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List Price: $299.99
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- 8 IN / 6 out FireWire audio interface with 2 Focusrite mic preamps
- High-quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire interface
- Saffire MixControl ultra-low-latency DSP mixer/router
- Focusrite VST/AU Plug-in Suite, for use in the mix
- Xcite+ software bundle
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This works fantastically on my Mac Mini.
Mic Preamps: clear and transparent, both with condensers and dynamics. Max gain is around 60dB. With input volume knob turned 90%, you can do noise-free whispers on an SM57, just to give you an idea of the gain range.
Hi-Z Instrument Input: gain starts at +13dB, causing clipping when direct-recording an electric guitar with passive high-output pickups. This is a design limitation on many audio interfaces. The solution is an active or passive DI box, or turning down the volume pot on your guitar.
Also, at first I thought the instrument input sounded dark and muffled on guitar and bass compared to my previous interface, but turned out the previous was really hyping the signal through treble boost and compression. So the Saffire is actually more honest and even in representing the input signal, meaning it works better with software-based guitar amp simulators, whereas the hyped interfaces result in a scratchier and thin sound. Post-EQ can take care of any perceived darkness both for direct guitar and direct bass, without degradation or artifacts.
Headphone Output: also relatively flat frequency response. My previous interface was hyping the trebles on the headphone out, making it sound harsh on certain headphones. Not the case with the Saffire. I tried both 32 ohm and 200 ohm headphones, and it drives both well. Not loud enough for DJ's in clubs, however. But more than loud enough for mixing and tracking purposes... any louder and you risk hearing damage.
Stability: on my Mac running Snow Leopard, haven't had a single glitch.
Software: I only installed the Mix Control panel. It lets you route audio in various ways, switches between line and instrument inputs, etc... It's very lightweight and loads fast. You'll have to read the manual to learn it fully, but once you do, you'll realize how powerful and useful it is.
Construction: similar to any rack console. It's a half-rack chassis, body is made of steel, front panel of plastic. Knobs are plastic, pots are smooth. Doesn't feel cheap or anything. LED lights are green, not blue (thankfully).
Sound: As I said, the mic pre's are clear and transparent. No muffled, sterile, hissy, cold, grainy, etc... traits that afflict poorer interfaces. Vocals sound honest and direct. I recorded an acoustic guitar and likewise, it sounds recorded as it does in person. Tip: even if you record at 44.1 kHz, use 24 bit instead of 16 bit because it helps with dynamics and headroom and lowers the noise floor.
In conclusion, overall this interface does everything I need, and does it well. As I said, the only potential downside is clipping with electric guitar, which requires a DI box unless you roll down the volume pot. I'm running my guitar through a tube preamp though, and there's no clipping with that since the preamp output is more regulated than the wild fluctuations of a straight pickup.
What else... firewire beats USB, due to greater bus power available. The Saffire comes with its own optional power supply, but I'm not using it, relying on firewire bus power instead. The Saffire is FW400 by the way, so you'll need a 400 to 800 adapter if your computer only has an 800 port. One gotcha is that, although it's not absolutely necessary, Focusrite advises against hotplugging or hot-unplugging. In other words, to be 100% safe you have to plug or unplug the box only when the computer is turned off. I've done it anyway without ill effect, but wince every time I do.
Anyway, this box is pretty affordable for what you get, and is worth the step up from cheaper interfaces that cut more corners. I won't be upgrading my interface for a very long time.
Buy Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 8 In / 6 Out FireWire Audio Interface with 2 Focusrite Mic Preamps Now
The Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 works great on my Mac Pro. At the time of writing, using Mac OS 10.6.7. Directly accessible from apps, or the Mac's standard I/O. You can also use the Saffire Pro's headphone jack for audio out.
I got poor quality input using the default settings in Bias Peak Pro. But perfect audio with the Adobe SoundBooth.
You can power with the included power adapter, or it will also power via firewire.
Input from from a dynamic mic worked fine, though I needed to set the gain near the max.
Read Best Reviews of Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 8 In / 6 Out FireWire Audio Interface with 2 Focusrite Mic Preamps Here
the only problem i encountered with the saffire 14 is that my msi motherboard built-in firewire (with an extension bracket at the back) was not putting out the proper i/o. windows 7 identified it and loaded the drivers yet the saffire won't lock in with the software. however, as soon as i added an independent firewire pci card (with NEC chipset), the saffire locked in immediately and from then on, no other problems were encountered. so, the real problem was with my mobo and not with the saffire. in addition, the latest control mix software v2.2 worked nicely with windows 7 as some people had problems i think with the earlier software version; while latency is good enough for me at 5ms it's just used in a personal home recording studio; not too many audio tracks to work on, anyway. i have read good reviews about focusrite's saffire line of firewire audio interfaces and believe me they are not wrong. since i'm already a novation fan (with my xio synth), i'm now a focusrite fan as well.
Want Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 8 In / 6 Out FireWire Audio Interface with 2 Focusrite Mic Preamps Discount?
I bought this breakout box to replace an aging M-Audio interface (1010 LT, I think it was). I wanted the external box so I could have easier access to inputs & outputs, and because I needed a shiny new toy. After comparing reviews and prices, this box seemed like the perfect option. High build quality, nice specs, separate monitor / headphone outputs, and a software mixer for different routing options.
Aside from some initial technical difficulty -buying a new firewire card, routing/recording issues, latency issues -I managed to get the product working just fine. However, I don't understand why I had such issues to begin with. Even my ancient M-Audio card worked perfectly without any modification on my part. Was it the firewire? Was it the useless mixer software that doesn't exactly route audio the way it's supposed to?
I had to contact Focusrite's tech support on a couple issues, and they were all but useless as well. The first issue I had with latency resulted in a canned message suggesting I check out a couple of videos. Thanks guys, I didn't know I had to plug the unit into the computer! My second issue was that my recording software (P-head Record) allowed me to do zero-latency monitoring, but outside the program I had a delayed signal in my left speaker. Their response? "I'm not sure what you mean by zero latency tracking." WHAT? The term "zero latency tracking" is supposed to be one of your features! It's in all the literature! And, big surprise, they attached a link to a tutorial video. Worthless.
BOTTOM LINE
If you are adept at self-troubleshooting and don't mind working out a few bugs, you will find a sweet spot and really enjoy this hardware. Frequency response is beautiful, the hardware is made with high quality materials, and Record works flawlessly with it. I did have some issues trying to record internally (ie, from one program to another), but that's not my primary use. Minus one star for lack of tech support and a frustrating mixer program (just set your latency and ignore all the other settings), but overall still a great buy.
I got the Focusrite Saffire 14 just days before my album release party, as my trusty (but feature-limited) Audiofire 2 started to have firmware issues with the update to core audio in OSX 10.8. I needed an interface that I could both record and perform with, and the Saffire 14 fit the bill perfectly. I was able to DJ and have a cue mix from Traktor, while having my MIDI keyboard trigger sounds from Reason through one set of outputs, and run my guitar through the front inputs, through Guitar Rig and out another set of outputs seamlessly. No latency, no distortion, no crashing.
I've never even heard of an interface this versatile, feature-laden and robust for such a low price. The Saffire Mix software makes any ridiculously complex routing dead simple, and the included Focusrite VST suite sounds great. The mic preamps on the two front inputs are beautifully clean, crisp and loud, too. Get this interface and make good-sounding music easily (provided you bring the talent).
