RME should pay you because your 3 videos on Total mix are better than all the tutorials by RME. Great job and thank you for taking the time to do these videos.
I have been using an RME interface since 2010 and recently upgraded to a UFX III with two Ferrofish Pulse connected via MADI. 14 years later and after spending some time watching your videos, I finally understand how Total Mix works. Thanks, Barry. These videos were extremely helpful.
There’s always good better and best. As you’ve stated; there are hardly any usable tutorials of TotalMix FX but now I found the best tutorial of RME TotalMix FX software on the channel [ RME USA Audio - Synthax ]. The video is called “An In Depth Look At TotalMix FX”. Although it does not deal with all the options within TotalMix FX, it covers a lot of them and in a very pleasant way and pace without any hesitation due to repeating itself over and over again; so the learning pace is very well timed and it gets one over that "hump", you mentioned, within seven minutes, so no steep learning curve. Also it is far more less overwhelming and less distracting due to the use of also a smaller interface instead of showing and labeling the endless rows of inputs, playbacks and outputs again and again. So you can save yourself a ton of time and effort by watching that video yourself, to learn what topics are not covered and how to improve your didactic skills. Hope this helps.
Last week, I purchased my external signal chain (RME FireFace UFX III, API-3122V, WA273-EQ, WA76, WA2A and EQP-WA). RME TotalMix makes it an absolute breeze with Studio One. No patch panels, no latency. No problems. Follow this video and you'll be up and running in no time! Great job, Barry. Thanks!
Thank you! Until now (and for 10 years since I have UFX 1) I had neither insert nor need for complex rooting. I had gradually created a template corresponding to my needs without ever retouching it too much for fear of losing my settings. Today, thanks to your 3 videos that I just discovered, I was able to dive back into this wonderful and powerful software that is Totalmix and get the most out of it, with a view to a significant change in my workflow. Thank you and thank you again for your patience in these many explanations. Your approach is that of the teacher that we would all have liked to have had during our studies!
Once again, great stuff. After a couple of years of loving their product with what I *could* do with it, but knowing I was seriously missing the proverbial boat, I'm starting to feel like I can build out the multiple routings I've been needing for quite some time. Great stuff and much appreciated!
As relates to cumulative latencies when using AD/DA conversions in series in my post below, I just did some checking on the M-32 AD and DA conversion latencies which, I believe, may be somewhat close to the converters in the UFX+ that is being used in this example. I checked the UFX + manual and could not locate AD DA sample latency numbers, but using the M-32 specs, after the oversampling computations… At 48kHz sample rate the DA conversion is .6ms At 48kHz sample rate the AD conversion is .77ms …..so a round trip conversion would be 1.3ms. To my thinking, using Totalmix as a patchbay to route signals to/from two analog devices at 48kHZ would introduce : 0.77ms on the initial signal AD conversion 1.30ms on the ADDA through the compressor 1.30ms on the ADDA through the EQ 3.37ms total ….before the signal hits the DA (0.6ms). Wouldn’t this 3.37ms latency create an “actual” out of phase relationship with other tracks being played back through Totalmix? As I mentioned, I thought I noticed some phasing. This is not meant as criticism. I really love these tutorials and appreciate your efforts in explaining the potential available in Totalmix . Much respect.
This is a godsend and what I have been waiting for! Why has not RME had someone explain it this way. THIS I can wrap my head around as I am taking notes to file away into a binder.
Thank you Barry. This helped me a LOT! Now all I need is more I/O for my interface. I'm acquiring enough hardware that the 8 channels on my interface just isn't enough. I have an old Fireface UC that doesn't have MADI and has only 1 ADAT port. I have plans to get a Focusrite Clarett OctoPre so I can get 8 more channels of ADAT-accessible I/O. The Pulse 16 would be great but I don't have enough ports on my old interface to access all 16 channels. For now, 8 additional I/O ports will be enough for the hardware I have. There are always work-arounds if I need to daisy chain hardware devices. They are all in my patch bays so I can just re-patch things if necessary.
Finally some decent tutorial from the user. Shame on RME couldn't make such a important tutorial video for us. Sorry I sold RME and got APOGEE instead. Sound quality is next level.
Incredible. RME really dropped the ball with producing effective tutorials on Totalmix. You knocked the ball out of the park! Thank you for this. At some point I would really love to see a video that explains how you have your converters are connected to all the outboard gear. In particular how do you use the Ferrofish pulse within the RME ecosystem? Is the Pulse connected to your RME converter? Thanks so much.
Don't overthink it. The Pulse 16 is just additional IO. Connect it to the UFX+/3 via Madi and you're in business. The Pulse 16 is an AD/DA but in practice you will never think about it.
Thank you Barry this is super helpful. I just got a UFX3 and I've watch all the videos in the series. Can you make a video talking about selecting the correct input and output level for your hardware on the RME for example the +13 or +19 (input) setting and +4, +13 or +19 (output) and when would you select with level. Thanks again.
Lots of thanks for doing this. I've had a UFX for years and love it but never got my head around it completely. If I have to change things, I fiddle about for ages until it eventually does what I want it to do. Then forget what I've done.🤦♂
Great video! I'm a beginner so a lot of trial and error and YT videos to go through. All the hardware you've got I'll never have so I'm dependent to a DAW, in my case Reaper, using a RME UCX II as my interface to record and have fx applied to my signals. In the RME UCX II goes a Prophet 12 synth, a Roland TR 8 S, a microfone and a guitar. Out go my two monitors and a headphone. To me it seems easier to have all that hardware instead of having only three hardware outputs; left and right monitor and headphones. I find it a steep learning curve to learn how to use TotalMix combined with recording in a DAW. As far as I understood your videos so far I'll need the loopback function on the outgoing channels in TotalMix to record in Reaper. BTW: you are right about needing a signal indicator on the input channels one loops back to. I'm looking forward to more videos about TotalMix. Subscribed.
