TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Just got a call from Sweetwater, the Focusrite Saffire 18i20 is now in stock and shipping! Should see mine in a couple of days! 
Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
- Thread starter TwilightOdyssey
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TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
Well, it arrived this morning via FedEx. Just need to pick up an optical cable to take advantage of the ADAT connection for the extra 8 channel inputs; woohoo, 16 channels of microphone or 12 mic/4 line channels!!
Registration/installation of the driver was a breeze; PC saw the Saffire immediately and I was able to test it as my ASIO driver. It worked fine ... perhaps a little TOO good; the Youtube video I queued up to test it with sounded terrible lol!
Cubase, same thing. Saw the Saffire immediately and had no problem; sound quality in 24/44.1 was VERY good; definitely a notch beyond the trusty ole Tascam.
Well, it arrived this morning via FedEx. Just need to pick up an optical cable to take advantage of the ADAT connection for the extra 8 channel inputs; woohoo, 16 channels of microphone or 12 mic/4 line channels!!
Registration/installation of the driver was a breeze; PC saw the Saffire immediately and I was able to test it as my ASIO driver. It worked fine ... perhaps a little TOO good; the Youtube video I queued up to test it with sounded terrible lol!
Cubase, same thing. Saw the Saffire immediately and had no problem; sound quality in 24/44.1 was VERY good; definitely a notch beyond the trusty ole Tascam.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
The technology is over my head. What does the ADAT cable connect to .... and are you saying this will allow you to lay down mutiple tracks simultaneously?
I mean, that would be great for recording live band performances if you could then go back to the "studio" and edit in some better takes on individual tracks (instruments).
The technology is over my head. What does the ADAT cable connect to .... and are you saying this will allow you to lay down mutiple tracks simultaneously?
I mean, that would be great for recording live band performances if you could then go back to the "studio" and edit in some better takes on individual tracks (instruments).
Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
ADAT is just a digital protocol; any home theater system will use it (toslink cables) for audio. It carries 8 separate channels of audio in digital form, so whatever you're sending from has to have digital conversion onboard. It's cool for recording live musicians (unless you're using iso cabs and tracking with the vocalist in another room, it's hard to edit takes from a live performance), but even more useful for recording one instrument (namely drums) with multiple microphones. Realistically, for almost anything you're going to track besides drums, you'll be fine with 2 or 4 channels max. Drums pump things up anywhere from 12 to 24+ tracks if you want flexibility in the mix.
I love Focusrite and their new interfaces all look great; I'm a bit concerned about how well the USB drivers perform, latency wise, though. I've been working on FireWire for years and the studio I work at runs off PCI/MADI cards; going back to USB frightens me quite a bit.
ADAT is just a digital protocol; any home theater system will use it (toslink cables) for audio. It carries 8 separate channels of audio in digital form, so whatever you're sending from has to have digital conversion onboard. It's cool for recording live musicians (unless you're using iso cabs and tracking with the vocalist in another room, it's hard to edit takes from a live performance), but even more useful for recording one instrument (namely drums) with multiple microphones. Realistically, for almost anything you're going to track besides drums, you'll be fine with 2 or 4 channels max. Drums pump things up anywhere from 12 to 24+ tracks if you want flexibility in the mix.
I love Focusrite and their new interfaces all look great; I'm a bit concerned about how well the USB drivers perform, latency wise, though. I've been working on FireWire for years and the studio I work at runs off PCI/MADI cards; going back to USB frightens me quite a bit.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
I have the very basic Tascam US-144mkII and, unless I'm using it wrong, I can only record two tracks at a time. I have never known if that is due to the limitations of that particular interface or whether the limit is set by the USB connection.
In any case, it meets most of my needs except I can't seemto lay down a decent bass track. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong approach wise or whether the preamps aren't up to the task.
The 18i20 seems a little over the top for as little recording as I do and as simple as my needs are.
