RME HDSPe MADI FX – triple PCI Express card with 3× MADI I/O (2× optical SC + 1× coaxial BNC), AES/EBU I/O (XLR), Word Clock I/O (BNC), analog monitor output (6.3 mm), 4× MIDI I/O (1× DIN + 3× MIDI over MADI), and TotalMix FX mixer with hardware effects. The interface offers a total of 390 audio channels, including 192×192 @ 44.1/48 kHz, 96×96 @ 88.2/96 kHz, and 48×48 @ 176.4/192 kHz in MADI format.
The HDSPe MADI FX features the new Hammerfall Pro Audio Core for ultra-low latency performance (buffers from 32 samples) and real-time operation of the 4096-channel TotalMix mixer. It includes a 192 kHz RME effects engine for zero-latency monitoring with EQ, compression, reverb, and echo, and supports Seamless Redundancy Operation (SRO) that uses all three MADI inputs for uninterrupted signal switching.
The card allows simultaneous use of all I/Os (3× MADI + AES/EBU + analog out), in-the-box format conversion between optical and coaxial MADI, ultra-stable SteadyClock, and flexible routing/submixing via TotalMix FX. An included expansion board provides BNC Word Clock and coax MADI; the optional Opto-X module offers additional optical MADI I/Os.
KEY FEATURES
- Triple MADI: 2× optical (SC) + 1× coaxial (BNC), supporting up to 192×192 @ 48 kHz, 96×96 @ 96 kHz, 48×48 @ 192 kHz
- AES/EBU I/O (XLR via breakout cable) + analog Line/Phones 6.3 mm for monitoring
- TotalMix FX with onboard EQ, dynamics, reverb, and echo; 4096-channel matrix mixer
- Seamless Redundancy Operation – auto switch to backup MADI input without dropouts
- Word Clock I/O (BNC, switchable 75 Ω termination), SteadyClock jitter-suppression technology
- MIDI: 1× DIN MIDI I/O + 3× MIDI over MADI virtual ports, multi-client support
- In-the-box format conversion: optical ⇄ coaxial MADI in both directions
- Native PCIe x1 interface, extremely low latency; compatible with DIGICheck, ARC USB, macOS and Windows drivers
- Optional Opto-X expander (replaces BNC module with extra optical MADI ports)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- I/O: 2× MADI optical (duplex SC, multimode), 1× MADI coax (BNC 75 Ω), 1× AES/EBU I/O (XLR via breakout), 1× Line/Phones 6.3 mm TRS, Word Clock In/Out (BNC), 1× MIDI I/O (DIN) + 3× MIDI over MADI
- Channels / Sample Rates: MADI up to 64 ch @ 44.1/48 kHz; 32 ch @ 88.2/96 kHz (S/MUX/96k Frame); 16 ch @ 176.4/192 kHz (S/MUX4) per port; total of 192/96/48 in/out at 48/96/192 kHz respectively; total audio channels: 390
- MADI formats: 56/64-channel, 48K/96K Frame, supports S/MUX and S/MUX4
- Word Clock: In 10 kΩ with switchable 75 Ω termination; Out 4 Vpp/75 Ω; auto Single/Double/Quad Speed
- Phones/Line out (TRS, channels 3/4): 75 Ω impedance, level @0 dBFS +13 dBu; frequency range (−0.5 dB) up to 45.9 kHz @ 96 kHz
- Cable lengths: up to ~100 m for coaxial MADI; up to ~2000 m for optical MADI
- PCIe: x1 lane endpoint, 2.5 Gb/s full-duplex (up to 500 MB/s)
- Clock sources: Internal, MADI In (opt/coax), Word Clock In, AES In; with SyncCheck and ICC