Thank you Barry! I had a good foundation with TotalMix already but this video helped me better understand routing for my hybrid studio, especially for integrating my hardware equipment (e.g. into my workflow.
I'm wondering if the Matrix view of the mixer wouldn't be better for this type of routing. It will give a better over view of the mixer state and allow you to more easily see any levels that should not be routed. Start off by having both the matrix and the mix window open and visible when you make adjustments in the total mix mix window and this way learn where your most used X-points are. Once you are familiar with the matrix mixer setup a total mix view preference to remove excess crospoints and transition to the matrix mixer. The shortcut keys for opening both the matrix and mixer windows should also help with this.
thank you soooo much for this barry, it would be nice if you can show us a picture from your I/O settings in Studio One somewhere and maybe your i/O settings for the driver, for avoiding latency problems.
You managed to sum up in 30 min what took me probably days to finally figure out! What many might find helpful imo is a quickie on routing a stereo source to a mono input only outboard gear. Best I figure is first splitting the stereo source to two mono channels, then sending each at a time, recording the corresponding receive channel/track x 2. Complicated with very little room for error but with some rewarding results if done correctly. Any other method (other than recommending buying an identical pair!). Thanks.
Great Video(s). What is the recommended way to use outboard preamps with the UFX+? Can you use Totalmix to route them in the chain or do they need to be chosen upfront and dealt with on the way in?
I’m curious as to what type of latency there is the further down the signal chain you route audio from external device to external device since you were only monitoring one channel at a time in Studio One. Just as a note to Studio One users, I was able to overcome a latency issue I was having when I changed my workflow from sending my source signal from channel to channel to capture external device signals to instead stay in one channel and using Pipeline XT for my initial hardware insert and then using the Splitter tool on that inserts to then daisy chain subsequent instances of Pipeline XT to as many hardware devices as I wished to build a signal chain to my liking with no perceivable latency that I could detect. Then I could just turn that signal chain on and off within Studio One just as I would using a plugin. Very convenient. I’m going to do a side by side comparison myself to see which workflow I prefer. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a way to utilize both workflows together. Hopefully 😊
Thanks for this Barry! Just transitioning to RME UCX II from Presonus Studio 192 interface and Studio One. In my previous setup, I just used the PipelineXT plugin in Studio One on the main bus to route signal to my outboard bus compressor and thought I could do the same thing with RME. However I have not been able to achieve the same result. With the plugin enabled, it seems that there is some signal bleeding in addition to return signal from the outboard gear creating some phasing but I can't see where it is coming from in TotalMix. Have you tried using Pipeline XT? If I can't get it to work then I guess I can achieve the same result using some additional bussing, but not as convenient and not as easy to be able to switch between the dry and processed signal just by enabling/disabling the Pipeline XT plugin.
Hi Barry - how many conversion trips would there be for multiple routes? I assume there is only 1 initial conversion, but I am not sure beyond this. Thanks again for the great video.
Sooooo….. to create separate cue mixes for zero latency tracking and send/return from a hardware reverb processor for the performers instead of using the Totalmix DSP….I think I’ve got my head around it but need to play around with it a bit.
I’m going to give this a try. I’ve been using Pipeline XT in Studio One as a hardware insert to route to my external devices but it would be nice to have other routing options already set up through TotalMix using my Digiface ADAT interface.
Given that you have enough I/O (AD/DA) converters, this would eliminate the need for a hardware patchbay, however,….when used for committing a compressed, EQ’ed signal to DAW during tracking, it would also increase the number of AD/DA conversions vs using physical patch cables, plugging the output of a preamp > input of a compressor > output of comp > input of EQ > output of EQ > AD conversion to DAW(one AD conversion) Whereas, by using Totalmix routing as the patchbay, unless I’m missing something and the internal patching does create AD/AD conversions between devices physically patched to the AD/DA converters of the RME FF UFX+…. Output of preamp > AD converter #1 > DA converter #1> compressor AD converter #2> DA compressor converter #2 > AD EQ converter #3> DA EQ converter #3>AD converter#4 > DAW (three AD/DA conversions and one final AD conversion to commit the processed signal to DAW…. Each in series, A/D D/A round trip is going to add cumulative latency into the signal chain. Are you hearing any phasing? I think I may be but I am listening to this on an iPad, not at my workstation….. If the hardware was being inserted on channels in a DAW at I’m down with latency compensation, there would be one AD/DA compensation per unit channel (stereo or mono) but they would each be delay compensated and thereby phase aligned…. I use an RME MADI FX PCIe card with M-32 AD and DA and ADI-8 QS converters which should be roughly equivalent to the FF UFX + in design and AD/DA round trip latency. These tutorials you have created are wonderful and a bit groundbreaking actually. Great job. Thank you. Losing my hardware patchbays is an appealing thought but I’m wondering how much the signal fidelity would be impacted by this many, in serial, non-phase aligned AD/DA conversions.
5th paragraph iPad typo should read “inserted on channels on a DAW at mixdown” last paragraph typo should read “fidelity should me impacted by this many, in series, non-phase aligned…”
Great stuff! Just wondering, you will introduce an additional da and ad conversion for each hardware piece whereas with something like manual patching or flock you do the da+ad only once for the track. And even better if you utilize analog summing you would have da only once for each track and only one ad for the final 2bus (preferably with higher quality ad-converter). But is this a non-issue?
Yea you will be doing additional DA/AD this way. The conversion is very good so I don’t concern myself with that. I do have patchbays, that all my gear is connected to so if I’m tracking on the way in, I patch them, if doing hardware inserts there is of course DA/AD happening.
Thanks, Barry. If you’re routing software tracks for mixing with outboard gear, it is the same process but using the software playback tracks? It would be cool to get a tutorial showing the process of mixing.
