Published 6/7/09
Latest Firewire interface tricked out
A second version of the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 audio interface, which was launched at LIMS, has been announced. As its name suggests, the Saffire Pro 24 DSP features on-board Digital Signal Processing circuitry that runs “latency free” dynamics processing and reverb algorithms.
This gives the user the option to apply dynamics processing and reverb during the tracking process without the need for hardware, and without any latency, which is encountered when live input signals are routed through DAW software and back out to the monitor send. This is especially helpful for vocalists and instrumentalists, who often like to hear ‘comfort’ reverb on their headphone feed.
Also new in the DSP version of the Pro 24 is technology called VRM (Virtual Reference Monitoring). This “lets you hear your mix in different environments, through different speakers and from different positions, all just using headphones”. Over 100 different monitoring ‘scenarios’ are available to the user, with a selection of monitors and rooms to choose from, so listeners can place themselves in simulations of professional studios or even more modest bedroom spaces. The benefits of being able to apply a studio’s characteristics to the headphones feed, say Focusrite, means that users can make critical mix decisions without having to use nearfield monitors, and therefore without disturbing neighbours and family members.
The Pro 24 DSP comes with the Focusrite Plug-in suite, so users can apply dynamics and effects processing from inside their DAW software. There’s also a bundle of software that comprises Ableton Live 7 Lite, Novation’s Bass Station software synthesizer and over 1GB of samples. It costs £344 and will be available shortly.
Focusrite +44 (0)1494 462246
www.focusrite.com
This gives the user the option to apply dynamics processing and reverb during the tracking process without the need for hardware, and without any latency, which is encountered when live input signals are routed through DAW software and back out to the monitor send. This is especially helpful for vocalists and instrumentalists, who often like to hear ‘comfort’ reverb on their headphone feed.
Also new in the DSP version of the Pro 24 is technology called VRM (Virtual Reference Monitoring). This “lets you hear your mix in different environments, through different speakers and from different positions, all just using headphones”. Over 100 different monitoring ‘scenarios’ are available to the user, with a selection of monitors and rooms to choose from, so listeners can place themselves in simulations of professional studios or even more modest bedroom spaces. The benefits of being able to apply a studio’s characteristics to the headphones feed, say Focusrite, means that users can make critical mix decisions without having to use nearfield monitors, and therefore without disturbing neighbours and family members.
The Pro 24 DSP comes with the Focusrite Plug-in suite, so users can apply dynamics and effects processing from inside their DAW software. There’s also a bundle of software that comprises Ableton Live 7 Lite, Novation’s Bass Station software synthesizer and over 1GB of samples. It costs £344 and will be available shortly.
Focusrite +44 (0)1494 462246
www.focusrite.com
