Home > Audio Interfaces > Firewire >

  Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 Firewire Audio Interface


Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56
 
Alternative Views:
List Price: $1,299.99
Our Price: $999.99
You save $300.00!
 
 


Availability: Usually Ships in 24 Hours
Product Code: 9999-07179

 

Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 Firewire Audio Interface Details

Liquid Saffire 56 is Focusrite's flagship 2U multichannel FireWire audio interface. Liquid technology combines with Saffire PRO FireWire interfacing to deliver a host of authentic preamp flavors, seamless software integration, excellent routing flexibility and future-proof, rock-solid driver stability.

In addition to six of Focusrite's legendary mic pres, two of Liquid Saffire 56's preamps use the third generation of Focusrite's Liquid Preamp, providing the choice of ten different preamp emulations. These include emulations based on the Neve 1073, the Pultec MB-1, Telefunken V72 and seven more. A harmonics dial on each Liquid preamp lets you account for variance in vintage originals of the same model, or use levels of 2nd, 3rd and 5th Harmonic distortion creatively to shape your sound.

Liquid Saffire 56 doesn't just offer preamp variety; sonic integrity is also guaranteed throughout. Both the Liquid and Saffire preamps ensure low noise and distortion; while quality digital conversion and JetPLL jitter elimination technology ensure pristine audio quality as your audio flows between the analog and digital domains.

Alongside the two Liquid- and six Saffire preamps, are a host of options; 10 analog outputs, 16 channels of ADAT, stereo SPDIF, MIDI, and 2 virtual loopback inputs for routing digital audio between software applications - ideal for capturing audio playback within your computer. Mic, Line and Instrument inputs all utilize independent connectors, with the input type for each channel selectable via custom control software. Consequently, all the inputs can remain permanently connected, ready for whatever your recording session demands. In addition, word clock is provided on BNC connectors, allowing Liquid Saffire 56 to act as either a master clock for your studio, or as a slave to an existing clock. Every channel features an independent phantom power and a high pass filter, switchable from the front panel, with the two instrument channels also featuring -9dB pads for additional headroom. Front panel 5-LED metering for all inputs, including ADAT and SPDIF, offers accurate viewing of all levels.

Saffire Mix Control, the zero-latency 18 x 16 DSP Mixer/Router software provided with Liquid Saffire 56 features unparalleled output routing and monitoring. It also provides intuitive one-click set-up solutions, a clear and concise mixing layout, large on-screen metering for inputs, outputs and sub mixes and control over the choice of liquid emulation.

Two independent headphone buses are provided, each with their own level controls available on the front panel. A dedicated stereo monitor mix output features pads for improved sound quality when connected to active monitor speakers. An 'anti-thump' circuit protects your monitor speakers from spikes during boot-up or shut down.

All of Focusrite's FireWire interfaces are fully compatible with Thunderbolt using a simple FireWire to Thunderbolt adapter. Focusrite fully supports the use of Thunderbolt with their FireWire interfaces.

Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 Firewire Audio Interface Features

