Foucsrite Saffire vs TC Electronic 24D

salatspinatra · 26th December 2006

I would like to get some opinions on what I think is the most reductionist's Head-to-Head on audio interfaces I can come up with.
Both these units are getting honorable mention in sound quality for price range. Both have DSP, although they work more like outboard gear. Both have roughly the same I/O. Both are known for their mic pres, their anti-jitter technologies, and stable clock.
The saffire has been out for quite some time and the 24D has yet to be broken in.
TC electronic has had history of releasing unsophistocated drivers, and one forum poster has experienced drop-outs with Ableton Live, although another Ableton Live user has had an okay time with it.
Focusrite is less expensive, by a buck/buck-fifty, and you still get a reverb and EQ.
The TC electronic plug-ins just look like fun, they uphold a purity of sound and empower the musician.
Both Come with Cubase LE, which if it meant dropping the price and releasing it without software, I'd take them up on it.
What I'd really like, is a head-to-head on sound quality. The Saffire has always stood out, but the technologies involved in the 24D are promising on Spec. One's been out for a few years, and the other is just getting around to the first users. And, I'd like to know whether either interface can handle multi-channel mixing (5.1), and the work-arounds involved in either case.
Perhaps someone who works in a music store would like to field this. I can't seem to get much cooperation at my Local Guitar Center or Sam Ash. Any Contributions?
Thanks In Advance

andrew269 · 26th December 2006

IIRC, it actually takes 2 tc units chained together to get the full 24 i/o. you might want to look into the firestudio from presonus to compare with the saffire.

salatspinatra · 28th December 2006

No doubt I looked at that presonus piece. It looks great, and yet I think it's better to compare it with the saffire pro, or the new Motu full rack that is out. The price is more in line with those units. They share DSP mixing in common, as well as sheer count on i/o. Then there's a new crop of mixing boards with firewire interface capability. But I'm really trying to wrangle in the options here. If I don't see a clear way through the muck, I'll let them duke it out while buy myself another integral part to the studio, say that CME 3x controller, or a good field recorder.

26th December 2006	#1
salatspinatra Gear interested Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 2 Thread Starter	Foucsrite Saffire vs TC Electronic 24D I would like to get some opinions on what I think is the most reductionist's Head-to-Head on audio interfaces I can come up with. Both these units are getting honorable mention in sound quality for price range. Both have DSP, although they work more like outboard gear. Both have roughly the same I/O. Both are known for their mic pres, their anti-jitter technologies, and stable clock. The saffire has been out for quite some time and the 24D has yet to be broken in. TC electronic has had history of releasing unsophistocated drivers, and one forum poster has experienced drop-outs with Ableton Live, although another Ableton Live user has had an okay time with it. Focusrite is less expensive, by a buck/buck-fifty, and you still get a reverb and EQ. The TC electronic plug-ins just look like fun, they uphold a purity of sound and empower the musician. Both Come with Cubase LE, which if it meant dropping the price and releasing it without software, I'd take them up on it. What I'd really like, is a head-to-head on sound quality. The Saffire has always stood out, but the technologies involved in the 24D are promising on Spec. One's been out for a few years, and the other is just getting around to the first users. And, I'd like to know whether either interface can handle multi-channel mixing (5.1), and the work-arounds involved in either case. Perhaps someone who works in a music store would like to field this. I can't seem to get much cooperation at my Local Guitar Center or Sam Ash. Any Contributions? Thanks In Advance

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26th December 2006	#2
andrew269 Gear nut Joined: Aug 2005 Location: hbg, pa Posts: 82	IIRC, it actually takes 2 tc units chained together to get the full 24 i/o. you might want to look into the firestudio from presonus to compare with the saffire.

28th December 2006	#3
salatspinatra Gear interested Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 2 Thread Starter	No doubt I looked at that presonus piece. It looks great, and yet I think it's better to compare it with the saffire pro, or the new Motu full rack that is out. The price is more in line with those units. They share DSP mixing in common, as well as sheer count on i/o. Then there's a new crop of mixing boards with firewire interface capability. But I'm really trying to wrangle in the options here. If I don't see a clear way through the muck, I'll let them duke it out while buy myself another integral part to the studio, say that CME 3x controller, or a good field recorder.