Is it worth getting old RME for cheap (not a professional)?

[Reaktor Hunter]

Hello good sirs, I've found a good local deal on RME Fireface 400 for less than $260.
Although I am working with audio and daws for years, I'm not anywhere near a pro and this is not my job, so it is totally not worth for me getting a shiny new RME stuff, but I like having good quality things around, so I thought for this price for a quality (old) thing it might be just cool to have one around (given that I can find a converter or interface for firewire), what you think? Thanks

PS I'm currently on a good minimalistic Audient iD4.

[ericj23]

I have an old pci RME Multiface unit and I got it cheap(ish) because I was tired of dodgy drivers (Em-U, M_audio etc). I have had it for the best part of a decade and it has worked solidly throughout. I can't say i noticed the sound quality improving or anything but the sheer number of inputs and the steady low latency drivers have been great.

I would happily buy that unit as I think Firewire is slightly easier to integrate into a new PC than PCI. So if you don't want it .......

[kvotchin]

I would hazard a guess that a qualitative upgrade from Audient to RME would be minimal.

If the Fireface offers greater functionality, that you will likely use at any stage, there’s your answer.

Otherwise, yeah, not sure I would bother. Just my 2c.


edit: RME is known for excellent latency, so if that’s at all an issue now, sure, do the thing.

[JamminFool]

nothing but good things to say about RME. top-notch stuff with excellent support.

[Jopmanajop]

It's so easy to overload ID4 with just a few heavy plugins, the only reason I switched to UR22
You will gain so much headroom for plugins with RME drivers

[rod_zero]

Isn't the FF 400 firewire? that would be a big concern for me. RME is excelent but the firewire connection is something that can be an inconvenience.

[thor2]

I own RME BabyFace that I purchased second hand. very pleased

[Emilie Robbins]

I use an old one.
Certainly recommend

[nix808]

Firewire is problematic
-it's finished for a format
I'm prolly still buying though myself possibly

The Texas Instruments chipset is almost mandatory when you get the PCI port

If you get it, don't hotplug the lead, I think that usually crashes Windows

If you want a future-proof solution, and cheaper,
go USB2, which can be hot-plugged

[xtp]

Firewire is problematic

I have been using units powered by firewire since about 2005 on Win xp 32 and Win 7 64 and have never had a single failure or issue.

[nix808]

I stand by my query on using FireWire

-it is deprecated, it has no future
-hot-plugging crashes Windows I think
-only the Texas Instruments chipset on PC has good compatibility

… aside: I have had a lead burn for no reason (other than it's manufacturing)
and one of my FW interfaces has 3 out inputs(Mackie)
another one(PreSonus), the power supply failed I think

I am thinking to buy one second hand too, but really USB2 is the best format IMO,
no worries plugging it into anything whenever. The only drawback is possibly a touch higher latency,
I am running my USB2 multi-channel at it's minimum 128 samples and constantly using at least 6 channels

[thecontrolcentre]

I am thinking to buy one second hand too, but really USB2 is the best format IMO,

Isn't USB3 the way to go these days? I'm looking into upgrading in the near future ...

[nix808]

perhaps USB3 could be 'the' format,
but the interfaces are still pretty rare
USB2 is the most ubiquitous
I hear that latency is only very slightly, if at all, faster than USB2
Whatever bottleneck the interface causes in audio, it isn't really help by the increased bandwidth of 3 I have heard somewhere.
Here's one interface I was thinking of in USB3,
but I canned the buy because of expense and went with their now discontinued 2 model->
https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-192

[thecontrolcentre]

Here's one interface I was thinking of in USB3,
but I canned the buy because of expense and went with their now discontinued 2 model->
https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-192

Nice. Thanks nix ...