Hi y'all!

I am looking for a new soundcard, but there is so much around that I am lost. I have a budget up to 600-700€. I'll use them for music production/mixing/mastering AND enjoy music, with/out headphones (HD650 and HD-25II). My options are:
-RME Babyface Pro/UC (clean pres, but less decent phone amp)
-SPL Crimson (decent analog system, monitor controlling)
-Any of the Clarett (thunderbolt, pres)
-Steinberg UR28m
-open to suggestions

PLEASE HELP!
Thank you,
D

P.S: I'll add more option for voting upon suggestion!

 

Add the iD22 to that list.

I have a Crimson, it sounds really great. I need to test it with a beefy system though as my laptop soon runs out of horsepower, so I can't test it on a large VST/FX session.

The Babyface Pro would also be of interest to me.

 

Last edited: Feb 29, 2016

Tascam 20x20 ;) USB3.0 Interface!

 

Universal Audio Twin. You get UAD plugins and even save a little up. Right now there's an offer of extra plugins upon registration. They give you the Studer tape machine emu, a Manley compressor and the API Vision channel strip which mates with the Twin preamps to match impedance at the input stage.

 

Anything by focusrite is good in my opinion . I'm currently using a focusrite Scarlett 18i20 with a octopre mkii adt . Everyone's got there own opinions and tastes those units was just my preferences for my needs . The clarett range looks good but it wasn't a option for me as I use my thunder bolt port for my 2nd screen . I read bad reviews on the Saffire range of faulty FireWire ports and them blowing easy . I've not had any problems with my Scarlett sound card no latency issues at all . And you get a lot of free plugs with the focusrite sound cards . The soft tube bundle including the new drawmer processor , red 1/2 plugs , bass station, v station . I'm not trying to convince you I'm just letting you know the options available to you . Even the uad sound cards are doing a good deal at the moment , there supplied with a load of there plugs . You just need to work out what your needs are with ins/outs

 

RME Babyface Pro/UC is 739€....

RME Fireface UC is 770€------>Better choice for the price difference! it rockx!!!

 

uhm.. as an RME HDSP 9632 pci user (since 2006) that TotalMix control panel gets complex for no shit, i don't really understand why there is a need to fill it up with so many of features and i see there even an EQ, WTF? the previous versions of TotalMix were 2.4mb and there was just whats needed which means it was 'simply working' without the need to have a look into it and adjust some annoying settings

 

Are you liking the Crimson? How's the headphone amp? I need a lot of juice. And mic pre?

Thank you,
D

 

Do you happen to know about the headphone amp? My 650 need a truck to put the sound in them.

 

UAD: expensive but DSP processing is a bonus. Does anyone has experience with the headphone amp?

Clarett: I want something a bit more pro headphone amp? The plug ins are definitely a pro. Bass station is awesome <3

 

That's the problem with RME and some other companies, they fill the hardware with some creepy software. Sometimes it's useful, sometimes it isn't...

 

You didn't say how you'd use that audio interface. What kind of music do you produce, on what OS?
Are you recording analog signals/ microphones? If not, then you don't need (to pay for) mic pre's.
If yes, how many inputs do you need? Same goes for analog or digital outputs, word clock..
What impedance do your headphones have.. Which monitors do you use? (I guess you don't need an RME when using low budget KRK's)

 

HD650 are 300Ohm and 96dB/mW.
What about RME Babyface regular (old) model and external headphone amp?

 

I would say the mic pres and headphone amps are among the strong points, as you would expect from SPL's analog reputation.

If you are seriously considering the Crimson, they are in the process of releasing a 2nd revision of the device where they have tightened up a few things, so that may be something to keep in mind.

My advice would be try and audition as many interfaces as you can using your own headphones, as this area is very subjective.

 

Last edited: Feb 29, 2016

just advice for you
not a lot of people living in the home where they can open monitors on full volume and basically can't even use monitors .
for this case batter for you to buy good headphones and good headphone Amp .

if you have a home where you can use the studio monitors any time then , if you mac user then chose Apollo Twin without even thinking twice .
if you are windows user then chose RME Babyface Pro , both Apollo and RME has Great Convertors with both of them you will be happy.

 

So:
- I will max 4-6 inputs. The reason for crimson was the "colour".
- the digital outputs and clock would be nice.
- I love headphones, and do a lot of works on them. I have 650, and planing on getting some audeze (all high impedance).
- I have a pair of hs80m yamaha.

My main concern are the headphones and preamps!

 

That's pretty much it, but I find the Apollo a bit out my league (800+€)!

 

Where can I get more info on that?

 

Which amp? That's my problem with the babyface pro... The crimson runs them pretty well.