Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP FireWire Audio Interface with VRM Technology
This FireWire interface packs 2 Focusrite preamps and top-notch conversion -- plus Virtual Reference Monitoring technology to help you mix in headphones.
Overall User Ratings (based on 12 ratings)
Submitted July 6, 2010 by a customer from gmail.com
"Decent unit"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
As soon as I can muster up an RME, I'm upgrading. Until then, looks like I'm stuck with this product for a long time so I better learn to work around its limitations. I would gladly trade it in for a MOTU Ultralite - only $150 more and more than $150 better.
I like the mic preamps and the 2 headphone outputs, and the sound is decent. Everything else about it is a disappointment. VRM seems like just a set of preset monitor-only EQ curves put in as filler.
Sound
I expected better from Focusrite. The sound is decent, but that's all I would give it. It sounded a bit muffled/muddy/less clear when I compared it with RME and MOTU. I know those are more expensive units, but the difference seemed more substantial than the price difference, especially considering the I/O feature set is also more limited. I find I have very little headroom to work with overall, except in the mic pres - which are nice. Sounds better than other units in the same price range though, so that's something to consider.
Features
Nice Focusrite preamps!!
2 headphone outputs is definitely a helper. However, there are only 4 analog inputs, and there is an ADAT/Optical input but NO OUTPUT! Why??? Only 1 firewire port so don't expect to do any daisychaining.
The Saffire Mix Control software: UNSTABLE. It craps out for no apparent reason mid-session and no response. That's serious. It still pipes the audio to and from the computer, so as long as you set everything before it gets stuck and don't need to change anything, you can keep working.
Input FX and plugin suite: Nice sounding basic plugins.
VRM: Bells and whistles that I still don't really see how that can really be useful, since your room, monitors, and everything else are still no less of factors to your mix. As far as I'm concerned, if the non-DSP version of this unit had 2 headphone outputs, I would have saved the $100 spent on this feature.
Ease of Use
It's not complicated once you get your head around the Mix Control routing possibilities.
Quality
Seems like it's built to be able to withstand minor bumps. As long as you carry it in a padded case and take care of it it should be fine. The extra points get lost on the instability of the software and driver. Make sure you don't have many things plugged into the same power source as this unit, because it's doesn't respond well to fluctuations and recessions in the power stream. I would keep at least a surge protector in front of it.
Value
It's not expensive, and the sound is decent.
Manufacturer Support
No experience yet, but their website has a database of previous troubleshooting correspondences available to anyone, so that's a good thing.
The Wow Factor
Much bigger than it needs to be with so few ins and outs, and it's just boxy. I'm happy not to pay extra for cosmetics though.
Musical Background:
Active Musician, Recording Engineer, Producer
Musical Style:
Psytrance, Experimental, Live Instrumental Recordings
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Submitted December 31, 2013 by John Lawton in Craig, CO
"I Love It/Goodbye [name of Focusrite competitor deleted]"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
The Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP with VRM delivers! I love it. One of the reasons I purchased it was because a prior recording interface had a set of horribly (by my !HIGH! standards) noisy headphone output channels. The Pro 24 does not. I hear no noise at all at normal monitoring levels. The pre-amps are very quiet, just like I need.
So far, I haven't needed Focusrite's support.
Focusrite will get the bulk of my pre-amp purchases in the next few years as I phase out under-performing [name of Focusrite competitor deleted] equipment.
zZounds--what can I say, but--I LOVE the fact that you don't treat me like a child and don't bribe me by putting candy in the box. :D
Musical Background:
Off and on, since the 2nd grade. I'm 57 and have been singing seriously for about 7 years.
Musical Style:
Rock, Country, Big Band, Folk, Spiritual/Holiday.
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