UG-Rev 1.
Contents Introduction Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Getting Started Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Step 1: Sequencer Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Step 2: Driver and Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Getting Started Guide Step 1: Sequencer Installation 8.The first time you run Saffire it may prompt you to update firmware. Ensure you have an internet connection and follow the on screen instructions. 1. If you don t already have a sequencer installed in your computer, then insert the Cubase LE CDROM (the sequencer provided with Saffire). 2. Upon inserting the CDROM, the Cubase LE installer should start automatically. 3.The installer will guide you through the installation process. 4.
3. Digital and MIDI displays and control When an SPDIF (digital) signal is connected to the SPDIF RCA (phono) input on the rear panel, the SPDIF In LED in this section will illuminate. Similarly, the MIDI In and Out LEDs will light when a MIDI signal is received and transmitted respectively. When the MIDI Thru button is active, indicated by the corresponding LED, the MIDI data received at the MIDI Input will be sent directly to the MIDI Output, without needing to launch any sequencing software. 5.
Rear Panel Connections 1. Eight balanced analogue outputs on 1/4 TRS jack, labelled 1-8 in ascending order from bottom to top These could be used for mixing in 7.1 (or 5.1) surround so the outputs are marked with Left, Right, Centre, LeftSurround, RightSurround, LowFrequencyEffects, LeftCentre and RightCentre accordingly. If using 5.1, ignore ouputs 7 and 8 (LeftCentre and RightCentre). 2 2. DC power adaptor input This means that the interface can be powered by an external PSU if required.
Recording and monitoring a source using Saffire 3. Now get the artist to play or sing and set the level of the input using the gain adjustment knob on the front panel. Rotate the dial clockwise to increase the level, making sure that the O/L LED (top red LED) never illuminates as this indicates that the level is exceeding the maximum level of the digital converter (clipping point).
The recorded source should be heard on both headphones and monitors as the INPUT MIX-P/BACK MIX sliders will all be in a central position (as shown in the diagram on page 5).This means that equal amounts of the (playback) tracks from the sequencer and the incoming audio will be sent to each stereo output pair. If you wish only to monitor the audio being recorded then move this slider to the extreme left position. 6.
SaffireControl: Session Management & Advanced Settings Software interface performance and, of course, all settings within one or the other mode can be saved so that a session can be picked up again at a later date (see SOFTWARE SETTINGS section on page 15). SaffireControl initially boots up in S/CARD mode where none of the inputs are monitored (see PROCESSING/MIXING OF STEREO OUTPUTS on page 13) but, after using the application for the first time, the previous settings will always reload upon booting.
Input stage ins (as shown in the picture above). The default order of the plug-ins is compression then EQ/Amp Sim, with the first plug-in in the chain always sitting above the second. One mouse click on the relevant plugin button opens up a separate window where the individual settings for that input channel can be defined (see relevant plug-in sections on pages 9-11 for details). A further button is provided to select either EQ or Amp Sim, as indicated by the LED and plug-in window launch icon.
EQ the corresponding small buttons at either end as shown in the diagram.When in high/low shelf mode, only the GAIN and FREQ dials will be active for that band, and when in high/low-pass mode, only the FREQ and Q dial will be active to select the cut-off frequency of the filter. For example, if wanting to set up a low shelf to increase the bass, press the middle button on the left and then rotate the GAIN dial on the first band (on the left) clockwise.
Amp Sim Five dials are included to allow control over the amp s settings.The first is DRIVE, which increases the level of distortion when rotated clockwise. The next three are for adjusting the EQ of the amp sim; rotating the dials clockwise increases the gain of the LOW, MID and HIGH frequency bands respectively from left to right.The last dial sets the GAIN of the output of the plug-in; rotate clockwise to increase.
Compression Set the RATIO next, as this determines how much the signal is reduced by when it exceeds the threshold. For example, a ratio of 10:1 means that when the level of the uncompressed signal exceeds the threshold by 10dB, the compressed signal will only increase by 1dB.The higher the ratio therefore (the further the dial is rotated in a clockwise direction) the more heavily the signal is compressed.
