You are not logged in. Please login or register.
RME User Forum → Vintage stuff → Bying RME FireFace 400 audio interface - does it make sense?
I found RME FireFace 400 audio interface in decent condition for about $500 Canadian dollars and was wondering if this is worth considering at all?
My main concerns are the age of the unit and possible lack of drivers for future operating systems (Mac and Windows). Any feedback is highly appreciated!
The drivers are no problem for computers with firewire ports.
If you have an old Mac with Firewire then it will work.
Otherwise you have to get special Apple adapters.
The price seems to be ok, here in Switzerland the FF400 are on the used market for 350 to 400 CHF.
The age is not a big problem as it has no internal power supply, it should come with the external power unit.
Is it in good shape and the knobs feel fine ?
To be honest, I would not buy it because firewire is gone.
I would look out for a USB interface, can be a used UC or UCX (best UCX ll)
The drivers are no problem for computers with firewire ports.
If you have an old Mac with Firewire then it will work.
Otherwise you have to get special Apple adapters.The price seems to be ok, here in Switzerland the FF400 are on the used market for 350 to 400 CHF.
The age is not a big problem as it has no internal power supply, it should come with the external power unit.
Is it in good shape and the knobs feel fine ?To be honest, I would not buy it because firewire is gone.
I would look out for a USB interface, can be a used UC or UCX (best UCX ll)
Thanks,
I'm planning to use it with a new Windows laptop. Would that work?
Only if it has FireWire and that is very rare.
It might work using Thunderbolt and adapter. AFAIK it would not work on USB-c using any adapter. Also it might work if NB has not used M2 port using some kind of expansion. But it would need to open notebook, install thing and wires would go out of notebook.... It would not be for practical everyday use, just for sort of temporary connection to setup FF400 for standalone use....
I would also recomend Fireface UC or better UCX (it has DSP effects). UC is sold for about 400-600 EUR, UCX for 600-800 EUR, seconhand.
Thanks for all the replies. It looks like it will be hard or impossible to connect the RME FireFace 400 to a modern Windows laptop. Unfortunately I don't see any second-hand UC or UCX units locally.
I found a second-hand RME Babyface Pro-FS Audio Interface for $1,000 Canadian dollars, while new ones cost $1,550 including tax. Would that unit work for quality home recording on a Windows laptop? Is the $1,000 price tag too high in your opinion?
1000 CAN$ (roughly a bit over 600 EUR) seems to me as fair price for secondhand BF Pro FS. Maybe one could find a seller with a bit lower price, if lucky, but for sure it is not overpriced.
I have BF Pro FS and I am satisfied, build quality is just great. Concerning quality, they will be better than FF 400/UC/UCX. If two MIC in, two line in, two line out and phones will do. And ADAT in/out.
I love mine
This is for my son who uses Focusrite 3rd generation, and complains of hiss/noise when recording acoustic guitar and vocals with SM57. I read that the Focusrite mic preamps are not of the greatest quality (high noise floor) and I started researching better interface options, which naturally led me to RME products.
Would there be a noticeable improvement in lowering noise/his and overall sound quality if we upgrade from Focusrite to RME?
With the Babyface Pro FS there should be no hiss and no noise at all.
But also no guarantee, if something is not satisfying you can sell the RME for a good price.
They keep value.
The price is a bit high for me, here a new one cost 1160 CanDollar (727CHF)
Is it in new condition ? Comes with bill and under warranty ?
Used item out of warranty price half of new, 600, ask for these details.
With the Babyface Pro FS there should be no hiss and no noise at all.
But also no guarantee, if something is not satisfying you can sell the RME for a good price.
They keep value.The price is a bit high for me, here a new one cost 1160 CanDollar (727CHF)
Is it in new condition ? Comes with bill and under warranty ?
Used item out of warranty price half of new, 600, ask for these details.
Thanks,
The new price here is $1,375 CAD + 13% tax it comes to around $1,550 CAD.
The $1,000 price I mentioned is asking price, and I'll probably can take it down to $800-$900 CAD.
Would that make more sense financially?
Yes of course. That would be the super-duper christmas present.
Young talents need support. Best wishes for the family !
Here comes list of secondhand sales on Reverb. Used pieces for sure do not go to half price of new. I was about to buy a secondhand, but I couldn't find one for 600 EUR or less in my country. And sellers mostly refuse sell abroad because of scam risk and so.... Finally, I bought a new one that was on temporary sale and I did not pay VAT. And that way the price was close to 600 EUR.
https://reverb.com/en-cz/p/rme-babyface … -interface
As I said, you might find a bit better price, but it may take time. There is not much reasons to sell it, so probably more potential buyers than sellers.
If you want to save a bit you might buy older version Babyface Pro. It might be 100-200 CAN$ cheaper. And maybe more sellers.
IMHO, if the goal is to upgrade recording vocals and acoustic guitar, the best bang for the buck that will put smiles on a Xmas face is is one of the SSL 2 channel interfaces and a new mic + mic stand.
e.g.
IMHO, if the goal is to upgrade recording vocals and acoustic guitar, the best bang for the buck that will put smiles on a Xmas face is is one of the SSL 2 channel interfaces and a new mic + mic stand.
e.g.
Thanks,
I keep seeing good reviews about SSL audio interfaces. My son insists on using SM57 for both vocals and acoustic guitar, even though I have decent quality condenser mics.
Would the SSL interface you posted be a big improvement over the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen my son uses?
How is the quality of the SSL interface you posted compared to the Babyface Pro FS?
Why is the Babyface 4+ times more expensive than the SSL 2 MkII?
The SSL has more clean gain, etc, which might be the difference in getting a low noise signal.
But, even with his cheap gear I find it odd he can't get an OK clean signal.
Makes me wonder if the problem is not the mic or the interface but something else: bad lead, picking up too much EMI, etc.
Seems you know the basics, why not test his equipment yourself - maybe he did not turn the gain up enough on the pre and then compensated in the DAW?
'Why is the Babyface 4+ times more expensive than the SSL 2 MkII?'
Some people (pros, prosumers, etc) will pay a disproportional amount for sonically incrementally better with best in class performance reliablity (drivers, long term driver support, etc)
... or knockoff Chinese 57?
I have 2 SM57s, one I bought second-hand 15 years ago and one I bought brand new from Long & Mcquade who are authorized dealer of Shure. I tested with both microphones and there's no difference. I doubt the mics are fake, so that's not it.
I have a first generation FocusrRite Scarlett with 2 mic preams and my son has the same model but 3rd generation. Both have the same problem when recording using SM57 - low signal and if you increase the gain to get usable signal you get a lot of noise. This is actually a regular complaint from Focusrite users.
I am not sure a different mic amp would make a significant difference. If you disconnect the mic and set the same gain as you need, do you get lots of noise. This is not a perfect test but you get an impression if the noise comes from the mic or the amp. When I use sm57, it is for close miked electric guitar amps and snare drums. It is not so good for softer sources or not very close miked
RME User Forum → Vintage stuff → Bying RME FireFace 400 audio interface - does it make sense?
Powered by PunBB, supported by Informer Technologies, Inc.