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RME User Forum → FireWire & USB series → Recommendations USB Hub Switch Babyface
Loving my Babyface. But my Win7 laptop only has 3 USB ports. So far Babyface works without the 2nd connector, but I still need the others for USB midi keyboard and dongles (Grrr....)
Any recommended USB? 4 ports will probably be fine... switches would be nice option.... Properly passing bus power would be good too. But reliable is the key of course.
Suggestions?
---JC
HI JC,
A USB 4 port powered Hub will be fine to run the dongles and MIDI stuff. Not sure if I would put the Babyface on the hub.
It will perform best when directly connected. Any of the powered 2.0 hubs from Belkin, I/O gear should be fine for this.
Chris
Thanks for taking the time.
No trying to be fussy, but is a powered hub -really- necessary in your opinion? I only ask because I've already got 1,000,000,000,000 wallwarts. I kinda hoped that there was a decent hub that would properly pass along the power without noticeable signal loss.
HI JC,
A USB 4 port powered Hub will be fine to run the dongles and MIDI stuff. Not sure if I would put the Babyface on the hub.
It will perform best when directly connected. Any of the powered 2.0 hubs from Belkin, I/O gear should be fine for this.
Chris
HI JC,
Most likely yes. Laptops in general have less power available on their USB ports compared to a desktop.
The MIDI interfaces will need the powered Hub. You might be able to run a couple dongles off a non-powered one.
ILOK dongles need probably need a powered hub. This is one of the biggest annoying limitations when using a laptop. 
.
Some of the newer PC laptops seem to be coming with a couple more USB ports since they are not including fire wire and express ports.
Chris
HI JC,
Most likely yes. Laptops in general have less power available on their USB ports compared to a desktop.
The MIDI interfaces will need the powered Hub. You might be able to run a couple dongles off a non-powered one.
ILOK dongles need probably need a powered hub. This is one of the biggest annoying limitations when using a laptop.
Some of the newer PC laptops seem to be coming with a couple more USB ports since they are not including fire wire and express ports.Chris
Thanks. I used Babyface live for 1 gig with Cubase and it worked fine with 1 dongle, Babyface and M-Audio Axiom so I was hoping I coulkd get away with passive. But at -home- I'll definitely want more ports... I'll take yer advice... especially since I do have an iLok.
Cheers,
---JC
I use Babyface on a native host USB 2.0 Port.
On the second (i just have two) I use a very compact 4xhub (laptopstyle with mini-usb connector to the host) by Logitech that has a power supply and connector but I don't have to use it for those devices: 1x ILOK (the old key-style one), 1x Steinberg USB Key, 1x Roomcapture Dongle, 1x USB Keyboard. This runs without any problem. The Logitech Hub definitely just gives 500mA per Port, I cannot run a single external HDD that says 0,6A on the face there. But those four devices run passive work without any problem. When I connect a harddisk I have to use the power supply.
Regards,
Hermann
You can always try to run it passively first and only connect the power-supply of the hub when you notice it doesn't work. All USB hubs I saw have the power-cord attachable and thus detachable.
Passive seems to work here when connecting the BF in combination with two mouse wireless receivers. But I just did a quick playback test, not a full load test with phantom-power and whatnow. Also two of the three USB ports of 17" MBP are "high powered" ports that provide 1100 mA instead of just 500 mA.
Timur, can you tell me what my 15" MBP Early 2011 maximum current gives on the USB ports?
Where do you know that value for your MBP? What model is it?
Thank you for your help,
Hermann
There was an article with a table once, but I cannot find it anymore. Only this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4049
Some articles on the web claim that the 2011 Macs can even support up to 2100 mA. No idea if this is so.
The BF Neefs 100 mA with nothing connected (Phantom power on).
The BF draws 200 mA when the firmware is not loaded. If loaded (normal operation) it is 400 mA up.
Interesting, according to *both* OS X System Profiler and Windows Device-Manager the BF draws 100 mA here, even when sending a test signal to all outputs and turning on phantom-power (nothing connected to the BF though)!? HeadScratch
I remember also on Win7 (my old days) was showing 100mA on the USB port in device manager where the Babyface was connected...
I ended up getting this on sale for $20...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Z4G3I6
It works great. I got it because it has the highest current output of any I could find. I can plug/unplug any device and the laptop almost with impunity... doesn't lock up or freak out in any way like other hubs I've used.
I only wish it had a power on/off switch... or better still, separate power switches for each port. But one can't have everything, I suppose. 
---JC
RME User Forum → FireWire & USB series → Recommendations USB Hub Switch Babyface
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