All user reviews for the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP

I chose this sound card because I was looking for an interface that generates little breath and having a lot of input. I use a microphone EAGLETONE cm60 5 (connected by Stagg XLR), a B50-LTD and Schecter Demon (connected with Monster ProLink ROCK jack). It runs beautifully on my Macbook Pro 13 "(late 2011)!
In addition, I am tempted to let the VRM system because I have not bought my monitor speakers!

UTILIZATION

Installing Ultra Fast! Less than 10 minutes to install the software provided (Bass Station, Scarlett ..) + drivers. It restarts the computer and it works great!
Latency nonexistent! My Macbook has 4GB of RAM and about 800GB of memory. Left me 20GB free which explained the bugs with Ableton (Crunch audio) I have released about 200GB and it works very well!

GETTING STARTED

A Manual PDF is available on the installation CD. I did not need to read it to install! CAUTION! FireWire is 400! I had not thought to check the FireWire port on my Macbook Pro (800 +). Imagine the surprise! I had to make a trip to the Apple Store spend 30 euros in a FireWire cable! Disgusting! But hey .. It was my fault!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for just one day, this is my first sound card, and I'm definitely not disappointed! It EXACTLY match my search criteria! I have not tested the VRM system! Value for money very reasonable for my taste! It worth every penny! I need to gain 8 or 9 before I heard the breath! This sound card with good connectors and this machine is a racing!
I would do this choice without hesitation!
Thank you contributors Audiofanzine to guide me in my choice!

The Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP is a 16 in and 8 out interface that can work with a Mac or a PC computer via Firewire connection. There are 2 microphone preamps and built in effects. This interface has front panel metering LED and two headphone busses on the front for two different monitor mixes. There are 6 TRS analogue outputs and 1 6pin Firewire socket for connection. It is very small and portable but it seems to be very delicate. I do not think that it would hold up long if dropped or if it fell of my desktop and hit a hard surface. The knobs just don’t seem like they could withstand the impact without breaking off.

UTILIZATION

The price of this interface is very good, there are other interfaces in this same price range but most of them do not have effects built in and do not have a Firewire connection unless you want to go with a USB connection. This interface comes with compression, and EQ plug ins, it will work with just about any DAW (and I mean ANY one!).

GETTING STARTED

My favorite part of this interface is that it can work with multiple applications at one time. A lot of interfaces in this price range struggle with this feature/function. I am able to listen to audio from another source on my computer or pull samples by recording form other programs on my computer and bring them right in to my DAW with this interface.

OVERALL OPINION

I can even record directly from online sites that play music and bring it directly into my DAW without having to shut anything down or close it and reopen. This is a huge feature for me being that I am a composer that does a lot of sampling and using other FX from different sound sources in my music. I can say that I really appreciate this function from Focusrite.

home studio use only, I chose for its number of inputs and outputs comfortable, two headphone outputs with front volume and the quality of its preamps. VRM was a great surprise ...
used with a PC powerful windows 7 machine specifically configured for music, so good with the firewire chipset. Namely, I prefer the stability and speed of firewire for audio use. I've never met any incompatibility with firewire interface for outstanding stability.
I leave the USB control interfaces (master keyboard, FaderPort, BCF2000) ...
the absence of adat out is regrettable. Apart from this last point, it is a very well designed product.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are very stable and regularly updated days. used with cubase 5, I had a latency of about 6 ms (input / output) 24-bit 48 khz. I was able to save all entries without problems on projects loaded. the only limits that I met were related to excess plugins greedy in some projects, but that is not related to the sound card.

GETTING STARTED

you install the drivers, plug the card and it worked immediately. very simple configuration in the DAW. no crash, no incompatibility. perfect!
Management software of the card, Saffire Mix Control, is a small gas plant mix which allows multiple different functions of different outputs, but he quickly takes his hand. it gives access to built-in effects to the card (I've never used) and VRM (very good that, see below).

