Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 -VS- Roland Octa-Capture

Hello All,
 
I am banging my head against a wall because i am torn between  two audio I/O.   There is first the Roland Octa-Capture http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1127
 
This is a nice I/O with an AUTO-SENS function which intelligently sets optimal input levels for all preamps.  as well as having four independent software-controlled Direct Mixers for creating custom monitor mixes. 
 
On the other hand, there is the Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire_pro_40/ which provides two independent headphone buses each with their own level controls available on the front panel, Front panel controls which include a main monitor dial with dim and mute switches, and the Focusrite Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins.
 
Oh my!!  too much to decide about.
 
The Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 is $499.99 from online stores.
The Roland OCTA-CAPTURE is $599.99 from online stores.
 
Someone please give me a reason to choose one over the other!!
 
Peace
 
 

Beagle


is there an override on the auto sensing input on the octapature?  I don't think I would like that feature myself.

both units look really nice on paper.

Beagle,
 
The auto sensing is a manual switch, so you can have it auto sense he input levels or not. I just can't decide between the two.
 
Peace !

I have a Saffire Pro 40 that I've used for almost 3 years.  I like the preamps in this unit as they are "transparent" - what you put into it is what is recorded.  I also have an MAudio Fastrack Ultra 8R and the preamps in it change the input signal slightly.  e.g. I originally did a recording using the Saffire Pro 40 with my steel.  The Pro 40 was down for an AC power switch (that Focusrite sent at no cost even though it was out of warranty) and I used the Fastrack Ultra 8R to fix a part in the steel track.  The fixed part was like it had been EQ'd to take out some of the lows and add highs and obviously sounded different.  The steel input was identical so it has to be the Ultra 8R that changed the tone.  The steel track was a "clean" track, if it had been an "overdrive" guitar I would have never heard any difference.

I went back later, after I replaced the Pro 40's AC power switch and redid the "fixed" section again and it was back to the original sound.

Ok guys,

I made the Roland Octa-Capture purchase from Musiciansfriends.com.  I Saw on their website that they were offering 10% off of purchases because of tax season, however, there is a list of manufacturers that are not participating and the list consist of all of the well know names.  I called Musicians Friends and spoke to a customer service Rep about the list and he took $60.00 off of the price which is the actual 10%.

Waiting for my Octa-Capture to be delivered... I sold my Presonus Firepod for $300.00 on craigslist this past Sunday.  The Windows 7 drivers are terrible for firewire use.  I also read an answerbase post on the Focusrite site that the Firewire drives for their products will work with Windows 7; however, they may need to be set to a legacy driver to work properly.  [link=http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1030]http://www.focusrite.com/...en/article.php?id=1030[/link]

Peace

I am not using the legacy drivers with my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 and it's working fine.  I was using the legacy firewire driver in Vista and when I installed Win 7 Pro 64 bit, on a separate hard drive, I forgot to change to the legacy.  I've had Win 7, 64 bit since it came (over a year ago).

Jesse G,

Do you use other DAW software other than Sonar?  I'm just curious more than anything.  I'd like to know how the Roland interfaces works in other DAW software.  I'd expect it to work very well with Sonar, but if you have a need to run another's software I just wonder if the experience is still the same.

Thanks,
Tom

Jesse G, I tried several Presonus Firewire units - Firepod was one of them and none ever worked or worked correctly (the last new one I tried had a bad channel).

Very interested in hearing how the Octa-Capture is working out.  My Tascam FW-1884 is on the fritz again and I'm considering this unit as a replacement.