I'm looking to replace my audio interface and had narrowed the choice down to Tascam and Focusrite, so decided to go ahead and purchase the Focusrite 6i6 2nd generation. While I was checking some details on the Focusrite site I see that they are having a clearance sale on the 1st Gen 6i6. 
The only aspect which seems to be signficantly differerent is the driver performance. I'm not worried about the cosmetic differences or the new preamps (got plenty of outboard pres). I wondered if anyone has experience of the differences in driver performance/latency with Sonar Platinum?
 
Thanks!
 
Alistair C.
 

Only person who could answer that is someone who has both a 1st and a 2nd generation on hand. 
I've certainly been happy with my 1st gen model driver wise. 
 

1st gen had a lot of driver stability issues and some issues that seem to be fundamental to the hardware (like the gain sensitivity).  They stopped releasing official drivers for it in favor of some sketchy beta driver releases long before coming out with the 2nd gen.  You can do some googling and you'll find lots of dissatisfied customers of the 1st gen.  2nd gen is rumored to be much nicer and the 2nd gen's new Focusrite Control software looks way more intuitive than the 1st gen's MixControl.  

Thanks for the feedback. It's good to hear that first gen is working well with Sonar.
I've read over a number of reviews and discussions in various forums and found the usual mix of love and hate that most interfaces seem to generate, but for my relatively limited needs I think it's worth trying the first generation.

Thanks for the responses.

Alistair C.

I've had some trouble with my first gen but lately it's been working well.

Dave76
1st gen had a lot of driver stability issues and some issues that seem to be fundamental to the hardware (like the gain sensitivity).  They stopped releasing official drivers for it in favor of some sketchy beta driver releases long before coming out with the 2nd gen.  You can do some googling and you'll find lots of dissatisfied customers of the 1st gen.  2nd gen is rumored to be much nicer and the 2nd gen's new Focusrite Control software looks way more intuitive than the 1st gen's MixControl.  

 
Are you talking about the 6i6??  or some other model. There hasn't been a beta driver since way back in Jan 2014. They released 1.8 pretty quickly in March 2014. It has been 100% stable for everybody. I've yet to read a negative comment.  So possibly your talking about a 2i2 or a 2i4 ? Each model has it's own driver.  
The first driver that I had was 1.6. I had issues on one computer and Focusrite offered the Beta driver to me. They seem to keep them hidden. Then 1.7 came out and was fine and real quickly 1.8. So with in a few months they seemed to fix all issues. I was impressed myself.  
 
I will agree that 1st gen Mix Control is impossible to figure out so I don't use it. I use hardware monitoring. 
It would be nice if they fixed that. And the 1st Gen pre amps are not up to my standards. Either too hot or too cold. Very hard to dial in a safe level compared to my Tascam or my other pre amps I'm forced to use.  

For 1st gen, all devices use the same driver and MixControl and have similar reported problems.  Like I said, google for it but, hey, I'm not personally in contact with "everybody" who owns a 6i6 like you apparently are.  The preamp issue that you mention is what I was referring to with regard to the gain sensitivity.  As far as I know, that's a hardware issue that can't be fixed with drivers on the 1st gen.
 
1.8 is not the USB driver version, it is the MixControl version.  Since then, they've been quietly releasing beta MixControl versions (and bundled driver updates) with the latest being 1.9b12.  1.8 is old and usually the version people have problems with.   
 
As far as I'm concerned, MixControl and the preamp issues are enough to avoid the 1st gen even if you manage to be one of those people who don't have stability issues with it.  

Not true. They don't all use the same driver and my 2i4 is not compatible with mixcontrol

Pleased with my 2nd 6i6 but not had first gen. I think there is improved latency and audio input level range.
I really like the software bundles such as the Softube, Focusrite Red Comp/equaliser. Just logged into my account the other day and found the Addictive keys instrument giveaway and I took the excellent studio grand that I had in demo mode! The focusrite support team are excellent too.
John.

The solo, 2i2 and 2i4 do not come with Mix Control.  And the drivers are different for each model.  The numbers are not even close.  I think the 6i6 and upward share a driver and the mix control this is not clear when you look at the download pages.  All it says is Mixcontrol 1.8 contains all the drivers you will need.    
 
Ill agree that I would not by a 1st gen because of the pre amps alone. Not sure if they really fixed this. 
 
My next interface will probably be a Motu or RME. Im tempted by the TAscam UH 7000 just for the pre amps and price point.