Yes those are the correct inputs, though it is not clear what you are trying to do, listen or record. For listening set TMFX to 3 row mode and also not in daw mode (menu option somewhere). Click on the output fader you are listening to (bottom row, propably1/2 or headphones 3/4) and then up input fader 3/4 (top row). The outputs from your computer will be in the middle row.

Is there a way to turn down the headphone output level without affecting the output meter in the Babyface Pro FS? I have to turn down the volume by like 60 dB to get it to a reasonable listening volume, and the meter just doesn't show anything when the volume is that low. Ideally I would prefer the meter to show the pre-fader volume of the main control room, but any other way to get the meter to do at least something would be better than nothing too.

Well it's not a huge problem, I can still record and listen just fine, but it would be nice if the meter actually did something now that it's there.

I'm using AKG K712 Pros. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong if it's not supposed to be that loud.

If you set the encoder to main out 1/2 instead of phones and set that to 0db (max) and send the same to that output as phones, you will see the full level. You will have to adjust your phones level from tmfx though or switch the encoder every time you change the phones level.

【Babyface pro FX stand alone mode】
Hi from Japan. I'm sorry, this topic should have been already brought up previously, but I couldn't find solutions, so here I am. I am using Babyface Pro and still can't figure out how to use Stand Alone mode. Trying to use it as a headphone amp. Here is my set up, so if there's any ideas for possible solutions, it would be very appreciated. Arigato everyone.

1, My computer's OS is Windows10. Version 21H1.
2, Using an AC/DC adaptor (12V, Max5.0A, center plus). The device looks powered properly.
3, USB is disconnected. Electricity is supplied only from the adaptor. (On the manual, this will automatically activate Stand Alone mode. It says CC mode or CP mode doesn't matter.)
4, The driver and the firmware are successfully updated on April 22nd, 2022.
5, It works perfect with USB bus-power.

Let me know if there's any information I'm missing to write above.

Thank you.

Takuro

If connected to an external power source, will it override USB bus power?
The bus power from my PC may be of poor quality. (It looks like working properly.)
So I use a DC external power supply, but if the USB bus power takes precedence, it makes no sense...

Thanks for reply I love this interface!

Hi again,

Last year I made a post asking about buffer behaviour system-wide after using Cubase Pro. Everytime I've changed the buffer to a lower size (ie 512 to 256) all the system sound got garbled and crackled. Now it's worse: I can't even lower the buffer size without using any ASIO app before. Goes as follows:

1.- Start the PC with Windows 10 21H1 Pro, buffer 512 at Fireface USB Settings app.
2.- Change buffer to 256 or 128 or 96... crackles, garbled unlistenable sound.
3.- Change buffer back to 512, sound is fine.

MC and ramses told me this was normal coming from ASIO, but I can't see how this is normal while just changing buffer on the Fireface USB Settings app?

Any help is appreciated.

Happens as well with ASIO. Just tried now.

1.- Cubase Pro playing properly at 512 (original buffer), 256 or 128 (changing mid-project) as expected.
2.- Close Cubase, play youtube or media player, sound is completely destroyed.
3.- Set buffer back to 512, sound is fine.

Now, if this was because ASIO changes the internal clock, the DA behaviour or the like I would get it. But if this happens also system-wide (windows sound as you name it) without engaging ASIO whatsoever as I mentioned in my previous post... I can't see it. I'm puzzled.

Hi ramses,

EDIT: We had this conversation in december 2019 and you were kindly suggesting the same things, but it wasn't the case. I ensemble my computers and I tinker with mobo, drivers and OS since 20+ years. This isn't the case of CPU load or misconfiguration. It's something else. Please keep reading:

Surprise surprise! This wasn't about Cubase nor ASIO nor Windows. It was because the previous firmware/driver did something really bad to the Babyface Pro buffers. Now I've checked the drivers and the firmware revisions here on the RME site, updated to newer ones and the interface is behaving perfectly. No more crackles or dropouts when changing buffers. Something was amiss in firmware 130 or/in the previous driver.

Aha, we forgot the most basic of questions...Are you on the latest driver and firmware?
Might have been a bug in the older, or just that latest windows needed an adaptation, because it handles windows audio differently.
But great you found it!
MC always asks first are you using the latest driver/firmware. We must learn from the Master (Me and Ramses LOL)

Firstly in TotalMix you should have three rows. The top is the actual inputs. Do you see these moving at all? What have you plugged in? Microphone or line level instrument? If microphone does it require phantom power?

If you see a signal coming in you need to click on the output you want to hear on the bottom row and then turn up the input slider. You also need to turn up the output slider. Read the manual as you probably need to get your head round how TotalMix works. Ramses had created stickies which explains a lot about TotalMix. The main thing to remember is that all the faders will change per output you click. The key is to select an output and turn up faders while it’s selected. If you click on another output then all the faders (not output faders) will be relevant to that output.

I owned a babyface pro (not fs one) for quite a while and used any unbalanced signal via TS cable through input 3-4 on the side of the unit with no issue at all.

I know that input 3-4 is an unbalanced jacks as the manual.

But now I wonder if I had balanced signal via TRS cable plug into ch.3 or ch.4 on the side, so the RING signal will lift floating or Actually it has some internal connection between RING-SLEEVE to combine them together inside babyface pro (as I can see three pole inside the hole and one of that could be touched the RING)

My question is a balanced signal with TRS would work just fine with input 3-4 on the side, right?

Correct me if I got misunderstood.

Best regards,

Turk

is the ARC worth the $179? in my opinion, absolutely! if all you use it for is controlling monitors and headphone output, it's a fantastic tool, seamlessly working with TotalMIX. the assignable buttons for snapshots, etc. make it even more versatile.