  • Two Liquid Preamps: The marriage of a hugely flexible analogue front end with cutting-edge dynamic convolution DSP, each Liquid Preamp lets you choose from ten different classic preamp emulations, with an eleventh ‘flat’ option.
    • TRANY 1 - API 3124+ (high-gain setting)
    • SILVER 2 - Avalon VT-737SP
    • FF RED1 - Focusrite Red 1 (high-gain setting)
    • SAVILLEROW - Helios Console
    • DUNK - Manley Slam
    • CLASS A 2A - Neve 1073 (high-impedance setting)
    • OLD TUBE - Pultec MB1
    • DEUTSCH 72 - Telefunken V72
    • STELLAR 1B - Universal Audio 610 (low-impedance setting)
    • NEW AGE 1 - Millennia HV-3D
  • Six High Quality Award-winning Focusrite Preamps: Six award-winning Saffire preamps complement two Liquid preamps. All eight demonstrate the same wide bandwidth philosophy behind the early vintage Focusrite units.
  • High Quality 24-bit/192kHz Firewire Interface: Professional digital conversion and JetPLL jitter-elimination technology; pristine audio quality and reliable synchronisation are guaranteed.
  • Total I/O Count of 28 Inputs and 28 Outputs: A host of I/O options are provided, including a unique 'loopback' facility for routing audio between software applications via Saffire MixControl.
  • Suite of Focusrite VST/AU plug-ins: Upgrade your standard sequencer effects and bring a touch of class to your session with Focusrite Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins.
  • Two separate headphone buses: Two artists can receive independent and fully customised monitor mixes. Each output has an independent level control available on the front panel.
  • Saffire Mix Control Zero-latency DSP Mixer/Router: Routing flexibility and intuitive one-click setup solutions; Saffire MixControl provides an 18 x 16 DSP mixer with excellent output routing and monitoring capabilities.
  • Front panel five-step LED metering: LED metering for each of the analogue, ADAT1, ADAT2 or S/PDIF inputs offers accurate viewing of levels direct from the front fascia.

Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 Firewire Audio Interface Specifications

  • Microphone Inputs
    • Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 109dB
    • SNR (A-weighted): -109dB
    • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB
    • THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    • Noise: EIN > 125dB (128dB analogue to digital) (measured at 60dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    • Maximum level (A-weighted): 8dBu at 1%
  • Line Inputs
    • Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 109dB
    • SNR (A-weighted): -109dB
    • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
    • THD+N: < 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    • Noise: -90dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    • Maximum level (A-weighted): 28.5dBu at 1%
  • Instrument Inputs
    • Frequency Response 20Hz-20KHz +/- 0.1dB
    • Maximum Input Level min gain no pad +8dBu
    • Maximum Input Level max gain no pad -42dBu
    • THD+N, -1dBFS, min gain, no pad < 0.0015%
    • SNR 109dB "A"
    • DNR 109dB "A"
    • Input Impedance > 1MOhm
    • X-talk < -100dB
    • Adjustable Gain > 50dB
    • Pad Attenuation 10dB
  • Headphone Outputs
    • Frequency Response 20Hz-20KHz +/- 0.1dB
    • SNR 109dB "A"
    • DNR 109dB "A"
    • Maximum Output into 32R +12.4dBu (+10.2dBV)
    • Power into 32R 250mW
    • Output Impedance < 7Ohms
    • Load Impedance > 24Ohms
  • Line level Outputs
    • Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 108dB
    • SNR (A-weighted): -108dB
    • THD+N: < 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
    • Maximum level (A-weighted): 15.7dBu at 0.883%
  • Additional Conversion Performance
    • Clock jitter < 250 picoseconds
    • THD+N AMPL (A-weighted)= -109dBFS
  • Analog Channel Inputs (Inputs 1-8)
    • Mic inputs 1-8 on rear XLR’s.
    • Line inputs 1-8 on rear 1/4” TRS.
    • Instrument inputs on channels 3 and 4 (separate front panel 1/4” TRS).
  • Notes
    • Individual switchable High Pass Filter on all inputs.
    • Phase switch on inputs 3, 5 and 7.
    • Input Pad on inputs 3 and 4 = -10dB.
  • Analog Outputs: Line level 10 x 1/4” TRS Jack.
  • Notes: Outputs Monitor 1 and 2 have anti-thump protection circuitry.
  • Digital I/O
    • SPDIF input and output (RCA phono) on rear panel, (24-bit, 44.1 - 192kHz), output transformer isolated.
    • Optional AES output mode with professional channel status and voltage levels on SPDIF output (isolated and balanced).
    • 2 x ADAT In / Out 16 channels (44.1 / 48kHz), 8 channels S-MUX (88.2 / 96kHz), 4 channels S-MUXII (176.4 / 192kHz).
    • ADAT Input and Output 2 can be re-configured to be optical SPDIF input / output via control panel.
    • BNC Word clock input and output (75 ohms).
  • MIDI I/O
    • 1 in / 1 out (16 channels) on rear panel.
  • Headphone monitoring
    • 2 x 1/4” TRS Jack on front panel (mirrors outputs 7-8 and 9-10). NOTE: These are high power headphone drivers.
  • Other I/O
    • 2 x 6 pin FireWire 400 socket - also compatible with FireWire 800 and Thunderbolt
    • 2 Standard 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors: In and Out
    • IEC mains power input connector
  • Weight and Dimensions
    • 5kg / 11 Ibs
    • 480mm / 19" (W) x 90mm / 3.6" (H) x 235mm /9.3" (D)

Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 Firewire Audio Interface System Requirements

  • PC
    • CPU/Clock 900MHz AMD or Pentium. (1.5 GHz or higher recommended)
    • Memory (RAM) 512 MB (more recommended)
    • Screen Resolution 1024x768 (1280x1024 or more recommended)
  • Mac
    • CPU/Clock PowerPC G4/Dual 1 GHZ or faster or any Intel-based Mac
    • Memory (RAM) 512 MB (more recommended)
    • Screen Resolution 1024x768 (1280x1024 or more recommended)

Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 Firewire Audio Interface Downloads

Click here to view all Focusrite products



Average Customer Review: 4.5 of 5 		| Total Reviews: 4 Write a review.

  0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 
Lots of Features for the $$ December 9, 2011
Reviewer: Steve P. from St. Louis, MO United States  
This is my main interface.  The preamps are very clean and sound pretty good.  The emulations are nice, although not as good as the real thing, but for the money you cant complain.  The software took a minute to get used to but after learning it, i feel it is very flexible.  Because this is firewire, you can have problems if you dont have the right firewire card if your on pc.  Mac users dont have to worry though.  I have used it on both systems.  Overall, i would purchase this again as an interface as the value is there, but it does not compete against actual hardware preamps and gear, the liquid preamps are nice emulations, but still just emulations.

Was this review helpful to you?

  0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 
Liquid preamps rule! November 11, 2010
Reviewer: Jose E Vargas from Miami, FL United States  
I just got this, and I feel it is such a blessing, because the liquid technology gives you so many options.
Think about it, having a Neve's preamp amulation, or an API, and even Telefunken!, all of them into a single digital preamp, is too useful and affordable.

In the other hand, see all the input/output options and its flexibility to be routed and mixed anywhere.

So much better than a 003.

Was this review helpful to you?

  0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 
Review of Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 July 16, 2010
Reviewer: Kenji Tagaya from Mill Valley, CA United States  
This unit is a great choice for a Firewire audio interface. The pres (non-Liquid ones) are clean and usable, though I'm not sure they'd have enough gain to drive a ribbon mic (haven't tried this).

I would prefer AES/EBU digital I/O over S/PDIF or ADAT. But I've been told by Focusrite tech support that the coax S/PDIF I/O is capable of AES/EBU input and output with the appropriate cables.

If you want optical S/PDIF I/O you will be sacrificing the second ADAT I/O ports. An issue I discovered (and verified by Focusrite Tech Support) is that if you use ADAT2 as optical S/PDIF, the hardware meter lights won't show you the level of the incoming optical S/PDIF audio.

Also, the headphone outputs mirror Line outputs 7/8 and 9/10, meaning you only get 6 independent line outputs and 2 independent headphone buses.

This review may sound negative, but all the issues I pointed out are quite minor. Those things aside, I highly suggest considering this as your primary FW audio interface.

Was this review helpful to you?

  0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 
Great pre amps July 6, 2010
Reviewer: Kenyon Kowal from Boston, MA United States  
I love this interface. This piece equipment has given me some great sounds with all the projects I have been doing. The liquid pre-amps are great too, some great vocal ones in there. I also really like the construction, very sturdy, unlike some cheap models. Definitely worth the money.

Was this review helpful to you?