A lot has been said about this interface. Maybe too much, or too few but words are flying over the net... Some say wonders about it, others say zip, and actually there are folks comparing it to Motu and RME gear... (Crazy might them be???)
I state in advance that this review is not comparing it with any gear whatsoever (in fact i will compare it only to my previous interfaces, and only looking at some issues).
Anyway, i thought i'd give it a try. A friend bought one and actually likes it, so... This tuesday i went into the store, and bought one to try it (15 days try out time, so i'm ok i think...
).
Introduction:
Focusrite is a well known Audio gear designer, most knowned from their blue and red line of gear. The Platinum line is a lower price line, though word says their gear's quality is very acceptable in all of their product line.
They started about 2 years ago working on the development of audio interfaces and DSP gear, most known gear being the Saffire line, and the Liquid Mix 1 and now v2 DSP firewire models. They've recently were awarded a Mipa for the best recording hardware for the LiquidMix (quoting:http://www1.mipa-award.de/2007/winner.htm#Studio).
Sideline... Oddly i don't look to liquid mix as a recording hardware, though this was the prise it got... Go figure... To me that is a DSP card, though firewire...
The Saffire line:
This is Focusrite's Audio interface line. There are 4 different interfaces, all different from another.
The biggest difference between them all i guess is the fact that the Saffire (the first one to be developed) had a simple DSP system, integrating 4 plugins. These plugins are also available in AU/VST version to all the other Saffires, and to be used inside any compatible audio sequencer...
The Saffire Pro 26 I/O:
This is an Audio Interface. Period! Nothing less nothing more...
From this last years playing around with this type of gear i've understood that most of them do what they do. Put audio into your PC. And believe me i've played with a lot of them...
Sometimes people think an interface will do this and that... Bullsh*t... It will get audio into your pc/mac/blablabla, period!
I'm sorry that i say this twice but it is what it is...
The Saffire is a 8 in 8 out analog device, with 2 adat ins and 2 adat outs, plus 2 spdif channels in and out.
It's a nicelly built piece of equipment, occupying 1 rack space. It's front panel (a light baby blue, with grey buttons and red and yellow leds) is soft and logicly disposed.
At the left you can see the 8 line inputs, followed by the 8 channel controllers. I am more fond of having the fader/controls near the channel input, but i can live with that. In the section of the chann 1 and 2 you have instrument selectors, and also Lo Z selector. 1st channel also has a mic
phase reverse selector. I kind of think it would be nice to have a M-S matrix circuit in one of the channel pair..
Each channel has a Hi Pass Filter selector. an over led and a level knob. Oddly there are two leds for the 48v Phantom Power source (showing the state of the 1-4 and 5-8 inputs) but this is controlled only by software!!!??? It's a question i have yet to see answered... If you want use 48 v in standalone mode, how do you select it???
In the end, you have a master output controller (Monitor) and with dim and mute button, that will dim/mute all outputs. Then 2 phone outputs, and last but not least the power button and the power status led. This led can be lit red (Bus powered), green (powered from an external power source) and finally it will blink depending on the device status...
Looking at the back you have (from right to left) the 8 mic inputs (XLR) eight balanced outputs (TRS), adat 1 and 2 in, adat 1 and 2 out, spdif (only phono) in and out, word clock in and out sync, midi in and out, and finally, the power source plug.
Specifications:
Let's make a wrap up of the specifications of the Saffire Pro 26 I/O...
You'll see i am not splashing the specs sheet from Focusrite, because IMHO, several lines are not relevant... Or if relevant for others please feel free to check Focusrite site. I'll obviously comment this specs...
Overview:
High Quality 24-bit/192k Bus-powered Firewire Interface
8 high quality Focusrite preamps with unrivalled A/D and D/A conversion
TOTAL i/o count of 26 inputs and 26 outputs
Free suite of Saffire VST/AU plug-ins (Compression, EQ, Reverb, Amp Sim)
2 ‘super channels’ with instrument input and variable impedance
2 separate Headphones buses on the front panel
Free SaffireControl PRO software for advanced monitoring and level control*
MIDI In and Out
Word clock In and Out
Front panel Level, Dim and Mute controls assignable to all outputs
ANALOGUE INPUTS
Mic: 8 x XLR on rear panel
Mic Gain: +13dB to + 60dB
Line 1-8: 2 x 1/4” TRS Jack (front panel)
Line 1-8 Gain: -10dB to +36dB
Instrument: As above, switched to Instrument (inputs 1 & 2 only)
Instrument Gain: +13dB to +60dB
ANALOGUE OUTPUTS
Line level 8 x 1/4” TRS Jack
Nominal output level 0dBFS = 16dBu, balanced, +22dBu globally switched with external PSU connected across all outputs
Software switched hardware DIM –12dB in output pairs 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Software Digital Volume control for all outputs
DIGITAL I/O
2 x SPDIF (RCA phono) on rear panel (24-bit, 192kHz) Output transformer isolated
2 x ADAT In / Out (44.1 / 48kHz), 16 channels
1 x ADAT In / Out (88.2 / 96kHz), 8 channels S-MUX
Word clock input on BNC
Word clock output on BNC
MIDI I/O
1 in / 1 out on rear panel
DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
Clock Sources: Internal clock, Sync to word clock on S/PDIF, Sync to word clock on BNC word clock input, Sync to word clock on ADAT1 or ADAT2 inputs
A/D Dynamic Range 110dB 'A-weighted' (all inputs)
D/A Dynamic Range 110dB ‘A-weighted' (all outputs)
Sample rate 44.1 to 192kHz
I think all this values are pretty standard.
