![]() Two of these mixes also double as headphone mixes feeding the dual headphone outputs on the front panel. 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. ![]() The generous provision of outputs makes sophisticated monitoring or external mixing possible, and means that the Saffire is also well suited to surround mixing. Each of the analogue output pairs has its own software level control, though the S/PDIF output level is fixed. 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. Oh yes, and you also get a fully functioning MIDI + Audio sequencer in the shape of Steinberg's Cubase LE. ![]() 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The example at the top of this article shows Mixes 1 and 2 aggregated together.Focusrite's first computer recording interface looks to cover all the bases with plentiful I/O, DSP effects and flexible monitoring arrangements. The mixes combine in the following way: Mix 1 with Mix 2 and vice versa, Mix 3 and 4, Mix 5 and 6, etc. However, the stereo button on the mix output aggregates that mix with the one next to it, and the mix tab at the top of the screen expands. a Channel Fader, and Mute, Solo, and Stereo buttons. The controls are essentially the same as those found in the mixer channels, i.e. The audio from the separate mix channels then goes to the mix output, which is situated at the right-hand end of the mixer section. It is also possible to name the channel by clicking in the box below the Mute and Solo buttons. Stereo – Aggregates the 2 mono channels together into a single stereo channel with shared controls.Preview the selected channel before the level is altered by the channel fader. Channel Fader – adjusts the level of the channel.Pan – adjusts the balance between left and right speakers.The inputs selected will be the same in each of the mixes, however, the other controls are specific to each mix. Inputs are all of the audio inputs on your interface (both analogue and digital), and DAW contains all of the audio channels being sent back to your interface from your computer (Digital Audio Workstation). The possible inputs are divided into streams grouped by source, as shown in the drop-down menu above. This is done by clicking in the box above the pan control in the channel, as shown below. The first thing that you need to do is to select an input for the channel. Let’s start by focussing on a pair of channels in the mix window: With the PRO 24 and PRO 24 DSP, this number is halved. When used with the PRO 40 and the Liquid Saffire 56 (pictured above), Saffire MixControl contains up to 16 mono or 8 stereo mixes. It is worth noting, however, that this section of the MixControl software has no effect on the signal being passed into your computer. The first section of this MixControl tutorial is going to focus on the top half of the control panel (shown below), and how to use it to create custom mixes that can be routed to any of the outputs on your interface. Applies to: Saffire Range and 1st Generation Scarlett 6i6, 8i6, 18i6, 18i8 and 18i20
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