RME. Babyface Pro FS vs. ADI-2 Pro FS R BE

If you’re on Mac the adi does not get the same low latency driver the Babyface does. On windows I understand that the adi does get the proper driver.

If you need what Totalmix does and you’re on Mac then of the two only Babyface offers this.

I own the adi-2 FS r be for a year or two. The sound is very impressive at any price but if you want a full featured low latency interface then you’re better off assigning this job to something like the Babyface or other RME solution and connecting the adi digitally to that system for it’s great sound.

Hey, so I've been told that this converter does not have mic inputs but I can see some inputs and am not sure what they are for?

Trust me. You REALLY want TotalMix. It takes a while to wrap your head around it but once you do, it's indispensable. The RME tutorials the manufacturer puts out are dismal but Barry Johns at Studio Talk on YouTube did some that were excellent and really helped me get a handle on it quickly.

I doesn't appear that the RME ADI-2 Pro has mic inputs. Just either XLR or TRS Line inputs. You could always get a 2 channel mic preamp and run the analog outputs into the line inputs on the RME. That way you get the advantage of using the ADI's converters if you don't like the BabyFace although I wouldn't have an issue with either of them. If you are connecting to the ADI-2's digital inputs then you are locking yourself into using whatever converters are in the output device going into the RME. Not the RME's themselves. YMMV.

So if preamps are what you want to use then it seems like you want to actually record stuff and maybe some of this overdubbing against existing music. The only way the adi will work in that setting is if you use the direct through mode the adi has to achieve lower latency for the performer but then I’ve never used it this way and I’m not sure that if the adi is in this mode that it will merge audio coming from usb input to the output along with the direct preamp input through.

if you have a spare PCIe slot then yes get a RME PCIe card. They are the best of the best. AIO Pro is about the same price as Babyface pro FS.

If you want to record stuff, the adi really just offers a bunch of somewhat shitty workarounds to enable that kind of workflow. It’s really designed as a converter and RME are very clear about that. You may get away with it but you’re more than likely to run into bumps trying.

Don't trust ChatGPT!
It makes up stuff.
I don't have the devices but one thing that came to my mind is that the BF FS might cause a bit of cable clutter because of its I/O locations.
I went with the UCX II instead, because of that.

I have a BF FS on one of my laptops .... it's very good and the converters sound very good to.

In my main PC I have an RME RayDAT which allows me to connect up to 32 ADAT channels up to 48KHz (less if you go to higher SR)

I have connected to it a HEDD 192 and Avocet plus a Ferrofish Pulse 16 via ADAT.
The Crane Song Converters connect via AES.

The Pulse 16 is a very good sounding ADA for very sensible money.

This is a good method imho.

The Pulse gets you 16 very good sounding converters and then you have options to easily add a higher end two channel device like a HEDD 192 or Lyn Hilo or RME AD-2
to use for critical stereo recording or the stereo mix bus.

I've done extensive double blind ABX testing and on single mono sources I can't pick out the difference between my HEDD 192 and the Pulse 16 converters (that's how far mid priced ADA have come)
then for stereo recording and bus work/ monitoring etc I'm finding the HEDD 192 and Avocet do have sonic advantages so I use those units for those tasks.

I highly recommend the RayDAT it makes for a fantastic central hub to build up a very sophisticated I/O system and of course you get TotalMix.

I'd love to add a Wes Audio Mix Bundle and I will just need two ADAT cables to add the Titan tack to the RayDAT and off I go.

RME RayDAT is very flexible and has a superb clock!