Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 User Manual
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Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 User Manual

Professional multi-channel firewire interface
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Saffire PRO 40
User Guide
FA0212-04
1

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Troubleshooting

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Summary of Contents for Focusrite Saffire PRO 40

  • Page 1 Saffire PRO 40 User Guide FA0212-04...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Instructions

    Important Safety Instructions Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
  • Page 3 Do not modify this unit! This product, when installed as indicated in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirements. Modi- fications not expressly approved by Focusrite may void your authority, granted by the FCC, to use this product.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction ........................5 Basics ........................... 5 Box Contents ........................ 5 Getting Started ......................6 Hardware ........................7 Back Panel ......................7 Front Panel ......................8 Installation ........................9 Audio Set-up in your DAW ..................... 9 Saffire PRO 40 Architecture ..................10 Saffire MixControl ......................12 Mixer Section ......................13 Routing Section ....................17...

  • Page 5: Introduction

    Introduction Thank you for purchasing Saffire PRO 40, the latest Focusrite professional multi-channel Firewire interface. You now have a complete solution for routing high quality audio in and out of your computer. This Guide provides a detailed explanation of both the hardware and accompanying control software “Saffire MixControl” to help you achieve a thorough understanding of the product’s operational features.

  • Page 6: Getting Started

    Firewire hard disk that is streaming all your samples, or a Firewire DSP box such as Focusrite Liquid Mix, (i.e. when there is a lot of data streaming on the Firewire bus,) there is a chance that more data is streamed than the Firewire chip can handle.

  • Page 7: Hardware

    Hardware Back Panel The Back Panel provides the majority of input and output connections on the Saffire PRO 40. 1. 6 Combo XLR input sockets for Mic / Line. – Each socket will accept an XLR, or 1/4 inch TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) Jack connector.

  • Page 8: Front Panel

    Front Panel The Front Panel includes the input connectors for Channels 1 and 2, as well as all the input gain controls and monitoring controls. 1. Channel 1 and 2 Combo XLR input sockets. Each socket will accept an XLR, or 1/4 inch TRS (balanced) or TS (unbalanced) Jack connector 2.

  • Page 9: Installation

    We aim to ensure that the latest installation software will be on the disk included with your Saffire PRO 40. However we strongly recommend that you check for the latest version of software on our website; www.focusrite.com before starting to work with your Saffire PRO 40 unit.

  • Page 10: Saffire Pro 40 Architecture

    The following diagrams give an overview of the Saffire PRO 40 audio paths when set at different sample rates and S/PDIF configurations. The Hardware Inputs are routed directly to the DAW Inputs. The table below each diagram shows the routing configuration. 44.1kHz / 48kHz Optical as ADAT Saffire PRO 40 Saffire MixControl Music Software HARDWARE IN...
  • Page 11 88.2kHz / 96kHz Optical as ADAT Saffire PRO 40 Saffire MixControl Music Software HARDWARE IN DAW IN MIXER 16 IN Analog S/PDIF ADAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16...

  • Page 12: Saffire Mixcontrol

    All sample rate selection, digital syncing and buffer size settings (Windows only) are available from Saffire MixControl. To open Saffire MixControl. Windows Start > Programs > Focusrite > Saffire MixControl. Open Finder > Applications > Saffire MixControl. This is how the Saffire MixControl Graphical Interface will appear on your computer. 1. Mixer 2.

  • Page 13: Mixer Section

    Mixer The Saffire MixControl software includes a total of 16 mixes, each with a maximum of 18 channels in the mix. Up to 16 mono mixes or 8 stereo mixes, (or any combination of mono and stereo mixes,) are available, making up a total of 16 mix channels. Each Mix can contain up to 18 of the possible 40 inputs signals, and each mix can be sent to any number of outputs.
  • Page 14 Audio source select When there is no input to a mixer channel, it will display “off”. Clicking on the “off” region brings up a list of all available inputs that can be fed to the channel. All analogue (labelled ‘Line’) and digital inputs, and DAW outputs are available. When selecting a source on a stereo channel, if an odd numbered input is chosen for the left channel, the next even number input is auto selected for right, and Vice Versa Note that if an input has already been taken, it will be greyed out and you cannot select...
  • Page 15 Fader Use the fader to set the level of your audio signal for monitoring within the current mixer. Click the fader with your mouse and drag to any position. Double click on the fader to set it to 0. Fader range is from -∞ to +6 dB with the current fader level displayed in the box below. Meter The meter shows the signal level of the source input to the channel.

  • Page 16: Track Name

    Track Name As a default, each track is given a number as a name. Double click to rename the track to something more useful such as ‘Vocal Mic’. Output Channel The output channel of the mixer is where all the input channels are routed to and mixed together. The output channel gives you control of the overall level of the entire mix.

  • Page 17: Routing Section

    Routing Section The routing section allows you to set up which audio sources are to be routed directly to which physical outputs. The routing section displays every physical output on the Saffire PRO 40 and the audio stream to be sent to that output is available for selection in a drop down menu to the left of that output.
  • Page 18 Routing Presets Routing Presets are provided as a starting point for you to create your own routing and mixer set-ups. These will enable you to quickly set up your routing for recording (monitoring your inputs); mixing (sending signals out to outboard processors or external mixer);...

