Just picked up an RME Babyface Pro - here's a Reason users perspective...

[EnochLight]

Sure, I can lend a hand. It took me about 15 minutes of fiddling around with it, but I finally figured it out. I'll post a video when I get a chance. Audio loopback works fantastic on the Babyface Pro.

Currently in the middle of a blizzard though, so I have to get things cleaned up before I can do it.

Cheers

That sounds fantastic, can't wait to try it out but no need to rush. Take your time! I'm looking forward to the video and thank you very much for your help!! I hope, the blizzard's gone and everything is okay!!

Cheers!

The video below is not pretty or elegant, but I wanted to show you the quickest way. I'm assuming you already figured out MIDI loopback. BTW, I have Studio One's main mixer out set to my RME's Analog 3/4 out in this example:

[gak]

It's so flexible it's crazy. Not only can we adjust the eq inputs for different guitars/basses/vocals/whatever, but you can EASILY set various outputs. Hell, I'm using "adat" outputs for reason so that recycle, youtube/etc and reason are all relatively decent for outputs.

Complex though. You need to understand to save "presets" and "snapshots" that you like because one wrong move and (slice throat) you're screwed. Not the "undo" we are used to in reason

[EnochLight]

Complex though. You need to understand to save "presets" and "snapshots"

I absolutely love the snapshots and preset feature. I've already got my favorite mic setup saved, and just saved my default loop back snapshot. And being able to share the setup is nice.

[kitekrazy]

My first interface was a Yamaha SW1000XG.

Well that's a helluva lot better than my first interface. Mine was a Creative Audigy! And that was technically a step up from the Creative Soundblaster that I started out with.. Hard to believe that my first experience with ASIO was on an Audigy.

The SW1000XG was a $500 card. If I bought a RME Hammerfall 9632 it would not be collecting dust. I read somewhere that there were these older discontinued RME FW units that were going to be brought back to life with updated drivers.

[gak]

Well, that's the thing. Legacy products are......legacy products.

For the hell of it, I was looking into some UAD stuff (no serious thoughts) but as it turns out the "apollo" stuff is the only things they are planning future support for. I can only guess that PCI/e slots are not what they were and thunderbolt/usb 3 gives latency options they had not figured on.

In reality, current day, the usb 2 of our topic is as good a driver as RME currently has...or so it seems.

Confusing to me. I'd have thought that in 2016 anyone with a reasonably current computer (regardless of OS) would be at 2ms in/out and being so stable nothing mattered (shrug)

[SunSetCity]

The video below is not pretty or elegant, but I wanted to show you the quickest way. I'm assuming you already figured out MIDI loopback. BTW, I have Studio One's main mixer out set to my RME's Analog 3/4 out in this example:

Thanks, Enochlight!!

[Marco Raaphorst]

were you able to measure the total latency, from input to output?

I am on a Focusrite which I use for guitar. RV7000 can be a trouble maker on 64 samples of latency depending on the IR complexity.

[Neo]

My PreSonus AudioBox iTwo just doesn't seem to be cutting it for me anymore.
Looking at the RME Babyface Pro myself RRP$1399 AUD here (sale at the moment $1099).
(Im aware of bouncing the audio / and my i7 PC desktop is tweaked)

Thanks for the post @EnochLight

Topic: The official Babyface Pro Thread
https://www.forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=22180

[gak]

Are you on reason 9? What kinda project is that?

I'm still on 8 and what it did for me other than the obvious stuff (latency) I don't quite hit the peaks I did with things like scrolling, which was a tad of an issue before.

[Neo]

That to Gak^

I found another alternative fix after my stability issues and whining about my love/hate relationship with Zero. Thought id share lol. Cheers gents

Thanks to Linus for reminding me of this must have tool.
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon 6.5

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rackextensionists/

[zabukowski]

BIG +1 for RME products - i own Fireface 800 (i think it is more than 10 years old now) & original Babyface.

Top class drivers, stable & excellent low latency performance and TotalMix is a state of the art (worth the price alone). Can't really imagine not having it anymore. Did i mentioned IMO the best and the most accurate analyzer available in software form - DIGICHECK ?

RME is a smart and safe choice which will work for many years

My 0.5c

[miscend]

I've been running the BFP for a good few months now. With no issues. It's typical RME quality with super stable low latency drivers and honestly what I believe to be the best conversation in class. I read someone on Gearslutz say he can't tell the difference when he switches over from using his Apogee Symphony to his BFP. The headphone amps are good too they can drive headphones that need a lot of oomph.