I have the very basic Tascam US-144mkII and, unless I'm using it wrong, I can only record two tracks at a time. I have never known if that is due to the limitations of that particular interface or whether the limit is set by the USB connection.
In any case, it meets most of my needs except I can't seemto lay down a decent bass track. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong approach wise or whether the preamps aren't up to the task.
The 18i20 seems a little over the top for as little recording as I do and as simple as my needs are.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
I haven't encountered any latency issues with USB 2.0 up to about 15 tracks; I haven't gone over that at one time, so I cannot say if it comes into play after 15 tracks.
The new Saffire is VERY versatile; it has a lot of inputs and outputs (when combined with the OctaPre).
Lazarus, as VK stated above, ADAT is a digital audio protocol. I have another unit with 8 channels of microphone/instrument/line preamplification on board. The Saffire interface also has 8 microphone inputs. By connecting the 2 units directly via the ADAT optical cable, I get 16 channels of input. More interesting to me are the output options. Using the ADAT output into a breakout box, I can also feed OUT of the 18i20 into the OctoPre for an additional 8 output channels, totaling 20 channels of output for out of the box mixing.
I haven't encountered any latency issues with USB 2.0 up to about 15 tracks; I haven't gone over that at one time, so I cannot say if it comes into play after 15 tracks.
The new Saffire is VERY versatile; it has a lot of inputs and outputs (when combined with the OctaPre).
Lazarus, as VK stated above, ADAT is a digital audio protocol. I have another unit with 8 channels of microphone/instrument/line preamplification on board. The Saffire interface also has 8 microphone inputs. By connecting the 2 units directly via the ADAT optical cable, I get 16 channels of input. More interesting to me are the output options. Using the ADAT output into a breakout box, I can also feed OUT of the 18i20 into the OctoPre for an additional 8 output channels, totaling 20 channels of output for out of the box mixing.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
It's not a limitation imposed by USB. I had a US-1644 for years, which also has 8 mic/line inputs and can record up to 16 tracks at once.
How are you recoding the bass?
Hehe, I am actually planning on getting another 18i20 if I like this one, which will give me 24 in/32 out!
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
I'm running the bass straight into the Tascam. The best result so far was when I also ran it through an EQ in the PodFarm VST to get some of the boominess out. It seems like I go from a very thin bass sound to one that is overpowering. The middle ground seems hard to find.
Part of the problem may be the beginner Ibanez bass I'm using.
I'm running the bass straight into the Tascam. The best result so far was when I also ran it through an EQ in the PodFarm VST to get some of the boominess out. It seems like I go from a very thin bass sound to one that is overpowering. The middle ground seems hard to find.
Part of the problem may be the beginner Ibanez bass I'm using.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
If you are running DI, you will definitely need to apply effects to it in order for it to fill out a bit. I track my bass parts direct, also, but I go bass > SansAmp Bass Driver > Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone.
To get the mud out of the bass tracks, look to cut at around 600 Hz. You can also put a low shelf or high pass filter at 50 Hz on the bass guitar.
From there it's a lot of experimentation to get the bass carved into the spectrum of what you are doing so it doesn't interfere with (or get interference from) your other tracks.
A healthy dollop of compression will also help bass guitar.
If you are running DI, you will definitely need to apply effects to it in order for it to fill out a bit. I track my bass parts direct, also, but I go bass > SansAmp Bass Driver > Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone.
To get the mud out of the bass tracks, look to cut at around 600 Hz. You can also put a low shelf or high pass filter at 50 Hz on the bass guitar.
From there it's a lot of experimentation to get the bass carved into the spectrum of what you are doing so it doesn't interfere with (or get interference from) your other tracks.
A healthy dollop of compression will also help bass guitar.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
A quick update for anyone thinking about getting the 18i20 --
I tested all of the inputs to the unit last night using the OctoPre connected via ADAT. First, and most importantly, you MUST have the Mix Control software installed in order to configure the 18i20. Without it, you will not be able to set up the ADAT inputs. Once I had it up and running, I set up inputs 9-16 as ADAT 1-8 and set the input gain for each channel for 0dB.
