Steve, what interface are you using? I’ve heard of some people using different
firewire drivers for Win 10, however, I have a TI chipset for my firewire card
and been using the built-in Win 10 drivers (Windows 10 1809), and haven’t had
any issues with my FocusRite Saffire Pro40.
It use to be that only certain interfaces with outdated drivers needed the
Windows legacy firewire driver; this began in Windows 7 when the firewire stack
drivers were modified. I’m not sure if Windows 10 has updated the stack again,
though I doubt it, since firewire hasn’t had any kind of update in years.
However, some people have said that they’ve experienced issues on Win 10, and
that changing out the driver has fixed it; I’ve yet to notice a pattern of what
could be triggering the issues or causing the problems though. Nevertheless,
I’ve also heard of many who’s system is working perfectly fine; so I’m
wondering if it’s a configuration/hardware thing, or if a particular update is
breaking things.
In any case, to update the driver you would context key the device, press P for
update driver, then select browse my computer for driver files. You can then
press browse and point your system to the folder with the alternative drivers.
HTH, DJX
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
Steve Spamer
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2020 7:15 AM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: Focusrite Saffire line info
Just on this subject, I have the following currently:
Texas Instruments 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller.
So, is this what a Win update put in? What’s the procedure to install the
legacy driver?, do I need to uninstall that one first? Thanks for any help.
Best steve.
From: James Malone
Sent: Tuesday, January 7, 2020 8:21 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: Focusrite Saffire line info
Thanks Phil, best news I heard today.
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Phil Muir
Sent: Tuesday, January 7, 2020 12:12 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: Focusrite Saffire line info
James. There have been issues with a particular Firewire driver on Windows 10.
That’s still easily fixed by replacing the Windows 10 Firewire driver with the
one that we placed in the Samplitude Dropbox. Here’s the link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lmjhsqadppjyetf/1394_OHCI_LegacyDriver.msi?dl=1
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> On Behalf
Of James Malone
Sent: 07 January 2020 04:47
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: Focusrite Saffire line info
Well DJX, don’t mean to ask a dumb question, but what is the chances of rolling
back the windows update?
I’m sure a lot of people will ask the same question if there uncertain. I have
both products, and was running in to the same problem. In regards of the
device that uses FireWire, Win10 no longer supports the FireWire card when you
upgrade according to Sweetwater. In the case of the Scarlet 6 Jen interface, it
crashed on me once.
Best: James
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of DJ X
Sent: Monday, January 6, 2020 6:51 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ddots-l] Focusrite Saffire line info
OK guys (especially Focusrite/saffire users amongst us), thought I’d share some
valuable info with you guys.
If you own a Saffire pro40, or any other unit in the Saffire line:
1. If you are on Windows 10, *DO NOT** upgrade past Windows 10 1809. I was
working with one of their techs last week on a problem and the MixControl,
while it will install on Windows 10 1903 and higher, there are quite a few
issues with the MixControl, it is very unstable. So if you are experiencing
issues with your Saffire/MixControl and you are using Windows 10 1903 (spring
2019 update) or higher, this may be the cause of your problems.
2. If you use a Saffire with both MacOS and Windows, if you are moving, or
have moved to Catalina, you need to use MixControl 3.9. This is an updated
native 64bit app which is compatible with macOS Catalina. However, this version
of MixControl will update your Saffire’s firmware. When you try to run the
Saffire on Windows, MixControl, which is still at 3.7 for Windows, will
complain because the firmware on the Saffire will be newer than the current
firmware that MixControl 3.7 ships with. So this will effectively prevent you
from using your Saffire on Windows after it was updated on the mac. If you need
to use both operating systems, you’ll need to stick with macOS Mojave and
MixControl 3.7 on the mac, so you can use the same MixControl3.7 on Windows. If
you have managed to place yourself in this predicament, where your Saffire has
been updated and can no longer be used in Windows MixControl, contact
Focusrite; they’ll give you a file to downgrade your firmware, which then can
be upgrade to the firmware version that ships with MixContro3.7.
3. I asked Focusrite if they could update MixControl for Windows to include
the new firmware, but that update for the mac was the last of it; MixControl is
now out of support, so no more updates are coming. ☹ Yes this also means that
Windows 10 issues will not be fixed either…
So there you have it, sad news in deed, as these are great units! Luckily for
me, I’m on an LTSC version of Windows 10, so I have a few years before I have
to move on and part with my Saffires… If you are using the Saffire with Windows
7 and plan to still do so for some time, then you are OK for now, as
MixControl3.7 still works great with Windows 7.
That being said, I figured we should probably have some kind of discussion
about what other interfaces are out there with similar specs and quality to the
Saffire line, since we often get the post asking about a good audio interface.
As far as I know, the new MixControl editions are not usable as of yet,
correct? So that would mean that the Clarret line and Scarlet gen 2 and up from
Focusrite are not real options for those who need to be able to create custom
mixes, tweak settings etc. So to that extent, those of you who are using units
with similar specs to the Saffire line, what are you using, and how accessible
is the control panel? Does anyone have any updates on using the new Focusrite
MixControl apps?
Now, and I don’t mean to be rude, and most of you that have been on this list
for years and know me know that this is not my style or how I would usually do
things, but for various reasons, I must politely ask, if you don’t have
anything meaningful to contribute, or something which will further this
discussion to the intended purposes, please refrain from posting. Furthermore,
don’t reply to this thread to complain about your current audio interface or
talk about anything other than units that are *comparable* to the
aforementioned Saffire line from FocusRite. If you don’t know about these units
or what they even are, or you don’t know what we are talking about, then odds
are that you probably shouldn’t be posting to the thread. 😊
Sorry if this sounds harsh or rude, but I’m sure most of you DDots list
veterans know why such measures are necessary!
Regards, DJX
