Pieter Palmers wrote: > sevol wrote: >> Pieter Palmers wrote: >>> sevol wrote: >>>> Pieter Palmers wrote: >>>>> sevol wrote: >>>>>> Hi People, >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm thinking of getting one of the Saffire audio interfaces from >>>>>> Focusrite. Anyone on the list using these units & happy with the >>>>>> results? This, a little off-topic & subjective: happy with the >>>>>> pres & conversion? >>>>>> >>>>>> The SaffireLE, >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire_le/ >>>>>> >>>>>> , is the one I'm eyeing. As far as I can tell it's very similar to >>>>>> the Saffire, >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire/ >>>>>> >>>>>> , only with 6 in/8 out compared to 4 in/10 out, & minus the >>>>>> hardwar-powered plug-ins. I like having 2 more ins, & wont miss 2 >>>>>> less outs. & I imagined the plug-ins, ahreware-powered or software >>>>>> woulkd be useless under Linux. But the recent thread on the >>>>>> M-Audio Profire 2626 leads me to believe, maybe the times are >>>>>> changing. >>>>> I personally think times are changing, but change is slow... >>>>> >>>>>> I'm curious whether the DSP plugins might work in linux with >>>>>> FFADO. Actually, true functionality of any of these models seem to >>>>>> require software to adjust settings, so, what limitations are >>>>>> people noticing right now running these in Linux? & will the >>>>>> pending beta release of FFADO address the Saffire plug-in Suite >>>>>> hardware-powered use & whatever other issues there are, if there >>>>>> are? Or is this a Wine solution? >>>>> As things stand now, there are no plans to support the saffire's >>>>> internal plugins. And if I do support for any (hardware or >>>>> software) plugins related to these devices, I'll do whatever I can >>>>> to make them native instead of WINE. >>>> I'm not really disappointed - hadn't given the DSP stuff much chance >>>> of use atm. If/When the time comes, native has got to be better. >>>> >>>> Somehow the plugins thing hijacked my thoughts. In fact, certain >>>> other issues seem more critical & pressing. Like, the front on the >>>> LE has 4 nice knobs: 2 level controls for frontside inputs 1 & 2; 1 >>>> for levels of backside Main outs 1 & 2; & 1 for headphone levels. >>>> That seems to leave a lot of input & output control unaccounted for, >>>> except via the Saffire Control LE software GUI. >>>> >>>> & this would be a no-show in Linux, right? I guess the 2 analogue >>>> line/instrument-in levels on back can be controllrd by, if existant, >>>> volume knobs on whatever devices are connecting to them. So, maybe >>>> that's covered. & sample rates will probably be handled by >>>> JACK/JACKCTRL. >>>> >>>> Then though, the MIDI Through is activated by a software switch. & >>>> the High Gain switches for Instrument level sources is software >>>> controlled. The S/PDIF external sync switch, likewise, & the same >>>> situation as the nonworking S/PDIF input of the Firepod. A lot of >>>> the output & mixing capabilities are based in software too. Is there >>>> going to be a way to manage these? Full details not necessary, but >>>> could you reveal the gist of what'll be lost? >>> All input/output gain controls and configuration switches that are >>> provided by the saffire control panel on other OS'es are supported in >>> the FFADO codebase. We have control panels for all of the Saffire >>> devices, and they are fully featured (except for the DSP stuff on the >>> saffire white). There might be some bugs in them, but we have all >>> info to fix them. The only thing you shouldn't expect is a fancy >>> GUI... it's all very basic PyQT rapid prototyping stuff, but it >>> works. If someone wants to tackle the GUI side of things, please do. >>> The current prototype gui's illustrate how to use the control interface. >>> >> Excellent! This is great news & really better than hoped, even >> counting Focurite's full support. I'll take this chance & congradulate >> you early on these non-GMO babies, whatever the due date :) Hope the >> Mackie, Echo, & other vendor supported stuff is working out too. > > All devices that are currently vendor supported have approximately the > same level of functionality in FFADO, which basically comes down to > "everything from other OS's except onboard DSP and maybe some consumer > features (most notably AC3 passthrough)". > Nice! More choices. Yesterday, I went to a local shop. Unfortunately, no Focusrite gear. Their Mackie Onyx 1220 mixer looked sweet - bristling with knobs, buttons, & faders! - more than my style & budget demands though. Their stock of Linux compatible firewire interfaces equaled the number of left-hand guitars on hand. One for one :) Earlier today online, I ordered a LE. > >>>> >>>> p.s. Just read Andrew's message on the Freebob-devel list & see >>>> that the S/PDIF capabilities are looking better, at least with FFADO >>>> testing on the firepod. Hmmm... >>> S/PDIF on the firepod should work when using FFADO. You can even >>> install FFADO only for it's device control capabilities (clock >>> source, mixer settings) and then run jack with the freebob backend >>> for stable streaming. >>> >> Sorry, I was thinking out loud. S/PDIF - even FFADO - is beside the >> point re my pod. The sync light glow's blue, never changes & syncs to >> nothing. Use to sync up every 10th or 50th power cycle & stay a while, >> but those days are gone. As an interface it's worthless. >> >> Perhaps it's just as well, my knowledge of linux is straight up >> flimzy. The only thing I 1/2-way understand is the pod problem. > As far as I can tell, the firepod should work with FFADO (although not > vendor supported). But if I remember correctly you said that it also > doesn't work on windows. Linux is great, but don't expect miraculous > hardware repairs from it... > Correct. If only I'd know that *before* my pod's warranty dried up? :) BAck to the Saffire LE, I only wish it came in a rack-mountable design. But guess Linux can't change that either. :) > Greets, > > Pieter > Pieter, I see your announcement for FreeBoB 1.0.10. You've been busy, & also, super informative & speedy with answers- 10,000 thanx! sevol > _______________________________________________ Linux-audio-user mailing list Linux-audio-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user
