RME Audio Digiface Ravenna, User Manual

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32 User's Guide Digiface Ravenna
© RME
18. Routing and Monitoring
18.1 Overview
The Digiface Ravenna includes a powerful digital real-time mixer,
TotalMix FX,
based on RME’s
unique, sample-rate independent TotalMix technology. It allows for practically unlimited mixing
and routing operations, with all inputs and playback channels simultaneously, to any hardware
outputs. The Digiface does not have a DSP, so there are no FX available.
Here are some typical applications for TotalMix:

Setting up delay-free submixes (headphone mixes). The Digiface Ravenna allows for up to 65
fully independent stereo submixes. On an analog mixing desk, this would equal 130 Aux
sends.

Unlimited routing of inputs and outputs (free utilisation, patchbay functionality).

Distributing signals to several outputs at a time. TotalMix offers state-of-the-art splitter and
distributor functions.

Simultaneous playback of different programs via a single stereo output. The ASIO multi-client
driver supports the usage of several programs at the same time. When done on different play-
back channels TotalMix provides the means to mix and monitor these on a single stereo out-
put.

Mixing of the input signal to the playback signal (complete ASIO Direct Monitoring). RME not
only is the pioneer of ADM, but also offers the most complete implementation of the ADM
functions.

Integration of external devices. Use TotalMix to insert external effects devices, be it in the
playback or in the record path. Depending on the current application, the functionality equals
insert or effects send and effects return, for example as used during real-time monitoring when
adding some reverb to the vocals.
Every single input channel, playback channel and hardware output features a Peak and RMS
level meter, calculated in hardware. These level displays are very useful to determine the pres-
ence and routing destinations of the audio signals.
For a better understanding of the TotalMix mixer you should know the following:

As shown in the block diagram (next page), the record signal usually stays unaltered. TotalMix
does not reside within the record path, and does not change the record level or the audio data
to be recorded (exception: loopback mode).

The hardware input signal can be passed on as often as desired, even with different levels.
This is a big difference to conventional mixing desks, where the channel fader always controls
the level for all routing destinations simultaneously.

The level meter of inputs and playback channels are connected pre-fader, to be able to visually
monitor where a signal is currently present. The level meters of the hardware outputs are
connected post-fader, thus displaying the actual output level.