Saffire Pro 40 woes

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Guitslinger
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2012/01/06 16:42:49 (permalink)

Saffire Pro 40 woes

When I turn my Saffire Pro40 on, the power, dim, and mute lights all flash in sync intermittently, and that's all it does. Has anyone experienced this? This unit has seen less than 20 hours of use, so needless to say, I'm disappointed.

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    fireberd
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/01/06 17:51:44 (permalink)
    Sounds like it is defective.  If you bought it from someplace that has the typical return policy (e.g. Musicians Friend, American Music, etc) get an RMA. 

    When I power mine on, the Power light comes on after a short delay, then the Locked Light and finally after another short delay the FW Active light comes on. 

    I like the Saffire Pro 40 but I'm having a drop out problem on mine that I suspect it the Saffire Pro 40, but I'm waiting on a new Firewire interface card (with T.I. chipset) just to confirm.  I'm an ex amp tech and I'm also a computer tech and gut feeling is it's the Saffire Pro 40 as it first started only after the Saffire Pro 40 warmed up but now all the time. 

    I've previously said that if the Saffire Pro 40 went "belly up" that I would get another as I like the preamps in the unit, but I'm leaning now toward a USB connected unit, instead of Firewire, if it turns out it is the Saffire Pro 40.  Mine is 3 years old and out of warranty.

    There are many using the Saffire Pro 40 and not having problems so yours and mine are the exception.  If they will replace yours with another I would go for that.

    "GCSG Productions"
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    Guitslinger
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/01/31 16:29:12 (permalink)
    I just wanted update this thread: I talked to a rep at Thermal Relief Design, the company that services Focusrite products in the USA. My unit is being shipped out today, with the repair having taken approximately 10 days, which is a fast turnaround for repairs in my opinion. The problem was two resistors touching in the power supply.

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    fireberd
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/01/31 18:03:08 (permalink)
    Thanks for the Update. 

    "GCSG Productions"
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    DonM
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/02/04 10:21:52 (permalink)
    Guitslinger


    I just wanted update this thread: I talked to a rep at Thermal Relief Design, the company that services Focusrite products in the USA. My unit is being shipped out today, with the repair having taken approximately 10 days, which is a fast turnaround for repairs in my opinion. The problem was two resistors touching in the power supply.

    G:


    Thanks for posting this.  I use several of the SP40's in location rigs and depend on the extensively.  I have a great local dealer that supports my gear, but I didn't know about Thermal Relief Designs.  Do you have contact info there for my future reference - I can look up the info on the net - but thought a contact name could be useful in the future.


    Best


    -D

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    fireberd
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/02/04 14:53:08 (permalink)
    I've dealt with them.  My Pro 40 is out of warranty and they wanted minimum of two hours at $100 per hour just to look at it.  The power on/off switch went out in mine and they wanted $15 for the switch and another $15 for shipping.   I'm an ex amp tech and those charges are highway robbery.

    Fortunately, I made a comment about problems getting the switch on the gearslutz forum and a Focusrite support supervisor in England saw it and sent me a switch at no cost. 

    There is another company in Nashville that is also a Focusrite authorized repair center.  I don't remember the name but I contacted them about the switch and was told it would have to be ordered from Focusrite in England, the next time they place an order (could be months).

    I liked the Saffire Pro 40, but since it went "belly up", I've decided no more firewire devices and have replaced it with a Roland Octa-Capture which works great with Sonar and it also worked great with Pro Tools 10 (I had a 30 day demo version).  Better than the Pro 40 that I had to "jump through hoops" to get PT10 to recognize it and get it setup (Focusrite was no help but Sweetwater Music came through).

    "GCSG Productions"
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    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero M/B, i7 6700K CPU, 16GB Ram, SSD and conventional hard drives, Win 10 Pro and Win 10 Pro Insider Pre-Release
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    Guitslinger
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/02/04 17:23:00 (permalink)
    Don M,

    Here is their address and phone #:


    Thermal Relief Design Inc
    730 W. Cheyenne Ave. Ste# 120
    N. Las Vegas, NV
    89030

    702-395-7005

    I'll add that my SP40 is working flawlessly.

    post edited by Guitslinger - 2012/02/04 17:25:17

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    DonM
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    Re:Saffire Pro 40 woes 2012/02/08 07:51:34 (permalink)
    fireberd


    I've dealt with them.  My Pro 40 is out of warranty and they wanted minimum of two hours at $100 per hour just to look at it.  The power on/off switch went out in mine and they wanted $15 for the switch and another $15 for shipping.   I'm an ex amp tech and those charges are highway robbery.

    Fortunately, I made a comment about problems getting the switch on the gearslutz forum and a Focusrite support supervisor in England saw it and sent me a switch at no cost. 

    I liked the Saffire Pro 40, but since it went "belly up", I've decided no more firewire devices and have replaced it with a Roland Octa-Capture which works great with Sonar and it also worked great with Pro Tools 10 (I had a 30 day demo version).  Better than the Pro 40 that I had to "jump through hoops" to get PT10 to recognize it and get it setup (Focusrite was no help but Sweetwater Music came through).

    F:
    Good info.  Interesting that you had issues with PT and the SP40.  That interface was the first 3rd party interface that Avid publicly supported for PT9 when they opened up their HW spec.  I have had no problem getting five PT stations running with the SP40 - honestly I had more trouble with Avid's own M-Audio interfaces than with the Focusrite.  In fact there are even plugs that allow the SP40 to behave like PTHD in track monitoring setting it apart from some other interfaces.  


    I don't know the Roland Octo thing - glad it's working out great for you though.  


    BTW I love pedal steel - great avatar


    -D

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