• Registered: 2011-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Topic: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

Hi,

I'm about to get a new audio interface and the Babyface is a strong contender.

However, I noticed that its Hi-z input has an impedance of 470 kOhm, whereas many other interfaces sports 1 MOhm or even 2 MOhm (the Duet 2).

I'll be DI'ng bass guitars and guitars with passive pickups of various kinds and am a bit worried that 470 k might be a bit too low for optimal results. Then again, I guess raising the impedance above a certain point might not yield significantly better results.

I realize that a quality DI box -> line input would probably sound superior with most every audio interface, but I wanna keep my setup as compact as possible.

I'm especially interested to hear if anyone's A/B'd the Babyface and the Duet 2, with a DI'd guitar and bass guitar, with passive pickups.

Thanks!

/Jonas

  • Registered: 2011-02-08
  • Posts: 261

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

Don't know about the with a guitar and bass guitar but (not me) here is review from someone else:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Babyface

Look at the review:
RME Babyface vs Duet 2

and others (first one about Duet 1)

  • Registered: 2011-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

spacealf wrote:

Don't know about the with a guitar and bass guitar but (not me) here is review from someone else:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Babyface

Look at the review:
RME Babyface vs Duet 2

and others (first one about Duet 1)

Thanks Spacealf! Considering my needs and what I value, the Babyface has a slight edge over the Duet 2. What keeps me from hitting the Buy button is that the sound quality of DI'd guitars and basses is crucial to me. I own an Apogee One currently and am quite happy with its Hi-z input, so I'm pretty confident I'll be at least as happy with the Duet 2. I'm sure the Babyface does a very fine job in that department too, but I'd hate buy one, just to find that it's even a very small step down in that particular aspect.

/Jonas

4 Reply by dj7811 (edited by dj7811 2011-10-21 06:41:48)

  • Registered: 2011-09-01
  • Posts: 8

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

I did a blind shoot-out with the Babyface and a firepod for guitar DI's, and most people couldn't hear any difference. Some even said the firepod sounded a little better, but I personally feel that the two units are very similar in DI quality - which to me, are both very usable and capable of professional results.

I also have a GAP Pre-73 preamp that I sometimes use, and although it really makes the DI's pop a little more, I don't find myself preferring one over the other... Just little differences that are negligible in a mix.

I have used a Duet to track a band before, and I didn't find that the DI was noticeably better than the Babyface. I find that new strings and great guitars/basses are of much more importance - as well as a nice quality, and short, instrument cable. But as always, your mileage may vary.

5 Reply by arctic (edited by arctic 2011-10-21 08:14:26)

  • Registered: 2011-01-25
  • Posts: 85

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

I would prefer 1 M?, it's a bit on the weak side. I use external from Ehrlund.

  • Registered: 2011-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

@Dj: thanks, good hands-on info!

@Arctic: Ehrlund - nice! Do you use f/x pedals etc? That will mess further with the input chain's impedance and can make the low Hi-z more of a problem I suspect. I don't use any pedals, so I would go straight from the guitar/bass into the Babyface. Have you tried that and was less than happy with the result? I guess the Ehrlund might add some desirable coloration, but I'm just happy if the Babyface doesn't add any un-desirable coloration... :-)

/Jonas

  • From: Houston, TX
  • Registered: 2007-05-11
  • Posts: 1,198

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

I was also under the impression that a "good" DI needed a 1Meg impedance to avoid loading passive pickups.  After I looked into my other nice preamps, I discovered most of them are well below 1Meg (some as low as 50K, but still sounded fantastic with a passive Jazz bass).

FWIW I bought the Avalon U5 (3 Meg input impedance) for a nice chunk of change about 6 years ago, and I prefer the built-in DI's in most of my preamps and even my Sansamp RPM better than the U5 for rock bass duties.  A high Input Impedance does not assume a "nice" DI sound - quite the contrary in my own experience wink  Of course loading WILL becoma an issue at some point...

cool

MADIface-XT+ARC / 3x HDSP MADI / ADI648
2x SSL Alphalink MADI AX
2x Multiface / 2x Digiface /2x ADI8
  • Registered: 2011-10-20
  • Posts: 14

Re: Babyface Hi-z not so high = potential issue?

Well, I've just taken my shiny new RME baby for a first test run with my Les Paul. Sure sounded significantly better than with my Apogee One. Haven't done any real A/B yet, so I can't say how much of the difference is down to the output end of things, but it sounded really sweet. Like cleaning your windows for the first time in a long time. And yet, that Apogee interface ain't half bad. Nice. :-)
Thanks for your insights!

/Jonas