My Drum Recording Setup Explained: RME UFX III, 12Mic, and TotalMix FX

[@abbdrums]

Use code ABBDRUMS to get 15% off your RME gear! www.rme-usa.com/products.html

[@natecornell-official761]

Really cool video! Great discount too! How long will that discount be valid?

[@abbdrums]

@@natecornell-official761 Indefinitely 🤘🏼

[@setitfree78]

Finally bought the drumsticks saving for the rest.

[@MrSRellz]

Fantastic showcase of your setup. RME should showcase this video!

[@DRUMAWAYEMAN]

So happy you’re back 🎉

[@abbdrums]

Thanks bro! Good to be back

[@RalfieDDrummer]

unbelievable! great video! i have been RME user since purchasing RME FF800 about 15 yrs ago, now i have upgraded to UFX II a few yrs ago and works flawlessly! pretty much use as you have shown and recording through logic while monitoring via total mix.

[@Dreams-N-Nightmares]

I’m also looking at this same interface. Question Which interface would you compare the RME UFXII with in terms of conversion. ? Thank you

[@TimTheTomato]

Awesome! This is my favorite YT channel at the moment... just astounding.

[@badsenseiwuu]

man this is so cool. this is hands down one of the best sounding and teaching drum channels 🙏🏼

[@yarivgoldstein3706]

Thanks Austin for your videos. Thanks to you I went ahead and ordered the UFX(I got the 2) and 12mic to replace my baby-face+evo16 combo. Looking forward to receiving it in 2 weeks. I am hoping to get the same experience of simplicity and quality as you showed

[@abbdrums]

Nice 👌🏼

[@dirkbrouns5293]

Total mix really is a great system. I have been relying on it for my monitor mixes during drum recordings after getting rid of my LFAC and going fully ITB. Best thing: 100% reliable.

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

Hi Austin, Excellent presentation as always. Sadly, I got bogged down by technological BS and it totally ground my recording enthusiasm to a standstill. This video inspired me to try to get it going again. Thanks 🙏

[@abbdrums]

Yea it can be a brain drain for sure. I have to figure all this stuff out to produce content at the quality I want, but it definitely requires a lot of mental energy to wrap your mind around and learn.

[@Chaos-Dynamics]

Great video, I just switched over to RME today. The best interfaces on the market, my main reason is their drivers which guarantees many years of support. The quality is top notch 👌🏼

[@sega.milkis]

Swwwwweet setup and even tastier sound. Good in-ear mix is a key to enjoyment behind the kit both live and in studio, it makes you want to play more and better!

[@tpiper1021]

So happy you are back and the new content is incredible!

[@highvoltageatx]

Austin your content is the most helpful out of any vhannels I follow, I have a similar set up in my studio with Apollo using console. I use Luna as I prefer staying on the UA Universe and it just has a sound in my opinion over Logic or even Pro Tools. Would bve great to see a vid on your mic set up and more in depth on processing. Thank you for being back! I would gladly pay you to come to my studio in Austin TX and dial in my set up!

[@rosendoleonarocha5423]

Great video Austin. Thanks so much! Also great playing man.

[@jrgenthomsen8692]

Thanks for this …. I have the UFX III …. I love it …. Building up a Dolby Atmos setup…. I have a lot to learn…. Best from Denmark Dk

[@ljbellr]

This is great, thank you for doing this video.

[@drumunity9396]

Hey Austin, i have the RME Fireface 802 for over a Year now and and was struggeling getting a proper Sound via TotalMixFX that i can send to an Atem Mini for Skype Drum Lessons and Tutorial Recordings for my Students. Thanks to this Video i was experimenting a lot the last week and your EQ, Compression and Reverb Settings helped massive to achieve my goal! Thanks a lot!!! TotalMix is indeed very powerful! Greets from Germany, Chris

[@abbdrums]

Nice, glad it helped you out!

[@michaelczimback720]

Thank you for these videos! I’m teaching a class at Sweetwater on September 19th and speaking to some university’s while I’m there. I wanted to upgrade my interface and was being steered a bit towards an Apollo so this was helpful. Thank you!

