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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 03/15/09 at 15:57
(Originally written by Merlinpinpin/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Which technical specifications motivated your choice?
Monitoring with DSP effects and reverb, two preamps, two headphone outputs, secondhand price considering the features. Eight analog outputs.
What do you use it for?
To record vocals with my laptop outside the studio.
UTILIZATION
- Did you have any problems during installation?
Yes with several PCs.
I tested several Firewire PCMCIA cards and the solution was to have THE ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY WITH THE ADEQUATE AMPERE VALUE!! The device requires 12 volts and 1.5 A instead of 1 A as labeled on the housing (1.5 A on the Focusrite website). My 1 A PSU wasn't enough with the laptop. I'm happy I solved the problem because I thought I would have to sell the card just after having bought it (secondhand and without PSU). I found the right PSU on the web. I pass this information on to you because I spent a very long time looking for patches and other solutions. The problem was the incorrect specs on the device...
Other than that I had no installation problems.
- Did you have any incompatibility problems?
No (except for the mentioned PSU problem!
What's your setup (motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive,...)?
My laptop is an old Toshiba Satellite 1410 (1.8 Celeron, 512 MB Ram) I use only for outdoor recordings as a 4-track recorder. I own several stage mics and a tube mic, a JoeMeek MQ3 preamp and a VC1Qcs.
My main computer is a Core 2 Duo 3 GHz with a Scope sound card. I had no installation problems with the Saffire.
- How complicated is the overall configuration?
The software mixer is not very user-friendly nor intuitive but you'll get used to it. I noticed some bugs while setting the compressor (the application closes when you quit the compressor). You can save your settings and forget about them.
The reverb effect sounds good but not amazing. It's better than using a VST or directX reverb plug-in because of the latency, and it has enough quality for monitoring applications. Both headphone outputs are convenient to record someone while you control the recording.
- Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?
The user's manual is maybe too comprehensive and it could be easier to read because the internal routing is quite complex. It doesn't provide enough pictures and application examples. It has a muddled layout and the font is not easy to read (I would prefer a simple font like Arial, Times, etc.).
I give it a 7 because of the PSU problem (nevertheless the solution is now available on Focusrite's website...).
GETTING STARTED
Are the drivers stable?
So they seem.
- Are they up-to-date?
I guess... V2.5 is the current version.
- Which software do you use?
Cubase.
- What's the latency of your system?
It depends on your computer, but it's irrelevant thanks to the direct monitoring function. I'd say 6 ms with both computers (I haven't tried lower latency times). It wasn't necessary to have a Firewire card with a Texas Instrument chipset on my laptop, while my Iogear GUF202 also works pretty well (Firewire/USB2 combo). An ABIX 3 TI works fine too (both are OCHI compatible, which is required by the Saffire).
- How many tracks can you record/playback simultaneously ?
It depends on the HDD speed and the computer. The Saffire provides four analog inputs plus an SPDIF input, all usable simultaneously.
With the laptop I only record one or two tracks at once using both Saffire preamps. In the future I might connect a Firewire HDD to the PCMCIA card or to the Saffire (which has two Firewire ports, one for the computer and another one for an HDD or some other device).
The eight jack outputs are very convenient.
OVERALL OPINION
- How long have you been using it?
I've been using it for almost one week. I did some test recordings with a Heil Pro 40 mic. The preamps sound very good, better than the preamps of an MQ3 (small but good preamp). The digital connection is also an advantage . I can't wait to make more recordings with these preamps and some good mics, and I'm sure it will be a great solution: less gear, less cables... The two preamps allow you use stereo recording techniques or to use different mics, etc.
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Pros: Preamps, monitoring with DSP effects and reverb, headphone outputs.
Cons: some bugs in the software, no auto-save function (but you can save presets). The volume of the headphones is a bit too low. You won't become deaf... Very good sound on the headphones.
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
I bought a Behringer FCA202 for my MQ3. It's a good sound card for line signals (4/5 ms latency) but it's too delicate, headphones sound awful, and it only has two inputs and outputs... I also own a Sonicore Scope, which has an excellent sound but it's installed on my desktop PC. That's the reason I went looking for a good mobile solution. And I'm not disappointed: my recordings sound very good (much better than before).
- How would you rate its value for money?
Excellent... I bought it secondhand, but considering all its features it isn't that expensive if you buy it new... It's an excellent choice for my budget.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes, I wouldn't hesitate.