Great tutorial. I have a UFX+ that at one time before Sonoma+ OS I used to have loopback working fine with Zoom and other real time comm apps. Try as I might now, post update on OS and UFX+ I cannot get things working. Begging you to do a tutorial for those of us who run large interfaces but also have practical day to day needs (UFX+ > Loopback > Zoom).
You seem very knowledgeable with this software, thanks for all the info. The problem I'm having is this: Instead of wanting to record through my hardware like you explain here, I'm trying to slap a hardware compressor across my mixbus. I have it all set up hardware wise right (7-8 out of the Fireface into the comp back out the comp into 7-8 of the Fireface.) Great. The problem is when I pull up 7-8 on Totalmix im getting phasey feedback. Ive tried everything I can think of. Please tell me you can help. FRUSTRATED!
Hey Barry, how are the converters in the Ferrowfish vs the RME. I’m considering the same setup, however using the Ferrowfish as adat for the db sub connections , l believe it means the AD conversion coming back from the hardware will be done at the Ferrowfish not the Rme. Was wondering about the Ferrowfish converters. Thank you.
I have 2 RME Fireface AD/DA converters, a Fireface 800 & a Fireface UFX+. I watched the first 2 sessions you presented because I hadn't watched them. You stated many times that to not watch them would potentially be a disservice to myself so I did. I really wanted a concise explanation of how to route signal through Totalmix(es) to a UA 1176 - 2 utilizing both RME converters. By the time I got to this lesson, I decided to call RME support rather than attempt to sit still while you bounce around like spit on a hot griddle explaining hardware connections for the most subtle of recording tasks, applying limiting & compression. I don't like to criticize because I can tell you are trying to earnestly communicate your experiences working with Totalmix. I think editing your videos to reduce redundancies would be by best advice to you. Thanks, though
@@BarryJohns I called RME support. They have always provided excellent insights and guidance. I built snapshots where no signal flow is occurring whatsoever and all channels are mono. I then viewed the Matrix to observe how it appeared. I found doing so to be beneficial because the Matrix was completely empty. I plan to move forward slowly because I am utilizing a "wall of mics" similar to Phil Spector's wall of sound. I was trying to gain a deeper understanding of how to route signal to a compressor. Starting with no signal flow and building the Totalmix from scratch will allow me to understand then extrapolate.
Nice video! My Apogee Ensemble is done and I think this is the next step. based on this video, it seems like I could possibly get rid of my patchbay too! Am I seeing this correctly? meaning, go with RME/TotalMix and not really need a physical patchbay anymore? I need to digest that concept for a minute, but is that a crazy thought?
Barry hi. When tracking drums with some outboard preamps (running into the UFX III both through adat and line inputs) is there a way to gate some of the signals (such as tom mics)...? Meaning, gate them while monitoring in real-time...
In what situation would u want to split the mic signal...partial going to an EQ and the rest of the signal to a compressor? Like the Y-cable example you gave...when would u apply that?
Great video. 2 questions please. You route you mic to the outputs, and then you see it in your equipment input. So i guess this is because of the routed equipment you connected to the RME. How is you equipment is hooked up in practice?
Remember, outputs feed inputs. So mic cable is an output, that goes into the input of a mic preamp, mic preamp output goes to the input of the next thing and so on.
No not at all. I have two patchbays. When I track I don’t route through totalmix, it’s when I use hardware inserts at times. But can you eliminate patch ays, yes if you have enough I/O. Remember every time you’re routing through total mix, you’re dealing with conversion happening both ways. You don’t have that when you use a patch bay.
Hey, really appreciate your videos. Ive recently acquired a UFX iii and a pulse 16 MX, using Madi for the 16 i/o. loving the quality. Thanks for another video explaining the routing matrix for the pulse 16, really helped me speed up the learning curve, its working great. Im currently trying to figure out how to route the FX (Dynamics and EQ) to a software playback channel so i can monitor it from my DAW and be able to use midi mapped hardware for muting and unmuting but cannot figure it out for the life of me. With all the routing capabilities, there must be a way to monitor and record the fx from total mix into my DAW. Any help is much appreciated. thanks.
Thanks for this awesome video!! I'm considering switching to RME. It looks like like you're using TotalMix like it was a digital patchbay. Did you just connect your inputs and outputs of your hardware to MADI and then just did the routing from one hardware to another using TotalMix?
@@BarryJohns Would love to see a video of your studio build and how you connected things. Have you ever made one of those? Btw, love your set up. Thanks for your awesome content!
Great video Barry, thank you very much for doing these. When you go in and out of different hardware units in series, is it correct to say that the signal is being AD/DA converted each time? Is there a way to pass out of one hardware unit and into another without AD/DA conversion, using TotalMix without physically cabling them together in series? I hope I'm making sense here.
Yea for each path you would have conversion happening, same as you would for hardware inserts. It’s doing the patching digitally, but you still have to have the conversion occur each time it goes in and out of your interface. Modern interfaces have outstanding conversion so the going out and back in would not be noticeable. If using an older RME that may not be the case. This would be the difference between doing the routing in totalmix vs a patchbay.
@@BarryJohns unfortunately not. I measured 34 samples with a single pass at 48khz. while that is incredibly low, it will add up once chaining multiple passes. total mix is very very powerful, yet chaining fx will still require a mix of software plus analog patchbays to keep it phase coherent.
My apologies, I have no idea how I missed that. I have updated all four videos to have the links to all four videos. As to the sales pitch, no it’s not, all I ask is if you appreciate my work and you choose to buy something from them I get a small percentage. I say in all my videos, I don’t care who you buy from, but if you are so inclined to help a brother out use one of my links. If it were not for that, I would not be on TH-cam as it would not be worth the time, as you make next to nothing from views. Affiliate relationship or not, my opinions are my own and never influenced by anyone. Simply not realistic to expect somebody like me to do all this work and get nothing from it.
hi, how come I hear my guitar in logic pro only on one side, and if I listen to music in iTunes is everything fine? I have a babyface pro fs and I obviously set everything....what am I doing wrong?
