I am pretty much down to these two. I am very interested in the OC because of the Auto-sens function. I am at hobby level in my recording and the idea of one less thing to worry about is very appealing. I understand that the BF has cleaner preamps and a slightly lower RTL, however I wonder if I record 24/96 or 24/48 won't the RTL be lower and IIRC the RTL at 44.1 is 4.9ms on the BF and 7.2 on the OC a difference iof 2.3ms but again at a higher rate will the RTL be better on either of them?
Plus, I am not sure I would hear anything wrong with either of them and I am thinking that if the RTL becomes a problem recording on or tow inputs at a time I can always freeze some tracks or plugins, right?? or couldn't I copy a few tracks onto a stereo track, freeze the originals, record, then delete the stereo track... if I am having problems?
 
So the price is not a concern. RTL is a concern though I am pretty much convinced that either interface will do the job. Most of what I do will be audio anyway. Difficulty of any kind is a big concern to me and is why the auto-sensing function seems so appealing to me. I think my computer is up to the task and if not I will be in touch with Studiocat.. I probably will be buying a dedicated desktop before the end of the year anyway and I have an Audiophile 24/96 that I have used in a desktop for years. I just want something in a Octa or BF sort of desktop configuration, plus I cannot use the 24/96 with my lappy.
So bottom line auto-sens or lower RTL? Good enough pres or excellent pres? I guess the BF has better converters too... so, how much trouble is it learning to set correct levels?
 
Please correct any faulty thinking or false assumptions I may have. I am planning to order today or tomorrow.. I am open to other suggestions too. The BF @ 700+ dollars is as high as I want to go but heck, I don't mind saving a few hundred but not if it is going to give me heartburn.
 
Thanks in advance.

Octa-capture!! The auto sens is way cooler than I thought it would be and I love the interface!  I thought I wouldn't use it at all and once I tried it and loved the sound I use it all the time.  You will not be sorry.

I'm intrigued by the auto sense, but I'm not sure I would want it.

but again at a higher rate will the RTL be better on either of them?

 
RTL drops as the sample-rate increases.
 
Other than reducing the load on the system, Freezing tracks will have no affect on RTL.
RTL is strickly determined by the audio interface. 
Working at higher sample-rates is one way to mitigate higher RTL (as long as the machine can keep up).
Doubling the sample-rate (roughly) cuts RTL in half (it'll be slightly higher than half).
 
If you need the additional preamps and like the auto-sense feature... then the OC is likely a better fit.
Both are solid audio interfaces.
 

My advice (for what its worth) asks more questions than gives answers.  Here's why:
Do you need all of the I/O that either offers?  If not, don't pay for them.  If you don't need 8 ins and 8 or more outs, get something less expensive that has what you need.

I almost bought the OC myself after my UA 101 blew an input, Edirol is good gear.

Brian

My advice (for what its worth) asks more questions than gives answers. Here's why: Do you need all of the I/O that either offers? If not, don't pay for them. If you don't need 8 ins and 8 or more outs, get something less expensive that has what you need. I almost bought the OC myself after my UA 101 blew an input, Edirol is good gear. Brian

 
I dont need that many but I have heard things about some other interfaces not working as well with a laptop and that the newer Ultra is not as fast as the old ones... but I could be confused.
I had come to the conclusion that the Octa and the Babyface were the two best choices for use with a laptop.
 
I need to be edumacated more, that is why I am asking a little more before I spend money. I do like the idea of having at least three mic inputs but it isnt a must have.
 
Thanks and tell me more.
 
Julien

if you don't need that many I/O and you like the other features/specs of the octacapture, why not look at the duocapture or quadcapture?  they're basically the same interface with fewer I/O, and I would bet hard money that they run the same drivers.

the FTU's latest driver update did away with the lowest sample latency settings.

RTL drops as the sample-rate increases. Other than reducing the load on the system, Freezing tracks will have no affect on RTL. RTL is strickly determined by the audio interface. Working at higher sample-rates is one way to mitigate higher RTL (as long as the machine can keep up). Doubling the sample-rate (roughly) cuts RTL in half (it'll be slightly higher than half). If you need the additional preamps and like the auto-sense feature... then the OC is likely a better fit. Both are solid audio interfaces.

 
Thanks Jim, I thought I had read that about the RTL . The auto-sens interests me but being a newbie (for all intents and purposes) I have the newbie tendency to want the Marshall stack of everything... the 4-wheel drive 12 cylinder version...
 
I am sure I will be happy with either and shoot... I could always buy another interface down the road. I really appreciate the help and I hope to be talking to you later in the year about a desktop.
 
I think I will jump on the Octa-Capture and use it until I either hit a bottleneck or think I need something else (GAS) but a new desktop will probably be next.
I can use the Octa for some months then buy the Babyface and say, "Dang. Jim was right, this thing sounds great!". Right now I really have no point of reference so I am going to go with the one that I think will be easiest.
 
Julien

if you don't need that many I/O and you like the other features/specs of the octacapture, why not look at the duocapture or quadcapture? they're basically the same interface with fewer I/O, and I would bet hard money that they run the same drivers. the FTU's latest driver update did away with the lowest sample latency settings.

 
I think the Quad might be on par but I think the Duo is a bit of a lesser interface... I am not sure though.
 
I thinkI will be happy with the Octa, I just wanted a little more input (bad pun) before I jump.
 
Thanks!
Julien
 
BTW, when I married my wife they had a passel o beagles. They hunted deer and rabbits with them. We used to let them go out at her dad's house and they would run way back in the woods across the fields. Pretty soon you would hear it when they got on a rabbit... they sing like crazy. After a bit they would get louder and closer and pretty soon here would come the rabbit through the yard with the pack behind him. Great dogs!
 
 

yep - my uncle who lived next door to us had a bunch of beagles when I was growing up and they did the same thing.  we lived out in rural area and listening to them howl and bay at the rabbits was unmistakable.


but I have never owned a beagle.  it's just my nickname...