I have done that but the Flash tool is still not updating the firmware.I wanted to upload a picture but I am having problems with that as well.I don't know what I am doing wrong. right now the firmware states v204 and the new Revision is 226. Programming Status Not updated. Driver: v3.28.8

Also when I open Total Mix, I don't see the mixer at all. And when I click on New Total Mix Window, the place to chose a device does not show any device.

Honestly, I don't know... I did what was mentioned above but every time I plug the usb back to the device, the LED's show up red... it has been like this before I unplugged and pressed the "Select and Recall" button's before reconnecting the usb cable and after.

When I tried it again 30 minutes ago, there was one difference to yesterday night, which was the left and right LED raw blicking and the mid LED standing at IN once I plugged the usb cable back on.

No, that’s only like this on Babyface pro (FS) models, original Babyface behaves different!

From the user manual :
Activation of the Class Compliant mode: Hold down the Select and Recall button while the Babyface boots. So press both buttons while connecting the Babyface to USB buspower. The level meters will run up, confirming CC mode is activated. The Babyface stays in CC mode until this procedure is repeated. With only one LED on left and right side lit during power-on, the Babyface is in normal mode.

This unit is in CC-mode ! (It looks like there is loud music full power.)
Perform the change into normal-mode.

How do you have the Babyface powered, over a single USB connection only? Or using the dual USB cable or even with a separate power adapter?
The not working settings and Totalmix apps could simply be caused thru the class compliant mode. To me it's still unclear if your unit is set to native driver mode or not.

Dual USB is fine to be sure to have enough power for the Babyface. I asked before because sometimes there are issues caused by lack of power. you can download the manual (PDF) here:
https://archiv.rme-audio.de/download/bface_e.pdf
Again my question: did you follow the driver installation instructions on the RME website properly?

Ok.. I have redone everything again. I shut down my system and while restarting the system pressed the power button until I saw the recovery mode. Went to Startup Security Utility and enabled the kernel extensions from the security policy. restarted the system.  Installed the driver "driver_usb_mac_328b2" , unplugged the usb cable from the babyface. before reconnecting it, pressed the "select and Recall button" system recognizes the babyface with one led staying on as mentioned in the manual "If the Babyface starts correctly the lowest green LED in the left band will flash, the In LED is con- stantly lit, the lowest one in the right band too." only difference, I only one led on the left constantly lit orange not green, and the right is not on at all. but at least the system recognizes the device. But when I try to open the Fireface or the flesh tool app, nothing happens. both do not open. When I redo the unplug usb and the pressing of the select and recall button again, system does stops  recognizing the babyface, the orange led stops being on. but I am able to open both apps without being able to update the firmware on the flesh tool. I am confused. Either device is recognized but firmware update app does not work anymore or it does not being recognize and I am able to open the firmware update app without being able to update.

Do you also have allowed the RME driver in macOS system settings --> security and privacy?

With the pressed buttons while powering you switch between native driver mode and class compliant mode. Class compliant mode means, no special driver from RME is needed, so the unit works so far. But Totalmix and RME settings app are not working in this mode. Because the main out are channel numbers 1&2, the playback is routed there by default I guess. That’s why you have sound there but not on headphone output which is channel 3/4 (stereo).
Switching to native driver mode means, the unit now needs the driver. As long there are issues with it, of course the unit doesn’t work.

Got it.. I got it running!

to everybody, sorry for wasting all your time and I truly appreciate for all the help. On this explaination here https://rme-audio.de/rme-macos.html) it states at point number 4. Before the reboot for finishing the driver installation open System Preferences, Security & Privacy, tab General. There should be a grey „Allow“ button in the right lower area. Click the unlock symbol first, then confirm using the RME GmbH kernel extension."

I was doing the restart after pressing the "Allow button". Did it this time before restarting. After the system rebooted, everything started working and I was able to update the firmware as well.

Now I am not sure if I should install the latest driver. I installed driver_usb_mac_328b2 but there is a newer version driver_usbdk_mac_4082. Considering it took me two days to get this thing running I am a bit unsure if I should take that risk... any advice?

Also, I received yesterday a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 which has ADAT in and out. I was thinking i should be able to connect it to the babyface and extend the I/0 right? The person who gave it to me said it does not have any firmware updates but I should be able to use it as a slave to the babyface without having to connect it to the computer... is my thinking wrong?