OVERALL OPINION

A very good product in this price range, above most of its direct competitors, without unnecessary gimmicks, effective and easy to implement, it knows how to forget in a musical process, and it is just what the you ask a good sound card.
the -: absence of adat out regrettable. the connection of inputs and outputs plastic could show flimsy to use. handle with care.
the +: preamps, two headphone outputs, stability and ease of use, and finally the VRM system ...
VRM: an option to simulate the binaural listening with headphones simulations of different spaces and different studio monitors. can not imagine an interface with 300 € you will end up with the sound of Focal or NS10M, do not dream either. Like many of us, the weak point of my studio is my local, in an apartment ... So I spend 90% of my time with headphones, I check and correct mix with my sheets (Fostex PM04, very good), and inevitably, after listening to other systems (hifi, sound, another studio ...) I am again obliged to correct the mix in order to achieve a consistent result on different sheets. Well the VRM allows you to simulate this phase of comparative listening quietly with headphones at home, and I must say it is very effective, it corrects many errors, refines levels, pans, and the equalisations cuts, and once it sounds several simulations, you have great chances that sounds anywhere else. Gain time for a consistent mix is ​​phenomenal once we got into the habit of using it.
Used for two years, I just sell it because I need more inputs and outputs, and want to switch to a higher range (presonus StudioLive). Under the same conditions, I will ever cut the same choice. In addition, I come to realize that Focusrite VRM had released a box for 100 € ... I ordered ...

Being moved from a Pentium 4 to a Quad Core Windows 7, my "old" map no longer MEDIA7.1 upgraded drivers for Seven. I did not break my piggy bank (it was already done for my new tower). I did a little tour of the market and proposed the name "Focusrite" and his fame have tipped the balance for the budget that I intended.
I was also questioned on the possibility to listen through the DSP presets plays different systems, so-called simulated by "modeling". And there, CATA: it's worth nothing!

My config consists of a Quad Core CPU i5 750@2.65 Ghz.
RAM 4gig DDR3
Operating System: Windows 7 64 bit
1.5 Terabit hard disk.

Usage: Home Studio noncommercial

I use the 2 pre-amp fronts for recording an electric guitar and / or acoustic and voice with a condenser microphone powered by 48 volts. 2 headphone outputs with their own volume knob (that's good).
The Soft TOTAL MIX Control "damn good (although a bit complicated at the base). But once treated, it does. Flexibility of listening. I have 2 audio systems easily switchable. 2 entries for each facial (those with pre-amp, so), can trigger a compressor and an EQ before recording. For those (or those) who have no compressor or equalizer of physical input, and it was interesting ... it works pretty good. Full routing capabilities. And if the Saffire does not support direct monitoring, there is a way through the DSP card to obtain a zero latency is not negligible (even if not quite true). Example: I get my electric guitar in Cubase and I choose an amp simulation. I turn back listening to the sound of the amp selected while I record and that's despite the "Zero Latency" everything depends on the buffers that you have chosen.
Automatic management of change of the clock. This means that when you go (in Cubase, for example) a piece to another 44.1Khz 96Khz, the clock will change by itself.
You can even send the reverb in the headphones of the singer for his comfort without saving it (reverb, eh ???).

UTILIZATION

The new drivers downloaded from manufacturer's works fine. No binz with Windows 7. VERY stable.
Used DAW: Cubase 5.

The music projects are still used beefy. It often revolves around 16 tracks to 20 with 4 to 5 plug in (sometimes heavy like Drumagog or another Amplitube 2 and 3), reverb, compressors, EQ, etc. ... or lots of MIDI tracks. But hey, there's very clearly the power of the PC that makes all the difference. To laugh, I tried it on my "old" pentium 4 to play a song and he would not even start: CPU Cubase in the red.
I've never tried to record several tracks simultaneously.
The latency (and hence the possibility of using very small buffer sizes) clearly depends on the number of tracks (with their plug in) you use.

