Key Features:
Liquid Saffire 56
The Liquid Saffire 56 from Focusrite is a 28 input and 28 output FireWire
digital audio interface featuring 8 microphone preamps, 2 of which utilize the
company's innovative Liquid technology. A comprehensive complement of I/O
options is provided, including a loop-back facility for routing audio between
software applications via the Saffire Mix Control software.
The Liquid preamps represent a marriage of a flexible analog front end with
dynamic convolution DSP, with each preamp providing a choice of 10 different
classic pre-amp emulations, with an eleventh "flat" option. Emulations are based
on the Neve 1073, the Pultec MB-1, Telefunken V72 amongst others. The other 6
preamps are Saffire based, with all 8 pre-amps demonstrating the same wide
bandwidth philosophy that lay behind early vintage Focusrite units.
Front panel 5-LED metering for each analog and digital input offers accurate
viewing of levels. Two independent headphone buses are provided, each with its
own level control. Additional front panel controls include a main monitor dial
with dim and mute switches, all of which fully integrate with customizable
software to cover every possible monitoring need, basic stereo to full 7.1
surround.
Saffire Mix Control is a zero-latency DSP mixer/router software application
that provides extensive output routing and monitoring, a clear mixing layout,
and large on-screen metering for inputs, outputs and sub-mixes. Additional, a
suite of Focusrite AU/VST plug-ins provide compression, EQ, gating and
reverb.
Features:
-
28 input, 28 output FireWire interface
-
2 Liquid and 6 Focusrite microphone preamps
-
10 balanced line inputs *
-
10 balanced analog outputs
-
Phantom power on all 8 microphone inputs, individually
switchable
-
Hi-pass filter on all 8 microphone inputs with 3 to 8
featuring phase reverse switches
-
Coaxial S/PDIF on RCA connectors along with 16 channels
of ADAT Lightpipe I/O (S/MUX supported up to 192kHz) **
-
2 independent headphone busses each with its own level
control on the front panel provide fully customized monitor mixes
-
Monitor control panel includes level control and "Dim"
and "Mute" switches
-
Front panel LED metering for each of the analog, ADAT1,
ADAT2 or S/PDIF inputs offers accurate viewing of all levels
-
Zero-latency 18 x 16 DSP mixer/router software for
controlling the interface and for setting up every possible monitoring need,
from basic stereo to 7.1 surround
-
MIDI I/O
-
Plug-in suite upgrades the standard sequencer effects
with Focusrite compression, reverb, gating and EQ VST/AU
plug-ins
*Note: Inputs 3 and 4 have additional Hi-Z
instrument inputs on the front panel
**Note: ADAT Lightpipe can be
switched to 2 channels of optical S/PDIF
System Requirements for
Mac:
System Requirements for PC:
Dimensions: (WxDxH) 19 x 9.3 x 3.5"
(483 x 236 x 89mm)
Weight: 11 lbs (5kg)
| Review at a Glance |
| What is it? |
24-bit/192kHz audio interface. |
| What does it do? |
Six Focusrite Green mic pres, two Liquid Channel
preamps, eight analog line inputs, two instrument inputs, 10 analog
outputs, two headphone outputs with individual volume controls, two ADAT
I/O, S/PDIF I/O, word clock I/O and MIDI I/O. |
Who would use it?
|
Compatible with all popular DAW software, except Pro Tools. |
How does it sound?
|
Amazing! The standard pres sound great and the two Liquid
channels are very, very nice. |
| What is so great about it? |
Inputs can be routed to outputs and used as a standalone preamp. |
| What is not so great about it? |
The GUI is pretty busy and takes a bit to understand. |
| Review summary? |
At $999 the Saffire 56 is worth it just for the mic pres, but all of
the interface features make this box a slam dunk!
|
Introduction
The Focusrite Saffire 56 is a serious box. It has 28 inputs and 28 outputs.
All of the analog I/O is balanced, except the instrumnet inputs on the
front panel. The A/D and D/A converters sound amazing. The six
standard mic pres are basically modern versions of the
discontinued Focusrite Green series. These are the best sounding mic
pres I've ever heard on an audio interface- they're that good.
Additionally, you get two channels of the famous Focusrite Liquid pres.
Ten Liquid models are available for each channel. The GUI allows you
to select the preamp presets and a single control parameter is
offered, increasing the harmonic content on the Liquid presets. These
Liquid pres sound amazing. They were easily as good or bettern than the
Universal Audio 710 Twin Finity and 610 Solo preamps I used for reference.
Here is a list of the Saffire 56's included preamp emulations:
API 3124+ (high gain setting)
Avalon VT-737SP
Focusrite Red 1 (high gain setting)
Helios Console
Manley Slam
Neve 1073 (high impedance setting)
Pultec MB1
Telefunken V72
Universal Audio 610 (low impedance setting)
Millennia HV-3D
I've never been one to compare every simulation against the actual units
modeled. The way I look at it, you get 10 preamps that all sound good and
all sound different. Just be grateful taht you're getting an amazing
feature set for a great price.
All of the inputs may be assigned to any output, and the Saffire 56 can be
used as a standalone preamp. $999 for just the preamps is a bargain, but
of course you get all the interface features too.
I assigned a Liquid channel to the S/PDIF output and sent that signal to
my M-Audio ProFire 610. The internal clock on the Saffire 56 is very good-
my session really came to life when the ProFire 610 was locked to the clock from
the S/PDIF input. The vocal and acoustic guitar recordings I did with the
Mojave M200 tube mic sounded great.
Both headphone outputs provided plenty of power to my Sennheiser HD-280
headphones. The main volume control can be assiged to control all of the
analog outputs making it easy to control the volume of a 5.1 mix.
Using it with Pro Tools
As I use M-Powered Pro Tools, I began to get bummed out that I couldn't use
the Saffire 56 as an interface for myself! However, I'm really considering
replacing my ProFire 610 with a ProFire Lightbridge and running ADAT out from
the Saffire 56 to it. In my opinion, this system would kill a
003! Something for all of you Pro Tools users to think
about...
Saffire Mix Control software
The GUI is pretty deep. Like anything offering many options, it takes a
while to learn. The software offers up to 16 independant mixes! It
also has a "loopback" feature that allows recording from a web browser or other
audio application. Pretty cool. This is also where users configures
preamp selection and input/output routing. The basics of the software is
pretty straight ahead and won't slow you down.
Conclusion
The Saffire 56 is amazing! For those looking at the Apogee Ensemble
and/or Digidesign 003, the Focusrite Saffire 56 deserves serious
consideration.