Focusrite Saffire LE mixer app on macOS Catalina & