of -128 dBu (A-weighted) - clean enough for ribbon microphones and any other low-output sources.
Line outputs reach a dynamic range of 112 dB with output levels switchable between +19, +13, and +4 dBu to suit any monitoring setup. The headphone output is particularly powerful, delivering up to 210 mW into a 32 Ω load, enough to drive demanding headphones with ease.
Preamps & Inputs
The two front-panel XLR combo mic preamps feature individually switchable 48V phantom power and a gain range of 75 dB. The two front instrument/line inputs accept both balanced TRS and unbalanced TS, with a 1 MΩ input impedance for direct instrument connection.
At the rear, ten balanced TRS line inputs provide extensive connectivity for outboard gear, summing mixers, or additional sources. Input sensitivity on the rear line inputs is switchable between +19 dBu and +13 dBu, with an additional variable gain stage.
Connectivity
- 2 × XLR combo mic/line inputs (front)
- 2 × Line/instrument inputs (front, balanced TRS / unbalanced TS)
- 6 × Balanced TRS line inputs (rear)
- 6 × Balanced TRS line outputs (rear, level switchable)
- 1 × Headphone output (6.3mm TRS, 210 mW @ 32 Ω)
- AES/EBU I/O (XLR, transformer-balanced)
- ADAT optical I/O (TOSLINK, up to 8 channels at 48 kHz)
- SPDIF coaxial I/O (RCA)
- Word clock I/O (BNC, switchable termination)
- MIDI I/O (5-pin DIN)
- USB 2.0 (host connection)
- USB port (rear, for DURec recording / ARC USB remote)
- Class Compliant mode (driverless operation for iOS, Linux, etc.)
SteadyClock FS
The UCX II incorporates RME's full SteadyClock FS circuit, providing jitter suppression exceeding 50 dB across all clock modes. Critically, the UCX II can also lock to word clock via its dedicated BNC I/O, which is important in larger studio setups where multiple digital devices need to share a single master clock.
Stand-Alone Operation
The UCX II can operate entirely without a computer. Six device states can be stored in internal memory, each recallable directly from the front panel. This makes it practical as a live stage interface, a standalone preamp and converter, or a fixed install device in a venue or broadcast environment where a computer isn't part of the signal chain.
DURec (Direct USB Recording)
A dedicated rear USB port allows the UCX II to record all inputs and outputs directly to a USB drive or hard disk, completely independently of any connected computer. This internal DSP-driven recording functionality can capture up to 40 channels simultaneously to drives up to 2 TB, making it a capable standalone field recorder or live multitrack recorder.
DC-Coupled Outputs & Modular Synthesis
All line outputs on the UCX II are fully DC-coupled, meaning they pass static and extremely low-frequency signals without filtering.
This is specifically relevant for modular synthesizer users. The outputs can send CV (control voltage) and Gate signals directly to Eurorack and other modular formats, allowing the UCX II to act as a bridge between a DAW and a hardware modular system without any additional hardware.
KEY FEATURES: RME Fireface UCX II
- 40-channel, 192 kHz USB 2.0 interface in a half-rack form factor
- 2 × XLR mic preamps (75 dB gain range, EIN -128 dBu, 48V phantom)
- 4 × Analog inputs (front panel) + 6 × balanced line inputs (rear)
- 6 × Balanced line outputs (level switchable: +19/+13/+4 dBu)
- Headphone output: 210 mW @ 32 Ω
- AES/EBU, ADAT, SPDIF coaxial, and word clock I/O
- SteadyClock FS clocking with word clock BNC I/O
- Full standalone operation - 6 storable device states
- DURec: direct multitrack recording to USB drive, up to 2 TB, no computer required
- DC-coupled outputs for CV/Gate use with modular synthesizers
- TotalMix FX with 9-band Room EQ, dynamics, reverb, delay
- TotalMix Remote via Wi-Fi
- Class Compliant mode for driverless operation
- ARC USB remote control compatible
- RME in-house drivers - regularly updated, long-term OS support
Specification
Specification
What's in the box?
What's in the box?
Downloads & Manuals
Downloads & Manuals
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