Recently I replaced my Layla 3G with a used RME Multiface I. Well a Steinberg Nuendo Audiolink 96 Multiset, actually. The Layla 3G is a superlative piece of hardware but the drivers are the world's worst. After (yet another episode of) a random switch in the unit's sample rate, which was causing *all* audio to play at half speed, I'd had enough, as this particular episode was even worse than usual: I had to install a backup image of my XP partition in order to fix the problem. (Echo Audio themselves seem to have no idea what causes this *common* problem or how to reliably fix it; it's no wonder that they closed their forum.)

Anyway...

But here's one thing the Layla could do: when the Layla was powered up, and both my guitar and the headphones were connected to it, I could hear the guitar in the headphones, even if no recording or monitoring app or applet were open and running. Even if the computer was booting up and the BIOS screen was on the monitor, I could still hear the guitar in my headphones. Or, if I was watching a movie, let's say, I could still hear the guitar along with the soundtrack. So I could pick up a guitar and play, whenever I felt like it, without having to open an app - even if, for example, the computer was burning a dvd.

Is there any way to have the Multiface behave in the same way? I am hoping that there is some way to configure the mixer applet to accomplish this, as it was incredibly convenient.

Thanks in advance for any info!