RME Babyface portable audio interface

I picked up the Babyface as the highest possible quality in a laptop bag-portable audio interface, and something that will possibly for the first time do justice to my high-res analog rips and also downloaded high-res material on the move from the laptop(s). The unit features 192Khz, 24-bit multichannel audio IO with a Digital-to-Analog dynamic range of 112dB, 115dBA @44.1khz. It also features RME's Totalmix software drivers, which is a very comfigurable piece of software in terms of audio mapping as well as control over the built-in DSP in terms of effects. The typical price is $750.

http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php

I've just unboxed mine and I'll answer any questions if anyone has any.

As you can see, the package arrives in a small shoulder-strapped bag, which is designed to hold all the parts during transport.

The unit is deceptively heavy: There's none of the Apple-style, looks-over-function thinly machined alloy, the feel is more Victorian Industrial with a substantial diecast alloy casing. That does make it weighty, as does the heavy duty connectors in the breakout cable: The Babyface itself weighs just under 1lb, and the breakout cable ups that by a further 0.5lbs - but the design does mean that the casing at least can withstand the rigours of roading. Whether the same can be said for the connectors is something else, of course.

You can carry the unit alone if all you need is 6.5mm TRS headphone out, 6.5mm TRS line in and optical i/o. The breakout cables features a second headphone output (fed off the primary), MIDI I/O, and two pairs of inputs/outputs on XLR jacks. I expect to be carrying the unit without the breakout cables most of the time.

One problem I've already ran into as you can see is if you own a notebook where the USB ports are not arranged in an orderly manner. Since you'll need two it may be a problem for e.g. Thinkpad X201 owners, as pictured.

Now that is a slight problem for me as I want to explore if a touch interface is viable for full control of a portable Windows quality audio solution. So far it hasn't been all that encouraging, with e.g. Zune having abysmal touch compatibility. I'll see - among other things - how the Totalmix software reacts to touch. So basically I'll need to dig out one of my USB extension cables for the X201T.

I also don't know how much the 1A requirement (from the two USB sockets) will affect battery life of the connected laptop - I suspect quite a lot.

Further thoughts as I get familiar with the unit. My main use of the machine will be for listening, although I expect to be doing some field recording as well.

 

Nice new toy

Its pretty big though, a bit over the top for my portable restrictions.

If you have balanced cans though I guess this is up your alley.

 

Balanced cans? Why?

I don't expect to carry it all the time, but on the occasions that I've elected to carry 'proper' headphones and an amp, I figured I might as well go for the logical conclusion - since with a half-decent DAC/amp I'd be carrying close to a half-pound -> pound in any case. Also some of the 'audiophile' USB cards are kind of bunk, and I figured I'd take the pro audio route where there is generally less BS.

So far, so good.

However, Totalmix controls are way, way too small for touch. Bang goes my dreams of sliding virtual sliders by finger.

 

Yeah i saw the GUI for that thing its massive.

I never do any software modification to my sound, I did mess around with crossfeed before though but never could get it right.

Guess its time to invest in a 50" touchscreen to remedy the GUI issue

 

I take it you're an avid Head-fi reader - the 'balanced headphones are the grail (although I notice orthos are 'in' nowadays), DSP's suck, burn-in is real' brigade, right? Ironically for an audio board, that place has incredibly low SNR, and still going down...

 

No I think balanced is a waist and something that has no place in a regular persons home. I just saw this thing supports them and figured thats half the reason it cost so much is the fact it can run balanced.

Figure if your going to buy something like that you may be using it, or could have gotten something cheaper instead.

For burn-in, only my Hfi 2400's needed burnin and it really did change the sound on those a lot.

 

nice toy and mini review Vogelbung.. ...makes a nice dent in the wallet though

 

The only burn-in is mental. Headphones degrade over time, but we aren't talking a hundred hours or so.

The Babyface was quality insurance, in a reasonably sized package. A lot of the bus-powered pro audio interfaces are a lot larger, are engineered to consume 500ma only, and those which aren't (e.g. the Duet) are less capable or Firewire. Almost any pro audio interface beyond the cheapest consumer crossover stuff is capable of running balanced.

 

Just an update:

Generally speaking, soundwise this is definitely 'upper studio grade' but in a (relatively, given its weight) readily transportable package.

We can all debate the merits of being able to work in 192Khz, but certainly in terms of my 88.2 and 96khz material, the Babyface does an excellent job of playback and, in my tests, recording as well.

I thought that due to the relative lack of physical inputs and outputs the TotalMix matrix use might be of less usefulness, but I've been proved wrong - the totally flexible signal routing is still a major plus, and as ever the Digicheck software suite which works exclusively with RME interfaces is very useful for both recording and testing-calibration purposes, and now I can use them on the move.

In terms of the on-unit controls, while I think perhaps more rotary encoders might have been useful, the multifunction encoder works reasonably well - it controls level adjustment while you toggle modes using the Select button.

Generally speaking, I am pretty happy with the purchase. The interface provides noticeably (and measurably) higher quality and more stable audio I/O performance than the likes of lower-end USB powered interfaces such as the ~$200 Roland UA-25EX, and its considerably extended versatility over such cheaper interfaces is a major advantage in many situations.

One of the drawbacks however is battery drain: The Babyface can chop an hour (or possibly more - further use will confirm) off the runtime of a 6-real-hour machine, even in just playback. However this is a factor with practically any USB interface - although I susepct not to the extent of the RME.

And as for touch - forget it. The Totalmix controls are way too small. The stylus becomes too fiddly too, which is why even on a Tablet I have to resort to the touchpad.