Forgive me if this has been asked already, watching this In the car. So does routing through totalmix eliminate the need to use pipeline to route hardware into studio one? Is is pipeline used for something different or when I don't want to monitor through totalmix.
If sendinding out of Studio One to hardware as an insert, then you need to use pipeline for that. If routing into various pieces of hardware before it hits your RME Interface, you'd do that with TotalMix. Have you watched all 4 videos?
I have the UCX II. Can I route my an 3 hi-Z to the AES which is my Axe Fx III and record both the DI from the RME and the wet signal from the Axe Fx III?
I have it working correctly now. I needed to change the Axe Fx III clock to spdif/aes and the input 1 from analog to digital. The rme clock needed to stay internal to clock at 48k.
Hey there. Great stuff ! I do have a question, maybe this has been dealt with later: When you are sending several mixes to several outputs, who do you listen to those various outputs via the headphones? Another to phrase this, probably still in a wrong way, is it possible to insert the headphones at the various outputs? It's probably a session on the "assign" that I need :) One obvious reason why we would one to do that is to know what we are sending. It's probably very simple but I have to say it's not second nature to me at the moment.
I’ve used both Flock audio and RME Total mix….. I’m sorry its’ not even close… Flock audio is way more simplified and the best way to control outboard gear. You don’t need multiple videos to explain it and you can control it via an iPad, phone, and it will be in plugin version very soon. This is way too much work. Lol.
I agree to a point, however once you do understand it and I’ve made it pretty simple for minimal time learning, it’s very, very powerful. Flock is amazing too!
@@TheWeazel01 It is still better... and it is not even close. It is totally worth the price if you have a significant amount of hardware. It is also a time saver and that is what you are paying for. No patching, no configuring you can rearrange any combination of gear in mere seconds. This isn't for bedroom producers with a few pieces its for professionals where time matters because of deadlines.
@@risingphoenix1484 Who said anything about bedroom producers? Of course it is flexible, just in my opinion way too expensive for what it does. That way you could justify any price for any product. I use a aignificant amount of hardware and do it mostly with hardware inserts and for the money the Flock costs, I would rather buy some other gear and do the rest with hardware inserts in my DAW and TotalMix. But of course, to each it's own but in my opinion that Flock thing is way overpriced, and I say that as somebody who makes a living mixing and producing records.
Are you sure you use Totalmix? The reason I’m asking is because if you did you would know that Barry is showing how flexible the routing is and how you can do some complex routing systems. In terms of straight forward routing, Totalmix is extremely easy as well( go to the output channel your speakers are on , raise the volume that your hardware channel is plugged into and boom you are done.) plus, it can be controlled through iPad, iPhone, another laptop or desktop as well. Flock audio does have advantages but you didn’t state any of them,
RME should pay you because your 3 videos on Total mix are better than all the tutorials by RME. Great job and thank you for taking the time to do these videos.
I have been using an RME interface since 2010 and recently upgraded to a UFX III with two Ferrofish Pulse connected via MADI. 14 years later and after spending some time watching your videos, I finally understand how Total Mix works. Thanks, Barry. These videos were extremely helpful.
videos like this is what youtube should be. not people just tryna sell you stuff. good job
Many thanks Barry! New RME user here, your tutorials have really shortened the learning curve!
Thank you!
So thankful for your videos on RME/TotalMix. A real service to the DIY recording community.
There’s always good better and best. As you’ve stated; there are hardly any usable tutorials of TotalMix FX but now I found the best tutorial of RME TotalMix FX software on the channel [ RME USA Audio - Synthax ]. The video is called “An In Depth Look At TotalMix FX”. Although it does not deal with all the options within TotalMix FX, it covers a lot of them and in a very pleasant way and pace without any hesitation due to repeating itself over and over again; so the learning pace is very well timed and it gets one over that "hump", you mentioned, within seven minutes, so no steep learning curve. Also it is far more less overwhelming and less distracting due to the use of also a smaller interface instead of showing and labeling the endless rows of inputs, playbacks and outputs again and again. So you can save yourself a ton of time and effort by watching that video yourself, to learn what topics are not covered and how to improve your didactic skills. Hope this helps.
Last week, I purchased my external signal chain (RME FireFace UFX III, API-3122V, WA273-EQ, WA76, WA2A and EQP-WA). RME TotalMix makes it an absolute breeze with Studio One. No patch panels, no latency. No problems. Follow this video and you'll be up and running in no time! Great job, Barry. Thanks!
Thank you! Until now (and for 10 years since I have UFX 1) I had neither insert nor need for complex rooting. I had gradually created a template corresponding to my needs without ever retouching it too much for fear of losing my settings. Today, thanks to your 3 videos that I just discovered, I was able to dive back into this wonderful and powerful software that is Totalmix and get the most out of it, with a view to a significant change in my workflow. Thank you and thank you again for your patience in these many explanations. Your approach is that of the teacher that we would all have liked to have had during our studies!
Once again, great stuff. After a couple of years of loving their product with what I *could* do with it, but knowing I was seriously missing the proverbial boat, I'm starting to feel like I can build out the multiple routings I've been needing for quite some time. Great stuff and much appreciated!
Barry, thanks for this series. You are providing the community with a priceless tutorial. Have an awesome day.