[@abbdrums]

Yea, the big choice is between RME and UA for these higher end systems with onboard effects and dsp. Obviously, I went with RME but you can't really go wrong with either one.

[@dahnjay]

Your lighting is INSANELY perfect! I could use your help.

[@abbdrums]

Go to the 1:01:19 mark to see my lighting setup kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6m3k6x7oZp0o6Msi=Emc2ybmT_peGUGay

[@alexalja]

Hi Austin. A little tip from an old system user… Put a M-vave sm1 wireless MIDI cable on one of the Fireface’s midi port, and a m-vave SMC mixer next to you and have physical faders and buttons to adjust your monitor mixes with your ears and not the eyes. It’s cheap, it’s wireless and easy to do. Cheers!

[@abbdrums]

Interesting idea, though I almost never touch my faders in TotalMix once I have them setup. I'm also trying to keep my setup as simple and minimal as possible by eliminating unnecessary hardware/cables, but I can see how that would be a cool way to physically control TotalMix if you wanted to do that.

[@alexalja]

@@abbdrums I am using this setup for two weeks now and it's nice to mute/unmute, solo, control volume of the kit and external sources without find the right spot on the screen, closed eyes and just ears and brain. It's wireless, flawless and cheap. Here in Brazil I spent less than 100 dollars to get it done, for the wireless mixer and wireless midi conector. I am using SPD30 octapad internal sounds and also as midi controller. Two sources of sound, so it’s easy mute/unmute the desired source. Totally agree with you, RME is the best. Clean and pristine hardware, powerful but easy to use software. Like a lot your videos Austin! Cheers!

[@pdmcrew80]

Great content, i listen to a lot of bad critics on the Totalmix reverb, but you made those drums sound really good. You should try to use Totalmix fx with Waves Superack performer as an insert for external plug ins, now that waves openend Superrack for all VST3 plug ins, the sky is the limit. Like to see a video on that. Keep up the good work.

[@abbdrums]

I'm sure a lot of people just run through the reverb presets and can't find anything they like, but if you build your own reverb from scratch, you can get a good result. I'm not familiar with the Waves thing but I'll check it out. I kind of like the simplicity of this system as it is though haha.

[@fermendozadrums]

Great Video! :D

[@ub59]

A very clear, succinct presentation! This and your last video taught me to look at functionality and quality of sound over form. There's lots of vids out there showing cool consoles with lots of knobs, primarily tactile analog hybrids with an added USB for digital sends to a DAW. Yours is heavily digital with high end RME gear. Yes, RME is expensive, but the UFX III is a combo interface with very good quality built-in EQ, compression and reverb with no outboard machines that could easily double the cost. No outboards and no big / multiple desktop mixers equals a cleaner alternative for the same price, especially when looking at mixer-interfaces like the SSL Big Six. The 12 Mic is a way cool expansion, but requires a larger Visa limit. 😉 One last observation ... is there any dust in your wonderful studio? Great set up and playing!

[@abbdrums]

Yea I prefer the minimalism of this kind of setup. Simple, sleek, and clean. If there is dust anywhere, it's only because I can't reach it...

[@joshuajuaire8757]

You should do a video on the drumsticks you have that would be cool

[@jaimemonroyofficial]

This went to be my upgrade, but I tested avid pro tools carbon and there is second to none! No matter the mac I use from 10.10 macOS (yes only for mac) I got 256 channels into pro tools or any DAW with 0 latency (feels like working with real analog channels) and 32 bits by the HDX DSP.

[@abbdrums]

Nice, sounds like a powerful setup. 👌🏼

[@jaimemonroyofficial]

@@abbdrums RME is awesome as well, it's only about everyone getting what easily suits their current needs.

[@impulseproman]

I use the first UFX with 2 ASP 880 Pre via Lightpipe

[@fenderplus]

RME just recently released Totalmix 1.97 beta which allows gain control to the MIC12 via Totalmix.