I think you would be better asking on a focusrite forum what the saffire is capable of and as above check out the manual. It may need a computer connection to set it up which may be awkward as it’s FireWire.

Ok... this will be a bit of a problem as the firewire cable was not included. Will now have to find the place here in Egypt where I can buy one of those and try it out. Wish me luck.

To all of you, thanks again. I really appreciate it. I have been going through a hard time and got the babyface as a gift from husband of my sister. I haven't been on these forums for a while, but it just made me realize how much I missed this and the community.

Will see what I can do with the Saffire, but I am already very happy with the Babyface. thanks everyone.

To my knowledge it isn’t that simple with the Saffire - sadly. Not every device is designed as the Motu 8pre which has two working modes (as interface when connected to a computer, as ADDA converter without USB or FireWire plugged in).

did connect it today after I got the optical cable... does not seem to work. no signal is coming out. found also the firewire cable on amazon but have to order an adaptor from firewire to usb from outside of the country. Will arrive in 3 weeks.

But I just started using Total Mix today and I am still not seeing the physical output for the headphones. I can see AN 1/2, and then I have the optical AS 1/2, ADAT 3/4,  ADAT 5/6, ADAT 7/8

Why is PH 3/4 not shown in the Hardware Output section but on the only on the Software Playback?

FireWire to USB is absolutely impossible, this are totally different data transmission protocols. What you maybe mean is FireWire to Thunderbolt? Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are using the USB-C plug. But it only works with a Thunderbolt port, marked with the flash arrow symbol.
(form factor is the same, but not the technology behind).
I use sometimes a Fireface400 on a Thunderbolt 3 port of my M1 Mac. For this I have the two original Apple adapters, FW to TB2 and TB2 to TB3. That works absolutely fine. With cheap adapters you could run into issues.

Because it’s assigned to main output on bottom right. Every output stereo pair can be assigned. Its 'normal' channel strip then disappears and the particular channels are controlled over the 'main' fader (and further functions). You can click on the 'assign' button beside the main fader and select 'none' for all the options (headphones, main…), then you will have all the hardware outputs in the bottom row.
I highly recommend to read the manual. A lot to read, but it’s worth …

TotalMix Remote is a remote control app, meant to be used on a different computer on your network. It is not useful here.

If the Babyface is not detected in the Device Manager then there is a physical connection issue with USB. Even with no driver it would appear there.

Ok, but do you have also the software playback fader raised up?

all set to 0 means nothing.
You have to click the Phones hardware output channel then see the faders.
Is the software playback channel fader really pulled up to zero ?
May be the faders are all up to zero when the Main-out was clicked active.
But now you want music routing to the headphone output, pull up all desired faders again. This is another submix.

"Clicked active" means you click onto a hardware output channel and this becomes highlighted, it is activated for receiving signals from the input channels or from the software playback channels, a submix.
Also check the headphone plug, is it plugged into the headphone socket or to the instrument input socket next to it by mistake.
This happend to me and I got crazy.

When you can see a signal on the level meter in Totalmix hardware output, then the  the signal already reached the interface.    Totalmix runs on the interface, not on the computer. The app is only sort of a remote. That means it’s probably a hardware fault.

Not gonna lie I tried all these options already out of desperation as last hope but nothing made it work. Dim is -20 dB because i tried that option when messing around. To be honest I’m seasoned when it comes to troubleshooting but it’s sunday and my time is gone I really wanted to make music over the weekend but that dream is gone… I haven’t tried the 3.5 mm socket because my headphone is 120 ohms so no point in checking that out. I don’t know what else to mention. No I don’t use breakout cables at all. My setup is dead simple : headphones, interface, pc.

I think screenshots of either TotalMix and Windows audio settings could be helpful…

Could it be a Windows security thing? On macOS, audio hardware has to be allowed for certain apps, maybe there is something similar on Windows?

I'm the clown of the century the jack wasn't properly locked into my headphones........... -_-'

At least I've learned to use totalmix.

Either way babyface win11 connectivity issue needs to be addressed. It's working for now, but it's silly that the system randomly  recognises the device on first setup (the drivers were installed prior connecting my device i did read the manual beforehand).

Sorry for bloating up the topic I'm happy to delete my previous posts if needed. Please let me know.

Happy Sunday