RME Audio Babyface User Manual
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RME Audio Babyface User Manual

Usb 2.0 digital i/o system 22 channels analog / adat / spdif interface 24 bit / 192 khz digital audio 20 x 12 matrix router midi i/o midi remote control stand-alone operation class compliant operation
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User's Guide
Babyface
Portable USB Audio at its best!
™
TotalMix
24 Bit / 192 kHz
™
™
SteadyClock
SyncCheck
USB 2.0 Digital I/O System
22 Channels Analog / ADAT / SPDIF Interface
24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio
20 x 12 Matrix Router
MIDI I/O
MIDI Remote Control
Stand-Alone Operation
Class Compliant Operation

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Summary of Contents for RME Audio Babyface

  • Page 1 User's Guide Babyface Portable USB Audio at its best! ™ TotalMix 24 Bit / 192 kHz ™ ™ SteadyClock SyncCheck USB 2.0 Digital I/O System 22 Channels Analog / ADAT / SPDIF Interface 24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio 20 x 12 Matrix Router MIDI I/O MIDI Remote Control...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Installation and Operation - Mac OS X Hardware Installation..........30 Driver and Firmware 15.1 Driver Installation ..........30 15.2 Driver Update ............30 15.3 Firmware Update..........31 Configuring the Babyface 16.1 Settings Dialog – General ........31 16.2 Clock Modes - Synchronization ......33 User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 3 23.6 MS Processing............. 65 MIDI Remote Control 24.1 Overview .............. 66 24.2 Mapping ............... 66 24.3 Setup..............67 24.4 Operation ............. 67 24.5 MIDI Control............68 24.6 Loopback Detection ..........69 24.7 OSC (Open Sound Control)......... 69 User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 4 30.2 Class Compliant under Windows/Mac OS X ..85 Supported Inputs and Outputs ......86 Operation at the Unit..........87 Application Examples Stand-Alone Mode ....88 Useful Notes ............89 Miscellaneous Accessories .............92 Warranty..............92 Appendix ..............92 Declaration of Conformity ........94 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 5: General

    User's Guide Babyface General User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 6: Introduction

    1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the RME Babyface. This unique audio system is capable of transferring analog and digital audio data directly to Windows and Mac computers. The latest Plug and Play technology guarantees a simple installation, even for the inexperienced user. Numerous unique features and well thought-out configuration dialog puts the Babyface at the very top of the range of computer-based audio interfaces.

  • Page 7: First Usage - Quick Start

    In case the phones output is to be used as line output, usually an adapter TRS plug to RCA phono plugs, or TRS plug to TS plugs is required. More on cable codes and pinouts can be found in chapter 27.2. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 8 It is simply inserted between the breakout cable and the D-sub connector of the Baby- face. Then both breakout cable and all cables connected to it will be out of sight, without de- creasing the Babyface’s technical specifications or performance. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 9: Quick Start

    This output is a low impedance type, which can also be used to connect headphones. TotalMix FX remembers all settings, and loads these automatically when the Babyface drivers are loaded. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 10 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 11: Installation And Operation - Windows

    User's Guide Babyface Installation and Operation – Windows User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 12: Hardware Installation

    After the Babyface has been recognized, (see 6. Hardware Installation) the hardware assistant finds a Babyface. Insert the RME Driver CD into your CD-ROM drive, and follow further instruc- tions which appear on your computer screen. The driver files are located in the directory \Babyface on the RME Driver CD.

  • Page 13: Driver Update

    When facing problems with the automatic driver update, the user-driven way of driver installa- tion will work. Under >Control Panel /System /Device Manager /Sound, Video and Game Controllers /RME Babyface/Properties /Driver< you'll find the 'Update Driver' button. XP: Select 'Install from a list or specific location (advanced)', click 'Next', select 'Don't search I will choose the driver to install', click 'Next', then 'Have Disk'.

