Thanks guys... I'm pretty dense when i;t comes to this stuff, but I will start with the video tutorials and documentation... The reason I bought the unit was for the pristine sound... hopefully I can set up some basic things and leave them alone for now... It's just me alone recording, so I won't need all the mixing bells and whistles at this point.  I should really learn to use the physical controls on the interface first...
Salud!

Totalmix and TC Electronics, hell, even Tascam (must have something to do w/ the T) have "improved" the mixing board idea for their mixers.  Their system is eminently flexible, once you get used to it.  But that doesn't make it better or easy to understand.  Your best bet is to dive in and save your different setups as presets.  Usually, by the time I have to revist the mixer I've forgotten how to set it up again.

azslow3
I think the major show stopper for some people is to understand that RME is not only an audio interface, but also a digital mixer in which each output is a separated bus. So, each input has a "send" to each output. When some output is selected in totalmix, faders on all inputs are controlling corresponding send volume.

I wanted to comment the other day, but didn't want to reveal my ignorance.  When I got an RME UCX and tried to understand TotalMix, it took me a while to grasp what azslow3 pointed out.  I'm not sure I have it down yet, but I view the usb interface with its available hardware I/O as separate from TotalMix.  That's not completely accurate, but it helps me.  From the manual, "TotalMix does not reside in the record path..." which is true unless you've opted to record the TotalMix effects or are using Loopback.  I don't record the Fx or use Loopback.
 
 
 
 

... just found out TotalMix can be run in DAW mode which might make more sense to me, though the routings are probably more limited.

This has nothing to do with Total Mix, but a comment.  MOTU's "CueMixFX" computer control program, is also a mess to learn.  When I first got an MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid I returned it out of frustration (main reason) trying to get the control program configured.  I later ran across a guy at the local Guitar Center that was knowledgeable about the CueMixFx program and he invited me to this studio and showed me how it works.  I then ordered another MOTU896 Mk3.  I got the CueMixFX configured like I wanted and saved it as my setup.  
 
 
 

Finally figured out some of the routing (via DAW mode) which simplifies things in Sonar, but the minute I tried Studio One, it was a no go... hope I don't have to jump thru hoops every time I switch...  I have tried to save some of the routing snapshots that are available, but they didn't seem to work the first time through... speaking of through, I will continue to muddle...

back to square one :(    Total reset...   Can't figure out the low latency monitoring method within Sonar. 
Videos and tuts have helped, but when it comes down to applying those methods, I am failing...
 
Struggling with assignments... makes me yearn for the old Echo Audiofire4 again... but I just can't go back.   One thing I do miss is having a phantom power switch directly on the interface itself.
 
Keep on pushin...

I agree that it is super hard to control gains and phantom without TotalMix. I have twelve other inputs with gain nobs and phantom buttons, so I use those when working without TotalMix.

If you have specific questions, I'll try to answer.

For me, the internal routing is no longer complicated. Click on the output of choice, adjust the faders to control the sends to that output.

Sonar master outs comes out on the playback tracks of your choice within Sonar. The levels will show in the middle of row of TotalMix. Just mix them in to your primary output.

There is a lot more to know, but that is the heart of it.

https://youtu.be/VYNE9ppu9bY

 
 
Thanks for the offer, Geoff... might eventually take you up on it... I seem to have figured out a stable routing system for my simple needs, but I do notice the turning the gain knob on the interface itself doesn't seem to be working... You don't have the Babyface, so you probably can't help me with that one though.  I will also get to monitoring with FX (verb) down the road, but I don't want to mess up any settings that have been successful so far 
Salud!
 
P.S.  Maybe a preamp with a phantom power switch might be the way to go for me, though I don't have the $$$ right now to purchase one that would be nice enough (to add decent color to the already excellent, clean sounding pre's on board)...
 
P.P.S.  When you say working without TotalMix, what exactly dol you mean?  Do you just have a snapshot or template that you never change and that loads by default?

5.3. Operation at the Unit
 
Operation at the unit in online mode (drivers installed under Windows and Mac OS X, PC mode chosen at the unit) covers the most useful actions and situations in daily operation. Clearly labelled buttons together with an intuitive operation scheme give direct access to volume, monitoring and setup.
 
Input Gains
The gains of all four analog inputs can be controlled directly by the big encoder knob. Use IN to select input 1/2 or 3/4, then push SELECT several times to step through left channel, right channel or both. The selected channel and amount of gain is shown by a single LED flashing in the left INPUT level meters. Turn the wheel to increase or decrease the gain. The three INPUT LEDs also show overload. Too hot levels will not be missed even if the level meter currently shows a quieter channel.
 
Output Volume
Select one of the three outputs via OUT, then turn the wheel. The current fader position of TotalMix FX (which moves in sync) is displayed via flashing single LEDs in the output level meter. The three output LEDs also show overload. Too hot levels will not be missed even if the level meter currently shows a quieter channel. 0 dB position: reduce the gain so that the yellow LED just turns off. OUT can also be reassigned to perform Speaker B switching in the Options/Key Commands dialog in TotalMix FX.
 
Output Balance
Select one of the three outputs via OUT, then hold down SELECT. The right level meters show two bars, lit up until the yellow LEDs. Turn the wheel to move the stereo image more to the left or right. This setting equals an adjustment of the PAN knob in a stereo hardware output of TotalMix FX, and indeed the knob in the software will move in sync. 10 User's Guide Babyface Pro © RME
 
DIM
Works on the hardware output defined as Main Output in TotalMix FX. Therefore the DIM LEDs will not be lit when stepping through the other two outputs. The applied attenuation is the one defined in TotalMix FX. DIM can also be used as hotkey for many other actions, among the switching to Speaker B or Talkback. Use the Options/Key Commands dialog in TotalMix FX to assign one of them to DIM.
 
Recall
Pushing DIM for two seconds sets the Main output volume to the value formerly saved for Recall. The Recall value can also be set directly at the unit by holding SET down for two seconds.