Which technical specifications motivated your choice?
Monitoring with DSP effects and reverb, two preamps, two headphone outputs, secondhand price considering the features. Eight analog outputs.
What do you use it for?
To record vocals with my laptop outside the studio.
UTILIZATION
- Did you have any problems during installation?
Yes with several PCs.
I tested several Firewire PCMCIA cards and the solution was to have THE ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY WITH THE ADEQUATE AMPERE VALUE!! The device requires 12 volts and 1.5 A instead of 1 A as labeled on the housing (1.5 A on the Focusrite website). My 1 A PSU wasn't enough with the laptop. I'm happy I solved the problem because I thought I would have to sell the card just after having bought it (secondhand and without PSU). I found the right PSU on the web. I pass this information on to you because I spent a very long time looking for patches and other solutions. The problem was the incorrect specs on the device...
Other than that I had no installation problems.
- Did you have any incompatibility problems?
No (except for the mentioned PSU problem!
What's your setup (motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive,...)?
My laptop is an old Toshiba Satellite 1410 (1.8 Celeron, 512 MB Ram) I use only for outdoor recordings as a 4-track recorder. I own several stage mics and a tube mic, a JoeMeek MQ3 preamp and a VC1Qcs.
My main computer is a Core 2 Duo 3 GHz with a Scope sound card. I had no installation problems with the Saffire.
- How complicated is the overall configuration?
The software mixer is not very user-friendly nor intuitive but you'll get used to it. I noticed some bugs while setting the compressor (the application closes when you quit the compressor). You can save your settings and forget about them.
The reverb effect sounds good but not amazing. It's better than using a VST or directX reverb plug-in because of the latency, and it has enough quality for monitoring applications. Both headphone outputs are convenient to record someone while you control the recording.
- Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?
The user's manual is maybe too comprehensive and it could be easier to read because the internal routing is quite complex. It doesn't provide enough pictures and application examples. It has a muddled layout and the font is not easy to read (I would prefer a simple font like Arial, Times, etc.).
I give it a 7 because of the PSU problem (nevertheless the solution is now available on Focusrite's website...).
GETTING STARTED
Are the drivers stable?
So they seem.
- Are they up-to-date?
I guess... V2.5 is the current version.
- Which software do you use?
Cubase.
- What's the latency of your system?
It depends on your computer, but it's irrelevant thanks to the direct monitoring function. I'd say 6 ms with both computers (I haven't tried lower latency times). It wasn't necessary to have a Firewire card with a Texas Instrument chipset on my laptop, while my Iogear GUF202 also works pretty well (Firewire/USB2 combo). An ABIX 3 TI works fine too (both are OCHI compatible, which is required by the Saffire).
- How many tracks can you record/playback simultaneously ?
It depends on the HDD speed and the computer. The Saffire provides four analog inputs plus an SPDIF input, all usable simultaneously.
With the laptop I only record one or two tracks at once using both Saffire preamps. In the future I might connect a Firewire HDD to the PCMCIA card or to the Saffire (which has two Firewire ports, one for the computer and another one for an HDD or some other device).
The eight jack outputs are very convenient.
OVERALL OPINION
- How long have you been using it?
I've been using it for almost one week. I did some test recordings with a Heil Pro 40 mic. The preamps sound very good, better than the preamps of an MQ3 (small but good preamp). The digital connection is also an advantage . I can't wait to make more recordings with these preamps and some good mics, and I'm sure it will be a great solution: less gear, less cables... The two preamps allow you use stereo recording techniques or to use different mics, etc.
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Pros: Preamps, monitoring with DSP effects and reverb, headphone outputs.
Cons: some bugs in the software, no auto-save function (but you can save presets). The volume of the headphones is a bit too low. You won't become deaf... Very good sound on the headphones.
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
I bought a Behringer FCA202 for my MQ3. It's a good sound card for line signals (4/5 ms latency) but it's too delicate, headphones sound awful, and it only has two inputs and outputs... I also own a Sonicore Scope, which has an excellent sound but it's installed on my desktop PC. That's the reason I went looking for a good mobile solution. And I'm not disappointed: my recordings sound very good (much better than before).
- How would you rate its value for money?
Excellent... I bought it secondhand, but considering all its features it isn't that expensive if you buy it new... It's an excellent choice for my budget.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes, I wouldn't hesitate.