SAFFIRE 6 USB

Introduction

The Focusrite Saffire 6 USB is a 2 in / 4 out USB audio interface. It uses the same award-winning Focusrite mic preamps as the rest of the Saffire range. This makes it the best value, and best sounding interface in its class. Its output configuration is also ideal for laptop DJs.

It is ultra-reliable and easy to set up, providing you with the simplest route to record into, and play back from your computer. It has lower latency than any of its rivals, and professional analogue to digital converters ensure you get the best possible signal into your recording software.

With 2 mic pres, multiple outputs and MIDI I/O, the Saffire 6 USB can be at the centre of your home recording set-up. However, its reliability means that you can take it out and record on location with confidence. The 2 in 4 out configuration is perfect for laptop DJs who need to be able to cue up material, or send two different signals to either side of a DJ mixer.

This is our most affordable interface to date, and it comes with Ableton Live Lite 8, Novation's Bass Station synthesizer and over a gigabyte of samples. In addition to all this, you get the Focusrite FX Suite, which includes a compressor, gate, reverb and EQ to upgrade your standard AU/VST effects.

The Saffire 6 USB is certainly the easiest way of getting the classic Focusrite mic preamp into your recording set-up. 

Setup Diagrams

Diagram 1: Recording into your DAW
Diagram 2: Connecting to a DJ Mixer
Diagram 3: Connecting Saffire 6 USB to Loudspeakers.

(NOTE: Both 1/4" outputs (1-2) and RCA outputs (1-4) on the rear panel can be used to connect to speakers.)

The Focusrite Pre

Focusrite has, over the past two decades, built a reputation as the market leader for high-quality recording equipment, with its mic preamp technology as the cornerstone of that enviable reputation. The original mic pre, as featured in the early Focusrite Forté console, used rotary switched gain controls and high-quality audio transformers. This mic preamp is still used by many of the industries greatest producers and is the sound of countless hit records. Today, Focusrite design equipment for a far greater audience, from professionals to amateur enthusiasts, all with varying budgets.

As with the Red and ISA ranges, the mic pre technology found in the Saffire range is designed to the highest possible standards. They uphold the same wide bandwidth philosophy featured in the original Forté console, back in 1989. All Focusrite mic preamps feature custom components which have undergone an intense testing and qualification process. With the facts and figures in, Focusrite designs then have to pass the essential listening stage. Any design can measure well on the test bench but only a great design can be qualified in the studio. The FET-based design in the Saffire range is no exception and ensures the same low noise and distortion performance as earlier transformer-based designs. It delivers clarity without colouration and exhibits the signature transparency for which Focusrite have become famous.

Performance

We always quote 'real world' performance figures (measured to the AES17 standard). Some companies choose to quote chipset performance, which is misleading.

Key Performance Figures

Real World ADC Dynamic Range: 105 dB (A-weighted)

Real World DAC Dynamic Range: 103 dB (A-weighted)

Chipset ADC/DAC Dynamic Range: 114 dB (A-weighted)

Latency (Minimum Buffer Size): 77 Samples

Note: For Latency, the test machine was a Dual Core 2.66gHz Xeon Mac Pro with 2GB of RAM, running 10.5.7

Microphone Inputs

• Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): 105 dB

• SNR (A-weighted): -105 dB

• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB

• THD+N: 0.0025% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)

• Noise: EIN > 120dB (measured with 50dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)

• Maximum Input level @ Minimum gain for 0 dBFS (without pad): -2.5 dBu

• Pad Attenuation: 10 dB

Line Inputs

• Dynamic Range (A-weighted): 105 dB

• SNR (A-weighted): 105 dB

• 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

• Dynamic Range (A-weighted): 105 dB

• SNR (A-weighted): 105 dB

• Frequency Response 20Hz-20KHz +/- 0.1 dB

• THD+N, -1dBFS, min gain, no pad < 0.0025%

• Maximum Input Level for 0 dBFS (minimum gain, no pad): -3 dBu
• Maximum Input Level for 0 dBFS (maximum gain, no pad): -53 dBu
• Maximum Input Level for 0 dBFS (minimum gain, with pad): +7 dBu

• Maximum Input Level for 0 dBFS (maximum gain, with pad): -43 dBu

• Pad Attenuation: 10 dB

• Crosstalk: > 80 dB

Analogue Audio Outputs 1-2 (¼" TRS)

• Electronically Balanced Outputs

• Maximum Output Level (0dBFS): +9 dBu

• THD+N: 0.0025% (0 dBFS input, 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)

Analogue Audio Outputs 1-4 (RCA phono)

• Unbalanced Outputs

• Maximum output level (0dBFS): -3.5 dBu

• THD+N: 0.03% (0 dBFS input, 20Hz/20kHz bandpass filter)

Headphone Outputs

• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz +/- 0.1 dB

• SNR (A-weighted): 103 dB

• Dynamic Range: 103 dB

• Maximum Output into 32R: +3 dBu (-1.4 dBV)

• Power into 32R: 24 mW

• Output Impedance: < 7 Ohms

• Load Impedance: > 24 Ohms

Additional Conversion Performance

• Clock jitter < 250 picoseconds

Supported Sample Rates
• 44.1kHz / 48kHz

Specifications

CONNECTIVITY

Analogue Channel Inputs (Inputs 1-2) 

• 2 x XLR Mic/Line/Inst Neutrik Combi-Jacks (Inputs 1-2) 

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

Analogue Audio Outputs (Outputs 1-4) 

• 2 x TRS analogue outputs (Outputs 1-2)