My pleasure!
just ordered my UFX 3, will be diving into this in a few days - thank you Barry 🙏🏻
As relates to cumulative latencies when using AD/DA conversions in series in my post below, I just did some checking on the M-32 AD and DA conversion latencies which, I believe, may be somewhat close to the converters in the UFX+ that is being used in this example. I checked the UFX + manual and could not locate AD DA sample latency numbers, but using the M-32 specs, after the oversampling computations…
At 48kHz sample rate the DA conversion is .6ms
At 48kHz sample rate the AD conversion is .77ms
…..so a round trip conversion would be 1.3ms.
To my thinking, using Totalmix as a patchbay to route signals to/from two analog devices at 48kHZ would introduce :
0.77ms on the initial signal AD conversion
1.30ms on the ADDA through the compressor
1.30ms on the ADDA through the EQ
3.37ms total
….before the signal hits the DA (0.6ms).
Wouldn’t this 3.37ms latency create an “actual” out of phase relationship with other tracks being played back through Totalmix? As I mentioned, I thought I noticed some phasing.
This is not meant as criticism. I really love these tutorials and appreciate your efforts in explaining the potential available in Totalmix .
Much respect.
I am also curious how to deal with latency here as I am recording a lot of drums with parallel stuff.
This is cool. You're essentially doing "patch bay" type routings right in Total Mix. Really clever. Nicely done.
This is a godsend and what I have been waiting for! Why has not RME had someone explain it this way. THIS I can wrap my head around as I am taking notes to file away into a binder.
No need for notes, you can always come back to the video(s).
Good clear information. Very useful for people not familiar with RME totalmix.
Thank you Barry. This helped me a LOT! Now all I need is more I/O for my interface. I'm acquiring enough hardware that the 8 channels on my interface just isn't enough. I have an old Fireface UC that doesn't have MADI and has only 1 ADAT port. I have plans to get a Focusrite Clarett OctoPre so I can get 8 more channels of ADAT-accessible I/O. The Pulse 16 would be great but I don't have enough ports on my old interface to access all 16 channels. For now, 8 additional I/O ports will be enough for the hardware I have. There are always work-arounds if I need to daisy chain hardware devices. They are all in my patch bays so I can just re-patch things if necessary.
I have the ucx ii and the focusrite Clarett OctoPre 8 as well along with two patchbays is how I'm doing it as well.
Finally some decent tutorial from the user. Shame on RME couldn't make such a important tutorial video for us. Sorry I sold RME and got APOGEE instead. Sound quality is next level.
Incredible. RME really dropped the ball with producing effective tutorials on Totalmix. You knocked the ball out of the park! Thank you for this. At some point I would really love to see a video that explains how you have your converters are connected to all the outboard gear. In particular how do you use the Ferrofish pulse within the RME ecosystem? Is the Pulse connected to your RME converter? Thanks so much.
Don't overthink it. The Pulse 16 is just additional IO. Connect it to the UFX+/3 via Madi and you're in business. The Pulse 16 is an AD/DA but in practice you will never think about it.
Thanks @@chrisscott7092 !
Thanks!
I finally understood how totalmix works!! Thank you, good job!!
Another great vid!
Thanks Barry.
Barry......superb explanation. Wonderfully put together and a great help to anyone using total mix. THANK YOU.
A Great series of video's on Total Mix Barry...Many thanks Barry!
man Barry, I just stumbled across your videos. Wish I had 5 years ago. Total mix was an enigma to me. Til now, Thanks so much dude!
Thank you very much for this serie about Totalmix!
Glad you enjoy it!
Thank you Barry this is super helpful. I just got a UFX3 and I've watch all the videos in the series. Can you make a video talking about selecting the correct input and output level for your hardware on the RME for example the +13 or +19 (input) setting and +4, +13 or +19 (output) and when would you select with level. Thanks again.
Your effort is greatly respected and appreciated! Very very good youtube channel!!!
Lots of thanks for doing this.
I've had a UFX for years and love it but never got my head around it completely.
If I have to change things, I fiddle about for ages until it eventually does what I want it to do.
Then forget what I've done.🤦♂
Great video! I'm a beginner so a lot of trial and error and YT videos to go through. All the hardware you've got I'll never have so I'm dependent to a DAW, in my case Reaper, using a RME UCX II as my interface to record and have fx applied to my signals. In the RME UCX II goes a Prophet 12 synth, a Roland TR 8 S, a microfone and a guitar. Out go my two monitors and a headphone. To me it seems easier to have all that hardware instead of having only three hardware outputs; left and right monitor and headphones. I find it a steep learning curve to learn how to use TotalMix combined with recording in a DAW. As far as I understood your videos so far I'll need the loopback function on the outgoing channels in TotalMix to record in Reaper. BTW: you are right about needing a signal indicator on the input channels one loops back to.
I'm looking forward to more videos about TotalMix. Subscribed.
Thanks!
Wow, thank you....I'm humbled..l really appreciate it!
This video is just pure gold! Thanks for doing a better job of explaining than rme
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Barry, really appreciate you taking the time to explain this.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Very informative Barry!
Thank you Barry! I had a good foundation with TotalMix already but this video helped me better understand routing for my hybrid studio, especially for integrating my hardware equipment (e.g. into my workflow.
I'm wondering if the Matrix view of the mixer wouldn't be better for this type of routing. It will give a better over view of the mixer state and allow you to more easily see any levels that should not be routed.
Start off by having both the matrix and the mix window open and visible when you make adjustments in the total mix mix window and this way learn where your most used X-points are. Once you are familiar with the matrix mixer setup a total mix view preference to remove excess crospoints and transition to the matrix mixer. The shortcut keys for opening both the matrix and mixer windows should also help with this.
Check out my video on explaining why the Matrix window is so important to understand.
thank you soooo much for this barry, it would be nice if you can show us a picture from your I/O settings in Studio One somewhere and maybe your i/O settings for the driver, for avoiding latency problems.
Yes, that's a good idea...
I'm a Clearwater resident as well!
Very clever and very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
You managed to sum up in 30 min what took me probably days to finally figure out!
