ARC USB Remote Control

The ARC-USB Remote Control is a wired remote designed for direct access to the most frequently used actions and commands of TotalMix FX. Its extremely flexible configuration through TotalMix FX simplifies workflow and increases the usability of the RME interface.

The ARC USB is a USB 1.1 (UAC1) MIDI remote control, natively compatible to Windows and Mac OS X. As soon as it is present in the operating system, TotaIMix FX will detect and communicate with it, without disturbing other remote controls.  And because it communicates with TotalMix FX (via USB)n it is compatible with all RME audio interfaces that are detected and supported by TotalMix FX, including interfaces fromas far back as 2001!

The ARC USB can also be connected directly to the Fireface UFX+ and UFX II and will work with these units in both connected and stand-alone modes.

The ARC USB is bus powered, but draws little current, so it should work with most USB cables and extensions. However, for longer USB runs, RME recommends active USB 2 cables (also called extension or repeater cables).

The ARC USB can control several interfaces simultaneously, which happens automatically as the Key Commands dialog in TotalMix FX is specific to the currently selected audio interface. Just assign only the functions that are desired for each respective interface. After that, the ARC USB keys and the encoder wheel remote the respective interface where they have been assigned to, without the need to further switch or select anything in normal operation.

The ARC USB comes with a standard set of Key Commands that already cover most usage scenarios, printed directly beneath the keys:

• Row 1 and 2: activating Snapshots 1 to 8.
• Row 3: Mono, Volume Phones 1, Volume Phones 2, External Input
• Lower keys: Talkback, Speaker B, Dim.

A set of stickers with all currently available TotalMix FX commands is included. These can be used to label all keys reflecting the current user configuration.

The rotary encoder wheel is used to change various parameters, like gain and volume. It is programmable in TotalMix FX as well.

The Advanced Remote Control is configured in the Options menu via the Key Commands dialog of TotalMix FX, tab ARC USB Settings. As the ARC does not have any memory, all configuration and storage is done via TotalMix FX. All settings of the ARC USB are stored within a Workspace, and are therefore identical in all Snapshots of that current Workspace.

More than 36 different commands can be assigned to the 15 keys. The behaviour of each individual button can be changed between push, toggle, enable and disable, depending on the base function.

Some commands are not available at certain interfaces, or slightly changed due to different functionality. Fireface UFX, UFX II and UFX+ have additional commands for DURec: Record, Play and Stop.

Several functions can be activated at the same time. Example: Button 1 is set to Cue Phones 1. That means the phones submix is heard via the Main output (the studio monitors). To be able to also change the volume of the phones submix itself, set button 2 to Volume Phones 1. Activating both will allow you to listen to the phones submix via the main output, and also to change its volume (the fader in the third row) by turning the encoder knob.

A standard footswitch with switch can be connected to the 1/4" TS jack on the left side. The same options are available for the footswitch as for the 15 keys in Key Commands Settings. Sustain pedals are not supported. 

In stand-alone mode of Fireface UFX+ / UFX II, a fixed set of functions is activated on the keys:

• Row 1: Setup 1-4
• Row 2: Setup 5-6, no function, no function
• Row 3: Mono, Volume Phones 1, Volume Phones 2, DIM
• Lower keys: DURec: Rec, Play/Pause, Stop

The included stickers also offer the stand-alone layout.