• 4 x RCA Phono outputs (Outputs 1-4)

• 1 x TRS stereo headphone output (switchable to outputs 1 and 2, or 3 and 4) 

Other I/O

• 1 x USB 1.1 compliant USB port

• 1 x pair of MIDI I/O 

Dimensions

W = 220 mm / 8 ¾", H = 45 mm / 1 ¾" , D = 145 mm / 5 ¾"

Weight

1 kg / 2.2 lbs

Controls and Indicators

• 2 x Input gain control dials

• 2 x Signal (green) and Overload LED (red)

• 2 x Instrument LED and switch (red)

• 2 x Pad LED and switch (red)

• 1 x Phantom power switch with LED (red) – global for Mic inputs 1-2 

• 1 x USB (Active) LED (green)

• 1 x MIDI (Active) LED (green)

• 1 x Monitoring 1+2 / 3+4 A/B switch

• 1 x Monitoring 3+4 indicator LED

• 1 x Main monitor Level control 

• 1 x Mono monitor output switch

• 1 x Playback/Input mix dial

• 1 x Headphones level control

Operating Systems

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Compatible with:

Windows Vista
Windows XP
Service Pack 2 and above only. Windows XP - 64bit
Service Pack 2 and above only. Mac 10.6
Using version 2.4 or above of the Focusrite USB drivers, both the 32 and 64 bit kernels of OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) are supported. Mac 10.5
10.5.7 and above only. Windows Vista - 64bit
Windows Windows 7
Windows Windows 7 - 64bit

NOT Compatible with:

Mac 10.3
Mac 10.4

Key features

Two high-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps

The best sounding interface in its class. Focusrite's unparalleled preamp legacy forms the foundation of this new interface, with two award-winning Focusrite preamps.

Ultra-reliable and easy to set up

Saffire 6 USB is simple to set up and easy to use, allowing you to concentrate on recording and playing back. It is also very reliable, ideal for use as a portable interface for use on stage and on location.

High-quality 24-bit USB interface

Features the best A-D / D-A conversion in its class; pristine audio quality, super-low latency and reliable synchronisation are guaranteed.

Ready for DJs

4 RCA outputs, high-level headphone output and class-leading digital converter performance make Saffire 6 USB the ideal interface for the laptop DJ.

Xcite+ Software Bundle

Featuring a host of royalty-free loops and samples, a full-fledged soft-synth and Ableton Live Lite 8, 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.

Dedicated switchable front-panel headphone bus

Monitor either the main mix or cue mix via headphones, all switchable from the front panel.

Dedicated input/playback mix dial

Blend your monitor mix between what you're recording and the audio from the computer, for true zero-latency monitoring.

Additional Features

Bus-powered for a tidy mobile recording rig

Saffire 6 USB is powered via USB, with no need for an additional power supply.

Two Hi Z instrument inputs

No need for a separate DI. Saffire 6 USB provides instrument inputs with switchable high gain.

Tactile Monitor dial

A front panel volume dial provides immediate control over the main stereo outputs.

Switchable phantom power

Available across both mic pre inputs, globally switchable direct from the front fascia.

Plug-in Suite

Saffire 6 USB includes the Focusrite Plug-in Suite, produced by the same team that who developed Novation's nio FX rack and Saffire PRO 40 Control. They provide the perfect upgrade from your standard sequencer effects with all-new Focusrite Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins, for use in the mix.

Each plug-in has a host of presets that provide a reasonable starting point, delivering suitable solutions for the chosen sound source. Having selected a preset, you can then go on to finely tune these settings.

The compressor and gate have been modeled on the Focusrite's hardware devices, using the measurement of custom optos to achieve the signature Focusrite sound. (All Focusrite optos are tuned by ear, just like in the old days of analog design, ensuring a faithful recreation of those classic vintage 1960s optical compressors.)

With the same signature as the original Focusrite EQ curves. Focusrite's R&D team used state-of-the-art numerical transform techniques to create an authentic response across the entire audible frequency spectrum for this software EQ.

The Reverb is based on classic algorithmic studio reverb designs.

Xcite+ PackBack

'Xcite+' comes on a DVD-ROM filled to the brim with royalty-free loops and samples alongside some powerful applications ideal for getting the new user started, or to expand the experienced user’s creative toolbox.

Ableton Live Lite 8 forms the foundation of this collection, providing the ideal platform to create, produce and perfom. Novation’s classic bass synth, ‘Bass Station’ enables you to create bass and 303-styled patches. Alongside these comes 'Mike the Drummer'; a collection of 572 inspiring and original live drum loops ranging from 79 to 191 bpm, with loop lengths ranging from 1 beat to 4 bars, as well as extended freestyle solo sections. Individual drum hits and REX files are also available.These drum loops are however, just the beginning. An entire gigabyte of royalty-free samples, exclusively compiled by LoopMasters, provide a selection of loops and samples large enough to satisfy the appetite of even the most demanding artist.

The Xcite+ Pack bundle is Windows XP, 32 bit Vista, Mac OS X and Intel Mac compatible.

System Requirements

Macintosh

• Computer: Apple Macintosh with a USB 1.1 compliant USB port 

• CPU/Clock: PowerPC G4/1 GHz or higher (Intel/Dual 1 GHz or better recommended

• Memory (RAM): 512 MB (1 GB or more recommended)

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

Windows

• Computer: Windows compatible computer with a USB 1.1 compliant USB port 

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

• Memory (RAM): 512 MB (1 GB or more recommended)

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