Focusrite Saffire pres vs Steinberg MR / UR pres?

dickiefunk · 6th February 2012

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone knows how the pres on the Focusrite Saffire interfaces compare to the pres on the Steinberg MR / UR interfaces?

adrianww · 7th February 2012

I don't have an MR/UR but I do have a Yamaha n12 (which I'm pretty sure the Steinberg pres are heavily based on) and I also have a Liquid Saffire 56. I find both sets of pres about the same (obviously leaving out the Liquid trickery on the Saffire - that's a whole different kettle of fish).

The Saffire has slightly more gain available, but both sets of pres are fairly open and clean sounding even towards the top of their gain ranges. I wouldn't say that one was dramatically better or worse than the other. If pushed, I might go for the Focusrite pres over the Yamaha/Steinberg ones, but there really isn't a huge difference in it. Some folks might call it the other way I suspect - they're close enough that it's largely going to be subjective and a matter of personal taste.

Having said that, both the Steinberg MR and the Saffire (specifically the LS56) are running very low in the ongoing AD-DA converter transparency test thread over in the audio tests forum. The MR is around third or fourth from bottom while the LS56 is languishing right at the very bottom of the pile (and it was my own interface that was tested). If the testing is at all accurate, they're both going to have a fair go at mangling any audio you give them - in the LS56's case quite spectacularly. (Funnily enough though, I still like how mine sounds and I still like the n12 too. Could just be my bad monitors, evil room acoustics and knackered old ears I suppose...)

qbury · 7th February 2012

I had a Saffire Pro24 which I exchanged for a UR28M. DSP and Cubase integration was the main reason for the exchange otherwise I would have gotten the Pro24 DSP. Pre's in both units are clean and transparent but I would give a slight nod to the UR for clarity. I like the instrument input better on the UR. Also the monitor buttons are great for switching multiple monitors. You didn't mention which UR, the 28 or 824, but I think in your other post's you've mentioned you had a Pro 24DSP. If so, unless you need more ins/out I would keep that unit. I really liked the Saffire.

6th February 2012	#1
dickiefunk Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 3,089 Thread Starter	Focusrite Saffire pres vs Steinberg MR / UR pres? Hi, Just wondering if anyone knows how the pres on the Focusrite Saffire interfaces compare to the pres on the Steinberg MR / UR interfaces? __________________ http://www.richardpenrose.com www.thegracenotesuk.com

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7th February 2012	#2
adrianww Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 533	I don't have an MR/UR but I do have a Yamaha n12 (which I'm pretty sure the Steinberg pres are heavily based on) and I also have a Liquid Saffire 56. I find both sets of pres about the same (obviously leaving out the Liquid trickery on the Saffire - that's a whole different kettle of fish). The Saffire has slightly more gain available, but both sets of pres are fairly open and clean sounding even towards the top of their gain ranges. I wouldn't say that one was dramatically better or worse than the other. If pushed, I might go for the Focusrite pres over the Yamaha/Steinberg ones, but there really isn't a huge difference in it. Some folks might call it the other way I suspect - they're close enough that it's largely going to be subjective and a matter of personal taste. Having said that, both the Steinberg MR and the Saffire (specifically the LS56) are running very low in the ongoing AD-DA converter transparency test thread over in the audio tests forum. The MR is around third or fourth from bottom while the LS56 is languishing right at the very bottom of the pile (and it was my own interface that was tested). If the testing is at all accurate, they're both going to have a fair go at mangling any audio you give them - in the LS56's case quite spectacularly. (Funnily enough though, I still like how mine sounds and I still like the n12 too. Could just be my bad monitors, evil room acoustics and knackered old ears I suppose...)

7th February 2012	#3
qbury Gear nut Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 85	I had a Saffire Pro24 which I exchanged for a UR28M. DSP and Cubase integration was the main reason for the exchange otherwise I would have gotten the Pro24 DSP. Pre's in both units are clean and transparent but I would give a slight nod to the UR for clarity. I like the instrument input better on the UR. Also the monitor buttons are great for switching multiple monitors. You didn't mention which UR, the 28 or 824, but I think in your other post's you've mentioned you had a Pro 24DSP. If so, unless you need more ins/out I would keep that unit. I really liked the Saffire.