  • Page 14: Configuring The Babyface

    Also, please note that even in 'Stop' mode, several programs keep the recording and playback devices open, which means that any new settings might not be applied immediately. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 15 (coarse recognition, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz etc.). In Clock Mode the clock reference is shown. See also chapter 26.1. The About tab includes information about the current driver version as well as the current firm- ware version of the Babyface. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 16: Settings Dialog - Pitch

    Therefore the internal clock can be set to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, but not to a value in be- tween. SteadyClock, RME's sensational Low Jitter Clock System, is based on a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS). This superior circuitry can generate nearly any frequency with highest pre- cision.

  • Page 17: Operation And Usage

    Therefore the driver of the Babyface includes a workaround: the sample rate can be set globally for all WDM devices within the Settings dialog, see chapter 8.1. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 18: Dvd-Playback (Ac-3/Dts)

    (tab Sounds, scheme 'No audio'). Note 2: The DVD player will be synced backwards from the Babyface. This means when using AutoSync and/or word clock, the playback speed and pitch follows the incoming clock signal. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 19: Notes On Wdm

    (the basic and the interleaved device). Multi-Channel using WDM The WDM Streaming device Loudspeaker (Analog 1+2) of the RME driver can operate as usual stereo device, or as up to 8-channel device. An 8-channel playback using the Windows Media Player requires the speaker setup 7.1 Sur- round.

  • Page 20: Channel Count Under Wdm

    RME's sophisticated tool DIGICheck is an exception to this rule. It operates like an ASIO host, using a special technique to access playback channels directly. Therefore DIGICheck is able to analyse and display playback data from any software, no matter which format it uses.

  • Page 21: Analog Recording

    An automated control of real-time monitoring can be achieved by Steinberg’s ASIO protocol with RME’s ASIO drivers and any ASIO 2.0 compatible program. When 'ASIO Direct Monitoring' has been switched on, the input signal is routed in real-time to the output whenever a recording is started (punch-in).

  • Page 22: Digital Connections

    9.8 Digital Connections ADAT The ADAT optical input of the Babyface is fully compatible with all ADAT optical outputs. RME's unsurpassed Bitclock PLL prevents clicks and drop outs even in extreme varipitch operation, and guarantees a fast and low jitter lock to the digital input signal. A usual TOSLINK cable is sufficient for connection.

  • Page 23: Clock Modes - Synchronization

    Sync indication. With RME’s AutoSync and SyncCheck, finally anyone can master this common source of error, previously one of the most complex issues in the digital studio world. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 24: Operation Under Asio

    Babyface ADAT 3 to 4 Babyface ADAT 5 to 6 Babyface ADAT 5 to 6 Babyface ADAT 5 to 6 Babyface ADAT 7 to 8 Babyface ADAT 7 to 8 Babyface ADAT 7 to 8 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 25: Known Problems

    In real-world an operation of more than one Babyface makes no sense and is therefore not actively supported by RME. The second unit would have to be synchronized using the optical input. The result is an extension by only 2 analog record and 4 analog playback channels (plus 8 digital via ADAT Out).

  • Page 26: Digicheck Windows

    • Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any chan- nels and inputs or outputs! To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run setup.exe. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.

  • Page 27: Hotline - Troubleshooting

    13. Hotline – Troubleshooting The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, Latest Additions. The input signal cannot be monitored in real-time • ASIO Direct Monitoring has not been enabled within the DAW, and/or monitoring has been disabled globally (TotalMix Options).
  • Page 28 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 29: Installation And Operation - Mac Os X

    User's Guide Babyface Installation and Operation – Mac OS X User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 30: Hardware Installation

    15.1 Driver Installation After the Babyface has been connected, (see 14. Hardware Installation) install the drivers from the RME Driver CD. The driver files are located in the folder Babyface. Installation works auto- matically by a double-click on the file Fireface USB.pkg.

  • Page 31: Firmware Update

    Properties For to select the unit to be configured. On the right of it the current firmware and driver version is shown. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 32 (Sync). The third column shows the sample frequency detected by the hardware (coarse recognition, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz etc.). In Clock Mode the clock refer- ence is shown. See also chapter 26.1. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 33: Clock Modes - Synchronization

    In this case, the Clock Source should be set temporarily to SPDIF. RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology (first implemented in the Hammerfall) enables an easy to use check and display of the current clock status. Input Status indicates whether there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock) for the optical input, or if there is a valid and synchronous signal (Sync).

