RME HDSPe AIO [46/81] Totalmix routing and monitoring

User's Guide HDSPe AIO © RME

24. TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring

24.1 Overview

The HDSPe AIO includes a powerful digital real-time mixer, the Hammerfall DSP mixer, based

on RME’s unique, sample-rate independent TotalMix technology. It allows for practically unlim-

ited mixing and routing operations, with all inputs and playback channels simultaneously, to any

hardware outputs.

Here are some typical applications for TotalMix:

• Setting up delay-free submixes (headphone mixes). The HDSPe AIO allows for up to 10 (!)

fully independent stereo submixes. On an analog mixing desk, this would equal 20 (!) 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 using only one stereo output. The ASIO multi-

client driver allows to use several programs at the same time, but only on different playback

channels. TotalMix provides the means to mix and monitor these on a single stereo output.

• 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 (hardware output is Peak only). These level displays are

very useful to determine the presence 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 un-altered. To-

talMix 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 con-

trols the level for all routing destinations simultaneously.

• The level meter of inputs and playback channels are connected pre-fader, to be able to visu-

ally monitor where a signal is currently present. The level meters of the hardware’s outputs

are connected post-fader, thus displaying the actual output level.