Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This works fantastically on my Mac Mini.
Mic Preamps: clear and transparent, both with condensers and dynamics. Max gain is around 60dB. With input volume knob turned 90%, you can do noise-free whispers on an SM57, just to give you an idea of the gain range.
Hi-Z Instrument Input: gain starts at +13dB, causing clipping when direct-recording an electric guitar with passive high-output pickups. This is a design limitation on many audio interfaces. The solution is an active or passive DI box, or turning down the volume pot on your guitar.
Also, at first I thought the instrument input sounded dark and muffled on guitar and bass compared to my previous interface, but turned out the previous was really hyping the signal through treble boost and compression. So the Saffire is actually more honest and even in representing the input signal, meaning it works better with software-based guitar amp simulators, whereas the hyped interfaces result in a scratchier and thin sound. Post-EQ can take care of any perceived darkness both for direct guitar and direct bass, without degradation or artifacts.
Headphone Output: also relatively flat frequency response. My previous interface was hyping the trebles on the headphone out, making it sound harsh on certain headphones. Not the case with the Saffire. I tried both 32 ohm and 200 ohm headphones, and it drives both well. Not loud enough for DJ's in clubs, however. But more than loud enough for mixing and tracking purposes... any louder and you risk hearing damage.
Stability: on my Mac running Snow Leopard, haven't had a single glitch.
Software: I only installed the Mix Control panel. It lets you route audio in various ways, switches between line and instrument inputs, etc... It's very lightweight and loads fast. You'll have to read the manual to learn it fully, but once you do, you'll realize how powerful and useful it is.
Construction: similar to any rack console. It's a half-rack chassis, body is made of steel, front panel of plastic. Knobs are plastic, pots are smooth. Doesn't feel cheap or anything. LED lights are green, not blue (thankfully).
Sound: As I said, the mic pre's are clear and transparent. No muffled, sterile, hissy, cold, grainy, etc... traits that afflict poorer interfaces. Vocals sound honest and direct. I recorded an acoustic guitar and likewise, it sounds recorded as it does in person. Tip: even if you record at 44.1 kHz, use 24 bit instead of 16 bit because it helps with dynamics and headroom and lowers the noise floor.
In conclusion, overall this interface does everything I need, and does it well. As I said, the only potential downside is clipping with electric guitar, which requires a DI box unless you roll down the volume pot. I'm running my guitar through a tube preamp though, and there's no clipping with that since the preamp output is more regulated than the wild fluctuations of a straight pickup.
What else... firewire beats USB, due to greater bus power available. The Saffire comes with its own optional power supply, but I'm not using it, relying on firewire bus power instead. The Saffire is FW400 by the way, so you'll need a 400 to 800 adapter if your computer only has an 800 port. One gotcha is that, although it's not absolutely necessary, Focusrite advises against hotplugging or hot-unplugging. In other words, to be 100% safe you have to plug or unplug the box only when the computer is turned off. I've done it anyway without ill effect, but wince every time I do.
Anyway, this box is pretty affordable for what you get, and is worth the step up from cheaper interfaces that cut more corners. I won't be upgrading my interface for a very long time.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 8 In / 6 Out FireWire Audio Interface with 2 Focusrite Mic Preamps
The Saffire PRO 14 is an 8 in / 6 out audio interface with legendary sonic performance and unmatched flexibility at a truly affordable price. The latest in Focusrite's new generation of FireWire audio interfaces, the Saffire PRO 14 is designed to make home studio recording and mixing easy without sacrificing audio quality. This new interface offers two award-winning Focusrite preamps combined with a host of additional I/O options, so you get the tracks you want without having to constantly re-patch your studio. Alongside the two high quality mic preamps, two additional analog inputs, four analog outputs, S/PDIF and MIDI open the door to true multi-track recording. Two Hi-Z instrument inputs let you plug straight in without requiring additional DI boxes, and two virtual Loopback inputs are also available for routing digital audio between software applications. Saffire Mix Control, an 18 x 6 DSP mixer, offers a level of flexibility that is unparalleled at this price point. This Mix Control software enables you to create six separate mixes without latency. Route any combination of input signals and sequencer outputs to any of Saffire PRO 14's outputs. Intuitive one-click configurations help you track, monitor and mix as quickly as possible. Saffire PRO 14 comes with all of the additional tools needed to start making music straight away. These include the latest version of the Focusrite Plug-in Suite, providing a significant upgrade from your standard sequencer effects.In addition, the two Focusrite preamps ensure low noise and distortion, while quality digital conversion and JetPLL jitter elimination technology ensure pristine quality as your audio flows between the analogue and digital domains. Combined with the latest in FireWire interfacing technology, excellent routing flexibility and rock-solid driver stability, the Saffire PRO 14 is the heart of the modern home studio.
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