Focusrite Saffire set for May release

Published 25/4/05

Further details of Focusrite's Firewire interface announced

Focusrite have released some more detailed info on their forthcoming multi-channel Firewire interface, the Saffire.

The unit is set to go on sale from May, with a confirmed UK price of £349 including VAT — £50 less than the original projected price — and it will be bundled with Steinberg's Cubase LE cross-platform recording software.

First seen at the Winter NAMM show, Focusrite's Saffire is a four-in, 10-out, 24-bit/192kHz Firewire audio and MIDI interface with onboard DSP processing. Two balanced mic/line inputs and eight balanced line outputs are complemented by S/PDIF and MIDI I/O.

The unit’s mic preamps provide 60dB of gain and there are two independent headphone outputs and a monitor volume control with mute and dim switches. The Saffire is Mac- and PC-compatible and connects via Firewire 400. It can be powered by the Firewire buss or by the included external PSU.

Focusrite have also released further details of the Saffire Control software which provides a flexible software mixer and allows control over the 24-bit/96kHz Focusrite compression, amp modelling, EQ and monitor-path reverb plug-ins which run on the Saffire’s own DSP. These effects can also be used as a native plug-in suite in VST or Audio Units format.

Saffire Control offers two preset modes of operation, one for tracking, with custom foldback mixes of incoming audio and tracks from a sequencer, and one for standard soundcard operation, with eight analogue outputs. Similarly, the EQ and compressor plug-ins, modelled on Focusrite hardware, have a Template mode, which provides presets suitable for a variety of instruments and sources, and an Advanced mode, where every parameter can be controlled.

Saffire Control's main window features faders for all incoming and outgoing audio and vertical strip meters for each stage of the audio chain. There are three main sections, covering input effects processing, the mixing of audio from the sequencer and the separate processing and mixing of all stereo outputs, including the monitor and headphone paths.

Setups can be saved and recalled and Saffire Control, which looks to be a powerful tool, can also be collapsed to a simplified format, hiding the more advanced settings, and set to ‘float’ continuously over the recording software in use.