Hello,
I am looking to upgrade my Audio/MIDI interface and looking at a few options.
Are there any of you who have any experience with the Babyface Pro or have any suggestions at a low latency high performance interface?
 
I also looked at the UAD Apollo Twin but in order to use it between platforms I would have to upgrade my motherboard to a USB C compatible as well as find a good MIDI interface and that started getting very expensive ;^)
 
Thanks for the help.

I have the original Babyface, which is a few years older, and it's the best interface I've ever owned. Rugged build, with drivers that are exceptionally stable and efficient. The sound is very clean and detailed. 
 
I've heard nothing but good things about the Babyface Pro -- it is apparently a genuine improvement on the original, with new features, updated electronics, and a better designed chassis.
 
You really can't go wrong buying an RME interface, IMHO, regardless of which one. 

simeon
Hello,
I am looking to upgrade my Audio/MIDI interface and looking at a few options.
Are there any of you who have any experience with the Babyface Pro or have any suggestions at a low latency high performance interface?

bought one about 2 months ago,
paid $600 new for it.
 
awesome unit.
 
i plugged it into my old win xp daw running sonar 6,
didn't even load the drivers,
works like a charm.
 
i only have 2 gig of ram.
but my mixes usually have a lot of plugs, mostly in my sub busses, which i usually have at least 10 of.
 
but as far as connectivity and the usefulness of the totalmix software for doing latency free recording,
it works like a charm.
 
super clean transparent preamps, they offer zero color.
what you put in, is what you get out.
 
the headphone outs rock.
 
it sits right on top of the desk, and i haven't plugged a mic cable into any of my rack mounted stuff since i've had it.
 

The babyface is a pro unit and if you can't get a good sound through it the fault isn't the hardware.  While the pres won't make you want to sell your Neve etc., conversion is great and the drivers are top of the class.  As a mid-level recording unit it has everything you could want although it is expensive compared to the competition.  The TASCAM UH-7000 is at least as good in conversion and has better pres from my memory, plus costs less, but you won't get such low latency.
 
RME is the whole enchilada for the project studio.

simeon
Hello,
I am looking to upgrade my Audio/MIDI interface and looking at a few options.
Are there any of you who have any experience with the Babyface Pro or have any suggestions at a low latency high performance interface?
 
I also looked at the UAD Apollo Twin but in order to use it between platforms I would have to upgrade my motherboard to a USB C compatible as well as find a good MIDI interface and that started getting very expensive ;^)
 
Thanks for the help.

Hi Simeon,
 
RME is the best low latency performance you'll find in a USB audio interface.
At a 48-sample ASIO buffer size 48k, total round-trip latency is 4ms.
If your computer can keep up with the load, you can run audio glitch-free at this setting.
 
If you're talking about running a Thunderbolt version of the Apollo Twin, I don't believe UA have released "PCIe via Thunderbolt" drivers for Windows.  IOW, It wouldn't work (unless you happen to be a beta-tester).  
MOTU is still the only company with "PCIe via Thunderbolt" drivers actually available for Windows (for their AVB series).

Jim Roseberry
 
Hi Simeon,
 
RME is the best low latency performance you'll find in a USB audio interface.
At a 48-sample ASIO buffer size 48k, total round-trip latency is 4ms.
If your computer can keep up with the load, you can run audio glitch-free at this setting.
 
If you're talking about running a Thunderbolt version of the Apollo Twin, I don't believe UA have released "PCIe via Thunderbolt" drivers for Windows.  IOW, It wouldn't work (unless you happen to be a beta-tester).  
MOTU is still the only company with "PCIe via Thunderbolt" drivers actually available for Windows (for their AVB series).

The newest version of the UAD Apollo drivers will support the Apollo Twin but you must have a motherboard that supports the latest USB C and use a USB C to Thunderbolt adapter. I think by the time I would need to upgrade my motherboard and possibly processor and separate MIDI interface I would probably be better off looking at the Babyface Pro.
 
Thanks everyone!
 

No issues with hardware functionality and features with RME (UFX, at least) aside from cost. My only issue with RME once you understand their operational logic, is the limited, non-dynamic scale-ability of their TotalMix software mixer GUI, namely inability to fit to screen, or dynamically resize, there's only 3 choices, too small (for me at least) and in a limited window size, too large going outside of screen area and not able access anything outside of screen area, nor move into view, (no matter what the screen size), or a somewhat less than ideal in-between within a limited window size, you have to learn to adapt to and make due with, although you can scroll consoles left and right horizontally, (I don't think Goldilocks would find any of these choices "just right", LOL). Particularly annoying if using interface as a "live" mixing console with extended ADAT inputs and several outputs. Sadly, they don't seem to have any intentions on improving this. 
However, using limited inputs and outputs, as may be the case with Babyface, and/or working mostly in Sonar screen, after setting mixer I/O levels, and having proper eyesight this may not be an issue.
 
Cheers 
 
 

not an issue for me.
and i'm half blind!
 

batsbrew
not an issue for me.
and i'm half blind!

Wish I could say the same, to both, LOL

Bought a Babyface Pro a few weeks ago to go with my new Studio Cat DAW, on Jim's recommendation.  It is bulletproof and sounds GREAT.  (Works great with Jim's DAW as well.)  No issues, no problems, no complaints.  The report about the limited choices for display of the software interface is accurate, but after about 30 minutes I found an arrangement that worked for me, and haven't touched it since.  It IS more expensive than other options, but those options aren't truly competitors to this superb pro unit.