Focusrite Saffire Pro Standalone mode?

[Bradley Steenkamp]

Hi All,

Been looking at the manual and its a little confusing. My question is, can the Saffire Pro be used in standalone mode so that the 8 XLR inputs route to BOTH the ADAT output AND the Jack outputs at the same time? I know that the M-audio Profire does this but the manual on the saffire pro isn't too clear.

Thanks
Bradley

[Bradley Steenkamp]

Anyone?

[Dark Fader]

Which model are you talking about?

[Chris Poulter]

I imagine the Saffire Pro 26, as the SP40 doesn't have a standalone mode.

It's been a while since I used it, but I was on the beta team for this unit. I'm pretty sure that the analogue outputs can only be used as D/A from the ADAT Inputs. In other words, if you take an ADAT signal back out of the recorder and into the SP26 then it you will get the signal from the analogue outputs.

I believe thats not much use to you though, as you want to run two recorders using the SP26 as mic pre/AD?

[. . . Delete This User . . .]

For the Pro26 there are two standalone modes (mode is set while using the computer)

Tracking

If Tracking mode is selected in the Standalone mode option of the Hardware menu in SaffireControl PRO, as soon as the Firewire
cable is disconnected (and the unit is connected to the external PSU) Tracking mode will begin. All previous settings from
SaffireControl PRO will be ignored and Saffire PRO will reset to a default state. In this state, the analogue inputs are routed to the
analogue outputs and ADAT outputs as default. However, the ADAT inputs can be routed to the analogue outputs by pressing and
holding button S1 (ADAT In 1) or S2 (ADAT In 2).
and

Mixing

If Mixing mode is selected in the Standalone mode option of the Hardware menu in SaffireControl PRO, as soon as the Firewire
cable is disconnected (and the unit is connected to the external PSU) Mixing mode will begin. The Saffire PRO will be set up exactly
as it was when disconnecting from the computer. This means that the Inputs will be set up the same way, e.g. if a guitar and
keyboard are connected to input 1 and inputs 2/3 and the levels set in the Input Mix section, then this will be maintained. The levels
of these Inputs going to the analogue outputs are determined by the positions of the output crossfaders as they last were in
SaffireControl PRO. However, the S/W end of the crossfader (backing tracks from the sequencer) will be silence in this mode as
Saffire PRO is operating away from the DAW.
ADAT Outputs will be disabled as these are normally used to route tracks from the DAW. ADAT Inputs and the S/PDIFIn will only be
active and routed if done so when the hardware was last connected to a computer, and will only work at 44.1/48kHz (see below).
At all sample rates above 44.1/48kHz, the digital i/o will not be active and the analogue inputs will simply be routed straight to the
analogue outputs.

the short answer

in tracking mode, YES you have outputs from both analogue and ADAT.

UNLESS you turn ON the ADAT input streams.

but in mixing Mode you don't.

[Bradley Steenkamp]

Thanks once again for the useful info!!!

Seems in tracking mode it does what I would like it to do. I checked to be sure that the outputs were active lastnight but wanted to be absolutely certain the ADAT output was active at the same time as the jack outputs. This would allow me to use it as a preamp unit unit with a different interface and a backup system at the same time. I've been planning on getting a different interface and its nice to know I can keep the saffire pro 26 for the good quality preamps!