Once again I contacted Focusrite, and once again my e-mail was answered promptly.
Saffire mixcontrol meters software#
I tried many different settings, both in my software sequencer and in the Saffire’s Mix Control, all to no avail. This is where I ran into problems again, specifically hung notes (notes that continue to sound when they should have stopped), and notes chopped short. My next project, two or three months later, involved using midi. I began mixing the audio for an album I was producing for a singer. With a new card installed, and my Saffire up and running, I was finally ready to start work. Focusrite recommend firewire cards with Texas Instruments or VIA chipsets, and although my card had a VIA chipset, replacing it with a different brand (but still with a VIA chipset) cured the noise problem completely. The support was very good, and helped me trace the source of the problem to my firewire card. Initially I had problems with noise from the Saffire, which didn’t go even with all inputs disconnected, so I contacted Focusrite support. Users may be confused when the computer asks three or four times for the software to be installed, giving the impression that there is an installation problem when really it’s just different parts of the same software package that require separate installation.
Saffire mixcontrol meters driver#
The driver and software installation went smoothly. Consequently, I would definitely advise against buying this unit on a Friday if you are intending to use it in a recording session at the weekend. With the many signal routing and monitor selection options available it’s easy to have the wrong combination selected, resulting in no sound output. The Saffire Mix Control is a little bewildering at first. Having LED meters, as opposed to just a single LED that only lights to show the onset of clipping, helps diagnose problems by confirming that a signal is present, even if it cannot be heard, therefore narrowing down the source of the problem. Five-step input LEDs give a clear indication of the signal level, helping to ensure that a healthy signal level is going into the unit. Focusrite even include a reverb plugin, along with compression and EQ plugins too.Īnother noteworthy feature is the LED display. This in itself would have been good but Focusrite, through their Mix Control software, allow different mixes to be sent to each headphone output, along with effects as well! This means, for example, a vocalist could have some comfort reverb added (but not recorded) to his/her mix, while the engineer could have a dry mix. One such feature is, as already mentioned, the two headphone outputs, each with its own volume control. However, the Saffire has some features that make it stand out from the crowd. There is an abundance of audio/midi interfaces on the market using USB or Firewire, so the choice can be overwhelming.