SOLVED! RME users please help! problem with spdif...

  • Hello everyone!


    I was wondering if anyone could help me; I purchased an RME card recently (AIO pro) and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get a signal from the spdif input of the card.

    I tried figuring it out with the help of the manual and I can use the breakout cable of the card to connect from spdif out coaxial of kemper to the spdif in (manual says the white RCA input is an spdif in).


    I have done this successfully with my focusrite interface (not using anymore - it's a firewire interface) and even reamped successfully but with the RME i am not looking to reamp atm, just get a signal and record.


    The problem is unrelated to the DAW setup though, as I am not getting a signal in totalmix fx. Also it does not seem to detect kpa as master clock. set it up at 44.1khz but nothing.


    Below are a few pictures of my settings (although I tried different settings to no avail)


    Would really appreciate some help ;(



  • Hi i have a fireface ucx here.

    It does matter if your Kemper is built before or after 2019 (From 2019 onwards it should be able to be master or slave).


    On the Kemper i switch to Internal (page 6 output section).

    Open fireface usb setting.

    The fireface is now synced to the kemper (see input status), means acting as slave.


    The other way round does not work here (wrong frequency is shown in input status, and in clock mode sample rate)....

  • Sorry for the slow response Rispira. Do you have the SPDIF out set up properly on your Kemper?

    On the contrary! I appreciate you giving me some of your time to help!


    To answer your question, I believe so as I've had success with spdif on the focurite. I'm thinking it must be user error with the RME.


    To be more specific though, it seems the spdif output of the kpa is maxed out, clock at 44.1 khz and "master output - spdif output"

  • And do you have a proper S/PDIF cable? Normal RCA (phono) cables often don’t function as expected.

    Thanks for the reply! Yes I am using a mogami spdif (not that the brand matters much of course over digital as long as it is a proper cable) and it worked well with my previous audio interface

  • Thank you for your input!

    This is exactly what I'm trying to do (RME as slave) but it doesn't seem to be syncing. I will have to check back page 6 of the kpa (in lockown now but I should be able to by tom or saturday - thank you for your suggesting


    As to the kpa, I have a toaster which I purchased in 2012. May I ask what the deal is with pre 2019 units vs recent builts?

  • Thank you for your input!

    This is exactly what I'm trying to do (RME as slave) but it doesn't seem to be syncing. I will have to check back page 6 of the kpa (in lockown now but I should be able to by tom or saturday - thank you for your suggesting


    As to the kpa, I have a toaster which I purchased in 2012. May I ask what the deal is with pre 2019 units vs recent builts?

    So, the problem is, that there is no sync? Could it be, you connected the cables the wrong way around, input to input? In the settings in your first post it shows, the RME should get its clock from S/PDIF, but after that it says “master”. The settings on the Kemper are correct.

    When you set the RME to master (clock source internal) you should get signal, but with nasty pops and clicks. If that’s not the case, you could check the output settings (master button), to see what the KPA is sending over S/PDIF.

  • So, the problem is, that there is no sync? Could it be, you connected the cables the wrong way around, input to input? In the settings in your first post it shows, the RME should get its clock from S/PDIF, but after that it says “master”. The settings on the Kemper are correct.

    When you set the RME to master (clock source internal) you should get signal, but with nasty pops and clicks. If that’s not the case, you could check the output settings (master button), to see what the KPA is sending over S/PDIF.

    Sorry for the late reply man... Thank you so much for your help!

    You are correct; the problem is that there is no sync and the RME doesn't seem to be recognizing the kpa as master clock.

    I used the manual to find out which of the cables of the RME is the spdif in but when it did not work i tried the other cable just in case but to no avail as well. I then plugged it back into the coaxial white spdif input of the RME.

    The kpa says it is sending master stereo out as spdif but I'm not getting any signal into total mix

  • Ok Rispsira, let's see if we can't get you up and running so you can be playing guitar again! I'm using a RME HDSP9652 on this computer so it can't be that different on settings.


    On the Kemper SPDIF Output, the settings are Git/Stack with constant latency checked.

    RME Settings, Clock mode: Sample Rate 44.1 Clock Source:SPDIF.

    SPDIF in:Coaxial, SPDIF out:Professional, Sync Check: SPDIF in should be showing Sync.

    Word clock:Single speed should be checked.


    I'm running Protools, so on the track inputs I have HDSP9652 SPDIF L on one track, HDSP9652 SPDIF R on another and the monitor button on to hear them.


    Try these settings, that should do the trick.


  • Hi Alancott!! thank you for the help man!! sorry my reply is a little late but got stuck in full lockdown. Got permission to move yesterday so I tested your suggestions but unfortunately have not figured out the problem yet. Prior to posting I made a search on this forum and one user had to replace his card and then everything worked. Personally though I'm still leaning towards "user error" but not sure what to try next.


    In any case here are a few pictures with your settings! Have I done things properly?




    Thanks again man!

  • Ok, just read the RME manual and I don't see anything your doing wrong so far. Have you tried switching the RCA cable in and out just on the kemper side? Or RME side if that's easier to get to? I would post or contact RME and see if they have any suggestions because it looks right to me.

  • Ok, just read the RME manual and I don't see anything your doing wrong so far. Have you tried switching the RCA cable in and out just on the kemper side? Or RME side if that's easier to get to? I would post or contact RME and see if they have any suggestions because it looks right to me.


    Man I'm really grateful - thank you for your time!

    I've switched the cable on the RME side in case they've been mislabeled as it can happen (have a mesa mk5 with mislabeled jacks n the back) and tried to make sure the cable is plugged in properly but I didn't try connecting to the "spdif in" on the kemper.

    When I used my previous interface I had both cables plugged for reamping but it is the first time I plug a single cable from spdif out of kpa to RME spdif in. Will try the spdif in just in case and will contact RME.


    Thanks again Alancott!!

  • Yes, try it with both cables plugged in both ways. When it's correct, it should say sync in the RME word clock syncCheck box. I can't see any other reason why it's not working. Frustrating, I know.

  • Yes, try it with both cables plugged in both ways. When it's correct, it should say sync in the RME word clock syncCheck box. I can't see any other reason why it's not working. Frustrating, I know.

    Hi again Alancott!! Man it's been really hard to fix this due to the lockdown, but finally tried to connect an spdif out from the RME to spdif in of the kemper and it finally worked!!


    Seems what I did not know is that for the worldclock to sync it needs to be connected with both cables =O

    It only worked by chance with my old interface because I plugged it for reamping.


    Sorry about that!! Thank you so much for each of you to have taken the time to help me <3


    PS: the test was done with a regular rca cable for the second connection as I've seem to have lost the other spdif coaxial cable and it's been hard to buy one. Might order online if the lockdown takes too long.