Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP FireWire Audio Interface with VRM Technology

The Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP is Focusrite's latest 16 In / 8 Out FireWire audio interface, featuring real-time DSP-powered tracking and mixing solutions tailor-made for the modern home studio environment.

Alongside DSP-powered Compression and EQ for latency-free tracking and 'comfort' reverb, is VRM; a Virtual Reference Monitoring technology that lets you hear your mix in different environments, through different speakers and from different positions, all just using headphones.

VRM makes Saffire PRO 24 DSP the only interface capable of simulating over one hundred different monitoring scenarios through your headphones. VRM overcomes the major obstacle for mixing with headphones by giving you multiple perspectives on your mix, as if you were listening through speakers. Indeed, noise levels from mixing through speakers can make it impossible for most to mix at home, especially late at night; with VRM, you can mix anytime, anywhere. Using any pair of monitoring headphones, VRM let's you choose your mixing environment from a living room, a bedroom studio, or a professional studio. You then simply choose where you are positioned in that room and what speakers you listen through.

Saffire PRO 24 DSP draws on twenty-five years of mic-pre excellence. The two Focusrite pre-amps capture every subtle nuance of your sound whilst ensuring low noise and distortion. Meanwhile, high-quality digital conversion and JetPLL(TM) jitter elimination technology ensure pristine audio quality as your audio flows between the analogue and digital domains.

Saffire PRO 24 DSP's other real-time DSP-powered effects also exhibit Focusrite's uncompromised approach to audio quality. EQ, Compression and 'Comfort' Reverb sonically derived from the 'Focusrite Plug-in Suite' (also included as VST/AU plug-ins) are all integrated within the Saffire Mix Control software, providing professional latency-free tools for tracking and monitoring.

Alongside the two Focusrite pre-amps are a host of I/O options; two additional analogue inputs, six analogue outputs, ADAT inputs (for expanding the interface with, for example, Focusrite's OctoPre), stereo SPDIF I/O and 2 virtual 'loopback' inputs for routing digital audio between software applications - ideal for capturing online audio. Front panel 5-LED metering for each analogue input offers accurate viewing of levels.

Saffire Mix Control, the zero-latency 16 x 8 DSP Mixer/Router software provided with Saffire PRO 24 DSP, sets a new standard at this price point for audio interface control. It features flexible output routing and monitoring, as well as intuitive one-click set-up solutions designed to help you track, monitor and mix as easily as possible.

Saffire PRO 24 DSP also comes with all the additional tools needed to start making music right away. These include the latest version of the Focusrite Plug-in Suite, which provides a significant upgrade from your standard sequencer effects. The suite includes Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins.

Focusrite's established Xcite+ bundle is also included. The bundle features Ableton Live 7 Lite (for all your production, performance and compositional needs), Novation's Bass Station soft synth and over 1 gig of royalty-free samples from Loopmasters and 'Mike the Drummer'.

Saffire PRO 24 DSP combines two award-winning Focusrite pre-amps and a host of other I/O with VRM Virtual Reference Monitoring, integrated real-time tracking and monitoring effects, and easy-to-use mix control software. Together, they deliver the most comprehensive professional compact music-recording interface to date.

VRM Virtual Reference Monitoring
Hear your mix in different environments, through different speakers and from different positions, just using headphones

Two High Quality Award-winning Focusrite Pre-amps
The best sounding interface in its class. Focusrite's unparalleled pre-amp legacy forms the foundation of this new interface, with two award-winning Focusrite pre-amps.

Onboard DSP-powered, latency-free tracking and mixing tools
Classic Focusrite EQ and Compression for tracking, as well as 'comfort' reverb to place across your monitor mixes.

High Quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire Interface
Features high quality A-D / D-A conversion and JetPLL(TM) jitter elimination technology; pristine audio quality and reliable synchronisation are guaranteed.

Total I/O Count of 16 Inputs and 8 Outputs
A host of I/O options are provided, including a unique loop-back facility for routing audio between software applications via Saffire Mix Control.

Saffire Mix Control Zero-latency DSP Mixer/Router
Routing flexibility and intuitive one-click set-up solutions; Saffire Mix Control provides an 16 x 8 DSP mixer with excellent output routing and monitoring capabilities.

Xcite+ Software Bundle
Featuring a host of royalty-free loops and samples, a full-fledged Novation soft-synth and Ableton Live 7 Lite, providing an affordable upgrade path to Ableton Live.

Focusrite VST/AU Plug-in Suite, for use in the mix
Upgrade your standard sequencer effects and bring a touch of class to your session with all-new Focusrite Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins.

Front panel 5-LED metering
LED metering for each of the analogue inputs offers accurate viewing of levels direct from the front fascia.

Two dedicated front-panel headphone busses
Providing two fully customised monitor mixes, with tactile level control available on the front panel.

