By whose count? Focusrite Saffire Pro 24

[hbz]

I just got the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24. (I am also a complete newbie, and this will be the first of a zillion questions.)

In the manual, it says that there are 24 input signals. No matter how I count them, I cannot get up to 24:

Inputs 1 and 2 are both 1/4 inch and XLR -- being generous, this counts as 4
Inputs 3 and 4 = 2 inputs
Digital input = Up to 8 ADAT ins, or 2 SPDIF ins. I'll count this as 10 inputs?
Loopback 1-2??? = 2 inputs?
1 SPDIF input

This adds up to 19. I really hope that MIDI doesn't count as one.

I feel like I'm missing something important.

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

16 in/8 out = 24

*edit: although, it appears they count the first two inputs as 4 apparently... sort of deceiving.

 

[hbz]

... So you're saying that the user manual is lying to me and is not a reliable source?

=)

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Yes, that's what I'm saying.

 

[hbz]

This is not a promising introduction to this piece of gear, then. The official Saffire manual on the Focusrite site is way wrong and is misleading...

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Looks like false advertisement to me! Honestly, I'd shoot them an email maybe?

*edit: I take it back: they're talking about inputs in the mixer section, not individual inputs on the interface.

 

[hbz]

Case closed!

Aha! You've got it! So they're talking about 16 physical inputs:

Inputs 1 and 2 (1/4 inch / XLR) = 2
Inputs 3 and 4 (1/4 inch) = 2
Digital input = Up to 8 ADAT ins, or 2 SPDIF ins = 10
1 SPDIF input
1 SPDIF labeled "output" which perhaps is some sort of input.

... And 8 coming back from the DAW gives a total of 24 inputs available for creating mixes.

Good enough for me. Thank you, steve.h!

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

No problemo! Sorry for the confusion hah