How To Use RME Audio Interfaces As The I/O For Zoom Or Skype On Mac Or PC

May 6, 2020 James Ivey

In this article, the team from Synthax UK take you through the steps for using popular video call apps Zoom and Skype with an RME audio interface. While these instructions are very RME specific, you may be able to apply some of the tricks and techniques discussed in this article to other interfaces and interface control applications.

With the UK and much of the rest of the world currently in lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, video apps like Skype and Zoom have become increasingly popular for communication. Although the audio quality is pretty poor (mono and heavily compressed), these apps are still a great way to collaborate remotely, for bouncing ideas with your bandmates or other musicians. What’s more, using professional-level audio equipment will still vastly improve the audio quality, and we’d highly recommend investing in a professional audio interface and a high-quality vocal microphone – equipment that you’ll continue to use for recording post-lockdown.

If you’re already an RME user and are wondering how you can use your interface with Skype and Zoom, wonder no more, as we outline the steps to setting it all up below.

Please Note: You’ll want to use headphones rather than speakers when working with Skype and Zoom. Using speakers/studio monitors will potentially cause you to run into problems with feedback. Keep things simple to begin with by keeping your volume levels low and turning things up slowly, until you’re happy you have everything set up correctly.

Mac OS Specific Instructions

1) Make sure you have your audio interface connected to your Mac, and that you have your RME device selected in your System Preferences for both Input and Output.

2) If you haven’t already, connect your microphone and open TotalMix FX. Switch on 48v phantom power for you mic input channel (if using a condenser) in the top-row of TotalMix, and raise the gain on the channel – the gain encoder is located next to the mic input channel (click the small wrench symbol to expand the options).

(On the Babyface Pro this will be labelled Mic 1, or AN 1 if you have the ‘NAMES’ button selected)

3) Click on the headphone output (bottom-row of TotalMix) to select the submix for your headphones (labelled PH 3/4 on the Babyface Pro). Route your microphone to your headphones output (so you can hear yourself), by raising the fader on your microphone input channel (top-row of TotalMix).

4) On a Mac, Skype / Zoom will use the first two outputs of your interface to receive audio (labelled AN 1/2 in the bottom row of TotalMix) – make sure that fader is raised too so that Skype / Zoom sees your audio.

5) Make sure that you also have the audio from Skype / Zoom routed to your headphones, by clicking on your headphone output again (e.g. PH 3/4, bottom-row of TotalMix), then raising the first Software Playback channel (AN 1/2 in the middle row of TotalMix).

This next steps will be slightly different depending on which RME audio interface you have.

For Babyface Pro, MADIface Pro, Fireface UC and Fireface UCX users

6) If you’re using one of RME’s smaller interfaces with Skype / Zoom, you can stop here, as Skype / Zoom will automatically see your mic input, since all RME’s smaller interfaces use the first two hardware inputs for microphones (Mic 1 & Mic 2, or AN 1/2 in the top-row of TotalMix).
There is, therefore, no need to route the microphone(s) to the Skype / Zoom output AN 1/2, as Skype / Zoom pick up audio from these channels by default.
You can test everything is working by going into the Skype / Zoom audio settings. Make sure you have your RME interface selected as both the output (labelled Speaker) and the input (labelled Microphone).
For some additional information on testing the input and output levels, scroll down to the end of this article.

For Fireface 802, UFX II and UFX+ (RME’s Loopback function)

6a) If you’re using one of RME’s larger 1U interfaces, your microphone inputs will be on channels 9, 10, 11 and 12 (labelled Mic 9, Mic 10 etc in the top-row of TotalMix). So, you will need to route your microphone to output AN 1/2 (bottom-row of TotalMix), which Skype / Zoom uses for audio, and then activate RME’s loopback function, so that the microphone input you’re using is picked up by Skype / Zoom.
To route the microphone to Skype / Zoom, click on the AN 1/2 output in the bottom-row of TotalMix to make sure it’s selected, and now raise the fader for the input you have your mic plugged into (e.g. Mic 9) in the top-row of TotalMix, thereby routing the mic to that output.