What many might find helpful imo is a quickie on routing a stereo source to a mono input only outboard gear. Best I figure is first splitting the stereo source to two mono channels, then sending each at a time, recording the corresponding receive channel/track x 2. Complicated with very little room for error but with some rewarding results if done correctly. Any other method (other than recommending buying an identical pair!). Thanks.
appreciate the help Barry. I understand it so much better now
The first sentence in the Totalmix manual should say is “Don’t raise the faders”.
Brilliant series on RME total mix if possible a tutorial on using the effects built in to total mix would be great 👍🏻 cheers
Great Video(s). What is the recommended way to use outboard preamps with the UFX+? Can you use Totalmix to route them in the chain or do they need to be chosen upfront and dealt with on the way in?
I route all my hardware through total mix like you saw in the video.
Great Mr Barry.
Thanks, Been waiting for your continuation on this.
I’m curious as to what type of latency there is the further down the signal chain you route audio from external device to external device since you were only monitoring one channel at a time in Studio One. Just as a note to Studio One users, I was able to overcome a latency issue I was having when I changed my workflow from sending my source signal from channel to channel to capture external device signals to instead stay in one channel and using Pipeline XT for my initial hardware insert and then using the Splitter tool on that inserts to then daisy chain subsequent instances of Pipeline XT to as many hardware devices as I wished to build a signal chain to my liking with no perceivable latency that I could detect. Then I could just turn that signal chain on and off within Studio One just as I would using a plugin. Very convenient. I’m going to do a side by side comparison myself to see which workflow I prefer. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a way to utilize both workflows together. Hopefully 😊
Thanks for this Barry! Just transitioning to RME UCX II from Presonus Studio 192 interface and Studio One. In my previous setup, I just used the PipelineXT plugin in Studio One on the main bus to route signal to my outboard bus compressor and thought I could do the same thing with RME. However I have not been able to achieve the same result. With the plugin enabled, it seems that there is some signal bleeding in addition to return signal from the outboard gear creating some phasing but I can't see where it is coming from in TotalMix. Have you tried using Pipeline XT? If I can't get it to work then I guess I can achieve the same result using some additional bussing, but not as convenient and not as easy to be able to switch between the dry and processed signal just by enabling/disabling the Pipeline XT plugin.
Hi Barry - how many conversion trips would there be for multiple routes? I assume there is only 1 initial conversion, but I am not sure beyond this.
Thanks again for the great video.
Sooooo….. to create separate cue mixes for zero latency tracking and send/return from a hardware reverb processor for the performers instead of using the Totalmix DSP….I think I’ve got my head around it but need to play around with it a bit.
I’m going to give this a try. I’ve been using Pipeline XT in Studio One as a hardware insert to route to my external devices but it would be nice to have other routing options already set up through TotalMix using my Digiface ADAT interface.
Given that you have enough I/O (AD/DA) converters, this would eliminate the need for a hardware patchbay, however,….when used for committing a compressed, EQ’ed signal to DAW during tracking, it would also increase the number of AD/DA conversions vs using physical patch cables, plugging the output of a preamp > input of a compressor > output of comp > input of EQ > output of EQ > AD conversion to DAW(one AD conversion)
Whereas, by using Totalmix routing as the patchbay, unless I’m missing something and the internal patching does create AD/AD conversions between devices physically patched to the AD/DA converters of the RME FF UFX+….
Output of preamp > AD converter #1 > DA converter #1> compressor AD converter #2> DA compressor converter #2 > AD EQ converter #3> DA EQ converter #3>AD converter#4 > DAW (three AD/DA conversions and one final AD conversion to commit the processed signal to DAW….
Each in series, A/D D/A round trip is going to add cumulative latency into the signal chain. Are you hearing any phasing? I think I may be but I am listening to this on an iPad, not at my workstation…..
If the hardware was being inserted on channels in a DAW at I’m down with latency compensation, there would be one AD/DA compensation per unit channel (stereo or mono) but they would each be delay compensated and thereby phase aligned….
I use an RME MADI FX PCIe card with M-32 AD and DA and ADI-8 QS converters which should be roughly equivalent to the FF UFX + in design and AD/DA round trip latency.
These tutorials you have created are wonderful and a bit groundbreaking actually. Great job. Thank you. Losing my hardware patchbays is an appealing thought but I’m wondering how much the signal fidelity would be impacted by this many, in serial, non-phase aligned AD/DA conversions.
Ugh..,this damned IPad…second paragraph should say “missing something and the internal patching does not create AD/DA conversions
5th paragraph iPad typo should read “inserted on channels on a DAW at mixdown”
last paragraph typo should read “fidelity should me impacted by this many, in series, non-phase aligned…”
My best friend lives in Clearwater I’m going to visit her in July
Great stuff! Just wondering, you will introduce an additional da and ad conversion for each hardware piece whereas with something like manual patching or flock you do the da+ad only once for the track. And even better if you utilize analog summing you would have da only once for each track and only one ad for the final 2bus (preferably with higher quality ad-converter). But is this a non-issue?
Yea you will be doing additional DA/AD this way. The conversion is very good so I don’t concern myself with that. I do have patchbays, that all my gear is connected to so if I’m tracking on the way in, I patch them, if doing hardware inserts there is of course DA/AD happening.
Thanks, Barry. If you’re routing software tracks for mixing with outboard gear, it is the same process but using the software playback tracks? It would be cool to get a tutorial showing the process of mixing.
Great tutorial. I have a UFX+ that at one time before Sonoma+ OS I used to have loopback working fine with Zoom and other real time comm apps. Try as I might now, post update on OS and UFX+ I cannot get things working. Begging you to do a tutorial for those of us who run large interfaces but also have practical day to day needs (UFX+ > Loopback > Zoom).
