1 Topic by blasted_pingin (edited by blasted_pingin 2024-09-29 13:27:27)

  • Registered: 2019-11-30
  • Posts: 17

Topic: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Hi,

After a few years of good service on Linux then on Mac Monterey M1, my Babyface Pro suddenly decided to not work.

I tried:

- changing cable and USB ports
- reinstalling the firmware on another Mac M1, on a Windows PC (it says "USB device not recognized")
- using the flash utility
- contacted the RME support - no help so far
- When installing the firmware it says installation finished but no success to detect the card
- on Mac security is reduced and Total Mix is allowed

I did all these steps with the card in PC mode. The soundcard works in CC mode but without being able to connect to a laptop and using Totalmix it is a useless device for me.

What else can I do before considering the card as a brick? What could have happened? Hardware component?

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-09-29 14:00:37)

  • ramses
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

blasted_pingin wrote:

reinstalling the firmware on another Mac M1, on a Windows PC (it says "USB device not recognized")

What does this mean?

Did the installation of firmware succeed on the MAC?
Then the device can not be completely damaged.
Then .. Did it work on a Mac?

From where does the message "USB device not recognized" come from? Screenshot please.

Windows: are you aware of that the correct ASIO driver needs to be installed first, before you can perform a firmware update?

Did you read the manual for reasons why the devices is not being recognized accordingly on Windows and Apple?

Chapter 7.1/7.3 (Win), Chapter 15.1/15.3 (Mac)

Possible reasons why a Babyface Pro is not found automatically:
Here for Windows, Apple similar, but not exactly the same points:

- Win Only: the Babyface Pro is in Class Compliant mode. See above.
- The USB port is not active in the system, check Device Manager (Win), System profiler, USB (Apple)
- The USB cable is not, or not correctly inserted into the socket
- The Babyface Pro does not receive any or not enough power. Remove current-consuming hard drives from nearby ports. Aoid USB extension cables and USB hubs. Use an external power supply, any standard one delivering 9 - 14 V DC with at least 1 A will work. The con-nector needs to have – outside, + inside.

Was the BBF Pro FS directly connected to the USB ports?
Did you try all USB ports?

Especially this point: did you use a suitable power supply instead of Bus Power?

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2019-11-30
  • Posts: 17

Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

ramses wrote:
blasted_pingin wrote:

reinstalling the firmware on another Mac M1, on a Windows PC (it says "USB device not recognized")

What does this mean?

Did the installation of firmware succeed on the MAC?
Then the device can not be completely damaged.
Then .. Did it work on a Mac?

-> it means I tried on both OS to reinstall firmware. It says it's installed on both but the sound card remains undetected.
It used to work on Mac

From where does the message "USB device not recognized" come from? Screenshot please.

-> it comes from Windows notification when the soundcard is connected.

Windows: are you aware of that the correct ASIO driver needs to be installed first, before you can perform a firmware update?

-> I didn't know that, I'll try to get them.

Did you read the manual for reasons why the devices is not being recognized accordingly on Windows and Apple?

Chapter 7.1/7.3 (Win), Chapter 15.1/15.3 (Mac)

Possible reasons why a Babyface Pro is not found automatically:
Here for Windows, Apple similar, but not exactly the same points:

- Win Only: the Babyface Pro is in Class Compliant mode. See above.
- The USB port is not active in the system, check Device Manager (Win), System profiler, USB (Apple)
- The USB cable is not, or not correctly inserted into the socket
- The Babyface Pro does not receive any or not enough power. Remove current-consuming hard drives from nearby ports. Aoid USB extension cables and USB hubs. Use an external power supply, any standard one delivering 9 - 14 V DC with at least 1 A will work. The con-nector needs to have – outside, + inside.

Was the BBF Pro FS directly connected to the USB ports?
Did you try all USB ports?

-> I already tried all the things you mention.

Especially this point: did you use a suitable power supply instead of Bus Power?

-> yes, as I mentioned in my post, no problem with piwering the unit, bus/external/USB battery. My main issue seems to be that the device is not detected

Thanks for your help wink

  • waedi
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Pressing the two buttons SELECT and DIM during power up will flip the unit from PC-mode to CC-mode and back.

Be sure it's in PC-mode for use on computer.

