Published 2020-03-01.
Last modified 2023-03-28.
Time to read: 3 minutes.
I have an RME Fireface UC and a Firefax UFX. Both of these audio interfaces work with RME TotalMix software.
DAW software (such as Ableton Live and Pro Tools) is unaffected by mute button settings in RME TotalMix.
Dynamics Presets
I tried to make sense of the RME TotalMix dynamics presets. I am unhappy with the following explanations, hopefully I can discover more information.
- Auto Level Fast (A)
- Automatic limiter to control peaks quickly, good for high-frequency sound
- Auto Level Slow (A)
- Automatic limiter to control peaks slowly, good for low-frequency sound
- Compactor (C)
- Compander, which compresses and then expands the sound to raise perceived volume
- Compactor II (C+A)
- What is this for?
- Hard Noise Gate (C)
- Removes unwanted low-level noise
- Kick (C)
- A compressor set to enhance a kick drum
- Mix Compressor (C)
- A compressor to be used across a master bus, mix bus or subgroup
- Mix Expander (C)
- AQn expander to be used across a master bus, mix bus or subgroup
- Mix Limiter (C)
- A limiter to control peaks on a master bus, mix bus or subgroup
- Music Compressor (C)
- What is this for?
- Music Expander (C)
- What is this for?
- Output Protector (A)
- What is this for?
- Smooth Noise Gate (C)
- A noise gate that has softer attack times to seem less choppy
- Snare (C)
- A compressor set for a snare drum, good starting point for a voice dynamic setting
- Squeeze (C+A)
- an aggressive compressor/limiter set to squash peaks and control levels
If you use a preset, then look at the preset menu, the preset that was used most recently is not highlighted. The software would be much more user-friendly if the matching preset was highlighted.
RME TotalMix Workspaces and Snapshots
In my studio, the Windows/WSL2 computer called Bear stores
RME TotalMix
settings in $music/instruments/rme
(C:\sites\).
The files are:
-
default.tmsssnapshot - This file defines the RME TotalMix Default snapshot. Snapshots store the mixer settings. Users that load this snapshot can instantly switch between 3 channel layouts (Default, Sax and Harp), and can choose between 2 mute groups (group 1: mute some, group 2: mute all).
-
default.tmwsworkspace - Workspaces save all settings as a complete backup, including routing modes, snapshots and fader groups.
Snapshots affect everything you an see in this screen shot of RME TotalMix, and more:
Recording Scenarios
Recording scenarios are defined in the TotalMix Default workspace as Snapshots Default, Sax and Harp:
- Default: AKG1 for room ambiance, Audix for singer 1, Audix2 mic for singer 2, Behringer for singer 3, Mic 11/Guitar for guitar, Guitar2 input muted, Bass Amp, Guitar Amp, Roland HPD-15.
- Just Me: Mute group 1 modifies Default; mutes Audix2, Behringer, Guitar2, Bass Amp, and Guitar Amp.
- Playback: Mute group 2 modifies Default; mutes all inputs.
- Sax: DPA mic for saxophone, AKG1 for room ambiance, Audix right up against the bell of the sax (on a stand), Roland HPD-15.
- Harp: (cable unknown), AKG1 for room ambiance, Behringer aimed in the middle of the soundboard, Roland HPD-15.
- Bass amp gain to noon
- Mic preamp gain to noon
Problems
Faders Won’t Highlight?
If the output faders refuse to be highlighted, then the mix cannot be adjusted. The solution is to enable Submix routing mode by enabling the SUBMIX button as shown in the image to the right.
TotalMix Remote
The RME UFX audio interface is attached to Bear.
Bear is at IP address 192.168.1.100.
TotalMix Remote uses port 7009 by default.
Many types of remote devices can run Remote TotalMix, including old and new iPads, Android phones, and laptops. More than one device can connect simultaneously.
TotalMix Remote, running on a computer-sized monitor, looks like this:
