Focusrite Saffire 6 USB Audio Interface

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. 

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

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.

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

• 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

• 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%

• 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

• Electronically Balanced Outputs

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

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

• Unbalanced Outputs

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

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

• 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

• Clock jitter < 250 picoseconds

Supported Sample Rates
• 44.1kHz / 48kHz

• 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)

• 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) 

• 1 x USB 1.1 compliant USB port

• 1 x pair of MIDI I/O 

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

1 kg / 2.2 lbs

• 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

Two high-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps

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.

'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.

Macintosh