Rev 1.0 Introduction Front panel facilities and controls Rear Panel Connections SaffireControl LE Recording using a microphone (mono or stereo) Recording line level sources (mono or stereo) Recording a guitar or bass directly Recording a digital (S/PDIF) source Connecting Speakers Managing a recording session with SaffireControl LE How to set up an input mix on the monitors/headphones How to set up a playback track mix on the monitors/headphones Blending between inputs and playback tracks on the monitors/headphones Direct Audio Streaming to the Saffire LE Outputs: Soundcard (S/CARD) mode Direct AC3/DTS streaming to the RCA Output Control and Linking of Output Levels Float and Shrink Modes Setting the Sample Rate and Synchronising to the S/PDIF In Changes to GUI at 88.2/96kHz MIDI Saffire Plug-in Suite EQ Compression Reverb Amp Sim Saffire Signal Flow Diagram Troubleshooting Specifications Warranty Accuracy Copyright Introduction Saffire LE is the second addition to the now highly acclaimed range of Firewire audio interfaces from Focusrite, one of the most prestigious names in the recording industry. With a total of 6 Inputs and 8 Outputs, the Saffire LE should satisfy all your recording and monitoring needs. Four of the six inputs are analogue, comprising two expertly designed Focusrite pre-amps and two additional balanced inputs, switchable between Line and Instrument level signal ­ just plug in your guitar and play. On the digital side, unrivalled conversion and 24-bit/96kHz processing ensure professional signal quality, with S/PDIF connections making up the remaining stereo inputs and outputs. On the rear panel are 6 analogue Outputs, ideally suited to 5.1 surround mixing or playback, as well as MIDI I/O and a digital RCA port that can stream digital surround (AC3/DTS) directly from DVD playing software. The hardware is accompanied by a free software application called SaffireControl LE, which provides a multitiude of monitoring and setup options, as well as the popular suite of Saffire VST/AU plug-ins for processing in the mix. Having such comprehensive features readily accessible, Saffire LE makes conducting a modern recording session easy and fun. Front panel facilities and controls 1. Line/Instrument Gain Switches for Analogue Inputs 1 (above) and 2 (below) If a 1/4" Jack (TRS or TS) is connected to either of the LINE IN sockets below, then these switches can be used to select an appropriate gain calibration. If a Guitar is plugged in then ensure that the yellow INST LED is lit, or if recording the analogue output of a synthesizer or mixer for decks then make sure the green LINE LED is lit. 2. Gain Controls for Analogue Inputs 1 (above) and 2 (below) with O/L (Overload) LEDs These two knobs can be used to set the gain (level) of the analogue inputs, whether recording a mic, line or instrument source. Whilst receiving a signal from the source by the artist singing or playing, rotate the corresponding knob clockwise until a suitable level is heard. Make sure that the O/L LED does not illuminate as this means that the signal level is too high and will clip. 3. O/L (Overload) LEDs for Inputs 3 (above) and 4 (below) These two LEDs will illuminate if the signal for the corresponding input (connected on the rear panel) is too high. Turn down the level on the connected device if either of these LEDs illuminates. 4. S/PDIF IN LED This LED indicates that a valid S/PDIF connection is received at the RCA Input on the rear panel. 5. MONITOR (O/Ps 1/2) Level Control This knob provides a hardware level control for the Monitor Outputs: Analogue Outputs 1 and 2 on the rear panel. 6. Headphones Output with separate Gain Dial This 1/4" Jack socket allows Headphones to be connected for separate monitoring during a session. This signal is the same as that sent to Analogue Outputs 3 and 4, the mix for which can be set using the SaffireControl LE software. 7. Line/Instrument (TRS/TS Jack) Inputs for channels 1 (left) and 2 (right) These 1/4" Jack sockets allow a balanced or unbalanced Line level signal or an Instrument like a Guitar or Bass to be plugged directly into the front panel. Set an appropriate gain calibration (LINE or INST) using the switches at the top of the fascia. 8. Global Phantom Power Switch This switch can be used to apply +48V (Phantom Power) to a microphone connected to either of the XLR inputs below. Check the Recording using a microphone section for more details on Phantom Power. 9. Microphone (XLR) Inputs for channels 1 (left) and 2 (right) These two inputs allow up to two microphones to be plugged into the front panel, for recording mono or stereo sources. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 7 9 Rear Panel Connections 1. Line/Instrument (TRS/TS Jack) Inputs for channels 3 (below) and 4 (above) These 1/4" Jack sockets allow a balanced or unbalanced Line level signal or an Instrument like a Guitar or Bass to be connected. If plugging in an Instrument then make sure that the High Gain Switch for the corresponding Input is activated within the SaffireControl LE software. See the SaffireControl LE section for more details. 2. External PSU Input This socket is for powering the Saffire LE using the supplied external power supply. This is only necessary if Firewire bus powering is not available, for example if the connected computer only has a 4-pin Firewire port. 1 2 3. S/PDIF I/O These RCA connectors are for receiving or transmitting a consumer digital audio (S/PDIF) signal. With the AC3 THRU switch activated in SaffireControl LE, the RCA Output can be used to directly stream an AC3 or DTS signal from a software DVD player to a home surround studio setup. See the Direct AC3/DTS streaming to the RCA Output section for more details. 4. MIDI I/O These standard MIDI ports allow MIDI data to be received from and transmitted to external equipment, routing through your sequencer using the Saffire LE's Firewire interfacing. Alternatively, if the Saffire's MIDI In is connected to a controller keyboard's MIDI Out and the Saffire's MIDI Out is connected to a sound module or rack synth's MIDI In, activating the MIDI Thru switch in the SaffireControl LE software will enable the MIDI data to pass from the controller keyboard to the sound module. 5. 