Focusrite Saffire 6 USB

When recording microphones, instruments and line signals, suitable input switching is just as important as direct access to the monitoring mix. The Focusrite Saffire 6 USB is a USB audio interface with two mic, line and instrument inputs and four analogue outputs. It is suitable for recording setups and, thanks to its separate output pairs, can also be used for DJ monitoring.

The two front-panel Neutrik combo inputs accept microphones via XLR and line and instrument signals via jack. Inserting a jack plug switches the input from mic to line; you activate instrument mode separately. Each channel has a gain control and a switchable pad with 10 dB attenuation. The shared +48 V phantom power supplies condenser microphones connected to mic inputs 1 and 2.

For monitoring while setting levels, green signal and red clip LEDs indicate the input status; separate indicators show pad, instrument mode, USB power and MIDI input. The input/playback mix control blends the incoming signal with computer playback. A mono button lets you monitor a single input source directly through stereo headphones or monitors. The headphone output can be switched between output pairs 1/2 and 3/4; its level can be adjusted separately.

Two balanced 6.3 mm TRS outputs and four RCA outputs are available for speakers or a mixer. The front-panel main monitor control adjusts outputs 1/2, and a mono switch provides additional monitoring control. Use the A/B switch to select between output pairs 1/2 and 3/4 for the headphones – useful when a separate signal is needed for DJ cueing. The USB bus powers the interface, so no additional power supply is required.

A MIDI input and output connect external MIDI devices to the setup; an LED indicates incoming MIDI activity. The interface processes audio at 24-bit resolution. The USB 1.1 model specified for this item requires a compatible driver and operating system environment: development of support for this version has ended, and it works as intended up to macOS Mojave 10.14 or Windows 10 version 1809. Problems may occur with newer systems. Therefore, check the exact USB version and operating system compatibility before use; USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 is marked beneath the connector.

The stated software bundle includes the Focusrite VST/AU plug-in suite with compressor, reverb, gate and equaliser, as well as the Xcite+ bundle with Ableton Live Lite, Novation Bass Station and 1 GB of royalty-free samples from Loopmasters and “Mike the Drummer”. This makes the interface suitable for compact recording and DJ setups, provided the computers you have and the software you need are compatible with the relevant USB version. The four outputs and switchable headphone source are particularly useful if you want to use separate monitoring paths.