  • Page 34: Mac Os X Faq

    17. Mac OS X FAQ 17.1 Round about Driver Installation The driver with the file suffix zip provided by RME is a compressed archive. Zip is directly sup- ported by OS X, a double click on the file is all one needs to do.

  • Page 35: Channel Count Under Core Audio

    1/2. In the channel settings of outputs 1/2 activate Loopback. Result: the desired input signal is now available at input channel 1/2, without further delay/latency. Use Speaker Setup to freely configure the playback to all available channels. Even multichan- nel playback (Surround, DVD Player) can be set up this way. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 36: Using More Than One Babyface

    • Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any chan- nels and inputs or outputs! To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run the in- staller. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.

  • Page 37: Hotline - Troubleshooting

    20. Hotline – Troubleshooting The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, latest Additions. The unit and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work: • Is Babyface listed in the System Profiler? (Vendor ID 2613).
  • Page 38 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 39: Totalmix Fx

    User's Guide Babyface TotalMix FX User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 40: Totalmix: Routing And Monitoring 21.1 Overview

    TotalMix provides the means to mix and monitor these on a single stereo output. • Mixing of the input signal to the playback signal (complete ASIO Direct Monitoring). RME is not only the pioneer of ADM, but also offers the most complete implementation of the ADM functions.
  • Page 41 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 42: The User Interface

    Now move the faders up from all sources - input and playback channels - that you want to hear at the submix output. The following chapters explain step by step all functions of the user interface. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 43: The Channel

    The arrow symbol at the bottom minimizes the channel width to that of the level meters. An- other click maximizes it again. A mouse click with held Ctrl key causes all channels to the right to enlarge and minimize at once. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 44: Settings

    That’s how this function got its name. In the View Options / Routing the function Trim Gains can be globally switched on and off for all channels. The global Trim mode is recommended when using TotalMix FX as live mixing desk. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 45 Main Out. With this any hardware output can be controlled and listened to through the monitoring output very conveniently. Using the option Assign / Cue to in the Control Room section, Cue can also be used with any of the Phones outputs. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 46: Equalizer

    Reset: Resets the Low Cut and EQ to have zero influence (Gain 0 dB) Rename: The EQ Presets 1 to 16 can be renamed. The changes will be shown in both lists Recall and Save to. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 47 Presets have special names. For example Telephone (LC+EQ) will sound much better when the LC has been activated additionally to the EQ, as the LC is set to an unusual high fre- quency of 500 Hz here. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 48: Section Control Room

    AS 1/2, as at 192 kHz the other ADAT channels are not available anymore. The output for the Cue signal, which is usually Main, can also be set to one of the Phones outputs. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 49: The Control Strip

    Fader. A Shift-click on a fader adds the fader to the temporary fader group. All faders now marked yellow are ganged, and move simultaneously in a relative way. The temporary fader group is deleted by a click on the F symbol. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 50: View Options

    MIDI or OSC remote control. Hide Channel in MIDI Remote 1. The selected channels are hidden for MIDI remote (CC and Mackie Protocol). Hide Channel in OSC Remote 1. The selected channels are hidden for OSC remote con- trol. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 51: Scroll Location Markers

    2. Marker number 2. See 1 for details. Arrow to the right. A left mouse click let the channels scroll the last one, or most right. Location markers are stored in the Workspace. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 52: Snapshots - Groups

    Instead signals can be muted on specific submixes by the push of a button. A solo group operates exactly like the global solo, signals outside the current routing are not affected. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 53: Reverb And Echo

    0 up to 100. Width. Adjusts the stereo width of the reverb signal from 100 (stereo) to 0 (mono). Volume. Adjusts the level of the reverb effects signal sent to the FX return bus. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 54 Feedback. Feedback to produce further echoes. Width. Adjusts the stereo width of the echo signal from 100 (stereo) to 0 (mono). Volume. Adjusts the level of the echo effects signal sent to the FX return bus. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 55 Factory: Includes 10 examples for the configuration of the Reverb Reset: Resets the Reverb or Echo Rename: The Presets 1 to 16 can be renamed. The changes will be shown in both lists Recall and Save to. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 56: Preferences

