I bought a new computer and I normally use my  Motu Ultralitek3 for most of my recordings and I have the Octa-Capture to record live drums.  My new computer does not have a fire wire so I ordered a card for so in the mean time I have been using the Octa-capture as my main interface but I can tell the difference in quality. I went in to Guitar center to ask how much it would be a trade and the sales guy said the Saffire Pro 40 is the hottest interface and it is a decent price.  I was wondering if anyone has it and can state how they like using and if it is worth buying.  I need to know buy tomorrow thanks in advance

Anyone using Motu 8 Pre?

I have had a Saffire Pro 40 since they first came out...March 2010 (I'm a little anal about record-keeping). Recently built up a new machine and added Firewire because I still can't imagine a better 1U interface. The preamps are transparent, the software mixer is intuitive and very useful (I can use it to make headphone mixers for my trio), it is flexible, doesn't dump too much heat, interfaces seamlessly with Sonar (and Pro Audio before that).
 
Before I got this, i went through 4 interfaces in about 8 years...starting 12-13 years ago when I was still using a pair of ADATs (real ones) and dumping them over optical into a Frontier card if I remember correctly. Just the simple fact that the Focusrite is still selling unchanged after nearly five years, suggests that they 'got it right'...everyone else seems to rev their boxes on an 18-24 month schedule.

I had a Saffire Pro 40. It was my first real audio interface unit and I started using it with Sonar 8.   It died out of warranty and the estimate cost to repair it was within $50 of what it cost new and it was dumped.  The Saffire Pro 40 is sensitive to what Firewire chipset is in the PC and works best (maybe only) with a T.I. chipset as it has a DICE II chipset in the Saffire Pro 40 and DICE/DICE II want a T.I. chipset in the PC.
 
I liked the preamps in the Saffire Pro 40 but best (reliable) latency I could get was 11ms.  With the Octa-Capture (and now Studio-Capture) I'm in the 4 to 6ms range.
 
I replaced the Saffire Pro 40 with a Roland Octa-Capture.  The preamps were different but after using it for a while, I now have to say the Saffire Pro 40's preamps tended to slightly "color" the signal, where the Octa-Capture does not alter the input sounds.  For example, my Pedal Steel guitar signal (which is a "clean" signal - no effects or overdrive) tended to have a slight high freq roll off (like the Treble control on an amp was turned down) with the Saffire Pro 40.  With the Octa-Capture, what is recorded is exactly how the guitar sounds.  I also like the built in (user selectable) limiters and compressors in the Octa-Capture.  Also the Octa-Capture has reverb available for the monitor (not for recording) that the Saffire Pro 40 did not have.
 
I just bought a Roland Studio-Capture as some times I need more than 8 channels and the preamps are supposed to be the same as the Octa-Capture.  I did some tracking for the first time yesterday with the Studio-Capture and the recorded sound is exactly like the Octa-Capture.  

 I have been reading several reviews and there seems to be more positive feed back on the Roland products my real choice is to stay with Motu products but they are so expensive. My ultra mk3 has not failed me at all with vocals or anything I have recorded. The Octa capture has done it's job for recording drums but I never really listened in comparison until the other day.  Sales guys have to do their job but this Guitar salesman was big on Focusrite and the price was not bad either

I replaced a MOTU 24 I/O with 2 Studio Captures and have never been happier. I understand that there is little difference in the Quads and the Studios other than the number of ins and outs. I loved my little MOTU but it was really cramping me when it came to syncing. It only had word clock and no midi. I have been running the two Studios with a sync cable for 32 ins and 20 outs flawlessly for almost 2 years now. I have a Saffire as well for my mobile laptop work and I have to say the Studios audio blows it away. I would not pretend to be a diehard Roland fan but I am completely sold on the Studios.

Sidroe
I replaced a MOTU 24 I/O with 2 Studio Captures and have never been happier. I understand that there is little difference in the Quads and the Studios other than the number of ins and outs. I loved my little MOTU but it was really cramping me when it came to syncing. It only had word clock and no midi. I have been running the two Studios with a sync cable for 32 ins and 20 outs flawlessly for almost 2 years now. I have a Saffire as well for my mobile laptop work and I have to say the Studios audio blows it away. I would not pretend to be a diehard Roland fan but I am completely sold on the Studios.

Now you have me thinking is the studio capture and upgrade to the Octa-capture?

The Octa-Capture has 8 mic preamps (and XLR inputs).  The Studio-Capture has 12 mic preamps (XLR).  The Studio-Capture has separate front panel level display (LED's) for each channel, along with the LCD display, where the Octa-Capture only has the LCD display.  The Studio-Capture has a feature where you can set the Limiter on all the channels you are using at one time, where the Octa-Capture can only set the limiter in one channel at a time.
 
I just got the Studio-Capture, Tuesday, so I'm still learning the differences and extra features. 
 
I looked at RME and several other $1500 class interface units but they do not have the needed mic preamps.  Some only had two and although they had analog  inputs, they would require external mic preamps for each input.  The Octa-Capture and Studio-Capture have 8 or 12 mic preamps.  
 
 

Saffires are great. Driver support excellent. Ta.

CakeAlexS
Saffires are great. Driver support excellent. Ta.

Would you consider the Saffire and upgrade to the Octa-Capture?