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Focusrite Saffire Details
NAMM Show 2005 saw the launch of the Focusrite Saffire, a new breed of Firewire interface with onboard DSP and 24-bit/192kHz processing. Saffire fuses state-of-the-art hardware with highly integrated software to take audio interfacing one giant step closer to the professional studio experience.
Four inputs (two digital) and 10 outputs (two digital) with unrivalled foldback and monitoring options ensure the engineer has all he needs to navigate through a modern recording session. Focusrite build and sound quality, intelligent front-end design and cutting-edge compression, EQ and foldback reverb software combine to guarantee an intuitive and trouble-free recording experience.
The brand new software accompanying the Saffire hardware is a revolutionary new platform from the team that produced LiquidControl and the Forte Suite. This stylish application floats comfortably over any recording software and allows extensive control over the sound of the recorded signals and the multiple (monitor and headphone) output paths.
Compression, reverb, amp modeling and EQ Saffire-powered plug-ins are included. All four are also available as a suite of plug-ins from within the recording platform in use. Up to five separate user-defined stereo mixes can be created of all incoming signals and recorded tracks from the recording platform. With such comprehensive monitoring/foldback options and onboard high quality signal processing and effects, the Saffire is truly the interface of choice for the serious recording engineer.
Focusrite Saffire Features
- Ultra-low latency Firewire 400 interface with onboard DSP
- 24-bit, 192kHz integrated A-D/D-A*
- Four inputs; two Focusrite preamps and SPDIF I/O
- Eight balanced outputs for creating separate headphone/monitor mixes or 7.1 surround monitoring
- Suite of Saffire-powered plug-ins; compression, EQ, amp modeling and monitor path reverb available on analogue inputs, for recording wet and or monitoring
- Free accompanying software allows the engineer to create up to five unique stereo mixes of all incoming and recorded tracks
- Plug-ins also available for use within the user's software platform
- MIDI I/O
* DSP plugin suite operate up to 96k Mode only
Host based Plugin suite operate up to 192K
Focusrite Saffire Specifications
MIC
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB
- THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Noise: EIN > 120dB (measured at 60dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
LINE
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
- THD+N: 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Noise: -88dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
INSTRUMENT
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
- THD+N: 0.004% (measured with 0dBu input and 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Noise: -87dBu (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
- Clock Source: Internal clock or sync to word clock on SPDIF
- A/D Dynamic Range 104dB 'A-weighted'
- D/A Dynamic Range 110dB ‘A-weighted'
- Clock Jitter < 250 pico seconds
- Sample rate 44.1 to 192kHz
WEIGHT and DIMS
- 1.1kg - 6.5cm x 17cm x 17cm
ANALOGUE INPUTS
- Mic: 2 x XLR on front panel
- Mic Gain: +13dB to + 60dB
- Line: 2 x 1/4” TRS Jack
- Line Gain: -10dB to +36dB
- Instrument: As above, switched to Instrument
- Instrument Gain: +13dB to +60dB
ANALOGUE OUTPUTS
- Line level 8 x 1/4” TRS Jack
- Nominal output level 0dBFS = 16dBu, electronically balanced
All outputs are useable as monitoring outputs
DIGITAL I/O
- 2 x SPDIF (RCA phono) on rear panel (24-bit, 192kHz) Output transformer isolated
MIDI I/O
- 1 in / 1 out on rear panel
FIREWIRE S400
POWER
- Either via FIREWIRE or external PSU (included)
HEADPHONE MONITORING
- 2 x 1/4” TRS Jack on front panel (mirrors outputs 5-8)
Focusrite Saffire Reviews
"Combining the I/O control in SaffireControl with the kind of pre-amp quality you'd expect from Focusrite, and the awesome tracking and monitoring plugs that require zero CPU from your computer, means it's true - you really can simulate a professional recording session in the comforts of your own bedroom, and all for under £350. For me, that's not just a giant step, that's the moon and back!"
Play - UKMagazine - July 2005 |
Clean and open sound, great price 
