[LAU] Focusrite Saffire line

[sevol]

Pieter Palmers wrote:
> sevol wrote:
>> Pieter Palmers wrote:
>>> sevol wrote:
>>>> Pieter Palmers wrote:
>>>>> sevol wrote:
>>>>>> Hi People,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm thinking of getting one of the Saffire audio interfaces from 
>>>>>> Focusrite.  Anyone on the list using these units & happy with the 
>>>>>> results? This, a little off-topic & subjective: happy with the 
>>>>>> pres & conversion?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The SaffireLE,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire_le/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> , is the one I'm eyeing. As far as I can tell it's very similar to 
>>>>>> the Saffire,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>   http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> , only with 6 in/8 out compared to 4 in/10 out, & minus the 
>>>>>> hardwar-powered plug-ins. I like having 2 more ins, & wont miss 2 
>>>>>> less outs. & I imagined the plug-ins, ahreware-powered or software 
>>>>>> woulkd be useless under Linux. But the recent thread on the 
>>>>>> M-Audio Profire 2626 leads me to believe, maybe the times are 
>>>>>> changing.
>>>>> I personally think times are changing, but change is slow...
>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm curious whether the DSP plugins might work in linux with 
>>>>>> FFADO. Actually, true functionality of any of these models seem to 
>>>>>> require software to adjust settings, so, what limitations are 
>>>>>> people noticing right now running these in Linux? & will the 
>>>>>> pending beta release of FFADO address the Saffire plug-in Suite 
>>>>>> hardware-powered use & whatever other issues there are, if there 
>>>>>> are? Or is this a Wine solution?
>>>>> As things stand now, there are no plans to support the saffire's 
>>>>> internal plugins. And if I do support for any (hardware or 
>>>>> software) plugins related to these devices, I'll do whatever I can 
>>>>> to make them native instead of WINE.
>>>> I'm not really disappointed - hadn't given the DSP stuff much chance 
>>>> of use atm. If/When the time comes, native has got to be better.
>>>>
>>>> Somehow the plugins thing hijacked my thoughts. In fact, certain 
>>>> other issues seem more critical & pressing. Like, the front on the 
>>>> LE has 4 nice knobs: 2 level controls for frontside inputs 1 & 2; 1 
>>>> for levels of backside Main outs 1 & 2; & 1 for headphone levels. 
>>>> That seems to leave a lot of input & output control unaccounted for, 
>>>> except via the Saffire Control LE software GUI.
>>>>
>>>> & this would be a no-show in Linux, right? I guess the 2 analogue 
>>>> line/instrument-in levels on back can be controllrd by, if existant, 
>>>> volume knobs on whatever devices are connecting to them. So, maybe 
>>>> that's covered. & sample rates will probably be handled by 
>>>> JACK/JACKCTRL.
>>>>
>>>> Then though, the MIDI Through is activated by a software switch. & 
>>>> the High Gain switches for Instrument level sources is software 
>>>> controlled. The S/PDIF external sync switch, likewise, & the same 
>>>> situation as the nonworking S/PDIF input of the Firepod. A lot of 
>>>> the output & mixing capabilities are based in software too. Is there 
>>>> going to be a way to manage these? Full details not necessary, but 
>>>> could you reveal the gist of what'll be lost?
>>> All input/output gain controls and configuration switches that are 
>>> provided by the saffire control panel on other OS'es are supported in 
>>> the FFADO codebase. We have control panels for all of the Saffire 
>>> devices, and they are fully featured (except for the DSP stuff on the 
>>> saffire white). There might be some bugs in them, but we have all 
>>> info to fix them. The only thing you shouldn't expect is a fancy 
>>> GUI... it's all very basic PyQT rapid prototyping stuff, but it 
>>> works. If someone wants to tackle the GUI side of things, please do. 
>>> The current prototype gui's illustrate how to use the control interface.
>>>
>> Excellent! This is great news & really better than hoped, even 
>> counting Focurite's full support. I'll take this chance & congradulate 
>> you early on these non-GMO babies, whatever the due date :) Hope the 
>> Mackie, Echo, & other vendor supported stuff is working out too.
> 
> All devices that are currently vendor supported have approximately the 
> same level of functionality in FFADO, which basically comes down to 
> "everything from other OS's except onboard DSP and maybe some consumer 
> features (most notably AC3 passthrough)".
> 
Nice! More choices. Yesterday, I went to a local shop. Unfortunately, no 
Focusrite gear. Their Mackie Onyx 1220 mixer looked sweet - bristling 
with knobs, buttons, & faders! - more than my style & budget demands 
though. Their stock of Linux compatible firewire interfaces equaled the 
number of left-hand guitars on hand. One for one :)

Earlier today online, I ordered a LE.
> 
>>>>
>>>> p.s.  Just read Andrew's message on the Freebob-devel list & see 
>>>> that the S/PDIF capabilities are looking better, at least with FFADO 
>>>> testing on the firepod. Hmmm...
>>> S/PDIF on the firepod should work when using FFADO. You can even 
>>> install FFADO only for it's device control capabilities (clock 
>>> source, mixer settings) and then run jack with the freebob backend 
>>> for stable streaming.
>>>
>> Sorry, I was thinking out loud. S/PDIF - even FFADO - is beside the 
>> point re my pod. The sync light glow's blue, never changes & syncs to 
>> nothing. Use to sync up every 10th or 50th power cycle & stay a while, 
>> but those days are gone. As an interface it's worthless.
>>
>> Perhaps it's just as well, my knowledge of linux is straight up 
>> flimzy. The only thing I 1/2-way understand is the pod problem.
> As far as I can tell, the firepod should work with FFADO (although not 
> vendor supported). But if I remember correctly you said that it also 
> doesn't work on windows. Linux is great, but don't expect miraculous 
> hardware repairs from it...
> 
Correct. If only I'd know that *before* my pod's warranty dried up? :)
BAck to the Saffire LE, I only wish it came in a rack-mountable design. 
But guess Linux can't change that either. :)

> Greets,
> 
> Pieter
> 
Pieter, I see your announcement for FreeBoB 1.0.10. You've been busy, & 
also, super informative & speedy with answers- 10,000 thanx!

	sevol
>