As a Software Engineer and also someone who love sworking with Audio and has Mac for everday use, I’ve had a fair share of tech troubles as well. One of the most annoying problems I’ve faced — and I know many of you have too — is getting the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 to connect to a Mac properly. The Saffire Pro 40 is a great piece of audio equipment known for its high-quality sound and reliable performance. But sometimes, getting it to work with a Mac can feel like a never-ending struggle and is a reason of frustration.
I’ve searched through countless articles and forum posts to solve this problem, and I’ve compiled some of the most helpful links below:
In this article, I’m here to help by putting together everything I’ve learned that isn’t mentioned all in one place. I’ll walk you through some common issues causing these connection problems and give you simple, practical solutions to fix them. Whether you’re new to this or have been dealing with audio equipment for years, these tips should help you get your Saffire Pro 40 working smoothly with your Mac, so you can focus on creating awesome audio.
Just so you’d definitely ask, here are my Mac details:
- Model Name: iMac (Retina 5k, 27-inch, 2020)
- Model Identifier: iMac20,1
- Processor Name: 8-Core Intel Core i7
- Processor Speed: 3.8 GHz
- Number of Processors: 1
- Total Number of Cores: 8
- OS: macOS Big Sur (v11.7.10)
1. MacOS Compatibility — Use right OS or Trade In
If your macOS has recently been updated, it could cause compatibility issues. The latest release from Saffire Pro 40 Downloads is Saffire Mix Control 3.9, which has the following details:
Release Notes:
- This will be the last software release for the Saffire range as they are now discontinued.
- Tested on:
- macOS 11.7 (Big Sur — I’m using Saffire Pro 40 on it, works fine!)
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina)
- macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
- macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)
- macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
macOS 10.12 or later is required to run Saffire Mix Control 3.9. This version will not install on macOS 10.11 or earlier. Ensure your macOS is compatible. The maximum support is macOS Monterey 12, which is limited to Intel processors.
If you decide to update your OS and can afford to upgrade your gear, customers from the UK and USA can get trade-in offers at Focusrite. Alternatively, you could get newer interfaces. Here are some great options from Focusrite:
2. FireWire Connectivity — Have a right device
Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter is essential if you’re using newer Macs that lack FireWire ports. You can find it here:
At the time of writing, there’s a $5 discount using promo code: PRIME5X1
3. Incompatible Drivers — Reinstall Drivers
It could be that your Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 could be on old drivers which would cause it to give you glitches or issues. You may want to ensure that you will reinstall correct drivers. It could include uninstalling old driver first. Head to my another post to learn more about How to unisntall Saffire MixControl? Make sure to allow your settings.
4. System Preferences & Security — Allow settings
When you install new drivers, reinstall macOS, or restore from a Time Machine backup, you need to adjust your security settings to ensure everything works correctly for the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40. Here’s how to do it:
- Open System Preferences: Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
- Go to Security & Privacy: Click on “Security & Privacy,” then go to the “General” tab.
- Unlock the Settings: Click the lock icon at the bottom left, enter your administrator username and password.
- Allow Blocked Software: Look for a message about blocked software and click “Allow.” A list of blocked software/drivers will appear.
- Approve Focusrite Drivers: Check the boxes next to ‘Focusrite’ or ‘TC Technologies’ entries and click “OK.”
- Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Why this step is important?
Every time you update or install new drivers, reinstall macOS, or restore from a backup, you need to allow the drivers in Security & Privacy settings. This ensures macOS doesn’t block them, preventing connectivity issues with your Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
5. Audio MIDI Setup
I’ve recently gotten my mac repaired two times under a warranty and I restored my backup through long time taking time machine backup, it wsa a nightmare. The first time I did it, my Saffire stopped working and this was the quick fix.
- Go to Spotlight Search (Press Command + Space)
- Write down “Audio MIDI Setup.app”
- Find Saffire (if you can see, of course)(
- Right click and tap on “Use This Device For Sound Output”
6.. Purchase Additional Hardware — Utilize ADAT Connection
If you need more inputs and face issues with the Saffire Pro 40, use an additional interface that supports ADAT connections. For example, connect the Saffire Pro 40 to an Audient iD22 with an ADAT cable to expand your inputs.
Other ADAT-compatible interfaces include:
This setup lets you continue using the Saffire Pro 40 effectively. A Reddit user shared: “I bought an Audient iD22. I can run the Saffire Pro 40 through it with the ADAT connection if I need more than two inputs, so I’ll be okay.”
Utilizing ADAT ensures a versatile and efficient recording setup.
Resources
There are few things that I’ve generally found that might be able to help you continue your search.
Someone is working on a really cool Saffire Mixer UI
If you are in US or UK, you could get Focusrite Trade In
After a ASIO? You may use the following one.