2 6-pin Firewire 400 Ports These ports allow connection to the computer for streaming of data and (if connected to an identical type of Firewire port, rather than a smaller 4-pin port) supply of power to the unit. Either port can be used for this purpose, leaving the additional port free for connecting to other Firewire equipment (e.g. hard drives) should the Saffire be using up the only available Firewire port on the computer. The nature of Firewire connectivity means that chaining equipment in this way is possible and will act as if the equipment is connected directly to the computer through separate Firewire ports. 6. 6 Balanced Line Outputs: +4dBu, TRS Jack These sockets are Saffire LE's Analogue Outputs, labeled accordingly for 5.1 surround: Left, Right, Centre, LeftSurround, RightSurround and LowFrequencyEffects. If recording, then connect Monitors to Outputs 1 and 2 and Headphones to the front panel socket (Outputs 3/4) and use the software to create independent mixes for each. If mixing in surround or wanting to stream multiple channels of audio directly to the hardware outputs from your sequencer, then connect speakers to the relevant sockets and activate the S/CARD switch in the SaffireControl LE software. 3 4 6 5 Saffire LE USER MANUAL SaffireControl LE The accompanying software SaffireControl LE is the means of setting up independent latency free mixes for monitors and headphones, during recording sessions, as well as offering a host of other routing and setting options. There are two main modes of operation, both with activating switches: TRACK (tracking/recording) is the default mode and the one to use when recording and creating Input/Playback mixes on Outputs 1-4, and S/CARD (soundcard) is a preset mode where Saffire LE behaves like a standard 8-out soundcard, routing Outputs 1-8 in the sequencer straight to Outputs 1-8 of the Saffire LE hardware. To learn more about S/CARD mode, read the Direct Audio Streaming to the Saffire LE Outputs: Soundcard (S/CARD) mode section later in the User Guide. Here is a diagram of the SaffireControl LE GUI: Levels of Inputs on O/Ps 1/2 (Monitors) Stereo Link Switch Levels of Playback Tracks on O/Ps 1/2 (Monitors) Levels of Inputs on O/Ps 3/4 (Headphones) Pan Pot Analogue Output Level and Mixing Controls Software and Hardware Settings Levels of Playback Tracks on O/Ps 3/4 (Headphones) Each section of SaffireControl LE is explained in greater depth in relevant sections of the User Guide. Recording using a microphone (mono or stereo) To record a mono source like a vocalist or guitar player, simply plug a microphone into the left (Input 1) or right (Input 2) hand XLR socket on the front of the Saffire hardware and press the +48V (phantom power) button if required. Phantom power is only necessary if using a condenser microphone; almost all dynamic microphones will be unaffected, but ribbon microphones (much less common and more expensive microphones) may be damaged. Make sure that nothing is connected to the corresponding Line Input on the front of the Saffire LE hardware as this will mean that the XLR input below is bypassed. 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 on the hardware never illuminates as this indicates that the level is exceeding the maximum level of the digital converter (clipping point). For an even easier indication of level, observe the level of the meter below Input 1 or 2 on the left of the SaffireControl LE software GUI, as shown: Level of Input 1 (Recorded level) Level of Input 2 (Recorded level) This signal will now appear as Saffire LE Input 1 or Input 2 (depending on which socket the microphone is connected to) within your sequencer/recording application. To record using a stereo pair, simply connect microphones to both Inputs 1 and 2 and set the Gain dials for both Inputs on the front of the hardware to the same level, observing the Input meters in the SaffireControl LE software, shown above. Recording a line level source (mono or stereo) All four of the analogue inputs can be used to record a line level source, such as the analogue output of a mixer or a hardware synth. This means that some decks could be permanently connected to Inputs 3 and 4 on the rear panel, whilst Inputs 1 and 2 where free to use for recording vocal or instrumental parts. To record using Inputs 1 and/or 2, plug 1/4" TRS (balanced, but TS/unbalanced could be used yielding a slightly lower level) Jacks into either or both of the LINE IN sockets on the front panel. This will automatically bypass any microphones that may be connected to the XLR Inputs below. Now make sure that the green LINE LED is illuminated in the corresponding section(s) at the top of the front panel. Now send a signal by starting a turntable or playing the synth etc. and set the level of the input(s) using the gain adjustment knob on the front panel. Rotate the dial clockwise to increase the level, making sure that the O/L LED on the hardware never illuminates as this indicates that the level is exceeding the maximum level of the digital converter (clipping point). For an even easier indication of level, observe the level of the meter below Input 1 or 2 on the left of the SaffireControl LE software GUI, as shown: Level of Input 1 (Recorded level) Level of Input 2 (Recorded level) If recording a stereo signal then make sure that the Gain dials for both Inputs on the front of the hardware are set to the same level, observing the Input meters in the SaffireControl LE software, shown above. This signal will now appear as Saffire LE Input 1 and/or Input 2 (depending on which socket(s) the line level signal is connected to) within your sequencer/recording application. If recording using Inputs 3 and/or 4, plug 1/4" TRS (balanced, but TS/unbalanced could be used yielding a slightly lower level) Jacks into either or both of the sockets in the top left of the hardware's rear panel. Now, when sending a signal to the Inputs, observe the O/L LEDs for Inputs 3 and 4 on the front of the hardware. If they are illuminating, check that the High Gain switch/es is/are not activated within the SaffireControl LE software's GUI. These switches should only be used if the signal is an Instrument (Guitar or Bass connected directly) or an extremely low line level source. If the level is too loud and the High Gain switch(es) is/are not activated, turn down the level of the signal sent to Saffire LE on the sending device. This signal will now appear as Saffire LE Input 3 and/or Input 4 (depending on which socket(s) the line level signal is connected to) within your ...