RME Babyface Pro FS USB Audio Interface

RME Babyface Pro FS USB Audio Interface

Four years ago the Babyface Pro again demonstrated RME’s absolute commitment to superior craftsmanship, not only in audio circuits and driver development, but also in mechanics. Created with the highest precision from a block of aluminum, this high-end portable interface incorporated newly designed analog and digital circuits. Its innovative energy saving technologies provided supreme fidelity with no compromises in level, noise or distortion.

In the new Babyface Pro FS even more improvements were implemented:

• +19 / +4 dBu switch on the bottom adds a direct way to reduce the output level, thus improves SNR for sensitive active monitors, avoids distortion / overload, and helps to keep TotalMix FX faders near 0 dB instead of high attenuations.
• Full SteadyClock FS circuit as in the ADI-2 Pro FS for lowest jitter and highest jitter immunity.
• 3.5 mm TRS phones output power rises from 70 mW to 90 mW. THD of both phones outputs improved by up to 10 dB. Uses same output op-amps as ADI-2 Pro now. Output impedance of 3.5 mm TRS lowered from 2 Ohms to 0.1 Ohms.
• Mic inputs SNR improved from 112.2 dB to 113.7 dB, TRS Line inputs SNR improved from 114 dB to 116.3 dB (120 dBA). THD Line inputs improved by 8 dB.
• 6 samples less latency on the AD side by new ADC (5 samples AD, 7 samples DA. It won’t get quicker…).
• All the above improvements were achieved without raising the units power consumption.
• K-slot for theft protection.

ADI-2 Series Headphone Power

The two headphone outputs, offering TRS and mini-jack sockets in parallel, have completely separate driver stages to perfectly match low and high impedance headphones, guaranteeing pristine sonic results no matter what type of headphone is used. The 3.5 mm TRS phones output power rises to 90 mW. THD of both phones outputs improved by up to 10 dB. and uses same output op-amps as ADI-2 Pro now. Finally the output impedance of 3.5 mm TRS was lowered from 2 Ohms to 0.1 Ohms.

Full range capture – Improved Mic & Line Inputs

For the main I/O RME have designed a XLR socket, which integrates seamlessly into the housing and saves space. Two digitally controlled preamps provide individually switchable 48V phantom power. These circuits feature a gain range of 76 dB, adjustable in steps of 1 dB, including a relay-driven PAD, resulting in exceptional EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) performance as well as line overload protection, and enough gain for even the lowest level microphones. Babyface Pro’s incredibly efficient design almost never requires an external power supply – it’s perfectly stable on USB 3 bus power, and also most USB 2 ports, with no degradation in any technical specification. This makes it perfect for mobile recording, even with a pair of your favourite condenser microphones.

The comprehensive feature set continues with an optical TOSLINK I/O; use as either an ADAT port with SMUX support or SPDIF for sessions up to 192 kHz. In combination with an external ADAT converter, the Babyface Pro fully supports 12 analog inputs as well as 12 outputs, making it ideal for both live and studio multi-track applications. You can plug any instrument, line or high impedance, into Babyface Pro’s jack inputs 3 & 4. Record your guitar on the go, with no additional hardware required. MIDI I/O via an included breakout cable completes the package.

More Pro level Performance with SteadyClock FS

In digital audio, the clock frequency is an essential factor, as it creates the correlation between the audio bits and the time reference. Unfortunately, the clock frequency is not always as stable as desired. The Babyface Pro FS offers the full SteadyClock FS circuit as in the ADI-2 Pro FS for lowest jitter and highest jitter immunity. Excellent performance in all clock modes and High Quality Analog Conversion to hear your mix as it is. Digital format conversion in RME products are done without any loss or degredation,and SteadyClock FS ensures your sonic image will never experience degredation. This helps to optimize recordings and mixes because the soundstage has more depth and clarity.

Mixing & Routing with TotalMix FX & TotalMix Remote

Like all the latest RME interfaces, the Babyface Pro FS also includes the powerful digital real-time mixer TotalMix FX. It allows fully independent routing and mixing of input and playback channels to all physical outputs. Independent stereo submixes plus a comprehensive Control Room section offer unrivalled monitoring capabilities and unsurpassed routing flexibility.

