RME babyface preamp question! bypassing preamp

[webstersp]

I have an RME Babyface, and the internal preamps cannot be bypassed - they can only be set to "unity gain" (gain at 0) which the RME forum admins claim do not make any negative change to the sound. Any babyface users around here that can tell me if using a mic preamp in the babyface with gain at 0 doesn't change anything on the external mic preamp sound?
I've just booked 2 hours at a store in Montreal next thursday so I can try different mic preamps with my mic and my voice, so just want to be sure I'll be able to use the preamp in my babyface.
If not I'll sell the babyface for the duet 2 or the track 16.

[David]

I have an RME Babyface, and the internal preamps cannot be bypassed

Doesn't the RME Babyface have line inputs? I looked up the manual and only saw a discussion of mic preamp and instrument preamp. I would ask RME what they mean by this? ↓

Picture 16.png (12.37 KiB) Viewed 883 times

[EricBradley]

You can not bypass the preamps in the Babyface.

[webstersp]

that's bad then.... I'll just sell it then! I should have kept the fireface uc!

95% of times I need only 1 or 2 ins but when we track the drums i like to mic everything and
play the song all the band together, this way we can get better energy as opposed if we only track our
drummer with a click and s#!+ track.

If I go the Duet 2 route + usb midi cable for the v-drum, could I use our band mixer a sound craft efx-8 in the duet?
Headphones mix to the bass player, singer, drummer and guitars etc? ( I have an headphones amp also).
Or should Iwait and see the motu track 16 (I want my audio interface bus powered and portable).

Thanks

[EricBradley]

Remember that the Babyface has an ADAT in/out. You can use an external preamp with a digital output or a line ADC.

[webstersp]

Yeah but I want everything to be as portable as it can be.... So the babyface + small mic preamp was a good compromise for me.
Now adding trough ADAT mic pres (usually 1U space) + and external mic pre would (I would have a great price on the great river if I like it on my testing).
If I have no choice I may go that way.
The mixer thing I was asking is only for one of my band, and the mixer always stays at our rehearsal place where I'll be tracking with this band so I won't be using it for any other of my projects!

[webstersp]

Doesn't the RME Babyface have line inputs? I looked up the manual and only saw a discussion of mic preamp and instrument preamp. I would ask RME what they mean by this? ↓

Picture 16.png

Answer I received from RME:

The Babyface provides line level inputs, which work also as Mic level inputs - thanks to the integrated preamps. Input 2 can also work alternatively as Hi-Z instrument input. This is nothing special, every manufacturer do it this way.

Mic, Line and Instrument Level – What’s the Difference?
Wikipedia: Line Level

best regards
Knut