Aside from a small wordclock issue, which I am hoping a wordclock cable will cure, the unit works just fine. It's VERY quiet and the preamps on the 18i20 sound pretty much identical to the OctoPre, aside from the OctoPre having more gain on tap.
There was a clicking sound caused by the wordclock/sync error which was eliminated once I set the 18i20 to sync via ADAT -- BUT -- you have to do this every time you are using the units together, as the error came back after I closed Mix Control and started Cubase.
Like I said, an easy fix, but would be a major problem if I was using this in the field without access to the Mix Control software.
I will post an update once I have a wordclock cable in hand.
MIDI worked just fine. Next up is to test all of the outputs.
A quick update for anyone thinking about getting the 18i20 --
I tested all of the inputs to the unit last night using the OctoPre connected via ADAT. First, and most importantly, you MUST have the Mix Control software installed in order to configure the 18i20. Without it, you will not be able to set up the ADAT inputs. Once I had it up and running, I set up inputs 9-16 as ADAT 1-8 and set the input gain for each channel for 0dB.
Aside from a small wordclock issue, which I am hoping a wordclock cable will cure, the unit works just fine. It's VERY quiet and the preamps on the 18i20 sound pretty much identical to the OctoPre, aside from the OctoPre having more gain on tap.
There was a clicking sound caused by the wordclock/sync error which was eliminated once I set the 18i20 to sync via ADAT -- BUT -- you have to do this every time you are using the units together, as the error came back after I closed Mix Control and started Cubase.
Like I said, an easy fix, but would be a major problem if I was using this in the field without access to the Mix Control software.
I will post an update once I have a wordclock cable in hand.
MIDI worked just fine. Next up is to test all of the outputs.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
Thanks for the tips. I look forward to trying again when I'm not working 24/7.
Thanks for the tips. I look forward to trying again when I'm not working 24/7.
PeterJCruz
New member
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
I missed this one.. HAHA!!! I bought the Saffire Pro 40 before Christmas.. though I wish they had the 18i20 then.. the Pro 40 is WAY more than I need... but the Pro 24 wasnt enough... Plus I got it for a STEAL.. I tried the Presonus Firestudio.. didn't work on my PCI bus and returned it.. and the salesman gave me an even swap for the Pro 40.
Was my lucky day. =)
I missed this one.. HAHA!!! I bought the Saffire Pro 40 before Christmas.. though I wish they had the 18i20 then.. the Pro 40 is WAY more than I need... but the Pro 24 wasnt enough... Plus I got it for a STEAL.. I tried the Presonus Firestudio.. didn't work on my PCI bus and returned it.. and the salesman gave me an even swap for the Pro 40.
Was my lucky day. =)
Just got a call from Sweetwater, the Focusrite Saffire 18i20 is now in stock and shipping! Should see mine in a couple of days!
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Did anyone else preorder the Focusrite Saffire 18i20?
Update -- putting in a wordclock cable solved all they sync issues. Maybe I'm nuts, but I think it improved the sound a bit, too. I am starting to get used to the Focusrite preamp sound; it's not what I would call 'neutral', as it's a bit rich in the lower midrange area, but otherwise they are pretty transparent. Certainly better than the thin/bright preamps in the Tascam (which I have always hated). Having 16 channels on tap is very liberating, and I am really enjoying not having to say, well, I'm out of tracks.
Update -- putting in a wordclock cable solved all they sync issues. Maybe I'm nuts, but I think it improved the sound a bit, too. I am starting to get used to the Focusrite preamp sound; it's not what I would call 'neutral', as it's a bit rich in the lower midrange area, but otherwise they are pretty transparent. Certainly better than the thin/bright preamps in the Tascam (which I have always hated). Having 16 channels on tap is very liberating, and I am really enjoying not having to say, well, I'm out of tracks.
