Opinions of Focusrite Saffire

[frankcastle]

Hey guys toying around with getting some method of recording music at home. I'm into turntables and would like to be able to record and playback what I'm doing. In the meantime I plan on just using a simple tape deck but I've been looking that the Saffire it goes for $499 has a firewire connection (i.e. faster than USB and more flexible than computers requiring a sound card), records up to 196 kHz (i.e. can't get any better than that and far exceeds the needs of even professionals), has digital and analog inputs and comes with cubasic (where as some come with lesser known programs).

I realize this machine goes far beyond just recording but it allows a person to manipulate the recordings in ways that more traditional 8 or 16 track type recorders can't do..... or the ones that can border on the cost of buying a computer anyways (e.g. over $2000).

The final advantage I see to this machine is that it is designed to minimize the drain on your computer's resources.... that's not to say it doesn't slow things down but to a lesser degree than some other competitors.

This thing far exceeds my needs but I would never have to upgrade (or at least not for a long time or in the forseeable future).

So my question is this..... are there other machines that can compare to it in terms of price and performance?

 

[blackdog]

Take the time to learn protools if you want to go digital. if not, get an old 8trk machine and learn the process. You would be surprised at how good the old tape heads sound.

 

[frankcastle]

I'm not sure but I think Protools may be used with the Saffire. Okay I stand corrected I found out that it (protools) CAN'T be used with saffire.

The protools ready devices seem to go up to 96 kHz. I realized that for most purposes this is more than enough but for the same money you can get better resolution with Saffire.

What are the advantages of protools over cubasic?

I'm not saying that tape heads are inferior in terms of sound quality just in terms of flexibility. I'm just not convinced that buying an 8 track would be worthwhile in the long run since at somepoint you'll need to go digital with the final product (e.g. cd). But feel free to discuss tape heads as I know very little about them and have only messed around with the odd 4 track over the years.

WHOOPS I mean cubase not cubasic

 

[humbucker]

I've recently looked into the firewire audio interface market and have looked into this in fairly great detail. I was looking into the focusrite myself, but there are so many to choose from. The truth is that almost all of the products in the price range you're looking at will be very similar in quality.

I however would recommend the tc konnekt 24d though. It's about $100 more, but the quality of the effects that come with it are far superior to the focusrite. Plus, I've read nothing but rave reviews for it, while the focusrite gets moderate to favorable. If you're just doing this for personal use though, then either is fine. Just make sure that they have the connectivity for use with your turntables. A lot use 1/4inch cables, but some have a digital (ADAT or S/pdif output) - the focusrite has no adat.

If you want more info, feel free to pm and I can send you a few good links.

P.S. Pro tools is good but pricey! imo you can acheive the same results at a much cheaper rate using something like sonar or cubase, or a host of other sequencers.

P.P.S I ended up with the mackie onyx 400f - $1200 later, but it's more for mixing and recording multiple live instruments at once. But man, is it sweet!

 

[frankcastle]

Thanks for the tips humbucker! What type of complaints have people had about the saffire? I've only found positive reviews but that can be deceiving.

If the difference between what you recommend is extra effects then I'm not too concerned since I don't see myself wanting to add effects after the fact.

 

[humbucker]

It's been a little while since I researched, but here are two links with some reviews... It seems to me like tech support isn't great which imo is very important. The TC-Electronic for example, I have experience as being fantastic! That's not to say that the saffire is a bad product, just that you might have to go through a lot of hoops to get support...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/product/reviews/base_pid=245020/rpp=10/

http://www.zzounds.com/productreview--FOCSAFFIRE

P.S. You can also search these sites for other firewire audio interfaces.

 

[mmouse]

get an old 8trk machine and learn the process. You would be surprised at how good the old tape heads sound.

Yes! Especially considering Abbey Road and Dire Straits' first album were recorded on 8 track. You can also start with a 4 track cassette which people are probably giving away now. The complexity that computers add to the recording process only gets in the way of creativity most of the time.

 

[frankcastle]

PEt sounds by the beach boys was done by piggy backing 4 tracks together and inspired the Beatles and Stones to respond with Sgt Peppers and Her Majesty's respectively.