Hey Guys:
I took the plunge and grabbed an RME Babyface (used).  From what I had read about it I was expecting an Epiphany of the All.  I gotta say I'm a bit underwhelmed and sorely disappointed.  The highest audio buffer settings it allows are 2048 samples.  Because of that most every project I work on has ticks and pops a-plenty (my biggest projects have 10 audio files with probably 30 plugins).  Am I missing something?  Is there a way to increase the buffer size beyond the 2048 samples?  I think I see why the previous owner sold it.  Even my crash crazy Roland Quad-Capture let me use a higher buffer setting. 
 
Hoping there's an answer that's easy.
 
OS Windows 7, 4th Gen icore 7, 1TB Harddrive, 16 gigs Ram, wifi disabled.

are you using WDM or ASIO driver mode? 
 
neither will let you increase the buffer size beyond what the drivers will allow, but ASIO will probably give you a better RTL, which means the higher buffer size should give you more room for plugins before popping and clicking start.

Hi Beagle:
Thanks for the response.  I'm using ASIO. 

RME is know as functioning good with LOW latency. You are asking for HI latency settings. That means either your system is on the limit for plug-ins you are using (can be CPU and/or memory) or there is some "show stopper" in the system.
To test the second, create a project with several audio tracks, without any effects nor synth, set RME to 128 (64) buffer and check you do not have cracks/pops.
If the problem is the first and you are not going to upgrade, try switch to WDM mode and increase buffers. WDM with huge buffers is in general forgiving (by design, to avoid pops and cracks with Windows normal audio playing), ASIO is for low latency (which you are in any case not going to have with 2048+ buffer size).

The buffer doubles at double rates on the RME. I'm with Azslow3. I think you have a computer related issue... when you run Resplendant's latency monitor, what is the result? Check out the drivers tab... what are your worst offenders?

It is highly probable that by making a few tweaks on your computer your problems will be a thing of the past.

Also don't forget DigiCheck. This is an RME tool separate from the driver that I use often.

First: Delete your aud.ini file
C:\Users\Your Name\AppData\Roaming\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum\aud.ini
SONAR will "rebuild" the aud file.
Then start "troubleshooting" if you have any issues.
You have the latest drivers from RME? Win 1098, although any "recent" driver should work fine.
What else is on the USB root hub?
I keep the interfaces (Babyface in the office, UFX in the studio) on a root hub by themselves.
Device Manager > USB Bus Controllers
Somethin' ain't right if Snap, Crackle and Pop are haunting you at 2048.
HTH,
 
T

Thank you guys!!  I will start testing immediately.

Curious whether you indeed find something. My observation when going from Roland to MOTU AVB (which is much superior in terms of low latency performance) was that at hi buffers the old Roland beats the new MOTU. I actually got one project in my archives which still worked on the Roland on 2048 buffers, but not on the MOTU (highest buffers would drop out). I traced it down to a vocoder type of effect on 2 tracks that once I freeze them, all is fine and on par with both interfaces.

Hey Guys:
An update: I ran latency monitor and it advised me to change my power settings (I increased them) and to update my BIOS (which I did).  I'm now running a 10 track audio project LOADED with plugins at a buffer of 512!!  Sweeeeeeeeeet!!!
Thanks to each of you who responded to my cry and threw me a lifeline.  I appreciate EVERYONE of you!!!!