I think the question about using the BBF Pro as a controller has been asked before and I don't believe you can use it to control the UCXII in place of the ARC. I suppose with some creative connectivity, you could route signals out of the UCXII and into the digital ins of the BBF and control it that way. I've actually done this with my BBF Pro FS but only as an exercise to learn TotalMIX and play around with the different routings/settings. I've connected my HDSP9652 digital outs to the BBF digital ins to be able to use the TM EQ and reverb before too.

I love the fact that you can plug the ARC directly into the UCXII so you don't have to have an extra USB cable on your desk. You have to give up DuREC though but I mainly only use that feature for location recording.

cheers!

-Steve

Hi, I have a pro fs running on Mac M1 Monterey.

I'm not getting a clean sound when recording vocals despite having -12db headroom on total mix and this correlates with the recording in logic. Certain words are distorting. The mic is a Shure beta 58a but does the same on my other mics.

I'm close to giving up on RME my old budget interface sounded better.

sorry, JC, I didn't see your question until today.

not entirely sure by what you mean about workflow. the UCXII just...works It's great with Reaper using the audio ins/outs and with MIDI. does everything I need.

If I have something quick, I'll use the Babyface Pro FS just because it's always connected to my desktop PC and in that case, I usually won't need the ARC. having that encoder is just so handy.

also, not exclusive to any one RME interface, I would remind anyone using TotalMIX Fx to take a look at the tool created here to be able to utilize the volume up/down buttons on your keyboard to control the main outs:  https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=33584

very convenient if you don't always have TotalMIX up and just need to quickly adjust volume (and you don't have an encoder).

-Steve

You need to add an AD/DA converter to the BBF Pro which can be connected through ADAT.
ADAT = 8ch at single speed (44.1/48 kHz), 4ch at double speed (88.2/96 kHz).

This gives you more analog ports to send several submixes from DAW to the summing device.

Either you get an AD/DA converter which has also such DB-25 connectors or you need to get a patchbay which increases cost and needs some more room in a rack.

As the Neve has 16 channels for summing you should have bought a recording interface with at least 2 ADAT ports if you work with single speed (2x8 = 16 ports).

Should you intend to work with double speed or of you need more than 8 summing channels (8x mono / 4x stereo)
a MADI based solution would be better. Then you have 64ch at single speed and still 32ch at double speed. But this increases cost.

If 8 mono channels are sufficient maybe look at used market for a ADI-8 DS Mk III or ADI-8 QS.
If this is too expensive consider products from Ferrofish like e.g. Pulse 16, but then egain you need a patch bay.
For your current selection it would have advantages to get adda converter with DB-25 plug.

Hi guys, A couple of months back I had some issues with my Fireface 400 running on the new Mac Studio. After a lot of messing around with cables, I finally got it working, but it has not been a fun experience. Firewire and the Mac Studio are not good friends. Anyway, after some deliberation Matthias and I both concluded that Firewire support for the coming MacOS update is likely to be discontinued and to be honest, its pretty buggy now anyway.

So long story short, I went and brought the Babyface Pro FS. I haven't hooked it up yet, but wanted to know if I would need to install new drivers? I suspect I will and that's fine, however will I need to remove the old Fireface drivers which required me to engage in all sorts of sorcery in Terminal and start up security? If I do, how do I remove these and will this also remove Total Mix?

Thanks in advance.

I think it had something for units with the ess chips. I updated anyway to be on the current version. Had no impact on my unit.

One is dBu, the other one dBV. Clearly labeled in TM FX and the manual.  Note the reference is not -10 dBV, but +2 dBV (max headroom).

The passive pad in front of the mic input changes the attenuation for unbalanced signals identically as for balanced signals. Even if pin 3 stays unconnected. You might want to redo that test and check the level on TM FX input level meter with a simple sine signal.

Digital levels in Totalmix can't go beyond full scale... You might find this helpful:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=25399

Have you checked the status of loopback on the main output channels? that could disable signal from the physical inputs.

This would be very useful for users trying to integrate subwoofers or bass shakers whilst keeping their system minimal. If DSP resources was the limiting factor, I'd happily trade the current delay and reverb FX for what @3phase is requesting, because I've never used them (except the first day when I was testing the interface). I have used the EQ a lot though, and the compressor too although not as much. I wonder how other users use the DSP effects.

One more thing, before i try this rumored reverb fx, which according  to the manual, are no babyface internal dsp, so wouldnt be traded for core functions like offset delays.
Which belong in the interface dsp..
Audio delay is one of the main digital audio features, not just lossless transmission and copy.. time allignment of sound events is a key feature of digital audio, and every DA should allow the user to offset it at will, since it punishes you with an offset delay anyway. digital audio is delay. First uses in the industry have been delays. they can be a valuable feature.

but the one more thing.. metering.,
The meters in totalmix have a wisely choosen -70 dbFS  first digit.. thats about the level where rouge signals or bleed thru gets annoying and really damaging for the audio.
So when one digit on the meter is lid you know there is modulation on that channel or dirt, in any case something you might want to check..

on the babyface meters the first digit is at -55 db.. so when you work with 9 db headroom thats an allready fairly loud signal . And your hardware meter is not giving you a hint that there is a signal.

I would prefer that the first digit is lit at -70db, like in total mix. and wouldnt mind that the second led of the meter needs 20 db rise to indicate -50db than. -50 or -70 is all background and nothing you would set your level with.
A signal present indication is more important/usefull than meter accuracy below -40db.