    Not valid for the Babyface, as it does not contain memory nor can be used stand-alone. Graphics Use D2D (Change requires restart). Default on. Can be deactivated to use a compatible but CPU-taxing graphics mode, in case graphics problems show up. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 57: Settings

    Dim. Amount of attenuation for the Main Out in dB. External Input. Selects the stereo input that replaces the mix signal on the Main Out when activated. The volume of the stereo signal is adjusted by the slider Gain. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 58: Midi Page

    TotalMix level meters in the preferences. Note: When MIDI Out is set to NONE then TotalMix FX can still be controlled by Mackie Control MIDI commands, but the 8-channel block is not marked as remote target. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 59: Osc Page

    Options Activates Send Peak Level. transmission of the peak level meter data. Peak Hold activates the peak hold function as set up for the TotalMix level meters in the preferences. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 60: Hotkeys And Usage

    Copy Submix. Copies the whole submix of the selected output into memory. All input and play- back faders from that routing will be included. Paste Submix. Writes the previously copied submix on to the now selected output. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 61: Menu Options

    Reset output volumes. All faders of the third row will be set to 0 dB, Main and Speaker B to -10 dB. Reset channel names. Removes all names assigned by the user. Total Reset. Playback routing 1:1 with mixdown to Main Out. Switches off all other func- tions. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 62: The Matrix

    View options, as they don’t make sense here. Instead the button Mono Mode lets you decide whether all the actions per- formed in the Matrix are valid for two channels or just one. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 63: Tips And Tricks

    – the Main Out and the other Hardware Output. Even better: the faders of both outputs are still active, so the signal level can be adjusted individually. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 64: Recording A Submix - Loopback

    The block diagram also shows why with activated Loopback the EQ of the Hardware Output is now within the record path. The setting DSP – EQ for Record is still working and can be used to activate/deactivate LC/EQ here as well. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 65: Ms Processing

    Low Cut, Expander, Compressor or Delay. The most basic application is the manipulation of the stereo width: a change of the level of the side channel allows to manipulate the stereo width from mono to stereo up to extended. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 66: Midi Remote Control

    Snapshot 1 - 8 select Main Out F10 - F11 select Cue Phones 1 - 2 *Tested with Behringer BCF2000 Firmware v1.07 in Mackie Control emulation for Steinberg mode and with Mackie Control under Mac OS X. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 67: Setup

    TotalMix also supports the 9th fader of the Mackie Control. This fader (labelled Master) will con- trol the stereo output fader (lowest row) which is set up as Main Out in the Control Room sec- tion. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 68: Midi Control

    16 Controller numbers are used: 102 up to 117 (= hex 66 to 75). With these 16 Controllers (= faders) and 4 MIDI channels each per row, up to 64 faders can be controlled per row (as re- quired by the HDSPe MADI). User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 69: Loopback Detection

    21.8.3. An OSC implementation chart can be downloaded from the RME website: http://www.rme-audio.de/download/osc_table_totalmix.zip RME offers a free iPad template for the iOS app TouchOSC (by Hexler, available in the Apple App-Store): http://www.rme-audio.de/download/tosc_tm_ipad_template.zip The RME forum hosts further information, more templates (iPhone…) and lots of useful user feedback.
  • Page 70 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 71: Technical Reference

    User's Guide Babyface Technical Reference User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 72: Technical Specifications

    • 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 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 73: Digital

    • Dimensions (WxHxD): 100 x 25 x 160 mm (4.0" x 1.0" x 6.3") • Weight: 0.5 kg ( 1.1 lbs) • Temperature range: +5° up to +50° Celsius (41° F up to 122°F) • Relative humidity: < 75%, non condensing User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 74: Technical Background

    In practice, SyncCheck allows for a quick overview of the correct configuration of all digital de- vices. So one of the most difficult and error-prone topics of the digital studio world finally be- comes easy to handle. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 75: Latency And Monitoring

    26.2 Latency and Monitoring The term Zero Latency Monitoring was introduced by RME in 1998 for the DIGI96 series of audio cards. It stands for the ability to pass-through the computer's input signal at the interface directly to the output. Since then, the idea behind has become one of the most important fea- tures of modern hard disk recording.

