драйвер для focusrite saffire

There are two EQ window modes known as Template and Advanced. Advanced allows normal manual operation whereas Template calls up job-specific EQ presets that can then be fine-tuned using the four controls to access the main characteristics of the selected EQ type. All the normal EQ controls are greyed out in this mode, though you can see them move as you adjust the 'broad

The Saffire comes with its own reverb, EQ, compressor and amp simulator effect, each of which can be run on the Saffire's own DSP hardware or as a host-based plug-in within your sequencer. The Saffire EQ is fully four-band parametric, with switchable shelving, band-pass or high/low-pass on the high and low bands. The EQ curves are modelled on Focusrite's analogue equalisers, though as an alternative, an amp simulator is available for processing DI'd guitar or even bass guitar with a choice of four amp types. For anyone who has used a modelling preamp before, the amp sim will hold few mysteries. A Drive control sets the overdrive amount, after which there's a three-band EQ section and an output level adjustment.

All of the Saffire's DSP effects are also included in VST and Audio Units formats, allowing you to run the same algorithms on your host machine.All of the Saffire's DSP effects are also included in VST and Audio Units formats, allowing you to run the same algorithms on your host machine.All of the Saffire's DSP effects are also included in VST and Audio Units formats, allowing you to run the same algorithms on your host machine.All of the Saffire's DSP effects are also included in VST and Audio Units formats, allowing you to run the same algorithms on your host machine.All of the Saffire's DSP effects are also included in VST and Audio Units formats, allowing you to run the same algorithms on your host machine.

On the rear panel is an AC input for the included power adaptor, phono connections for S/PDIF in and out and a pair of Firewire 400 six-pin connectors. The MIDI In and Out sockets are standard five-pin DINs, while the eight physical line outputs are all on numbered jacks with extra legending to identify them if they are used for 5.1 or 7.1 surround. In most cases, a six-pin Firewire cable will be able to supply enough power to run the Saffire, though the PSU will be needed if connecting to a four-pin Firewire port.

The Monitor level knob controls the level of one or more monitor signals, depending on how you configure the monitoring from within the support software supplied with Saffire. By default, it controls the levels from outputs 1 and 2, but it can also be configured to simultaneously control the level of multiple stereo outputs by activating the 'H' button next to the relevant output pair level control in the Saffire Control panel. This is clearly handy if you're monitoring via an active surround speaker system as it avoids the expense of a separate surround monitor controller. Similarly, the balance of each headphone signal can be set individually within the Saffire Control software; headphone 1 mirrors the 5/6 output mix and headphone 2 mirrors the 7/8 output mix.

Two stereo, quarter-inch headphone outputs are provided, each with its own level control, and the included software allows the user to balance the signal being overdubbed with the DAW mix to achieve the optimum monitoring balance for the performer. Focusrite have used a high current drive headphone-amp circuit so there's no shortage of level here! This can be set up separately for any of the stereo outputs and there's even a custom mix option that allows the user to set a different playback mix for each output, if necessary. The two inputs on the front panel also have Line/Instrument selection buttons, allowing electric guitars and other instruments that need to see a high impedance to be plugged in, while the unit's single MIDI In and Out connections have activity LEDs and a switch to turn the MIDI Out into a MIDI Thru. When in MIDI Thru button mode, the MIDI Input will be sent straight to the MIDI Output, regardless of whether the host sequencing software is active.

The Saffire hardware looks very neat yet businesslike. Status and metering LEDs are provided where needed, though more visual feedback is available within the Saffire Control software. A swivel plate built into the base of the case can be rotated for greater desktop stability, and to keep everything tidy, all the connections except those for the headphones, microphones and two analogue line inputs are on the rear panel. Plugging into channel 1 or 2's Line/Instrument jack defeats the mic input for that channel. A single button switches 48 Volt phantom power to both mic inputs for use with capacitor mics or active DI boxes. The front panel includes input gain controls for channels 1 and 2 as well as basic three-LED metering — the LEDs light to indicate signal levels of -20dB, -6dB and clipping — and there's also a monitor level control with its own Dim and Mute buttons.

The Saffire Control utility allows you to submix the outputs from your recording application for monitoring, and to set up the plug-ins running on the Saffire's DSP.The Saffire Control utility allows you to submix the outputs from your recording application for monitoring, and to set up the plug-ins running on the Saffire's DSP.The Saffire Control utility allows you to submix the outputs from your recording application for monitoring, and to set up the plug-ins running on the Saffire's DSP.

The Saffire connects to the host computer, which can be a Windows PC or a Mac running OS X, via a Firewire 400 cable. The included driver is capable of very low latency, though with my G4 laptop it wasn't at all happy at the smallest buffer size of 32 samples — it sounded like a granular synthesis experiment! A 128-sample setting seemed fine, though, and as a rule, that's as low as I tend to go with any interface.

The compact desktop format of the Saffire hardware belies that fact that its stereo analogue and digital inputs are complemented by two S/PDIF and no fewer than eight balanced analogue line outputs. Each of the analogue output pairs has its own software level control, though the S/PDIF output level is fixed. The generous provision of outputs makes sophisticated monitoring or external mixing possible, and means that the Saffire is also well suited to surround mixing. Practical foldback and monitoring options are built in, and as many as five independent stereo mixes can be created based on a mix of the incoming signals and already recorded tracks. Two of these mixes also double as headphone mixes feeding the dual headphone outputs on the front panel.

Up to four inputs can be recorded at any one time, two via the analogue mic/line/instrument channels and two via the coaxial S/PDIF digital input. It's also possible to use the four inputs to record processed and unprocessed versions of the same stereo or dual mono inputs at the same time. The mic preamp is based on the circuitry used in the Focusrite Green range and is capable of very low noise and wide audio bandwidth. Oh yes, and you also get a fully functioning MIDI + Audio sequencer in the shape of Steinberg's Cubase LE.

The Saffire Firewire audio interface signals a new direction from Focusrite, a company best known for their high-end analogue studio processors and the cost-effective Platinum range, and they've certainly tried to bring something different to the party. Rather than simply put an audio interface and a one-in, one-out MIDI interface in a box, the Focusrite engineers have given their unit 24-bit/192kHz processing capability and added on-board DSP so that the included reverb, compression, amp modelling and EQ plug-ins can be run without burdening the host CPU and without suffering latency if used during recording. On-board DSP isn't exactly unheard-of, but a neat touch is that these same plug-ins are also available to install as native AU and VST versions to be used more conventionally from within the host application if required. The internal DSP reverb is designed to be used when monitoring the source being recorded, so as to enable the performer to have 'comfort' reverb when overdubbing in latency-free monitoring mode.

Focusrite's first computer recording interface looks to cover all the bases with plentiful I/O, DSP effects and flexible monitoring arrangements.

Focusrite SaffireFirewire Interface [PC/Mac] Reviews : Computer Recording System