RME = important producer?
Yea, that makes sense!

A lil' help for ya. Babyface got 24 inputs. If he really wants 16+ analog inputs for under 500 it's mostly like impossible.
He can get that Behringer Xenyx series crap.

 

Show some information which states it has 24 inputs, because hopefully you are not counting digital connections with multiple channels, i.e. ADAT, as individual inputs. That's how manufacturers imply higher i/o counts in their model numbers. But that's basically BS.

Spoiler

RME Babyface Pro / RME Babyface Pro FS (Pro Series – more I/O)
Analog I/O

• 4 inputs / 4 outputs total:
  • 2 × XLR balanced mic/line inputs with switchable 48 V.
    
    
  • 2 × TRS line/instrument inputs (Hi-Z capable).
    
    
  • 2 × XLR balanced main outputs.
    
    
  • 2 × headphone outputs (6.3 mm + 3.5 mm).

Digital I/O

• 1 × optical ADAT or SPDIF in/out (TOSLINK).
  
  
• MIDI I/O via breakout cable.

Performance

• Up to 192 kHz / 24-bit on all I/O.
  
  
• Gain range ~-11 dB to +65 dB on mic inputs.
  
  
• High dynamic range (~115 dB), very low THD.

Power & Connectivity

• USB-B (USB 2.0, compatible with USB-C).
  
  
• Bus powered (often stable without external supply on most USB ports).

Extras

• Includes TotalMix FX (software mixer/routing).
  
  
• Robust aluminum construction and portable size.

And from another source:

Analog Inputs 2 x XLR (mic), 2 x 1/4" (Hi-Z/line)
Analog Outputs 2 x XLR (+4dBu/+19dBu)
Digital Inputs 1 x Optical Toslink (ADAT, S/PDIF)
Digital Outputs 1 x Optical Toslink (ADAT, S/PDIF)

It's portable. Same relative size as UA Apollo or Apogee desktop units. Nobody with a patchbay and many sound sources (synths, etc) will be happy with 4 analog ins. You need 8 for only 1 snake from the patchbay.

 

Last edited: Jan 28, 2026

There are some under 500$ with that many inputs, even decent ones or at least great for a home studio. OP brought up the 16 and 18x interfaces so it's safe to assume he wants that many channels. OP do you really need that many channels?

BTW I want everybody to know I use MOTU and it's rock solid. And it looks cool on the desk. And the U stands for Unicorn. It's the best.

Okay sorry guys I have to apologize I guess I was just triggered how this post turned into the typical Circlejerk of "I see you want a cheap interface but let me tell you why you need the top of line RME/MOTU/Apollo this or that". Even the Behringer UMC would probably do. I used that for years before switching to MOTU and the preamps were just fine. Totally good enough.

Btw, I checked the Babyface and it seems it has about 4 analog inputs(?) Are you trying to troll me back or something?

 

Fender Quantum LT 16

 

It got 24 digital channels.

I highly recommend going for a proper device and using an external mixer to manage all inputs, or alternatively using a patch bay.

 

So if I was running my 24 channel board with direct outs, snaked to a patchbay in both directions, by getting a Babyface, which you just posted incorrectly in your prior post where you were attempting to correct someone; I'd be able to record 24 channels simultaneously using that RME which I can't buy for $500 either way. Right?

Still wrong.

The number of channels you can record to ADAT at one time depends on the sample rate you’re using:

• At 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz: 8 channels per ADAT lightpipe.
  
  
• At 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz: ADAT uses S/MUX (sample multiplexing), cutting the channel count in half, so 4 channels per ADAT.
  
  
• At 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz: You only get 2 channels per ADAT (also S/MUX).
  

You should stick to correcting people about shit you actually know about.

 

You mixed up things wrong, bro. I said I highly recommend going for a proper device and using an external mixer to manage all inputs,OR alternatively using a patch bay. Why do you refer to the Babyface?

 

the more on it the better. midi in out. mic.. guitar.. etc try to find something worth spending money on that you dont reget later getting the wrong sound interface

 

Because it is an obvious error you posted to correct someone about:

People often recommend RME on here without even reading the original posters' questions, motivated by fanboyism, ignorance, or not even reading the question. Vendors hype the “24+ channels via ADAT” as useful, ignoring that you’d still need to buy good ADAT preamps/ADCs. Without quality front-end conversion, a high-end interface isn't better than a cheap one, because the interface can’t improve a poor signal.

Suggesting a Babyface for a $500 rackmount setup is like going to buy a school bus and being recommended a giraffe. Out of budget, wrong shape and size, wrong I/O count. Not going very far.

 

[/QUOTE]
People often recommend RME on here without even reading the original posters' questions, motivated by fanboyism, ignorance, or not even reading the question. Vendors hype the “24+ channels via ADAT” as useful, ignoring that you’d still need to buy good ADAT preamps/ADCs. Without quality front-end conversion, a high-end interface isn't better than a cheap one, because the interface can’t improve a poor signal.

Suggesting a Babyface for a $500 rackmount setup is like going to buy a school bus and being recommended a giraffe. Out of budget, wrong shape and size, wrong I/O count. Not going very far.[/QUOTE]

Just because you think RME etc. is recommended by fanboys, ignorance and not reading, it doesn't have to be true.
My motivation was just to bring in a very reliable interface.
But yes, it does not fit the posters idea for an audio device. But maybe he is open for alternatives.

Sorry for wrong formatting... i am not getting younger...

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2026 at 8:42 AM

Explain how. This is what happens on every recommend an interface thread on here, like clockwork.

How do you propose he buys an RME interface in rack unit form for $500 kind of budget? 20 years old with Firewire? Barn find at a garage sale?
Rob a bank? Buy something on eBay listed as For Parts Only and hope someone misdiagnosed it?

Even more interestingly, how does anyone make an appropriate suggestion of an interface when he has given almost no details what it will even be used for? You can either deny you read only the thread title, would answer RME no matter what it actually said, or don't know what you are talking about. A $500 budget ballpark unit is going to be something like a Focusrite 18i20, or a Presonus 1824. Tascam. ESI.

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2026 at 9:36 AM

I'm going to take you to 'tasc' for that silly joke...you're on notice my friend!

 

I always wonder ... What exactly do you mean by wanting "something better"? Which parameter should be better than what you have? Frequency response to make records for bats and dogs? Or what? Or just something that you can mention and makes the gullible stupid idiot audio community go WOW?

To learn something and then MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION look at that - and understand what he is explaining! - and then think again:

Do not listen to people parroting what they have heard on the internet from people that have heard on the internet from people that were paid by ... and stay away from Gearspace.

 

agreed.

that said, RME Digiface USB fits into 500 bucks, but on its own it has only a big headphone jack and 4x ADAT pairs - so you'd need separate converters to hook via ADAT, something like Behringer 8200 isn't terrible start, you can replace and scale in future (32 in + 32 out max. at 48kHz)

another "superior" variant would be RME HDSPe RayDat being PCIe card but you'd lock yourself to a desktop PC platform, which honestly isn't futureproof especially if you'd think about any portability (laptops) or Mac (lack of PCIe)

 

mr.personality lives up to its handle.

 

True, I gave up on Motu when I was on Win7. That was after the third Interface I bought over a span of 15 years and none of them worked properly on PC. No Issues on Mac though. But you're right. As all manufacturers besides 2 are not writing the drivers themselves today, there is no reason anymore for Motu not to work on PC.
And I thought Babyface was in the 500 bucks area? Oh, I see about 750.. Well that brings me back to: Presonus Go is an awesome Interface!