Talk to me about RME Babyface and ADAT..

I think I am going to buy a Babyface and I see that I can add more inputs if needed by using an ADAT device. Is that anything with a lightpipe or what?... and if I add an ADAT for more inputs will it use the RME preamps or it's own? Are there small digital mixers that would fill this application, to add inputs to the BF? Of course the quality of the pres would be a concern, don't want some good and some not so good.
 
Enlighten me... is this truy the way to go? For the forseeable future the three inputs on the BF will do just fine... it says it has more but I only see two XLRs and one TRS, plus midi... that would be of use to me. I may use the line inputs for someting once and a while but not much.
 
Thanks for helping me understand what sort of ADAT would work for more mics and would work on the same level, latency and soundwise, as the BF.
Price will be a consideration because I needsome other stuff too.
 
Julien

The Babyface works great...
It's not cheap... but it's exactly what you'd expect (RME quality in a small foot-print).
With a fast machine, you can run substantial loads (glitch-free) at the smallest 48-sample ASIO buffer size.
That translates to 4.9ms total round-trip latency at a 48-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k.
 
The Babyface has two channels of balanced analog I/O (the two input channels have pretty decent preamps).
There's also a 1/4" instrument input (works very well for recording passive DI bass/guitar).
There's also 8-channels of lightpipe I/O (if you're working at 44.1k/48k).
If you use the lightpipe I/O, it's simply an 8-channel optical I/O (no A/D D/A or preamps).
ie:  You could connect a DigiMax FS to the Babyface... and that would give you 8 more channels of analog I/O (converters and preamps supplied via the Digimax).
IOW, The Babyface's analog I/O (and preamps) are totally separate from the lightpipe I/O.

• The drivers are rock-solid
• The A/D D/A converters sound good (average noise-floor is ~-108dB)
• The headphone amp sounds good (doesn't have a ton of gain - but enough to push K240s without problem)
• Low Round-Trip Latency
• Flexible routing and onboard DSP

 
The Cons:

• Connects via breakout cable (necessary due to the small physical size)
• Cost (not the cheapest option)

 
I bought a Babyface primarily to use live.
I've played numerous 4-hour gigs with it (running at the 48-sample ASIO buffer size) without a single glitch.
If you need a small format USB audio interface that delivers top-notch low-latency performance, it's hard to beat.

Cool, my first moved thread...
 
I looked at the Digimax FS, it looks like the cure. However, I am going to contact RME and suggest they make a breakout with two ELR/with pres, two balanced TRS, two midi, and a headphone jack. It shoud be an easy offering and I would likely buy it as an add on piece, I bet others would too. People who have a limited budget, want the best sound for the money and want a cheaper way to add a couple of mics. That would add one more mic in for me, if I am remembering right. It offers two powered inputs and one TRS for guitar or another mic, right? It just seems it would be easy to lose the line ins and add a couple more TRS audio ins. I guess it would then have five audio inputs, two powered... i'll have to go look at it again.
I appreciate you directing me to RME. I plan to get one soon. The accessory breakout is just an idea that I think people would buy.
 
Julien