RME HDSPe MADI

The RME Hammerfall DSPe MADI (HDSPe MADI) is RME's most inexpensive PCI Express soundcard with MADI interface. The HDSPe MADI doesn't compromise on performance in any way. The RME HDSPe MADI is based on the award-winning HDSP MADI card, and continues to improve on this successful card line.

The PCI Express card consequently uses all advantages of the MADI format. It's a professional, multi-channel audio interface offering 64 channels of 24-bit audio at a sample rate of up to 48kHz, 32 channels at up to 96kHz and 16 channels at up to 192kHz. Transmission is done via a single line, either coaxial with BNC plugs or by fiber cable. In both cases, more than 100m of cable length can be achieved.

This Express card version offers some extra features to go with what the HDSP MADI provides, including support of higher sample rates than 96kHz, more features in TotalMix (phase and internal loopback per channel, +6 dB gain for the hardware outputs), and the direct support of the Time Code Option. HDSPe MADI provides even lower latencies, making the card an ideal partner for live recording and live mixing applications. The analog monitor output is equipped with the low-latency converter technology of the ADI-8 QS for stunning SNR and THD values too.

HDSPe MADI is fully compatible to all devices with MADI interface. In combination with the ADI-648 an 8 x ADAT optical PC interface is realized, whereas with the ADI-6432, a bidirectional AES/EBU front end with 64 channels is available. On a powerful PC/Mac, three HDSPe MADI can be used in a combination, providing 192 inputs and 192 outputs on a single workstation simultaneously.

HDSPe MADI offers full support for 56- and 64-channel modes, as well as double and single wire technology (96k frame), for 96kHz. Full 64-channel support can also be found in the hardware mixer TotalMix. All 64 inputs and 64 playback channels can be routed and mixed to 64 physical outputs completely freely, which translates to a 8192 channel mixer. With all of that, HDSPe MADI offers you a powerful router/mixer implemented on a PCI card, and allows much more than a usage as pure computer I/O unit:

MADI optical patchbay and router
MADI coaxial/optical or vice versa converter and splitter
MADI redistributor, patchbay and router
TotalMix can be completely remote controlled via MIDI. Furthermore, the hardware delivers RMS and peak level meters for full control over 192 audio channels at minimal CPU load.

While most MADI-based devices require an additional word clock or AES line, the Hammerfall DSP MADI uses SteadyClock to extract the reference clock at lowest jitter directly from the MADI signal, making long-distance connections even more convenient. It also offers other sensible features such as analog 24-bit/96kHz line/headphone output with 116dB dynamic range for direct control of all input and output signals. The included expansion board carries word clock I/O (BNC) and MIDI I/O. The word clock input is galvanically isolated via transformer and operates on both single and double speed signals automatically. MIDI I/O offers two completely independent MIDI inputs and outputs via breakout cable (4 DIN sockets). A virtual MIDI port allows for a direct transmission of MIDI data over MADI.

RME uses a configuration memory for the most important settings of the card. Instead of operating in a default mode on computer power-up until loading the driver, HDSPe MADI activates the last used sample rate, master/slave configuration, and MADI format immediately when switched on. This eliminates disturbing noises and clock network problems during power-up or reboot of the computer.

Included software:
DIGICheck for Windows: Contains Spectral Analyzer, professional level meter for 2, 8, or 64 channels, Vector Audio Scope, various other audio analysis tools.
Drivers: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/64 (full ASIO multi-client operation of WDM, GSIF 2.0 and ASIO 2.0), Mac OS X Intel (Core Audio and Core MIDI).
Thanks to RME's flash update technology, future firmware improvements, adjustments, and bugfixes can be installed easily at any time.

Settings Dialog
Just click on the hammer symbol in the systray of the taskbar and the settings dialog of the HDSPe MADI comes up. The clear, structured, easy-to-understand window and the unique informative status windows for input signal, clock mode, and sample rate make your work with Hammerfall DSP a real pleasure.

When working with several digital sources it is not only necessary to know if these are properly locked, but also if they are totally synchronized. RME's exclusive SyncCheck checks all input signals and displays their actual state. Thanks to RME's Intelligent Clock Control (ICC) concept you'll easily have all clocks and states under control.

HDSPe MADI is also equipped with SteadyClock, RME's unique sync and clock technology. With this, the device becomes a sync reference for the whole studio. SteadyClock refreshes clock signals, removes jitter, and takes permanent care of optimal conversion quality. This gives you a sensational sound quality, completely independent from the reference clock's quality. SteadyClock allows the HDSPe MADI to control the sample rate on its own. The Settings dialog includes a direct choice of the video and audio world's most often used sample rates. Additionally, two faders can be used to set the sample rate freely and in realtime within the +/- 4% and +/- 0.4% range.


In Use: The HDSPe MADI makes for a very stable
system when used with SSL's Alpha Link MADI AX (#189915) and Alpha Link MADI SX (#189914) and adds Total Mix DSP mixing.