Babyface or Duet 2 to replace ProFire 610?

[Call_me_Switters]

Both interfaces are really great for the bucks. In your situation I would go for the Duet 2. As a strictly MAC interface you will be sure for tight integration and updates. Also Apogee for my taste it could be just a bit above Babyface in sound quality, lacking all the I/O RME offers.

[CJ Mastering]

I am not satisfied with is the buggy drivers and lack of updates from M-Audio

I know for a fact that the RME audio interfaces have great drivers for MAC and PC. I cannot speak for the Duet, as i never used it.

CJ

[Myst]

Originally Posted by Call_me_Switters

Both interfaces are really great for the bucks. In your situation I would go for the Duet 2. As a strictly MAC interface you will be sure for tight integration and updates. Also Apogee for my taste it could be just a bit above Babyface in sound quality, lacking all the I/O RME offers.

I am starting to lean just a little toward the Apogee, since it offers sufficient I/O for my needs, and it doesn't hurt that it is also slightly cheaper, e. But whereas I know of RME's excellent reputation with drivers, I don't know anything about Apogee's track record in the driver area. Any thoughts on that?

[MFW]

Just do a google search for apogee drivers and you'll see their poor track record. I returned a duet 2 for a baby face and never looked back. Totalmix for the babyface, while not prosumer friendly, gives you way more routing options and control. Plus, the babyface has ADAT expansion if you need more channels down the line. Both are a huuuuge upgrade and you can't go wrong with either, but I was in the exact upgrade situation as you, and I have found the rme babyface to be more stable and useful. Can't beat German engineering .

[Myst]

Originally Posted by MFW

Just do a google search for apogee drivers and you'll see their poor track record. I returned a duet 2 for a baby face and never looked back. Totalmix for the babyface, while not prosumer friendly, gives you way more routing options and control. Plus, the babyface has ADAT expansion if you need more channels down the line. Both are a huuuuge upgrade and you can't go wrong with either, but I was in the exact upgrade situation as you, and I have found the rme babyface to be more stable and useful. Can't beat German engineering .

Well, poor drivers would definitely be a deal breaker with me (I've had enough of that with M-Audio), so I'll take that into consideration for sure. I'm still interested in gathering additional opinions if possible ... trying to avoid spending the money yet today.

Update: uh oh, I think my decision just got made for me. I forgot about the fact that I am also relying upon the single MIDI I/O of the ProFire, something which the Babyface also has. I didn't realize until just now that the Duet 2 lacks any MIDI connectivity. So it looks like the Babyface is going to win this battle after all.

[hopeless_opus]

I replaced a Profire610 at home with a Duet 2. It think it's one of the better gear decisions I've made. Both the pres and the converters are a significant step up imho. I had a few issues initially with the drivers, but haven't had any problems since they updated them, well over a year ago.

The best thing about using it is piece of mind, I don't worry about mic pres or converters anymore. I even sold a pair of high end pres to finance some other things. For what I'm doing at home, the Duet 2 pres are totally solid sounding, with plenty of headroom and plenty of gain for dynamics, ribbons, etc. Also, the instrument inputs are FAR better than those in the cheaper interfaces. Makes for a huge improvement when tracking bass direct.

I haven't used the Babyface, but I'd guess it's excellent as well. I don't have any experience with their pres, but I've worked with RME converters in the past and thought they sounded pretty damn good.

As far as midi goes, you don't necessarily have to go thru your interface. Lots of midi ports out there. Just food for thought.

[Myst]

Originally Posted by hopeless_opus

As far as midi goes, you don't necessarily have to go thru your interface. Lots of midi ports out there. Just food for thought.

Certainly that's true. I already am using all three MIDI ports on my MCU Pro for external hardware, plus the one on my ProFire. Four ports is the bare minimum I can get by with, and I really don't want to buy yet another piece of hardware right now, so getting another audio interface that still has the 4th MIDI port I so badly need is a big help at the moment, when I'm already stretching my pocketbook thin to swing a replacement for the ProFire.

[hopeless_opus]

Sounds like the Babyface is the answer then. I doubt you can go wrong there, RME makes great gear.

[KrisHayes]

Babyface it is! If you need the extra inputs, that makes the decision.

For a simple 2 in/2 out (they say 4 out technically, ok ) at $595, you're not gonna beat the Duet 2. Just a phenomenal value.

[Myst]

If anyone visits this thread, I should mention that I eventually opted for the Duet 2, after reorganizing my outboard MIDI gear in such a way that I could eliminate the need for the extra port. There were just too many little things about the Duet 2 (not least of which was the price point) that I wanted … and one big thing, which is the Apogee D/A conversion.

I'll let you know my impressions after I've received it and have had a couple of days to form an opinion about how it compares to the ProFire 610.

[Myst]

My Duet 2 has been received, and forming an opinion isn't going to take a couple of days after all. I don't know if it is the preamps, the converters, or both, but recording the same acoustic guitar part using both the ProFire 610 and the Duet 2 (both with an AT4033a) makes the ProFire track sound like I'd just put my guitar through a mud bath. The difference in clarity is astounding, especially on the low strings, which suddenly have presence and life. At first I thought "well, the Duet is lacking in low frequencies", but the lows are still there; it was really just me being used to hearing such dull recordings. Once I started really listening, I realized that the sound I had gotten from the Duet 2 was very much like the sound I was hearing in the room when I played the part, and I'm just not used to hearing that sound "in the box" after recording a track.

So I am very pleased; sonically, I am convinced that the Duet 2 is a step (or several) beyond the ProFire 610. Now I can't wait to hear what the Duet 2 might do with my low whistle tracks.

Thanks again for all the great advice in this thread.

[zvukofor]

That's how legends and misunderstandings are born: you take two black boxes, get different results, and then just turn on your imagination with a restricted vocabulary (warm, analog, so on) and voila - ..."bad AD-DA"

The only difference between 610 and RME is cheap analog part - all that components between mic preamp and AD, between DA and output. My lab making complete mods for both profires, replacing all cheap inappropriate components. BTW, RME UCX and Profire 2626 have same(!) ADC/DACs.

But, alas, when buying stock unit, you get what you get, so Babyface is very nice choice.

[hopeless_opus]

Glad to hear you're happy with your choice!