In CC-mode the computer will not detect it for Totalmix.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

5 Reply by Kubrak (edited by Kubrak 2024-09-29 20:06:36)

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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Generally, if CC works, it means USB works, cable works, and so on. So, problem must be in other things. Is driver for Babyface installed properly? If it is not, flashing Babyface by new firmware cannot work. And also if Babyface is in CC mode TotalMix and flashing firmware do not work.

6 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-09-30 04:34:28)

  • waedi
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

OP did not mention driver installation at all, instead speaking of firmware installation.

Possible he mess up driver and firmware, also confusing CC-mode and PC-mode, having the unit all the time in CC-mode and never did install the USB driver to the computer... ?
He said it worked for years - on Linux (!) =CC-mode
Then on Mac, still in CC-mode ?

On the M-Macs please install the 4.16 driver
On Windows use the Windows driver installer 1.251
Follow the instructions and reboot properly

The unit most probably doesn't need a firmware flash update, it's not old.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

7 Reply by blasted_pingin (edited by blasted_pingin 2024-09-30 13:54:02)

  • Registered: 2019-11-30
  • Posts: 17

Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

I tried reinstalling drivers 4.16 with no success Mac OS Monterey (2 different computers). I also tried 3.18 on Mac,  still no success.

On Windows 10, I can't remember the version of the driver since I don't have a Windows laptop and had to borrow from a friend but I got the driver from RME website so I guess it was the latest accurate version. The soundcard was not detected even after reboots.

On Windows Device Manager, it says "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)

On Linux, I had to use CC mode indeed but PC mode was used for years on Mac. Total Mix works indeed only in PC mode since it's part of the driver package.

The Babyface Pro can be powered in both CC and PC modes and the inputs/outputs work. The main issue seems to be the non detection by OS.

  • Kubrak
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

And you may use it in CC mode on Mac?

If you have not succeded install drivers on Mac, it cannot work in non CC mode.

Maybe even installation of driver on Win  (friend's notebook) was not successful....

9 Reply by blasted_pingin (edited by blasted_pingin 2024-09-30 22:32:16)

  • Registered: 2019-11-30
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Let me be more clear: both OS installations say drivers are installed BUT the soundcard is still not recognized.

There is no message of error during installation of drivers.

When powered by laptop, it works/behaves like in CC mode as when it's powered by an external battery. I can switch to PC mode but it is unusable since the device is not recognized.

10 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-10-01 03:47:23)

  • waedi
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Sounds like bad cable or defective unit, I would conntact support and request repair offer.

support@rme-audio.com

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Kubrak
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

If it works in CC mode, it should not be cable. CC mode is just driverless USB connection. Also USB in Babyface must work.

If something is broken in Babyface, it would have to be corrupted firmware in part that services communication with RME Babyface driver. Or drivers in computers are not installed correctly.

If OP can get RME interface thet uses the same driver like Babyface, he could test if RME drivers in computer really do work. In that case the problem would be in Babyface HW or firmware.

  • Registered: 2019-11-30
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Kubrak wrote:

If it works in CC mode, it should not be cable. CC mode is just driverless USB connection. Also USB in Babyface must work.
-> It is not the cable, I tried like 2 other cables with same result.

If something is broken in Babyface, it would have to be corrupted firmware in part that services communication with RME Babyface driver. Or drivers in computers are not installed correctly.

->I'm thinking about something like that indeed after having ruled out everything else.

If OP can get RME interface thet uses the same driver like Babyface, he could test if RME drivers in computer really do work. In that case the problem would be in Babyface HW or firmware.

->I don't have access to other RME interfaces, I live in a small village...

  • Registered: 2019-11-30
  • Posts: 17

Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

waedi wrote:

Sounds like bad cable or defective unit, I would conntact support and request repair offer.

support@rme-audio.com

-> I think some component or internal firmware went off. I am in contact with them since last week but they answer very sporadically and make me only repeat things endlessly without no proposal of a solution so far. Very disappointing I have to say.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
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Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

Hello,

For service options, please contact the local distributor:

Arbiter France
22 Rue Edouard Buffard
77144
Montevrain

+33 (0) 820 230 007
contact@arbiterfrance.com
www.arbiterfrance.com

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2019-11-30
  • Posts: 17

Re: My Babyface Pro suddenly stopped working

I contacted them but they don't answer...

I really feel let down with my malfunctioning RME product.