  • Page 19: Monitor Section

    Monitor Section The output levels of the monitor outputs and line outputs are configured in the Monitor Section. You can set up your Saffire PRO 40 so that the hardware ‘Monitor’ knob on the Saffire PRO 40s front panel will control the desired outputs, such as your stereo monitors, your surround sound system.
  • Page 20 Monitor Presets dropdown menu These presets allow quick changing of typical monitoring set-ups. For the monitor presets to work, you must have your speakers connected to the line outputs as shown in the picture below. Surround Sound Monitoring: Quad, 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 1 Left 2 Right 3 Centre...
  • Page 21 Monitor Presets Off - no Monitor control buttons enabled, therefore no sound will come out of any analogue output. Mono - outputs only to the Centre / mono speaker (Line output 3.) All other channels are muted. Output - 3 Stereo - outputs to Stereo speakers (Monitor 1 and 2 output.) All other channels are muted.
  • Page 22 Dim switch Attenuates the output level by 18dB. Mute switch Mutes the output. Left Mute switch Mutes the left output. Right Mute switch Mutes the right output. Mono switch Sums (combines) the left and right signals. The combined signal is then sent out of both Left and Right outputs. Remember that these dim, mute and mono buttons only affect the outputs selected for control (i.e.

  • Page 23: Settings Menu

    Note: it is advisable to quit your DAW application BEFORE you make sample rate changes to prevent any undesirable side-effects in your DAW! Sync Source display Displays the currently selected sync source (red display) – To change the sync source, click on the red sync source value and select Internal, ADAT, S/PDIF.
  • Page 24 S/PDIF AC3 Allows the user to stream AC3 directly via the S/PDIF outputs. (AC3 is encoded 5.1 audio, e.g. from a DVD player, that will be sent via S/PDIF cable (RCA or Optical) to your 5.1 decoder.) Please note: The Saffire PRO 40 is not an AC3 encoder/decoder and the signal must be output from your audio software as an encoded AC3 signal to be decoded by an AC3 receiver.

  • Page 25: File Menu

    File Menu Windows Open - opens a File open dialog allowing selection of any pre-saved Saffire MixControl set-ups. Save - opens a File save dialog allowing selection of a location into which your Saffire MixControl set-up can be saved. Subsequent saves overwrite the original file. Save As - opens a File save dialog allowing selection of a location into which your Saffire MixControl set-up can be saved.

  • Page 26: Saffire Pro 40 Specifications

    Saffire PRO 40 Specifications • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.1 dB. • THD+N: 0.001% (measured at 1kHz with a 20Hz/22kHz band pass filter). • Noise: EIN > 125dB (128dB analogue to digital): measured at ~60dB of gain with 150 Ohm termination (20Hz/22kHz band pass filter).

  • Page 27: Troubleshooting

    • 48V switches and LEDs. • Inst switches and LEDs. • Pad switches and LEDs. • Power switch and LED. Troubleshooting For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Answerbase where there are articles covering numerous troubleshooting examples. www.focusrite.com/answerbase. E & O.E.
  • Page 28 RTAS MixControl User Guide FA0556-01...
  • Page 29 Requirements Pro Tools version 9 is required to use Focusrite Interfaces and RTAS MixControl with Pro Tools. Ensure your computer adheres to Avid’s system requirements as well as the Focusrite system requirements.
  • Page 30 Once selected RTAS MixControl will appear like this: The input panel allows the selection of preamp source (Mic, Line, or Inst), Input Hi Gain or Low Gain, and shows a signal preset (Sig) and overload (O/L) for inputs 1 to 4. The options available are dependent of the Saffire model connected.
  • Page 31 Advanced Setup The Advanced Setup button launches Saffi re MixControl allowing for more complex routing setups. The mix tabs and routing panel can be setup as desired and the blend option in RTAS MixControl will operate in the same way, blending between input signal and DAW playback channels.
  • Page 32 Troubleshooting For all troubleshooting queries, please visit the Focusrite Answerbase at the link below where you will find articles covering numerous troubleshooting examples. http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase Copyright Focusrite is a registered trade mark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. Saffire is a trade mark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited.
  • Page 36 FireWire connection Unit 1 Output Input FireWire S/PDIF connection Input Output Unit 2...
  • Page 54 Digital Conversion understood. Fundamental conversion components offer a level of performance far in advance of what they were only a decade ago. The Focusrite Approach there really isn’t any magic to good Richard Elen and Rob Jenkins unveil the design conversion: it’s simply a matter of taking...
  • Page 55 When you look at a 192kHz A-D conversion system like the use in this product?” is likely to be, “the best available part for digital board in Focusrite’s ISA One Digital, you’re looking at the job”. In a similar sense, you really don’t need to ask BMW...
  • Page 56 144 dB theoretical maximum for a 24-bit system. This requires the regular advances in the silicon of conversion chips to be matched by ever-improving componentry, board layout and analogue circuit design. © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited...
  • Page 57 FireWire chip failures can happen for a number of reasons. All of Focusrite’s FireWire units adhere to the IEEE 1394 standard however it may be the case that the FireWire port on your computer motherboard or FireWire card does not.

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