7) Before Skype or Zoom can receive audio from your mic, you’ll need to activate RME’s Loopback function. Click on output AN 1/2 in the bottom-row of TotalMix, then click on the small wrench symbol to expand the options. Now click on the Loopback button to activate Loopback – this routes the audio back in as an input on channels 1 & 2, internally via your interface’s onboard DSP.

Note for RME Fireface 802 users only

If you have a Fireface 802, your microphone gains will be analogue, so you’ll need to use the analogue gain pots on the front of your interface to increase the level. All other RME audio interfaces feature digitally-controlled mic preamp gains.
You will also want to route your mic to your headphone output if you haven’t already, by clicking on the headphone output on the bottom-row of TotalMix (e.g. PH 9/10), and raising the (e.g. Mic 9) fader so you can hear yourself for monitoring.
You should now be done. You can test everything is working by going into the Skype / Zoom audio settings. Make sure you have your RME interface selected as both the output (labelled Speaker) and the input (labelled Microphone).
For some additional information on testing the input and output levels, scroll down to the end of this article.

Windows Specific Instructions

The steps for using Skype or Zoom on a Windows PC are much simpler, as the WDM Driver allows for any input or output to be visible in Skype or Zoom.

1) Make sure you have your audio interface connected to your PC and have your RME interface selected in your Sound Settings for both Input and Output.

(On the Babyface Pro this will be labelled Mic 1, or AN 1 if you have the ‘NAMES’ button selected)

This next step will be slightly different depending on which RME audio interface you have;

For Babyface Pro, MADIface Pro, Fireface UC and Fireface UCX users

4) Open Skype or Zoom, go to the audio settings and select Analog (1+2) as your audio input (under Microphone). This refers to your two XLR inputs – i.e. Mic 1 & Mic 2 (or AN 1/2 inputs).

5) Set your audio output as your headphones (Analog 3+4) (under Speakers).

You should now be good to go, and can test everything is working by using the respective test functions. For some additional information on testing the input and output levels, scroll down to the end of this article.

Please note: We strongly recommend turning the output level in Skype or Zoom’s audio settings all the way down before using the test functions, then slowly raising the slider back up to a comfortable level. See ‘Testing the Output’ below for more info.

For Fireface 802, UFX II and UFX+

RME Fireface UFX+ - Front & Back Panels - Synthax Audio UK

4a) Open Skype or Zoom, go to the audio settings and select the input you have your microphone plugged into as your audio input (under Microphone).(Either Analog (9+10) or Analog (11+12))

5a) Set your audio output as your headphones (under Speakers). (Either Analog 9+10 or Analog 11+12)

You should now be good to go. For some additional information on testing the input and output levels, see the below sections.

Testing the Input

You’ll also find volume controls in both Skype and Zoom’s audio settings. The Microphone input volume slider should communicate with TotalMix and take control over the gain encoders for your mic inputs. You can see this if you go back into TotalMix and click on the wrench symbol next to your mic input in the top-row, and watch the gains move as you move the volume slider in Skype or Zoom.

Note: We suggest de-selecting the ‘Automatically adjust microphone volume’ checkbox, lowering the slider to zero (all the way to the left), and then carefully raising it again until you get the desired level.

You should automatically see input level for the Microphone section whenever you speak into your mic, however, you can click the Test Mic button to confirm, which will allow you to record a short message which will be played back to you.

Testing the Output

To test the output, simply click on the Test Speaker button. As with the input, we’d recommend lowering the Output Volume slider all the way to the left first, then slowly increasing it until you are satisfied with the level.

Remember, you have two volume controls for your headphones – the volume controller here in Skype / Zoom, and the one for your headphones in TotalMix FX. As you are routing your microphone directly to yourself for monitoring, raising the headphone output in TotalMix will also raise the volume you hear your input (for you in your headphones, but not for anyone else on the video chat).

You will, therefore, want to strike a balance between using the microphone input in the headphones submix (in TotalMix), and using the Output Volume control in Skype / Zoom, when controlling your personal headphone monitoring level.

Final Word

We hope that’s allowed you to get set up with Skype or Zoom. It goes without saying that you should always have your device drivers and controller software up to date so if you are having problems please make sure that your machine is up to date before reaching for the phone to call technical support.

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