  • Page 76: Usb Audio

    With multiple devices it can also be checked if they are connected to the same controller. Furthermore this information can be used to operate an external USB drive without disturbing the Babyface, by simply connecting the drive to the other controller. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 77: Ds - Double Speed

    Analog In 1/2/3/4 5/6/7/8 DS Signal ADAT ADAT Port As the transmission of quad rate signals is done at standard sample rate (Single Speed), the ADAT output still delivers 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 78: Noise Level In Ds / Qs Mode

    When limiting the measurement range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (so called audio bandpass) the value would be -110 dB again. This can be verified with RME's DIGICheck. The function Bit Statistic & Noise measures the noise floor by Limited Bandwidth, ignoring DC and ultrasound.

  • Page 79: Diagrams

    27. Diagrams 27.1 Block Diagram Babyface User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 80: Connector Pinouts

    Line In Left + GND/Shell Line In Right + n.c. Line Out Left + Line Out Right + n.c. Phones Left MIDI Out (5) GND/Shell Phones Right MIDI In (4) MIDI In (5) MIDI Out (4) User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 81: Stand-Alone And Class Compliant Modus

    User's Guide Babyface Stand-Alone and Class Compliant Mode User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 82: History And General Remarks

    Babyface needs (500 mA). Therefore in Class Compliant mode connected to an iPad the Babyface needs to be operated with an external standard power supply, like the ones provided by RME ( 6 to 12 Volts and around 1 A).

  • Page 83: System Requirements

    Settings / General / About. The adapter will be listed there right after connection, with additional details like manufacturer, model number etc. Connected USB devices, i.e. the Babyface will not be shown here, though. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 84 USB cable could even be replaced with a 10 m active one. With lower quality cables or CCK replicas, even 50 cm dock to dock to 1 m USB would be considered success. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 85: Class Compliant Under Windows/Mac Os X

    30.2 Class Compliant Mode under Windows and Mac OS X On a Windows PC, Class Compliant mode is indicated by a missing “RME“ in the device name shown in the Device Manager. In the correct mode and with installed drivers, the full name in- cluding RME is shown, without serial number.

  • Page 86: Supported Inputs And Outputs

    - When receiving a digital input signal in ADAT format, it will sync itself on the external sample rate, from 32 to 48 kHz. Double Speed mode is automatically set when receiving an ADAT sig- nal from other RME devices. Otherwise the setting has to be performed manually (LEDs 8 or 9, see below).

  • Page 87: Operation At The Unit

    Switch digital output format (SPDIF <> ADAT) Press and hold the Select button until the left or right LEDs run up. Left meters = ADAT output mode. Right meters = SPDIF output mode. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 88: Application Examples Stand-Alone Mode

    TOSLINK cable (loopback). Activate phantom power, then set the gain as needed. The analog input signal is amplified to line level and available at the XLR line outputs, and with Copy mode activated also at the phones output. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 89: Useful Notes

    And they have a USB port. We tried one of those small 4,200 mAh for around 20 Euros. The Babyface worked for more than 6 hours while playing music from the iPad. User's Guide Babyface © RME...
  • Page 90 User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 91: Miscellaneous

    User's Guide Babyface Miscellaneous User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 92: Accessories

    Audio AG does not accept claims for damages of any kind, especially consequential damage. Liability is limited to the value of the Babyface. The general terms of business drawn up by Au- dio AG apply at all times. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

  • Page 93: Appendix

    Current driver version: W: 1.030, Mac OS X: 1.78, Firmware 203 Although the contents of this User’s Guide have been thoroughly checked for errors, RME can not guarantee that it is correct throughout. RME does not accept responsibility for any mislead- ing or incorrect information within this guide.

  • Page 94: Declaration Of Conformity

    Audio AG. For this the device has to be sent free to the door to: Audio AG Am Pfanderling 60 D-85778 Haimhausen Germany Shipments not prepaid will be rejected and returned on the original sender's costs. User's Guide Babyface © RME...

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