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Splotch « Flexibility and quality »
Published on 03/02/12 at 03:29Firewire 400 sound card with 8 mic / line, 2 DI and 10 analog output + 2 headphone outputs with separate volume. 2 digital input side, one with ADAT option S / PDIF optical input and output S / PDIF coax. MIDI input and output and wordclock.
It only lacks the AES / EBU.
Two preamp technology with "Liquid" that emulates famous preamps, digital processing is applied and the impedance of the microphone input is changed, you can run the total harmonic distortion via the interface software.
Each preamp has a separate phantom power and a low cut, has a two-phase inverter and the DI has a pad.
Strong point is it possible to leave the plug in mic / line / DI have separate connectors and choose the software that you want used. That which does not disconnect connectors at the back of the unit when changing config.
A monitoring section is present in front with the overall output level, a dimmer which partially attenuated the release button and a mono sum.
Another interesting thing that the loopback is used to retrieve the output signal to send it directly into the DAW. Useful to retrieve the sound of a youtube video reading for example.
With the sound card are sold plug-in compressor, gate, EQ, reverb and good quality. This is the plug in suite.
Frequency of 44.1 to 192 kHz with ADAT S-MUX 4.
UTILIZATION
For now I have not exceeded 6 simultaneous inputs, but thanks to the digital inputs and outputs can theoretically reach 26 simultaneous inputs to 44.1 kHz
Latency is almost zero if I Monitore via the GUI, I use Live 8 and I arrive at a latency of 4 ms in both input and output without cracking.
Use simple and flexible and you can choose in which order the entries appear in the GUI and the assignment of the mix in one or more outputs, with up to 16 mix outputs assignable to all outputs.
The 8 meter seen on the front are significant and are assignable from the GUI input analo/ADAT1 or 2 and SP DIF with status LED on the front.
Section monitring has preset that mutates or démute the Sorites analog 1-10 for example to pass a config 5.1 or stereo direct monitoring for recording.
Assignable headphone outputs are mirrored in real output.
From a quality standpoint preamp it did not turn pale in this price range even though the liquid preamps are not a little soft. It will come in 3/4 of the race to a socket with a dynamic mic on an acoustic guitar kind of source.
GETTING STARTED
I'm working on an IMAC I7 I have had no problem installing, but I have some problem of the interface software freeze at startup only sometimes that requires me to restart the sound card. You plug and go.
It is not so simple to learn, monitor section requires a little time to adapt.
I also have a desire for recognition in Live when I pass the two ADAT S / P DIF input output section of Live always tells me I have 4 inputs / outputs 96kHz when in fact they are only stereo.
OVERALL OPINION
It's been over a year that I work with this sound card at home, I already have the Presonus FIREPOD, the Echo 12 and Audiofire Gina3G. I also work with Twin TC Konnekt 48 and impact at work.
The input / quality / price is very good and flexible connections is a really good point. The software is stable once properly launched, the freeze on startup are not too common but are annoyed.
In comparison I could Konnekt 48 of the city which TCelectronic for a higher price has less digital connectors (8 max enrtrée ADAT SMUX but even 44.1 2) less preamp (but better quality) and is less flexible.
Overall Saffire 56 is positioned as a good sound card that can change with a quality converter perfectly honest for the price. A good tool for the home studio that can afford to move.
It only lacks the AES / EBU.
Two preamp technology with "Liquid" that emulates famous preamps, digital processing is applied and the impedance of the microphone input is changed, you can run the total harmonic distortion via the interface software.
Each preamp has a separate phantom power and a low cut, has a two-phase inverter and the DI has a pad.
Strong point is it possible to leave the plug in mic / line / DI have separate connectors and choose the software that you want used. That which does not disconnect connectors at the back of the unit when changing config.
A monitoring section is present in front with the overall output level, a dimmer which partially attenuated the release button and a mono sum.
Another interesting thing that the loopback is used to retrieve the output signal to send it directly into the DAW. Useful to retrieve the sound of a youtube video reading for example.
With the sound card are sold plug-in compressor, gate, EQ, reverb and good quality. This is the plug in suite.
Frequency of 44.1 to 192 kHz with ADAT S-MUX 4.
UTILIZATION
For now I have not exceeded 6 simultaneous inputs, but thanks to the digital inputs and outputs can theoretically reach 26 simultaneous inputs to 44.1 kHz
Latency is almost zero if I Monitore via the GUI, I use Live 8 and I arrive at a latency of 4 ms in both input and output without cracking.
Use simple and flexible and you can choose in which order the entries appear in the GUI and the assignment of the mix in one or more outputs, with up to 16 mix outputs assignable to all outputs.
The 8 meter seen on the front are significant and are assignable from the GUI input analo/ADAT1 or 2 and SP DIF with status LED on the front.
Section monitring has preset that mutates or démute the Sorites analog 1-10 for example to pass a config 5.1 or stereo direct monitoring for recording.
Assignable headphone outputs are mirrored in real output.
From a quality standpoint preamp it did not turn pale in this price range even though the liquid preamps are not a little soft. It will come in 3/4 of the race to a socket with a dynamic mic on an acoustic guitar kind of source.
GETTING STARTED
I'm working on an IMAC I7 I have had no problem installing, but I have some problem of the interface software freeze at startup only sometimes that requires me to restart the sound card. You plug and go.
It is not so simple to learn, monitor section requires a little time to adapt.
I also have a desire for recognition in Live when I pass the two ADAT S / P DIF input output section of Live always tells me I have 4 inputs / outputs 96kHz when in fact they are only stereo.
OVERALL OPINION
It's been over a year that I work with this sound card at home, I already have the Presonus FIREPOD, the Echo 12 and Audiofire Gina3G. I also work with Twin TC Konnekt 48 and impact at work.
The input / quality / price is very good and flexible connections is a really good point. The software is stable once properly launched, the freeze on startup are not too common but are annoyed.
In comparison I could Konnekt 48 of the city which TCelectronic for a higher price has less digital connectors (8 max enrtrée ADAT SMUX but even 44.1 2) less preamp (but better quality) and is less flexible.
Overall Saffire 56 is positioned as a good sound card that can change with a quality converter perfectly honest for the price. A good tool for the home studio that can afford to move.