Babyface Pro FS ships with RME’s TotalMix FX, available for Windows and Mac OS X. An iOS version is available as well. This amazingly versatile software allows you to use Babyface Pro in any situation. For example mixing your guitar and vocals to headphones has never been easier. The FPGA-based DSP mixer adds a flexible, 3-band parametric equalizer to all inputs and outputs. The Babyface Pro FS also provides a separate FX send bus for all inputs and software playback channels, feeding two effect engines: Reverb and Echo. Every output channel includes a FX return control for the FX output signal (Effects are not available for operation in stand-alone and iOS mode).

Additionally RME’s latest software, TotalMix Remote, enhances the power of the Babyface Pro FS by enabling remote control via iOS, PC or Mac. With a straightforward set up process — simply enter the IP address of the computer you would like to control with TotalMix Remote and get going — users can quickly adjust any aspect of TotalMix FX on a host system while walking around the studio with their tablet, or from a control room located elsewhere in the facility.

The FPGA-based DSP mixer adds a flexible, 3-band parametric equalizer to all inputs and outputs. Reverb and delay FX are also available. Latest generation low latency AD/DA converters, combined with RME’s unique SteadyClock FS technology, result in exceptional specifications that will satisfy the most demanding of professionals. Combining a huge feature set with sonic excellence and intuitive control, whether for the studio or on the move, the RME Babyface Pro is the most comprehensive and versatile compact audio interface ever built.

Versatile, Portable and Expandable

Straight to the core without interference: the reference design of the Babyface Pro leaves nothing to be desired. RME devices are designed to conserve music as it is. Audio signals are passed in their entirety, nothing added, nothing taken. For the new Babyface, the audio circuits have been improved to meet even highest gain levels with best dynamic range. The clever user interface is informative and clearly laid out. It makes access to every feature and configuration mode of the Babyface Pro intuitive and easy to use.

RME USB – Transport audio with lowest latency and industry leading stability

As part of RME’s product philosophy, we always further develop and optimize our core technology. RME have paved the way for multichannel audio and were the first to deliver professional performance over USB 2.0. We place a high level of attention on the development of reliable, stable, and regularly updated drivers for our products and an unwavering focus on audio quality. This guarantees your Babyface Pro FS will be never outdated and always updated.

And because RME Audio develops its own interface core, it’s not dependent on 3rd parties for upgrades, modifications or bug fixes, so customers can use latest operating systems without interruption or delay.

SteadyClock FS – Reference class Digital Clocking

Excellent performance in all clock modes and High Quality Analog Conversion to hear your mix as it is, with lowest jitter and highest jitter immunity.

TotalMix FX – Mixing/Routing with superior features for Studio and Live Work

Since 2001 TotalMix added unlimited routing and mixing to RME‘s audio interfaces. Its unique capability to create as many independent submixes as output channels available turned it into the most flexible and powerful mixer of its kind.

DigiCheck – The Secret Weapon of High Resolution Audio Measurements

RME Audio interfaces not only provide you with a professional digital audio interface, but also with a free available software tool: DigiCheck, for metering, testing, measuring and analyzing digital audio streams.

RME USB – Transport audio with lowest latency and industry leading stability

Use your RME audio interface on Mac and PC with reliable, stable, and regularly updated drivers for our products. RME Audio develops its own interface core, it’s not dependent on 3rd parties for upgrades, modifications or bug fixes, so customers can use latest operating systems without interruption or delay.”

Specifications

Analog : AD, Microphone/Line 1-2

Input: XLR, electronically balanced

Input impedance balanced: 2 kOhm, 5.2 kOhm with PAD

Input impedance unbalanced: 1 kOhm, 2.6 kOhm with PAD

Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 113,7 dB RMS unweighted, 117 dBA

Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.1 dB: 18 Hz – 20.8 kHz

Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 7 Hz – 45.8 kHz

Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 5 Hz – 88 kHz

With PAD active : -0.1 dB 8 Hz, -0.5 dB < 4 Hz, -1 dB < 3 Hz

THD: < -112 dB, < 0.00024 %

THD+N: < -108 dB, < 0.00035 %

THD @ 30 dB Gain: < -115 dB, < 0.00016 %

THD+N @ 30 dB Gain: < -100 dB, < 0.001 %

Channel separation: > 110 dB

Gain range: -11 dB up to +65 dB

Maximum input level XLR, Gain 0 dB: +8 dBu, PAD +19 dBu

Maximum input level XLR, Gain 65 dB: -57 dBu, PAD -46 dBu

AD, Line/Instrument In 3-4 As Microphone/Line 1-2, but:

