Opinions: Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56?

kayDUB

Anyone have experience with this unit? I like the idea of the liquid preamp models... preamps on a budget ?
They seem to go for around 8-9k, anything else you would rather recommend at this price point?
I probably won't be tracking more than 2 channels at a time in the beginning, but would like the flexibility to be able to play around with drums in the future.
I'd also consider a 2/4 mic input interface too if it is expandable to 8 channels (via ADAT?).

afflicted

I haven't used it yet, but I am considering buying it. I was quoted 7k for it. From what I've seen and heard, it is brilliant.

AlanRatcliffe

Ooh, must look into that. The Liquid Channel has been on my radar since it came out, but realistically way out of my budget range. To be honest, I don't see how they are cramming so much into the thing - there must be some compromise somewhere.

Have been considering doing it properly - getting a pair of Focusrite ISA Ones or maybe even a single Great River ME-1NV.

kayDUB

edgy wrote: I haven't used it yet, but I am considering buying it. I was quoted 7k for it. From what I've seen and heard, it is brilliant.

Cool, well let me know if you do! Where did you get the quote from?

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Ooh, must look into that. The Liquid Channel has been on my radar since it came out, but realistically way out of my budget range. To be honest, I don't see how they are cramming so much into the thing - there must be some compromise somewhere.

Have been considering doing it properly - getting a pair of Focusrite ISA Ones or maybe even a single Great River ME-1NV.

Yeah, it does seem to be a lot for the price - which is why I'm looking at it ?
I'm quite a recording noob so like the idea of the different preamps to get a feel for.
Let me know if you find the compromise! I have read somewhere that low latencies are not too easy to achieve with the drivers...

AlanRatcliffe

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may09/articles/liquidsaffire56.htm

Everything I'm reading about this unit so far is good...

Arno-West

We use a Focusrite Channelstrip as a pre-amp for a matched pair of AKG (don't know the model number) cardoid mics. It's not this exact one, but from my experience, anything by Focusrite is worthwhile. The strip we use is good for voice (spoken or vocals) and extremely good for recording acoustic guitars.

afflicted

Marshall Music Cape Town. I thought it was a good price too.

kayDUB

Ah, cool. Bothners Plumstead quoted me 7100.

theantirockstar

Yeah most focusrite stuff is amazing, i have been using the Scarlett 18i6 for a while with zero problems. A mate of mine has the Liquid 56, and it's amazing for the money.

DrGonzo

You should seriously consider the Steinberg/Yamaha MR816s

I was considering the Saffire 56 as well as about a dozen other interfaces in this price range and wouldnt of even dared considering a steinberg hardware after they have had some embarassing products in the past.

but going through Gearslutz forums and online reviews like SOS, music tech etc convinced me to buy the MR816 and I have most certainly been more than impressed and happy with its Sound quality (especially its DA, its truly sound superb) and its driver performance...
Its got great preamps and the Converters are generally considered to be the best for its price

it seems now with Yamaha in charge of Steinberg and building all the products has been very beneficial to product quality

If you use Cubase a big bonus, it is extremely well intergrated with the software. if not, it would just works like any other interface.

That being said, the Saffire is also a very good interface, but having used both extensively, i would take the mr816 over it any day.

just my 2c's

gud luck! ?

serven

Edit: Ooops I only now saw I was replying to a 2011 post. Apologies ? Did you ever get it?

I have this unit, and have had it for a few months.

Keep in mind that I am very much a newbie when it comes to recording & all things music, however I believe this was the correct purchase for me and happy with it. I use this with Cubase in Windows although I doubt it'd matter what you really use it with. A few things:

1. Aside from tracking, with its routable zero latency outputs which can be customised for every single output, it works great as a monitoring setup if you're using headphones for monitoring with two or three or four people. Every person can get their own mix.

2. I think the software is slightly unuser-friendly in the beginning (setting it up to route things to certain places) and takes some getting used to. But once you've gotten used to the slight strangeness it's not an obstacle anymore.

3. Honestly the liquid pre-amps make very little difference for me. However that might be because I mainly record high-gain guitars, but I've heard only very-very slight differences on vocals too. However this could be an experience and rubbish-in-rubbish-out kind of thing.

4. I have experienced some odd crashing and "things going just silently dead" with the software, however this was very much improved after contacting Focusrite and them sending me some beta firmware to try (haven't checked if there were any updates recently). For a while I had an odd situation where Cubase would "loose" the device and you needed to re-initialise the audio driver thing between loading projects - but I really do think this issue was with Cubase and not with the LS56 Unit.

5. The high-pass filter and phase switching buttons became lifesavers once I learned the concepts as far as audio tracking/mixing/technicalities were concerned.

All in all? Yes I would recommend someone to buy this - it has been a good purchase for me.

epictring

We are using one in the current recording process and it sounds great. Highly recommended.

kayDUB

serven wrote: Edit: Ooops I only now saw I was replying to a 2011 post. Apologies ? Did you ever get it?

haha no prob ? I didn't actually go for it in the end since I picked up a RME multiface II with some external preamps. Very happy with the direction it took in the end ?

I know Allan is currently using and enjoying one though.