I was using the original Babyface for five years before that. With no issues. The only reason I even upgraded was gearlust.

[FlowerSoldier]

Well, that's the thing. Legacy products are......legacy products.

For the hell of it, I was looking into some UAD stuff (no serious thoughts) but as it turns out the "apollo" stuff is the only things they are planning future support for. I can only guess that PCI/e slots are not what they were and thunderbolt/usb 3 gives latency options they had not figured on.

In reality, current day, the usb 2 of our topic is as good a driver as RME currently has...or so it seems.

Confusing to me. I'd have thought that in 2016 anyone with a reasonably current computer (regardless of OS) would be at 2ms in/out and being so stable nothing mattered (shrug)

I've been using my Apollo Twin for about 1 month now. I can't recommend it enough. The Unison preamp technology is a game changer. Also, once you try recording vocals through that LA-2A, you can't go back to compressing after the fact. The plugins it ships with are a bit of a tease, but having the option to deploy a Manley VOXBOX on your preamp is just...like,well...I mean, you have a Manley Licensed VOXBOX on your preamp. Enough said. I did consider the RME Babyface, but the Thunderbolt interface, the beefy DSP, and the UAD plug-ins won me over to the Apollo Twin. Also the latency is less than 2ms i/o and the guitar amp modeler is like playing through a real amp. It's crazy.

Also, not trying to hate on RME. I've never used one. Just thought I'd share if anyone else was considering an Apollo.

[Redster]

I bought a BFP last week. It is fantastic. I went from a Scarlett 18i8 to the BFP and the sound quality difference was astounding. I read that the sound quality would be good, but listening back to the 18i8 its like listening through a plasterboard wall.

BFP has a true multi-client audio driver and Totalmix makes it simple. I have set up an audio send and return from Reason through Totalmix to EnergyXT's modular environment where I can run Scuffham S-Gear 2 and then bring it back into Reason for recording. Whatsmore Reason also captures the clean input so I can post process if I'm not happy. It just works perfectly. Perfectly. I have S-Gear faced up with various reason devices so S-Gear just seems like an extension of the rack with no latency shenanigans.

At 48kHz, 48 samples and 3ms round trip latency its ALMOST stable but not quite there, bump it up to 96 samples and its bang on the money giving a total I/O latency of 5ms.

I am so glad I bought it - it was a stretch financially but it completely over delivered.

[hollyn]

Apologies for resurrecting this thread....

For TotalMix users, does Reason freeze during playback when you click anywhere on the TotalMix screen?

I've been dealing with this and hoping there's a fix. Any ideas welcomed.

(Win7 64-bit//latest Reason version)

[EnochLight]

Apologies for resurrecting this thread....

For TotalMix users, does Reason freeze during playback when you click anywhere on the TotalMix screen?

I've been dealing with this and hoping there's a fix. Any ideas welcomed.

(Win7 64-bit//latest Reason version)

Nope - TotalMix works fine (as does Reason) when using the two, on my system. Have you updated to the latest drivers (which also includes the latest TotalMix FX 1.43)? Drivers are currently at version 1.099, dated July 13, 2017. I'd also try alternative USB 2.0 ports.

[O1B]

RME vs Apollo Twin it is then....
The L-12 is cool for 'free mixing' but when Im ready to Print/ or Vocals ... one of these babies seems necessary.

I finally found the cable for the RME... i think... Does that come with the RME, ELight, or anyone?


The Optical In of the Apollo: found the touslink... but not the breakout cable...
this is for the old one:

any help pls...

[EnochLight]

RME vs Apollo Twin it is then....
The L-12 is cool for 'free mixing' but when Im ready to Print/ or Vocals ... one of these babies seems necessary.

I finally found the cable for the RME... i think... Does that come with the RME, ELight, or anyone?


The Optical In of the Apollo: found the touslink... but not the breakout cable...
this is for the old one:

any help pls...

Unlike the original Babyface, the Babyface Pro has the majority of the in and outs built into the unit. There's no cable spider web rats nest anymore - in fact the only breakout cable is just for MIDI. It's pretty nice.

image.jpeg (385.75 KiB) Viewed 4417 times

[O1B]

Thanks for getting back.

I think i see
- MIDI (out, I'm assuming)
- two stereo Ins and outs in the back,
- 3 and 4 Ins on the Right with (2) HeadSet Ports

and something about a '8-channel ADAT I/O'
where's that cable? purchased separately? or do i need another i/o box like the scarlett OptoPre? what do you use if you dont mind.