Nice features are Mic preamp gain going to 60 db, all Analogue Inputs and Outputs are balanced, and A/D performance in all inputs and outputs have 110 db dynamic rante.
The Channel count is rather amasing since you can connect all digital inputs and outputs, though you'll need to sync them correctly!
Also channel 5 and 6 can be used has inserts and also you can use the Saffire as a standalone unit. This is particulary usefull for digital audio routing, mixing and A/D and D/A conversion, since you can route the 8 analogue channels to Adat 1 or Adat 2.
I like the idea that you also can connect adat 1 and Adat 2 in SMux mode thus using a Pre amp with 96 kHz capability and get up to 18 chns of 96 KHz Audio!
Performance/Testing:
So, i bought this thing about 5 days ago... It's a bit soon to start shouting around how good or bad it is... I've only played with it this weekend, recorded some fonts, and i'm planning to have a band come in and we'll have some fun testing it...
But i'm posting now my first impressions and i expect to talk about the "band experience" in a few days...
Ayway, i started working with the Saffire tuesday night. I use mainly cubase and reason to create my compositions, and record other people's work. I'm not a professional sound engineer so, most work i do is my stuff and several times i do some recordings very cheap or at no cost at all...
You might think a 26 I/O interface for me is overkill... Well... It is. But that's me, i'm crazy!
Anyway, Tuesday night i got to install the Saffire in my pc (the Saffire will install on Mac OX x, and also LINUX using FFADO (former named as freebob, as is at lease reported on ffado site.). I have Windows XP Pro with SP1... I've never liked the idea of installing SP2 and since i don't use this pc to browse the internet, i simply didn't install it.
So, i simply plugged it to the pc via a firewire cable. Installed the drivers, who ask me along the process to plug in the device, wich i do. Then wait a couple of seconds and... that's it!
Device installed and ready to use. Simple, no bugs, no problems, as all install procedures should be.
So, at this time i get to open the Saffire Pro control software. A nice blue window (much like the blue from the saffire) appears with a bunch of lights and buttons. At top i have the channel strips grouped by input. Analog, spdif, adat1 and adat2, have it's own tabs, making this management more easy. Each one will be enabled when you enable the source. At the right and disposed vertically (mmm i didn't like this very much... ) are the monitoring channells, with mixing capabilities. Yet to answer, how to enable adat and spdif output...
The remaining space is used to controll the device at different levels, such as wich sources are active, clock source selection, operation mode, device selection (you can connect up to 3 devices), session controll, and so on...
So, i thought i'd start to check out this by opening an old cubase project.
Start-Programs-Cubase SE wait...
and suddenly i hear a strange KGDSSHHHSHS...
What the muck??
Cubase continues to load, and finally i start opening my project.
The project is at 44.1 kHz, Saffire at 48... Strange... Pops and clicks while changing the clock, and the device shuts down and restarts... Seems it is this way the hardware changes it's clock... Geez...
Well... Go on... Project loaded, press play... Headphones start to play... Normally... OK, nice..
Now i want to test it with an adat input. I connect the adat out from my octane to the focusrite adat 1 in, change the source, change the source clock, pops, clicks, device off, device on, no sync lock and oeiwuhedknasud... MAn... It doesn't lock with a different sample rate... One has to sync clocks manually... Don't like this too...
Change octane's clock to 44.1, go to saffire controll pannel and... Err message in the screen "No Firewire connectio available, please check your cable"... I then look to the device and it is disconnected!!!! Shut it off in the power button, start it on again... [darn], the stupid session is off again... Input selection is only analog, i have to set this on again... Geeez!!! What crappy stupid control application...
Back on, i FINALLY am able to get octane and Saffire working together...
There was something strange going on here... I went to Focusrite Site, and got the most recent drivers... After installing things got smoother, but i still hear that odd noise when starting cubase se (i tested it withreaper and had no noise, so it might be a problem with the installation or from the fact i am using an old version (1.06)), and the device is a little noisy when changing clock rates...