You seem very knowledgeable with this software, thanks for all the info. The problem I'm having is this: Instead of wanting to record through my hardware like you explain here, I'm trying to slap a hardware compressor across my mixbus. I have it all set up hardware wise right (7-8 out of the Fireface into the comp back out the comp into 7-8 of the Fireface.) Great. The problem is when I pull up 7-8 on Totalmix im getting phasey feedback. Ive tried everything I can think of. Please tell me you can help. FRUSTRATED!
Thank you for your videos
I have a question ! Which way is better for hardware inserts , is it better to do it in TotalMix or to do it in Protools
It’s the same
Just great !!!! Thank you !!!
Thank You! Very good explanation!
Hey Barry, how are the converters in the Ferrowfish vs the RME. I’m considering the same setup, however using the Ferrowfish as adat for the db sub connections , l believe it means the AD conversion coming back from the hardware will be done at the Ferrowfish not the Rme. Was wondering about the Ferrowfish converters. Thank you.
Thanks a lot here. It‘s like to have a new brand new interface.
Thank you Barry. So, what do the green “Cue” buttons do?
Huge huge help with this video.
I have 2 RME Fireface AD/DA converters, a Fireface 800 & a Fireface UFX+. I watched the first 2 sessions you presented because I hadn't watched them. You stated many times that to not watch them would potentially be a disservice to myself so I did. I really wanted a concise explanation of how to route signal through Totalmix(es) to a UA 1176 - 2 utilizing both RME converters. By the time I got to this lesson, I decided to call RME support rather than attempt to sit still while you bounce around like spit on a hot griddle explaining hardware connections for the most subtle of recording tasks, applying limiting & compression. I don't like to criticize because I can tell you are trying to earnestly communicate your experiences working with Totalmix. I think editing your videos to reduce redundancies would be by best advice to you. Thanks, though
Interesting, everyone else found them incredibly helpful, read the comments. Hope you figured it out.
@@BarryJohns I called RME support. They have always provided excellent insights and guidance. I built snapshots where no signal flow is occurring whatsoever and all channels are mono. I then viewed the Matrix to observe how it appeared. I found doing so to be beneficial because the Matrix was completely empty. I plan to move forward slowly because I am utilizing a "wall of mics" similar to Phil Spector's wall of sound. I was trying to gain a deeper understanding of how to route signal to a compressor. Starting with no signal flow and building the Totalmix from scratch will allow me to understand then extrapolate.
Barry are you using pipeline XT for all your inserts? Thanks
RME should link to your videos and send you a christmas present. :)
Hey Barry can you please do ah video on routing modes - submix and free? i dont understand that part. TY in advance.
Nice video! My Apogee Ensemble is done and I think this is the next step. based on this video, it seems like I could possibly get rid of my patchbay too! Am I seeing this correctly? meaning, go with RME/TotalMix and not really need a physical patchbay anymore? I need to digest that concept for a minute, but is that a crazy thought?
Barry hi. When tracking drums with some outboard preamps (running into the UFX III both through adat and line inputs) is there a way to gate some of the signals (such as tom mics)...?
Meaning, gate them while monitoring in real-time...
Hi Berry, this routing it work even with the normal in & out without Madi connection?
Yes
In what situation would u want to split the mic signal...partial going to an EQ and the rest of the signal to a compressor? Like the Y-cable example you gave...when would u apply that?
I think I mentioned that it would go to two different compressors to A/B. There can be lots of reasons to Y a signal.
thank you very much
Great video. 2 questions please.
You route you mic to the outputs, and then you see it in your equipment input. So i guess this is because of the routed equipment you connected to the RME.
How is you equipment is hooked up in practice?
Remember, outputs feed inputs. So mic cable is an output, that goes into the input of a mic preamp, mic preamp output goes to the input of the next thing and so on.
How can i use my 3 Monitor Speaker pairs? Can ibuse it? And switch it?
So!All the hardware inserts have to be printed??
Have you done away with your patchbay then Barry? This seems to contradict what you were doing in previous videos, or was it just for illustration?
No not at all. I have two patchbays. When I track I don’t route through totalmix, it’s when I use hardware inserts at times. But can you eliminate patch ays, yes if you have enough I/O. Remember every time you’re routing through total mix, you’re dealing with conversion happening both ways. You don’t have that when you use a patch bay.
@@BarryJohns Thanks Barry, I guessed as much, but thought I'd doublecheck incase you'd had an epiphany!
Can i connect my outboard gear to the rme ufxiii?
Hey, really appreciate your videos. Ive recently acquired a UFX iii and a pulse 16 MX, using Madi for the 16 i/o. loving the quality. Thanks for another video explaining the routing matrix for the pulse 16, really helped me speed up the learning curve, its working great. Im currently trying to figure out how to route the FX (Dynamics and EQ) to a software playback channel so i can monitor it from my DAW and be able to use midi mapped hardware for muting and unmuting but cannot figure it out for the life of me. With all the routing capabilities, there must be a way to monitor and record the fx from total mix into my DAW. Any help is much appreciated. thanks.
I figured it out, its in the USB settings under the checked box (DSP record EQ+D) Thankfully that solved my problem, now can monitor FX.
Thanks for this awesome video!! I'm considering switching to RME. It looks like like you're using TotalMix like it was a digital patchbay. Did you just connect your inputs and outputs of your hardware to MADI and then just did the routing from one hardware to another using TotalMix?
If I’m committing the analog hardware on the way in, I don’t route through total mix, however, when I’m using hardware inserts I do.
@@BarryJohns Would love to see a video of your studio build and how you connected things. Have you ever made one of those? Btw, love your set up. Thanks for your awesome content!
I think so, but Ive made so many videos🤦♂️
But, what about if we're using inserts from Cubase/Nuendo instead of sends?
