Intel Fireface 800 - Manual (Page 48)

48 User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
25.3 Instrument
The instrument input of the Fireface 800 has been optimized especially for guitar and bass. A
soft clipping function limits the level from –10 dBFS on, and offers tube-like distortion at full
overload. The extra Drive stage adds even more distortion and also increased sustain. The
Speaker Emulator gently shapes the sound for an optimal recording experience.
LIM
The distortion caused by the clipping function of the instrument input is audible. Depending on
use and application the new harmonics can be nice or disturbing:
• The guitar's volume pot can blend from clean up to full distortion
• A rhythm guitar's sound is enhanced by a popular tube-like sound
• All dynamic peaks of a slapped bass guitar are removed without audible artifacts
• An accurately played clean acoustic guitar will sound crunchy
• Steady tones sound distorted (guitar / keyboards / bass)
Therefore the Limiter can be switched off in the Settings dialog (Instrument Options Lim.). Tech-
nically this is done by applying a digital gain of 12 dB to the input signal. This way, the analog
limiter does no longer reach its threshold of –10 dBFS. But as this also changes the reference
level of the rear input, the Limiter can only be disabled with input channel Front selected.
The digital gain for the instrument input may sound unusual at first. But the AD-converters of the
Fireface 800 are much better than the dynamic ratio of any instrument recording, so when inten-
tionally not recording at fullest level, nothing is lost. At higher gain (=distortion) of the input using
a guitar, switching off the Limiter causes digital distortion, which adds nicely to the analog dis-
tortion of the input. Just give it a try…
The Line inputs of the microphone channels can also be used as instrument inputs. Active in-
struments can be connected directly and be level-adjusted perfectly with the Gain pots. Passive
e-guitars require an additional impedance buffer. Most guitarists have one, but don't know that
they do. Modern floor effects devices are active even in bypass mode, and then operate as
impedance buffer.
Drive
Drive is an additional clipper, for 25 dB more gain (=sustain) plus substantially higher distortion.
It will simply blow you away. Also well suited for bass guitar.
Speaker Emulation
The basic idea of the Fireface 800 instrument input is not to alter the sound in a specific way,
but to pre-condition the sound so that it gets much easier recorded and processed within the
DAW application. This is accomplished by an optimization of the input/record signal via:
• light pre-clipping (see above)
• removing low frequency noise
• removing high-frequency noise
• a small bass and presence boost
All frequency corrections are part of the Speaker Emulation option. The name is originated by
the fact that guitar cabinets typically show a big level attenuation in the high frequency range,
making distortion sound less brilliant and harsh. After activating this option, a guitar completely
distorted by LIM and Drive will sound excellent even when played directly into a mixing desk.