GETTING STARTED

I have experienced no problem during installation. Do not install the drivers from the installation CD but get the latest drivers directly on the site Focusrite. On this site you can also activate the bundle of plug-in available for purchase on the card.
Not easy to navigate interface "Saffire Control Mix": true table mix / gas plant where a lot of routing options available to you.
The manual is downloadable in PDF format in French. I suggest you read it before use. After several manip not always included at the beginning, things back to normal and especially in the brain thereafter.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for + / - 4 months now.

As said before, my old card started dating. Personally, I never acquired a professional audio interface type while in the band I played in our room we use a MOTU 24 I / O and also a MOTU Traveller. It is clear that the MOTU is MUCH more professional. Quality pre-amp., The DSP PCI card in the 24 I / O, etc..

What I like:
the quality of its pre-amp (given its price), the management of two completely separate headphone outputs. The solid feel of the case and its knobs. The interface of the table with its mix, relatively, big potential. To hear my mix on 2 different systems plays a single click from the software interface.
The existence of a compressor and an EQ pre-registration. Failing to TOP, it at least has the merit to exist.
Its price, more than correct.

What I hate:
On the "Pro 24 DSP, they simulated by convolution, different speakers and modeling, different parts of listening. All this, listening through headphones. Not terrible. I must confess that I had packed it (before buying) and I had badly disillusioned later. For me it's unusable. It does absolutely not what REAL speakers give. There is even, in my opinion, quite far off. One wonders how the modeled speaker brands do not pose a defamation suit.

In conclusion, I would say that for value for money (even more convincing without the famous speaker simulation, since it is a model without the DSP and is less expensive), one has for his money. In fact, it is quickly forgotten, which for me is good.
In hindsight, I would do this purchase (although the simulation model without speakers) if I had to stay on budget. But if next purchase, there is, I think of stuff to look more professional. What? Ahhh, that I know yet ...

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

Need a card with digital inputs with optical and coaxial many routing options. I'm on PC, vista 32.
In fact the card is sturdy and looks good. Note that I did not test version or the DSP preamp.

UTILIZATION

Latency satisfactory, stable drivers in that they do not crash on my machine is on Vista yet. For cons, I had problems with clock synchronization. Can not remember my settings need to reset every time you open the software. So it's a bug of drivers that will be corrected may in the future. For cons, the advantage is that these parameters are accessible in the main screen of drivers so they can recover quickly without going through submenus.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is very simple and quick. The manual is quite clear. The routing options are numerous but not infinite and their logic is flawed. We are far from RME and MOTU unfortunately. If this is logical given the price difference, we say that this is only a problem of soft and that's unfortunate.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it one week and then restored. For two reasons:

- Problems with memory settings clocks
- Unable to route the digital outputs to the outputs of the card hand. In other words, not possible to manage the front listening level, for example, if your monitors are digital.

The converters are a notch below that MOTU and RME. The bass is less clear and compelling (well they do not drool over), treble slightly less accurate. But this is still excellent for the price.
In its price range, there is anyway no equivalent in the two trademarks at least not having usefulness of two digital inputs which case I prefer the motu ultralite remains more expensive maglré all.
I also had a TC Konnekt 24 which has always been unstable whatever versions of drivers. it seems that the twin impact encounter the same problems.

I therefore warmly recommend this card to all those who have a limited budget and want to benefit from wider opportunities while being aware that they will not benefit as much quality as MOTU and RME. Furthermore, it should be compared to its big sister the Saffire Pro 40, which for a few dollars more has more upscale converters (see specifications). The software remains the same with the same disadvantages.

Concerning the stability problems mentioned by some users, I would say that there is not as I turn on the OS market and more rotten than I have not had. on the other hand, there are still issues of compatibility of the chipset firewire whatever the machine and the fragility of any OS if the machine is too loaded or sized device. In short, all known computer problems independently.