RME Audio Babyface Pro, User Manual

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90 User's Guide Babyface Pro © RME
33. Application Examples for Stand-Alone Mode
Here are two examples of setting up and using the Babyface Pro in stand-alone mode.
Universal DA-Converter
Connect the Babyface Pro via SPDIF to your CD-player, MP3 player or whatever device digitally
playing audio at up to 192 kHz. Comfortably adjust the hearing level with the rotary encoder.
Push DIM for a quick mute, and use the internal mixer to send the converted digital input signal
to both XLR and Phones outs.
Analog Microphone Preamp
Activate phantom power if necessary, then set the Mic gain as needed. Set the Babyface Pro to
Master 192 kHz for widest frequency range and lowest delay. Use the internal mixer to send the
analog input signal to the analog outputs – finished. The total delay from the internal AD to DA
conversion is a ridiculous 20 samples, which at 192 kHz is a real 0.1 ms – forget it.
With this setup the analog input signal is amplified to line level, available at 4 individually ad-
justable analog outputs as well as an digital output in either SPDIF or ADAT format. Options
galore!
Using EQ in stand-alone mode
The Babyface Pro has neither controls nor memory for the DSP functions. Therefore in stand-
alone mode EQs are not available.
There is a workaround though: when using TotalMix FX under Mac or Windows, and powering
the Babyface Pro with an external power supply, pulling the USB cable will retain the whole
current state, including EQs activated on all I/Os. Changing input gains and output levels as
well as monitoring volume can be done directly at the unit as usual. This ‘online’ state gets lost
the moment the unit loses power, it then enters the normal ‘offline’ stand-alone mode as stored
in its memory (last usage in full stand-alone mode), and of course without EQs.
34. Useful notes
Mobile Operation
USB bus power can be delivered by a rechargeable battery. These days LiPo batteries with
USB ports are very popular, usually used to charge your mobile gadgets on the go. They are
lightweight, have an astonishing capacity, can be recharged quickly many times, and are not
expensive. And they have a USB port. We tried several of those with 4,200 mAh and more. The
Babyface Pro worked for several hours while playing music, with bigger batteries more than 10
hours. Batteries from 10,000 mAh and up are also available with 9 to 12 V output. These avoid
potential bus power issues with peak loads over less than optimal USB cables, as they would
provide power to the external power supply connector of the Babyface Pro – and also enable
iPad mobile operation without having to use an Y USB cable. This one provides both data con-
nection between iPad and Babyface Pro, and power over USB for the Babyface.