Two buttons in the bottom right of the Compressor window allow copying and pasting of Compressor settings to and from other Saffire Compressor locations, running in SaffireControl or on the host computer. Balancing tracks from the sequencer/recording platform The mix created with these faders will become the default output signal sent to each set of the stereo outputs, controlled by the lower section of the Main Application window.
Processing/mixing of stereo outputs last one, 9/10, which is the SPDIF output and so contains no level control as the digital output level is fixed. This section of the Main Application window will change when the stereo link button in the Input Stage section is active (see STEREO LINK BUTTON CONTROLS section on page 16).
FOLDBACK REVERB section on page 15 for details on how to modify reverb settings. The top segment of each stereo output portion is devoted to mixing the levels of the input channels.This may simply be a case of blending between analogue inputs 1 and 2 (probably most common) or inputs 3 and 4 (either dry signal or SPDIF In) or it might be a custom mix of all four input channels. If simply wanting to blend between analogue inputs 1 and 2 then the dial labelled IN 1/2 BAL can be used.
hardware sets its level, to deselect it simply press the button allowing software control. Outputs 1/2 controls also feature an additional button with a downward arrow; this dims the stereo output by 12dB (the same as pressing the dim button on the hardware). Note that 9/10 output controls (SPDIF) do not have a level dial or a Hardware Control button, just Mute and Solo. buttons.
Stereo link button controls Pressing the stereo link button within the Input stage of SaffireControl results in a changing of the Main Application window format, as follows: In this mode, analogue input 2 is disabled and settings for the stereo pair (inputs 1 and 2) are both controlled from analogue input 1.
window to be expanded back to full size. Pressing the TRACK button will change to the tracking (recording) mode in which a mix of input channels with optional foldback reverb and a mix of the playback tracks from the recording software/sequencer can both be blended for monitoring and foldback during a recording session. Pressing the S/CARD and TRACK buttons and seeing/listening to the results is a good way of getting to grips with how SaffireControl operates.
MIDI Operation The Saffire operates as a MIDI interface with one input and one output. The Saffire can operate in one of two possible MIDI modes. The state of the THRU button on the front panel determines which MIDI mode will be used. capabilities. This mode is necessary when the sequencer is running, because it will prevent doubling of notes that occur when the same MIDI information is transmitted by both the input device and the sequencer.
19 1 Input L 2 Monitors OP Mix 1 R SPDIF Switch FLIP Level Meter 3 Input L 3 Aux Out 4 R Custom Playback Mix 2 Playback OP Mix 2 RVB Custom Input Mix 2 Dual Mono Reverb Return Custom Playback Mix 1 Playback COMP COMP Custom Input Mix 1 EQ EQ +48V SPDIF Input 1 2 1 5 Input L 3 Playback 2 6 Cue Mix 1 OP Mix 3 RVB Custom Input Mix 3 Reverb Sends 4 Inputs to Sequencer/DAW Custom Playback Mix 3 OUTPUTS R 6 7 Input Playback 7 L R 8 8 Cue Mix 2 OP Mix 4
Troubleshooting low enough for the signal to exceed it for the compressor to have any effect. (See page 11 for more information).
Specifications ANALOGUE INPUTS Mic: 2 x XLR on front panel Mic Gain: +13 dB to + 60 dB Line: 2 x 1/4 TRS Jack Line Gain: -10 dB to +36 dB Instrument: As above, switched to Instrument Instrument Gain: +13 dB to +60 dB WEIGHT and DIMSENSIONS 1.1kg 6.5cm x 17cm x 17cm POWER REQUIREMENTS 12v AC @ 1A SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Macintosh OS: OS X 10.3.3 or later CPU/Clock: G3/800MHz, G4/700MHz G4/1.
Warranty Accuracy All Focusrite products are built to the highest standards and should provide reliable performance for many years, subject to reasonable care, use, transportation and storage. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and content of this manual, Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd makes no representations or warranties regarding the contents.