[@abbdrums]

I saw that. Pretty awesome, although, I've kind of fallen in love with the Connector app and think it might be better than TotalMix for controlling the 12Mic and getting a birds eye view of all the settings. We'll see.

[@rafaelferrer1]

Thanks for everything Austin and back 🎉❤ Which is your Snare Tuning,you have specific Key or only Preference with your Ear All the Best

[@abbdrums]

Fundamental is 220 Hz on the Tune Bot. Pretty high.

[@rafaelferrer1]

@@abbdrums Thank you for your message 🤘🏾🥁🥁❤🎵

[@drummerguyron]

Nice! For me I have about a 4ms latency on my Focusrite Clarrett , buffer at 128, 48kHz. Honestly I can't hear the latency. But yeah I do get some clicks and slight pops occasionally. I've been trying to figure that out, cause it comes and goes. Quite the comprehensive setup. Sounds amazing.

[@abbdrums]

Yea it’s tricky trying to find that perfect balance where everything works perfectly in the DAW. It can be done, but it also depends on the plugins you use. In my full Logic mix, I use a lot of linear phase eq’s, transient shapers, clipping, etc… which just do not play well with low latency monitoring. If I activate the Low Latency feature in Logic, it deactivates most of my plugins so I just don’t even fool with it. Monitoring through TotalMix is the perfect solution for me.

[@alfierocardona3731]

Hi Austin! Awesome sound. Thank you for the advice. What are the speaker monitors in the clip?

[@abbdrums]

Adam Audio A8H's sweetwater.sjv.io/Nk7Q5N

[@ClausPastor]

Awesome! But why not using madiface usb instead of the UFX III. Would be a different pricetag and serve the same goal. I.p. because you probably do not need the additional inputs on the UFX III

[@abbdrums]

The MadiFace USB doesn't support dsp effects in TotalMix. The MadiFace XT has full functionality but it's really designed for very large madi channel counts and isn't much less than the UFX III. If they would make something like the UCX II with MADI or even just make the 12Mic into a standalone interface itself, that would be awesome but probably not gonna happen.

[@ClausPastor]

@@abbdrums I see. Just until 2 days I am running this setup with the madiface. I have to use the dsp of the DAW / Computer - but it is really still a close to zero latency due to perfect rme drivers. Thanks again for having this great video!

[@Staplez440]

Finally got the iMac now to get the rest

[@vadimkorob2689]

Great useful video, thanks I’m not a pro (AT ALL) but as I understand all those zero latency monitoring and TotalMix benefits works only with mic/outboardy stuff… otherwise (if you use software instruments or amp sim) you are stuck with power of your computer. Am I right?

[@abbdrums]

Right. The zero latency software is to eliminate the need for your mic signals to roundtrip through the DAW and back which results in echo in your headphones (latency.) The software instruments in your DAW don't have this problem.

[@ZackMester]

So how exactly do you play along to tracks in your DAW with zero latency? Do you upload them to Total Mix?

[@abbdrums]

No, the DAW is routed through the Software Playback channel in TotalMix and it functions just like the other inputs. Just use the DAW normally and all the sound from it comes through that channel. The zero latency mixing applies to the headphone mix of your analog inputs so there is no delay or echo. This allows you to hear all your microphones + DAW together in realtime with no latency, plus add effects if you want.

[@luis720lm]

Austin, can I ask, why the UFX III if the preamps aren't being utilized? Future-proofing if ever you needed more preamps? Otherwise, would the 12-Mic and say a Madiface (I think you went MADI over ADAT if I recall from the other video) give you the same result? Just trying to figure out why spend the additional $2k

[@abbdrums]

The MadiFace USB doesn't support the DSP effects, which is a deal-breaker for me. The MadiFace XTII is another option, but it is really designed for very large Madi channel counts, and it's not much cheaper than the UFXIII. So, to me, the UFXIII is the best option for a full-featured Madi-based studio setup like I am running. A bit overkill, but I do use the preamps on the UFXIII sometimes, so it's nice to have those over at the desk when I need them.