Bus-powered for a tidy mobile recording rig
Saffire PRO 24 DSP can be powered via FireWire, or via its own power supply

Virtual Reference Monitoring
The Problem
VRM (Virtual Reference Monitoring) is Focusrite's own loudspeaker & room simulator designed for headphone listening. Accurate mixing has until now, required expensive monitors and a carefully designed and treated control room. Currently, both professional music producers facing budgetary limitations and project music makers without access to such, frequently encounter mixing and "auditioning" difficulties.

The Solution
VRM allows you to choose from 10 pairs of industry standard nearfield and main monitors in an acoustically treated control room. You can select 6 different listening positions within that room; vary your distance from the monitors and move from left to right to check stereo imaging.

Engineers routinely A/B their mixes by burning CDs and taking them into untreated rooms to reference on consumer stereos. VRM eliminates this process by simulating two extra rooms; a large living room and a smaller bedroom. You can choose between a range of speakers including quality hi-fi, computer, cheap stereo and television speakers. As with the control room simulation, you can select between a number of listening positions to check stereo imaging and observe the effects of typical room modes on your mixes.

The Method
VRM uses standard headphones to reproduce the direct sound, together with a DSP system that is used to simulate specific monitoring scenarios. VRM's room models are mathematical models which provide greater flexibility in the possible combinations of loudspeakers and listening positions. The loudspeaker simulations are created using convolutions of impulse responses measured using the original loudspeakers. The accuracy of these simulations in different environments is taken care of by the impulse responses themselves and the way they are calculated and manipulated. Saffire Pro 24 DSP takes all the processing load off your computer.

Technical Info

Specifications

Microphone Inputs:
- Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 106dB
- SNR (A-weighted): -105.3dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB
- THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Noise: EIN > 125dB (128dB analogue to digital) (measured at 60dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Maximum level (A-weighted): 8.6dBu at 1%

Line Inputs:
- Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 106.5dB
- SNR (A-weighted): -106dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
- THD+N (A-Weighted): < 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Noise: -90dBu (22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Maximum level (A-weighted): 16.3dBu at 1%

Instrument Inputs:
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1dB
- THD+N: 0.004% (measured with 0dBu input and 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Noise: -87dBu (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)

Line level Outputs:
- Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 105dB
- SNR (A-weighted): -104.5dB
- THD+N: < 0.001% (measured with 0dBFS input and 22Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
- Maximum level (A-weighted): 16.13dBu at 0.885%

Additional Conversion Performance:
- Clock jitter < 250 picoseconds
- THD+N AMPL (A-weighted)= -107dBFS

Connectivity
Analogue Channel Inputs (Inputs 1-4):
- 2 x XLR Mic/Line Neutrik Combi-Jacks (Inputs 1-2)
- 2 x XLR Instrument Neutrik Combi-Jacks (Instrument on inputs 1 and 2 only)

Automatic switch of Mic / Line (inserting a jack switches from Mic to either Line or Instrument (instrument selected via the software control panel)

Line inputs 3-4 have low and high gain settings can be controlled from the Saffire MixControl software (low gain being the default)

Digital Channel Inputs (Inputs 5-14) 44.1-96kHz:
- Stereo S/PDIF input on RCA
- 1 x 8 channel ADAT input on Optical Connector (SDPIF 3&4 set in preferences menu)

Analogue Audio Outputs (Outputs 1-6):
6 x TRS analogue outputs (Outputs 1-6)
2 x TRS stereo headphone output (headphone mix 1 same as outputs 3 & 4)

Digital Channel Outputs (Outputs 7-8) 44.1-96kHz:
- Stereo S/PDIF output on RCA

Other I/O:
- 1 x 6-pin Firewire socket
- 2 Standard 5-pin DIN MIDI connectors: In and Out
- 12V DC power input connector for use with external PSU

Weight and Dims:
- 1.6kg / 3.5 lbs
- 215mm / 8.5" (W) x 45mm / 1.8" (H) x 220mm / 8.65" (D)

System Requirements

Apple Mac
Operating System:
For up-to-date information about operating system compatibility, please see the OS Compatibility Checker.

Computer:
Apple Macintosh with FireWire 400 port (or 800 port with 800 to 400 adaptor)

CPU/Clock:
PowerPC G4/Dual 1 GHZ or faster or any Intel-based Mac

Memory (RAM):
512 MB (more recommended)

Screen Resolution:
1024x768 (1280x1024 or more recommended)

Windows
Operating System:
For up-to-date information about operating system compatibility, please see the OS Compatibility Checker.

Computer:
Windows compatible computer with FireWire 400 port.

CPU/Clock:
Pentium or AMD with 1 GHz or higher (Dual 1 GHz or better
recommended)

Memory (RAM):
512 MB (more recommended)

Screen Resolution:
1024x768 (1280x1024 or more recommended)