RME HDSP 9652 Hammerfall DSP 24/96K Digital PCI Card

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52-channel 24-bit/96 kHz I/O card: 3 x ADAT, 1 x SPDIF, 2 x MIDI, 1 x ADAT Sync.

HDSP 9652 is the long-awaited successor of the well-known PCI card Project Hammerfall (DIGI9652). Like the original Hammerfall, HDSP 9652 offers 3 x ADAT optical I/O, ADAT-Sync In, SPDIF I/O and word clock I/O. On top, there are 2 MIDI I/Os and TotalMix, a DSP-based real-time mixer/router.

The HDSP 9652's Secure BIOS Technology allows to perform hardware updates via software/driver without any risk. And thanks to its unique 'Zero CPU Load' technology Hammerfall DSP guarantees highest performance and lowest latency on both notebooks and desktops!

Hammerfall also supports Expansion Boards (EXB). Two internal ADAT inputs and two internal ADAT outputs allow you to realize up to 16 analog inputs, 16 analog outputs, or up to two TDIF ports directly inside the computer.

Features:
3 x ADAT digital I/O, based on RME's reliable Bitclock PLL

1 x SPDIF digital I/O, based on RME's reliable DIGI96 technology

1 x Breakout cable for coaxial SPDIF operation

1 x Word clock I/O (BNC) on included expansion board

1 x ADAT Sync In (9-pin D-type) for sample accurate transfers

2 x MIDI I/O, 32 channels high-speed MIDI via breakout cable

HDSP Meter Bridge: freely scalable level meters, peak- and RMS calculation directly in hardware

TotalMix: 1352 channel mixer with 40 bit internal resolution

S/MUX poured in hardware: 12 channels 96 kHz/24 bit for record and playback on ADAT optical

...and numerous other features found already in the Hammerfall series. And all this for an unbeatable read more price!

The Hammerfall® DSP System comes with drivers for Windows 98/ME (MME with multi-client operation, ASIO 2.0, GSIF), Windows 2000/XP (full multi-client operation of MME, GSIF and ASIO 2.0), Mac OS 9.x (ASIO 2.0) and Mac OS X.

Settings Dialog
Just click on the hammer symbol in the systray of the taskbar and the settings dialog of the HDSP 9652 comes up. The clear structured, easy to understand window plus the unique informative status windows for input signal, clock mode, sample rate and time code make your work with Hammerfall DSP to a real pleasure. With a simple mouse click you gain access to the full power of your card.

When working with several digital sources it is not only necessary to know if these are properly locked, but also if they are totally synchronized. RME's exclusive SyncCheck checks all input signals and displays their actual state, and thanks to our new Intelligent Clock Control concept you have all clocks and states under control - with ease.

A display of the time code at the ADAT Sync-In port offers a quick check of the communication between external device and Hammerfall.

Unique Technologies in HDSP9652
AutoSync: Intelligent clock control according to operational mode and present/desired sample rate

Bitclock PLL: The most reliable receiver circuit for ADAT optical signal

Dynamic Bus Utilization: Scalable computer load according to the current usage

Enhanced ZLM®: Monitoring of the input signal, independent from clock mode and sample rate

DIGICheck DSP: Professional status and level display at lowest CPU load

Intelligent Clock Control: Measurement and display of all incoming and used clocks

Latency Fast Change: Change latency on-the-fly under ASIO, without manual reset or re-boot

Secure BIOS Technology: Automatic BIOS replacement when flash process fails

SyncAlign®: Surveillance and sample accurate synchronization of all channels

SyncCheck®: Comparison and display of all input clock status

TotalMix: Mixes all inputs and all outputs on all outputs. Several independent submixes possible

Zero Latency Monitoring - ZLM®: Automatic monitoring of the input signal with zero latency

About Hammerfall DSP
Using the Hammerfall DSP System RME's world famous Hammerfall technology is available not only on desktop computers, but also on notebooks! It doesn't matter if Mac or PC: each portable computer having a CardBus interface can now be upgraded to a mobile High-End and high-speed audio system -- with up to 26 tracks and latencies down to 1.5 ms!

The new Hammerfall DSP System offers all its features both when used stationary or mobile: support for 96 kHz/24 bit, S/PDIF and ADAT optical, integrated mixer in TotalMix technology for complete ASIO 2.0 Direct Monitoring, independently to operate mixer desktop providing several submixes, DIGICheck in hardware for professional level metering with peak- and RMS values in broadcast quality, MIDI I/O and much more.

The Hammerfall DSP System includes fully developed and powerful drivers: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP (MME with multi-client operation, ASIO 2.0, GSIF) and MacOS (ASIO 2.0). The new hardware concept includes the possibility for hardware updates via software. Improvements and extensions of the hardware are thus possible without any problem, safety for the future (WDM, ASIO 3.0) included. Besides, the whole system supports hot-plugging. Card and I/O box can be connected or disconnected at any time without having to re-boot the computer.

RME's Hammerfall series is famous for its reliability, tremendous performance, high compatibility and the user-friendly design of hardware and drivers. The Hammerfall DSP System breaks into a new dimension of computer-based hard disk Recording, unsurpassed because of its numerous exciting functions and unique features.
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Supported sample rates: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, variable

8 buffer sizes/latencies available: 1.5 ms, 3 ms, 6 ms, 12 ms, 23 ms, 46 ms, 93 ms, 186 ms

ASIO zero CPU load technology: 0 (zero!)% CPU load when using ALL 52 channels!

All settings changeable in realtime

Clock modes slave and master

Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control

Enhanced Mixed mode: All inputs and outputs simultaneously operational

Unsurpassed Bitclock PLL (audio synchronization) in ADAT® mode

Enhanced Zero Latency Monitoring for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring

Comes with DIGICheck: the ultimate measurement, analysis and test tool

Input 3 x optical (TOSLINK), 1 x coaxial (Cinch), 2 x MIDI, word clock (BNC)

Input format SPDIF, AES/EBU (Consumer, Professional), ADAT® optical

Output 3 x optical (TOSLINK), coaxial (Cinch), 2 x MIDI, word clock (BNC)

Format output SPDIF, AES/EBU (Consumer/Professional), ADAT® optical

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 330-259-0308

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (25 ratings)
Submitted July 15, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com

"Best audio interface !"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I wish it had a pair of analog inputs and outputs. However there are optional cards for this but they are used at the expense of a pair of adat's
Sound
I used to use emu 1212m. I used a tc electronic m300 as a converter connected to its spdif outputs. Sounded softer than the emu's own AD converters. When i switched to RME 9652 it sounded even better and sweeter straight away. There was much definition and stability. Then i bought a RME ADI-2 AD-DA Converter. I am using the sound card with that. I cannot be happier than this. Quality sound indeed.
Features
More u use more flexible u get
Ease of Use
Very cleverly thought out
Quality
I think there is nothing better than this at this price range. I dont know any other brand that i can rely on like this. Prism Sound made an interface but it is far more expensive...
Value
Best value ever. Card is very well made and rme keeps updating the drivers which makes it better and better...
Manufacturer Support
i didnt have to deal with it...
The Wow Factor
i can have one more but i think those firewire things are very attractive.

Musical Background:

engineer, musician

Musical Style:

pop jazz funk house
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No longer available at zZounds

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