So, you plan on making your own recording studio. However, you’re way past recording guitars and vocals in your bedroom. It’s time to step up the game.
Those compact audio interfaces just aren’t up to the task. You need something a bit more serious.
Say hello to the Saffire Pro 40 by Focusrite!
It’s one of, if not the best audio interfaces when it comes to managing multiple inputs and outputs.
Let’s take a closer look at what exactly it can do.
Saffire Pro 40 – Focusrite’s pride and joy
If you’re familiar with studio recording equipment, you probably already know about Focusrite.
They are one of the leading companies in this business, and are responsible for some of the best selling audio interfaces, preamps, and plugins on the market!
Saffire Pro 40 delivers amazing performance in a slim body, and with a pretty reasonable price tag.
Key Features
- 8 high-performance Focusrite preamps
- Total of 20 inputs and 20 outputs
- 2 separate headphone outputs
- 24-bit/96kHz sample rates and conversion
- Ultra-low latency performance
Focusrite built the Saffire Pro 40 around the most crucial needs of professional audio engineers. Offering numerous input and output options and an overall high-quality audio experience makes for an amazing addition to any music studio.
This audio interface features all the important controls in one place, while still being pretty straightforward.
Pros
- Excellent bang for the buck
- High-quality audio
- The software makes routing a piece of cake
- Allows for monitoring at a higher level
- The included plugins are useful
Cons
- The software may be a bit confusing for some
- Not a standalone preamp, you still need other devices
- Lacks routing and monitoring presets
Who is the Saffire Pro 40 for?
Looking at the form factor and main features, it’s pretty obvious that the Saffire Pro 40 is mainly for recording and easily managing multiple inputs, such as recording drum kits or multiple instruments at once.
Though the interface is pretty slim, it still takes up a lot of space, and it’s probably best to use it on a rack.
So, if you’re looking for a powerful audio interface for doing some serious recording, the Saffire Pro 40 is a great choice.
Shine bright like a Saffire?!
Focusrite went with 8 of their high-performance preamps for the Saffire, in order to make sure that each and every detail of the music played gets recorded and processed naturally.
The 2 analog combined inputs on the front make for easy input device switching, with the back side offering 6 more as well as 8 digital channels via the ADAT connectors. There is a total of 10 outputs, with a pair of MIDI I/O connectors. You probably won’t need more inputs or outputs than the Saffire already has to offer.
The 2 separate headphone outputs monitor the signal at outputs 7 and 8, meaning you can easily do your recording sessions while monitoring 2 different outputs.
Recordings made by using the Saffire Pro 40 are studio-grade, and the actual process is pretty much lag free. You can forget about all those times your gear limited your workflow.
What do the users have to say?
Most users found the Saffire Pro 40 to be very user-friendly and a great improvement to the interfaces they used before it.
“A true gem in the world of studio equipment does everything I need it to do!”
“Easy to set up, fun and simple to use”
However, it was the use of combined jacks and simply average build quality that some users just didn’t like.
“The build quality could be better”
“I don’t like the combined jacks”
Some extra info
Make sure your computer supports FireWire devices!
All of the ¼” inputs are mono.
Phantom power is featured.
Conclusion
So, what’s the bottom line? Should you get the Saffire Pro 40?
If you’re running a professional recording studio, or simply need a device that can manage this many inputs and outputs, by all means, go for it.
Overall quality and experience are definitely worth the money spent!
(89 votes, average: 4.09 out of 5)
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