Hi, I have a macbook pro M1 Max with 64gb of RAM, I don’t use pirated VST at all and I have a Clarret Pre 2 USB. I don’t have awfull performance with cubase (Actually saw a little boost with Cubase 14) but it does feel underwhelming compared to what I’ve seen other people get with a similar computer. I have samples on an external SSD which reads at about 1000 mb/s and the projects are on the internal SSD of the macbook pro.
Even on a empty project with my control room inserts turned off I see little flickers of the ASIO-Guard and peak meters. I will add a GIF of the performance meter on an empty project and my settings on the studio menu.
So the reason of the post it’s that I’m looking to upgrade to an RME babyface pro FS and I was wondering if anybody experienced a boost in performance by switching to RME interfaces, since they are constantly mentioned as the ones with the best drivers and lowest latency. Thanks.
PD: I’m also thinking about UAD or antelope but I’ve read some conflicting reviews of their drivers.
Speaking as a complete amateur, I’ve always been under the impression that “high-end” audio interfaces are mainly for when you want to do things in real-time, especially recording performances, when low-latency is a priority. This is the sole reason for why I bought an RME AIO PCEi card - I wanted to record my guitar playing.
So, unless you need all the features of such an interface (low-latency, many inputs, outputs, mixers, etc) I’d say save your money.
I think the question we are asking is, what problem, exactly, needs solving here?
Unless you’re recording and need to monitor tracks in realtime, latency is not an issue so you can set the buffer size way up.
See also this article about ASIO-Guard; activity on the meters is not something to worry about, and you can eliminate these flickers by turning off monitoring where it’s not needed etc.
Those performance meters will flicker like that. It means nothing at those levels. I have the Babyface pro and at the same buffer size I get slightly better latency. It will not give you any great performance improvement though.
It’s underwhelming in the sense that sometimes a project that it’s not really big can get dropouts. I tried going without the meters for a while but not knowing how close is the “ceiling” while making music to my it feel s a little unnerving and I have to limit my chocies creatively when I feel like I shouldn’t have with the system that I have.
So you also experience those flickers with an empty project? That would be relieving. Im still interested in the babyface pro fs though but It could wait a couple months then.
The problem is that projects that are not as big end up stuttering or with dropouts, the performance meters are super unstable and I would enjoy recording guitar and bass if the latency was less. I figured that RME having better drivers and software than focusrite with things like loopbac and FX for monitoring maybe it would be a nice upgrade, if it meant better and more stable performance all the better.
The M1 should be more than capable of smooth performance, as should your existing interface – there may be some USB optimizations that help on that hardware, but I’m on Windows, so perhaps another M1 user could comment?
I had one of the new 802FS from RME and now use the new MOTU 828. Both have their own drivers and both have the same ultra low latency and stability. In some ways my MOTU is a little more so as the RME would not always be recognized at first so I would need to power cycle.
That said you cannot go wrong with either. The mix engine in the RME is superior as far as DSP goes.
Everything looks normal for that interface in your screen shots, although I would personally run a 48k but that’s just me.
If you want lower latency than the 8ms in and out you will want RME or MOTU. Core Audio is slower.
And I have just the opposite… I was a MOTU user for 24 or so years up until last month. Went through the entire line up of 828 interfaces, except the now non-existent 828es. Was about to get the new one, but ended up getting a killer deal on an RME Digiface and a second Ferrofish Pulse from Thomann and went that route.
The 828x had to be plugged into a particular USB port and had to be turned on before I turned on any other piece of USB audio/midi gear or it just did not want to work. I’ve had it randomly disconnect, and it liked to cut out when I would turn on/off other USB devices not even connected anywhere remotely close to that USB controller too.
The RME, connects to the computer, locks all 4 ADAT ports, and switches over the output stream almost instantly as soon as it’s turned on, no waiting whatsoever. No hiccups from other devices, my AMT8 and Launchkey don’t cause trouble if they’re turned on first, etc… Totalmix was a bit different than the old CueMix but once you get your head around it, this thing rules heh.
Don’t get me wrong. The Babyface pro fs is a great interface with good drivers and the powerful TotalMix. So no I don’t get random stutters or dropouts. That could be your computer though as I didn’t get that with my zoom L20. If the computer has problems then no interface is going to fix that.
I’m not sure if the drivers are the same, but I did see a great improvement in RTL when switching from a Scarlett 18i20 mk2 to a Digiface USB. Way more stable under heavier load.
This on a Windows 11 Intel I5 12500 16 GB, which is my live PC, I run everything vocals, guitars, keys, drums into Cubase 13 Pro and live process everything. 24 Channels of realtime audio.