Input: 6.3 mm TS jack, unbalanced

Input impedance: 1 MOhm

Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 116 dB RMS unweighted, 120 dBA

Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.1 dB: 5 Hz – 20.8 kHz

Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: < 3 Hz – 45.8 kHz

Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: < 2 Hz – 92 kHz

Maximum input level @+4 dBu, Gain 0 dB: +13 dBu

Maximum input level @-10 dBV, Gain 9 dB: -5 dBu

DA, Line Out 1-2

Dynamic range (DR): 115 dB RMS unweighted, 118 dBA

Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 0 Hz – 20.8 kHz

Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 0 Hz – 45 kHz

Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 0 Hz – 89 kHz

THD: – 106 dB, 0.0005 %

THD+N: -102 dB, 0.0008 %

Channel separation: > 110 dB

Output: XLR balanced

Output impedance: 300 Ohm balanced, 150 Ohm unbalanced

Output level @ 0 dBFS: Balanced +19 / +4 dBu, unbalanced +13 / -2 dBu

DC @ 0 dBFS: 6.35mm 4.8 V, 3.5mm 2.4 V, XLR bal. 9.6 V

DA, Phones 3/4 AS DA Line Out, but:

Output: 6.3 mm TRS jack, unbalanced

Output impedance: 10 Ohm

Output level at 0 dBFS, 1 kOhm load: +13 dBu

Max power @ 0.1% THD: 60 mW

Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 114.8 dB RMS unweighted, 118 dBA

Noise level: -101.8 dBu

Output: 3.5 mm TRS jack, unbalanced

Output impedance: 0.1 Ohm

Output level at 0 dBFS, 1 kOhm load: +7 dBu

Max power @ 0.1% THD: 90 mW

Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 114 dB RMS unweighted, 117 dBA

Noise level: -107 dBu

MIDI

1 x MIDI I/O via breakout cable with 2 x 5-pin DIN jacks

Galvanically isolated by optocoupled input

Hi-speed mode: Jitter and response time typically below 1 ms

Separate 128 byte FIFOs for input and output 25.3

Digital

Clocks: Internal, ADAT In, SPDIF In

Jitter suppression of external clocks: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)

Effective clock jitter influence on AD and DA conversion: near zero

PLL ensures zero dropout, even at more than 100 ns jitter

Digital Bitclock PLL for trouble-free varispeed ADAT operation

Supported sample rates: 28 kHz up to 200 kHz

Digital Inputs

ADAT Optical

1 x TOSLINK

Standard: 8 channels 24 bit, up to 48 kHz

Double Speed (S/MUX): 4 channels 24 bit 96 kHz

Quad Speed (S/MUX4) : 2 channels 24 bit 192 kHz

Bitclock PLL ensures perfect synchronisation even in varispeed operation

Lock Range: 31.5 kHz – 50 kHz

Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)

SPDIF optical

1 x optical, according to IEC 60958

Accepts Consumer and Professional format

Lock Range: 27 kHz – 200 kHz

Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)

Digital Outputs

ADAT optical

1 x TOSLINK

Standard: 8 channels 24 bit, up to 48 kHz

Double Speed (S/MUX): 4 channels 24 bit 96 kHz

Quad Speed (S/MUX4) : 2 channels 24 bit 192 kHz

SPDIF optical

1 x optical, according to IEC 60958

Format Consumer (SPDIF) according to IEC 60958

Sample rate 28 kHz up to 200 kHz

General

Power supply: USB bus power or external power supply

Idle power consumption: 2.8 Watts

Typical power consumption: 3.7 Watts

Max. power consumption: 5.4 Watts

Current at 5 V bus power operation: 700 mA (3.7 Watts)

Current at 12 V external power: 313 mA (3.7 Watts)

Dimensions (WxHxD): 108 x 35 x 181 mm (4.25″ x 1.4″ x 7.1″)

Weight: 680 g ( 1.5 lbs)

Temperature range: +5° up to +50° Celsius (41° F up to 122°F)

Relative humidity: < 75%, non condensing