(Soon to be continued - More tests to come: 2 adat inputs, spdif, and all inputs connected)
Quality:
Well, i'm always a little suspect when talking about the quallity of a new device. When i buy one, it is because i REALLY WANT IT, so when i try it i am in that urge to "make it work"... The past lines (the issues on the clock sync ant those cliks) are things that i am willing to "live with". From my previous experience, i don't think i will be changing clock sources, or even clock rates, every each minute... Usually i record 44,1 kHZ, or 48 kHz, always at 24 bit. Period. I think that noise with cubase is due to that particulary application and since i'm upgrading, it will be gone. And this noise didn't appear with Reaper, so... I believe this will be a solved problem by upgrading to cubase SE 3... Or starting to use reaper on a regular basis, but since i'm still evaluating that one too... lets wait...
Playback:
So, back to that Cubase Project... This is an old project i had. A band i recorded long time ago, with an old fostek board and a really crappy Guillemot MAxi studio isis... Strange heh? But it is a project that i always used to cheg each device i got, mainly because i know it very well. AND it is a project that i didn't took part of it... It's also a revival way to see how bad i were, miking and mixing... hehe
Anyway, usually check all tracks, and how they sound and then the overall sound of the mix... Then i'll tweack this an that, and several times i end up with a different mix... This is due to 2 things... My way of hearing this, due either to aesthetical form, or to improvements on my critical hearing... Or, finally because things really sound different because i'm using a different interface.
I ended up by tweacking more than i actually thoutht i'd tweack...
I also found myself hearing some tunes on cd, and some of my stuff...
With all of this sources the Saffire sounded coherent and tight. Nice controlled bass and really good highs compared to my other interfaces. A better scense of space and noticeable larger headroom... I was listening to it in an untreated room but i took some time to test it with heatphones late night (don't start it, i have a 2 months old daughter... my ears can take it, she's proven that!!!
Plus you don't wan't to wake her up!!! ).
Note: My previous interface (Maudio 1814) had a problem related to grounding and electric shielding... Everytime i moved my mouse or closed or opened an application window noise from the computer would be heard, like hdd acces noise. Notice this was not a Windows Sound since all sounds in my windows confic are always disabled. This was electrical! Though not nocive (i didn't notice this in the audio files) i was really anoying!
In opposition the saffire is really quiet. Not only this isn't there, as there weren't noticed any ground loops, or simmilar noises.
Recording:
I don't have the most trained ear and certainly am not one of those enlightned ones that have golden years that naturally notice small nuances between this and that pre amp... Also a dissertion on how good this amps are, and stating they are pristine would be at least... hipocrisy! I wouldn't expect 8 pré amps to sound as pristine as 1 pre from the red line...
In fact i even didn't try any red line pre, so and again, i'm not comparing it to other gear (trying to do an unbiased review here if it is possible)...
Anyway, Fucusrite states this pre's are derived from the green series. So, since i don't know really know what they mean by derived, and also i haven't heard one before, i'll simply make a subjective aproach to it's sound.
I was in fact hoping they were at least near as good as the octane's prés, wich are ok, imho. But it surpassed it. Not only they have higher gain, as they have very simmilar noise figures... A great addition is that while connecting the SP-B1 to the maudio i had some noise from the mike and it is gone when using the saffire. I believe there was a great deal of work on the electrics side, i may state the saffire is really quiet.
Great tight and sweet tone, very focused and almost no coloration. The Octane is a little higher in the mid and high section, and i find miself liking more the sound from the saffire... But then again, this are little nuances...
I tried mainly the SP-B1, and a dinamic Shure sm-57. Nice gain for the dinamics!
Despite those issues with the driver, it seems to be well developed at the audio side, and latency is not an issue with this interface.
I managed to get it to wort at 6ms/9ms with no glitches and no audio drops. 15 ms, is enough for virtual instruments, and general mixing.
Monitoring latency is virtually none with direct monitoring.
Conclusion:
Pros:
Channel count (26 I/O).
Build quality.
Nice pre-amps (as it is possible to me to analize).
Very quiet unit.
Price.
Cons:
Strange behavior on Clock changing.
Strange noise when using cubase old version (yet to try with new versions)
Cheesy control application.
Well, i guess for the next days i will be getting the most out from this unit, since i'm deciding if it stays (or not).
IMHO Focusrite has a great piece of hardware here, but clearly space for improvement in the controll application side, plus drivers.
Very nice A/D, good pre's and good D/A, low noise, great looks and good quality build...
The Focusrite gives the mobilized engineer the hability to record more complex projects. Just plug one or two adats and you're ready to go...
Rate: 8 in 10