Ive never used this tech.
Thanks

-

Unlike the original Babyface, the Babyface Pro has the majority of the in and outs built into the unit. There's no cable spider web rats nest anymore - in fact the only breakout cable is just for MIDI. It's pretty nice.

image.jpeg

[bxbrkrz]

Apologies for resurrecting this thread....

For TotalMix users, does Reason freeze during playback when you click anywhere on the TotalMix screen?

I've been dealing with this and hoping there's a fix. Any ideas welcomed.

(Win7 64-bit//latest Reason version)

RME Digiface USB user with W10 Pro. No freezing. Maybe you could restore Win to an earlier point and re install everything again? Sorry not much help.

[EnochLight]

Thanks for getting back.

I think i see
- MIDI (out, I'm assuming)
- two stereo Ins and outs in the back,
- 3 and 4 Ins on the Right with (2) HeadSet Ports

and something about a '8-channel ADAT I/O'
where's that cable? purchased separately? or do i need another i/o box like the scarlett OptoPre? what do you use if you dont mind.

Ive never used this tech.
Thanks

-

Unlike the original Babyface, the Babyface Pro has the majority of the in and outs built into the unit. There's no cable spider web rats nest anymore - in fact the only breakout cable is just for MIDI. It's pretty nice.

image.jpeg

The ADAT i/o is just a port - typically you supply the light pipe cable. I didn't add one yet, but I've been eyeing that Behringer I mentioned earlier as its only $199 USD for 8 preamps.

[bxbrkrz]

Thanks for getting back.

I think i see
- MIDI (out, I'm assuming)
- two stereo Ins and outs in the back,
- 3 and 4 Ins on the Right with (2) HeadSet Ports

and something about a '8-channel ADAT I/O'
where's that cable? purchased separately? or do i need another i/o box like the scarlett OptoPre? what do you use if you dont mind.

Ive never used this tech.
Thanks

-

The ADAT i/o is just a port - typically you supply the light pipe cable. I didn't add one yet, but I've been eyeing that Behringer I mentioned earlier as its only $199 USD for 8 preamps.

[hollyn]

@EnochLight and bxbrkrz:

Thanks for chipping in. I am up-to-date with the RME UFX+ driver and files. I discovered today I hadn't grabbed the latest Reason update (thanks!).

No change on the freezing. Maybe RME will have some suggestions. I'll reach out to them.

I'm on an ASUS P8P67 PRO REV 3.1. It doesn't support USB 3.0 natively so I installed a PCIe adapter. Reason freezes with the sound cutting off regardless if the RME is on a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port.

It's a new-to-me interface so I can't troubleshoot based on past experience, but I used to have a FF800 and a UFX FF/USB prior to the interface I used for the last 3 years or so and don't recall any issues. Both RME's ran on a FireWire card.

Funny, I never paid much attention to TotalMix. I set it once and never needed to touch it. But now that I'm using it for monitoring (frickin' game changer), it figures something glitchy would crop up. Meh!

Cheers.

[EnochLight]

@EnochLight and bxbrkrz:

Thanks for chipping in. I am up-to-date with the RME UFX+ driver and files. I discovered today I hadn't grabbed the latest Reason update (thanks!).

No change on the freezing. Maybe RME will have some suggestions. I'll reach out to them.

I'm on an ASUS P8P67 PRO REV 3.1. It doesn't support USB 3.0 natively so I installed a PCIe adapter. Reason freezes with the sound cutting off regardless if the RME is on a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port.

It's a new-to-me interface so I can't troubleshoot based on past experience, but I used to have a FF800 and a UFX FF/USB prior to the interface I used for the last 3 years or so and don't recall any issues. Both RME's ran on a FireWire card.

Funny, I never paid much attention to TotalMix. I set it once and never needed to touch it. But now that I'm using it for monitoring (frickin' game changer), it figures something glitchy would crop up. Meh!

Cheers.

Windows 7 doesn't support USB 3.0 natively, and drivers supplied by 3rd parties have hit/miss reliability - but if you're not using it via that USB 3.0 expansion card and it's still doing it on all of the USB 2.0 ports you've tried, then something's definitely amiss. Last thing I can think of - have you updated your video card drivers and motherboard BIOS to the latest?

[EnochLight]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSw0E9BtNUc

Thanks for sharing that video - hadn't seen it before. So for $199 USD, I can barely tell a difference at all between the Behringer ADA8200 and the RME OctaMix XTC which sells for a whopping $2649 USD!!!!
Certainly not enough difference to warrant an extra $2400 USD in cash.

That Behringer ADA8200 is looking like it might win out for my use.