What do you think of the Focusrite Saffire PRO 14?

[mhschmieder]

I've done several sessions using the OctoPre II at this point, and have decided it was worth it for the eight channels of ADAT conversion and the direct outs, as this gives me very flexible routing for ghost tracking (using an auxiliary Yamaha mixer) and also bypasses the awful pre-amps in this unit (which are extremely noisy, even at minimal gain).

As I will be adding more quality standalone one-channel and two-channel specialized pre-amps to augment my eight-channel True Precision 8 anyway, my strategy is to effectively bypass the Focusrite pre-amps by setting gain to zero, and come in via 1/4" TRS line level output from various standalone pre-amps.

The line-level part of the OctoPre II isn't noisy, and the combined Neutrik jacks support this on all eight channels (though only the first two channels -- on the front -- have dedicated switches and jacks for 1/4" vs. XLR).

[Phil O]

I got a chance to use an Octopre II for a couple of days (since my last post) and wasn't happy with the pres at all. Although I've never used the Saffire, I'm told the pres in the Saffire line are only marginally better. I don't know about the line ins.

I've had my eye on a Precision 8 for a while. What do you think of it?

Phil

[mhschmieder]

The Precision 8 was one of the best purchases of my life.

One of the DI's died last year and I had to send it to Tim Spencer for repairs. He did a fast and excellent job and gave the whole unit a go-over.

I probably shouldn't have bothered, as I've decided not to use its DI anymore, as it's active. For active DI, I prefer using my Summit Audio TD-100 and/or 2BA-221. For passive DI, I use a Radial JDI Duplex.

There are few pre-amps as clean and transparent as the True Precision 8. Maybe Forssell's designs, or even Earthworks. I am not personally a fan of Millenia's in terms of the reputed transparency, but it would still be in my top five anyway. I just feel they've been surpassed by now.

True now has API 500 series Rack versions available of the two-channel version, but it isn't an economical way to go as each unit includes the DI option vs. being strictly XLR mic gain. For just two channels, yes, but I wouldn't recommend four of those vs. the TP8.

[Phil O]

Thanks. Good info.

Phil

[mhschmieder]

The sessions from the past few days confirm everything I have said so far, and also throw in a surprise that was later confirmed "intellectually" by looking at their spec sheets:

The only way to get clean signal from this pre-amp is to not use it as a pre-amp but simply an ADAT converter, and come in via the XLR (not 1/4"!) inputs at the level you already want to be at.

In fact, if you need gain on a 1/4" input, you're slightly better off using the combined Neutrik jacks on the back (channels 3-8) vs. the two on the front (channels 1-2) as there is a 3dB S/N difference. The 1/4" inputs on the front only have 87 dB S/N!

The better approach is to go through a pre-amp, passive DI, or active DI (depending on the source), manage levels from the source or pre-amp, set zero gain on the OctoPre, come in with an XLR cable, and just use it for ADAT expansion of your main audio interface.