[@luis720lm]

@abbdrums I appreciate your insight!

[@Goran-Mogli]

Excuse me, may I ask which metronome app is that for that Ipad?

[@abbdrums]

Tempo Advance

[@mikede2464]

What headphones are you using in this setup? Looks like they are some kind of IEM?

[@abbdrums]

Shure SE846's sweetwater.sjv.io/N9B06O

[@matthewwhitaker4849]

loving the new setup. Question, what made you go with a Madi solution vs something like Dante?

[@abbdrums]

Honestly, I don't know anything about Dante haha. Just learning about MADI was a new thing for me. All I knew before was ADAT.

[@matthewwhitaker4849]

Ahh, gotcha. Here's a description of what it is. Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet) is a network protocol developed by Audinate that allows digital audio to be transmitted over standard Ethernet networks. Unlike MADI (Multichannel Audio Digital Interface), which typically requires dedicated coaxial or fiber-optic cabling for point-to-point connections, Dante uses standard Ethernet cables and network switches to route audio between multiple devices. One of the key differences is that Dante supports a much larger number of audio channels over a single network, can easily scale from small to very large systems, and is bi-directional, meaning devices can send and receive audio simultaneously. Dante also includes features like automatic device discovery, flexible routing through software, and the ability to integrate with existing IT infrastructure, making it a highly versatile and scalable solution for audio networking. Additionally, Dante can carry both audio and control data over the same network, simplifying setup and reducing the amount of cabling needed. In essence, while MADI is a robust and straightforward digital audio format for connecting devices, Dante provides a more flexible and scalable approach by leveraging standard network technology. You do need to use their software to route inputs and outputs. Dante is also really good for video as well. Your interface doesn't have Dante on it, but RME makes products with that. The more channels you have, the more latency you might have. Hope that makes sense. Also question for you. I am blind and thinking about getting into some RME gear... I did reach out to them regarding accessibility of their products... do you think the Auto Set feature is good for those who can't see when setting levels?

[@abbdrums]

Interesting, I could see why Dante would be good for a more complex setup, but I kind of like the simplicity of MADI for my particular setup here, which is just connecting the 12Mic to the UFX. As for AutoSet, it only turns the gain down if it is too high, but it doesn’t turn it up if it’s too low. It doesn’t automatically set the perfect level for you, it’s just more of a safety mechanism to preserve some headroom for a signal that’s too hot. I feel like it should be called something like AutoLimit instead of AutoSet, but just something to be aware of.

[@matthewwhitaker4849]

@@abbdrumsYeah, agree with you regarding Madi. Regarding Auto Set, yeah it should be called Auto Limit... Another question, do you know if there's a click or bump when you turn the knobs on the units or is it a smooth turn?

[@abbdrums]

@@matthewwhitaker4849 They click in .5 db increments

[@crosswick]

Check out Three Finger Drag - way better for controlling knobs imho

[@abbdrums]

Yea, I always forget about that haha

[@marcosruizquero9018]

Primer comentario 🎉

[@allkindsofthings673]

USB no thanks. I prefer thunderbolt

[@abbdrums]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/moSsl2eHfL6mY8Usi=qYG1gleW7LZeKeQY

[@allkindsofthings673]

@@abbdrums RME will of course lie about this to sell products.

[@lvvry1855]

Very interesting, but it also shows the most ludicrous technical development of recording, especially for drums. When I think of the few mics used throughout musical history that gave us thousands of magnificent recordings of all the greats, I had to burst out laughing. SORRY!

[@abbdrums]

I've done the minimalist recording approach too. But I like to equip my studio with the ultimate system that can handle anything... all the way from a couple mics to a full on multitrack recording of a full band.

[@CarpPine]

Different songs call for different recording and production techniques. Thousands of magnificient recordings have been made with meticulously multi-miked setups, too! One might argue that filming in color is a ludicrous technical development, when we have a rich catalogue of black and white movies…

[@RalfieDDrummer]

i agree with austin