[eugenius]

I was browsing the RME site looking for the HDSPE-AIO and what do I see:

This thing looks like a laundry list of features:

22-Channel 192 kHz multi-format mobile USB audio interface
10 Input / 12 Output channels
2 x analog I/O with mic pres, line and mic level, balanced or unbalanced
1 channel alternatively usable as Hi-Z input
1 x ADAT I/O or 1 x SPDIF I/O optical
1 x Phones Out (separate DA conversion)
1 x MIDI I/O with 32 channels
Bus-powered operation possible
TotalMix FX (High-End DSP mixer with effects)

Here's the PDF:
http://www.rme-audio.de/download/sheets/babyface_e.pdf

Some movies:

YouTube - [MUSIK MESSE 2010] - RME - Babyface
YouTube - RME Babyface - Musikmesse 2010

 

[leeperry]

dang, it looks neat! what's the MSRP? too bad it's prolly running some NJM2068 opamps or so..

 

[eugenius]

599 euro they say ... the bus powered part as I understand needs two usb ports and they have a DC power plug also.

It will have hardware 3 band parametric EQ ... here's a video with the totalmix driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUrNF...layer_embedded

 

[ROBSCIX]

Looks sweet, a bit on the pricy side. Would be cool to have a listen.
The driver looks great also, looks like it has alot of functionality for music production.

 

[eugenius]

And since it's so close in price to the Fireface UC, I think the price will come down at retail. It's not an Apple / Apogee.

Anyway, it's comparable to the Duet only in appearance, it has digital IO, effects, it's multichannel, will work with any operating system.

They say it has reference level sound quality - I read it like this: it doesn't suck.

 

[srp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eugenius /img/forum/go_quote.gif And since it's so close in price to the Fireface UC, I think the price will come down at retail. It's not an Apple / Apogee. Anyway, it's comparable to the Duet only in appearance, it has digital IO, effects, it's multichannel, will work with any operating system. They say it has reference level sound quality - I read it like this: it doesn't suck.

Looks good, hopefully sounds good

 

[Currawong]

Dammit, I want something like this with balanced I/O. I've not seen RME gear discounted ever so I wouldn't hold much hope on one appearing with a good price.

 

[loopfreak]

Design is familiar at least 

Little drawback with plastic housing, you know glossy BS, but they managed to come to their senses and made new aluminium case, it will be out in November.
 
Its kind of funny how some brands dont like money 

and how they have left rme to take their share in the market 'cause they want to be apple exclusive.
 
Well done RME
 
Looking forward to read some impressions on this baby

 

[sonci]

So, what does it do?
Does it amplifie my SEN too??

 

[loopfreak]

What does it do? It looks nice on your desk and its not apogee

As amp, I would not expect miracles but think that DAC section would be highly competitive. For all that want very good DAC with balanced outputs, low latency or need to record something rme might be a great reliable, easy transportable solution.

 

[anomalouscode]

RME stuff is highly regarded in proaudio for rock solid drivers and pretty good preamps and conversion.
 
Myself i'm looking at this coming out soon:
 

 
Sound Devices USBPre 2, http://www.sounddevices.com/products/usbpre2.htm
 
its got the balanced outputs so you guys might want to take a look,.... but it might be a bit much if you're going to record. If you are going to record though,  its got pretty damn good preamps and conversion, lots of classical recordists use their mobile recorders.
 
and from the few reviews of teh sound devices HX-3 amp on here, the amp  should be pretty good as well.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php
 
It does have balanced outputs. You need to use the supplied breakout cable. See the info in the link above.
 
As far as I know RME is the only company that has such sophisticated firmware & software plus an arrangement with Microsoft & Apple that allows it to automatically optimises not just itself but also the rest of your system on installation. Also since it has come out post Windows 7 the drivers are specifically written rather than updated from previous versions.
 
f you can afford one it's a no brainer - and really when you look at what you get and compare it to audiophile grade equivalents (even Audio-gd) it's cheap as chips.

 

[loopfreak]

USBPre 2 looks like a pretty useful tool and those extra controls over input and output line levels are very tempting.

 

[anomalouscode]

indeed. 
 
its shipping this week so we should be getting some first impressions soon.
 
head over to gearslutz and taperssection next week, there should be quite a few early adopters who are, more importantly, experienced early adopters.

 

[loopfreak]

Looking forward to some impressions, I'll check gearslutz next week for sure.