RME Babyface Pro FS audio interface: features and spec-based rating

RME’s Babyface Pro FS is a USB audio interface with 4 inputs and 4 outputs.

An audio interface is the equipment that brings the sound of microphones and instruments into the computer and sends the computer’s sound out to headphones and speakers.

In this article we rate it on 5 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 23 audio interfaces we compare.

Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.

Figure: SoundBounty

Summary

Among the 23 audio interfaces, Babyface Pro FS is rank S. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and S is the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 4.8.

Strengths

• Microphone input quality (Gain 76dB / DR 117dB, 5 points): It records a microphone with little noise and a good level.
• Ease of streaming (loopback: yes, 5 points): You can stream the computer’s sound and your microphone together.
• Ease of recording guitar and other instruments (2 Hi-Z inputs, 4 points): You can plug in a guitar or bass directly and record.
• Number of inputs and outputs (8 analog inputs and outputs, 5 points): It has many inputs and outputs, so you can record several microphones and instruments at once.
• Features for production (3 of 3, 5 points): It has features for serious production, such as connecting MIDI equipment.

Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people who want to record singing and narration cleanly with little noise; people who want to stream the computer’s sound (BGM and game sound) together with a microphone; people who want to plug in a guitar or bass directly.

Main features of Babyface Pro FS

Microphone preamps with 76 dB of gain

It has two digitally controlled microphone preamps, and the gain range is 76 dB (including the pad), adjustable in 1 dB steps. RME says there is enough gain even for low-output microphones. The signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone input is 117 dBA.

Free routing of sound with TotalMix FX

With RME’s TotalMix FX you can route the inputs and outputs freely and make a separate mix for each pair of headphones. The mixer, which runs on the DSP inside the unit, includes a three-band EQ that can be used on all inputs and outputs, plus reverb and echo effects (an iOS version is also available).

More inputs and outputs through ADAT

It has an optical digital connector (ADAT / S/PDIF), and by connecting external ADAT equipment you can expand it to 12 analog inputs and 12 outputs. The included breakout cable also gives you MIDI in and out.

Headphone outputs, and a driverless mode

There are two headphone jacks, a standard jack and a mini jack, and the mini jack output has been raised from 70 mW to 90 mW in the FS version. There is also a class-compliant (driverless) mode, and it runs on USB power.

Where it is useful

• Doing serious recording and mixing at home
• Routing your voice, BGM and game sound in fine detail for streaming
• Carrying it around to record with two condenser microphones

Rating by criterion

Microphone input quality: 5 / 5

How quietly and how loudly enough it can record a microphone (low noise, gain range and so on).

Babyface Pro FS: Gain 76dB / DR 117dB. That is a high rating among the products we compared. It records a microphone with little noise and a good level.

Ease of streaming: 5 / 5

Whether it has a function (loopback) that lets you stream the computer’s sound (BGM and game sound) together with a microphone voice.

Babyface Pro FS: loopback: yes. That is a high rating among the products we compared. You can stream the computer’s sound and your microphone together.

Ease of recording guitar and other instruments: 4 / 5

The number of inputs (Hi-Z) that take a guitar or bass directly.

Babyface Pro FS: 2 Hi-Z inputs. That is a high rating among the products we compared. You can plug in a guitar or bass directly and record.

Number of inputs and outputs: 5 / 5

The number of inputs for microphones and instruments, and outputs for speakers and the like.

Babyface Pro FS: 8 analog inputs and outputs. That is a high rating among the products we compared. It has many inputs and outputs, so you can record several microphones and instruments at once.

Features for production: 5 / 5

Features for production such as MIDI ports, built-in effect processing (DSP) and digital I/O.

Babyface Pro FS: 3 of 3. That is a high rating among the products we compared. It has features for serious production, such as connecting MIDI equipment.

The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 23 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.

How we score (Audio interfaces)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Microphone input quality	Quietness (EIN), gain range and dynamic range	Average 4.5 or more	3.5 or more	2.5 or more	1.5 or more	Under 1.5
Ease of streaming	Loopback (send the computer's sound together with the microphone for streaming or recording)	Yes	—	—	—	No
Ease of recording guitar and other instruments	Number of inputs that take a guitar or bass directly (Hi-Z)	3 or more	2	1	—	None
Number of inputs and outputs	Analog inputs plus outputs (headphones excluded)	≥8	≥6	≥4	≥3	<3
Features for production	Built-in DSP, MIDI ports and digital I/O	All 3	2	1	—	None

Scored only on the body specifications published by the manufacturer and the functions listed on the product page. Price and bundled software are not part of the score. "Microphone input quality" is the average of three scores: quietness (EIN: 5 points at -130 dBu or lower, 4 at -129, 3 at -128, 2 at -127), gain range (5 at 72 dB or more, 4 at 65, 3 at 57, 2 at 54) and dynamic range (5 at 118 dB or more, 4 at 116, 3 at 112, 2 at 108). It is scored when two or more numbers are published. "Ease of streaming" depends on whether the interface has loopback, which sends the BGM or game sound playing on the computer to the streaming software together with your voice.

Babyface Pro FS connection and getting started

Connection	USB 2.0 to the computer (with a class-compliant mode)
Power	Runs on USB power (a 12 V external power supply can also be used)
Other	Setup software: TotalMix FX (Windows and Mac, with an iOS version). Drivers are available for Windows and Mac (a DriverKit driver for macOS 11 or later)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other audio interfaces

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Before you buy

• It has loopback. When streaming, you can send the computer’s sound and your microphone voice together.
• It has 4 inputs in total for microphones and instruments. Check that the number you want to record at the same time does not exceed the number of inputs.
• It has 2 Hi-Z inputs that take a guitar or bass directly. When you record without effects pedals or an amplifier, you plug into a Hi-Z input.
• It has MIDI ports. You can connect keyboards and gear that have MIDI jacks directly.

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