Great video Barry, thank you very much for doing these. When you go in and out of different hardware units in series, is it correct to say that the signal is being AD/DA converted each time? Is there a way to pass out of one hardware unit and into another without AD/DA conversion, using TotalMix without physically cabling them together in series? I hope I'm making sense here.
Yea for each path you would have conversion happening, same as you would for hardware inserts. It’s doing the patching digitally, but you still have to have the conversion occur each time it goes in and out of your interface. Modern interfaces have outstanding conversion so the going out and back in would not be noticeable. If using an older RME that may not be the case.
This would be the difference between doing the routing in totalmix vs a patchbay.
Awesome!
Important question for me: which monitor are you using?
Thanks you so much!
Adam A77X, but am currently testing their updated version the A77H. So far very impressed.
Hey Barry ... would i be able to use totalmix to route tracks from a mpc and record it straight to the DAW ???
If this connected via ADAT yes
great video. how is the latency once you start chaining multiple hw fx?
Zero in that regard.
@@BarryJohns unfortunately not. I measured 34 samples with a single pass at 48khz. while that is incredibly low, it will add up once chaining multiple passes. total mix is very very powerful, yet chaining fx will still require a mix of software plus analog patchbays to keep it phase coherent.
There are no links to your previous videos in your video description as you've said. Only sales plugs...
My apologies, I have no idea how I missed that. I have updated all four videos to have the links to all four videos.
As to the sales pitch, no it’s not, all I ask is if you appreciate my work and you choose to buy something from them I get a small percentage. I say in all my videos, I don’t care who you buy from, but if you are so inclined to help a brother out use one of my links. If it were not for that, I would not be on TH-cam as it would not be worth the time, as you make next to nothing from views. Affiliate relationship or not, my opinions are my own and never influenced by anyone. Simply not realistic to expect somebody like me to do all this work and get nothing from it.
hi, how come I hear my guitar in logic pro only on one side, and if I listen to music in iTunes is everything fine? I have a babyface pro fs and I obviously set everything....what am I doing wrong?
Do you have the guitar panned either in logic or TotalMix?
Forgive me if this has been asked already, watching this In the car. So does routing through totalmix eliminate the need to use pipeline to route hardware into studio one? Is is pipeline used for something different or when I don't want to monitor through totalmix.
If sendinding out of Studio One to hardware as an insert, then you need to use pipeline for that. If routing into various pieces of hardware before it hits your RME Interface, you'd do that with TotalMix. Have you watched all 4 videos?
I have the UCX II. Can I route my an 3 hi-Z to the AES which is my Axe Fx III and record both the DI from the RME and the wet signal from the Axe Fx III?
Yes
@@BarryJohnsWhen I try like your video I get signal from input 3 where I’m plugged in, and AES output. No signal from the AES input
I have it working correctly now. I needed to change the Axe Fx III clock to spdif/aes and the input 1 from analog to digital. The rme clock needed to stay internal to clock at 48k.
I wish Barry was my dad
Thanks. That was useful.
Hey there.
Great stuff !
I do have a question, maybe this has been dealt with later:
When you are sending several mixes to several outputs, who do you listen to those various outputs via the headphones?
Another to phrase this, probably still in a wrong way, is it possible to insert the headphones at the various outputs? It's probably a session on the "assign" that I need :)
One obvious reason why we would one to do that is to know what we are sending. It's probably very simple but I have to say it's not second nature to me at the moment.
Yes you can, and I should probably do another video about it.
@@BarryJohns please do !
Nice, but Cue mixes are VERY important , I'd like to see your workflow with TotalMix
I will do a video on that. Watch all 4 videos that’s should give you enough foundation to figure that out.
I was watching this fullscreen and almost reached to empty the trash bin before remembering it wasn't my desktop.
Hum is that a good thing or bad😁
Lol...probably a sign that I need to get more sleep. @@BarryJohns
I have a UCX, is the Totalmix software out of date, or is the interface?
nothing at RME is Out of Date, it is build for professionals, thats why it looks so nerdy, but the power behind is tremendous and sound quality
Basically RME owners don't need a Flock for routing OTB.
I hope I'm not the only idiot that realizes there are 3 videos...not 2...before this video!!! Lol
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🔥
If TotalMix was designed better then it wouldn't need tutorials.
I’ve used both Flock audio and RME Total mix….. I’m sorry its’ not even close… Flock audio is way more simplified and the best way to control outboard gear. You don’t need multiple videos to explain it and you can control it via an iPad, phone, and it will be in plugin version very soon. This is way too much work. Lol.
I agree to a point, however once you do understand it and I’ve made it pretty simple for minimal time learning, it’s very, very powerful. Flock is amazing too!
That Flock thing is way too expensive.
@@TheWeazel01 It is still better... and it is not even close. It is totally worth the price if you have a significant amount of hardware. It is also a time saver and that is what you are paying for. No patching, no configuring you can rearrange any combination of gear in mere seconds. This isn't for bedroom producers with a few pieces its for professionals where time matters because of deadlines.
@@risingphoenix1484 Who said anything about bedroom producers? Of course it is flexible, just in my opinion way too expensive for what it does. That way you could justify any price for any product. I use a aignificant amount of hardware and do it mostly with hardware inserts and for the money the Flock costs, I would rather buy some other gear and do the rest with hardware inserts in my DAW and TotalMix. But of course, to each it's own but in my opinion that Flock thing is way overpriced, and I say that as somebody who makes a living mixing and producing records.
Are you sure you use Totalmix? The reason I’m asking is because if you did you would know that Barry is showing how flexible the routing is and how you can do some complex routing systems. In terms of straight forward routing, Totalmix is extremely easy as well( go to the output channel your speakers are on , raise the volume that your hardware channel is plugged into and boom you are done.) plus, it can be controlled through iPad, iPhone, another laptop or desktop as well. Flock audio does have advantages but you didn’t state any of them,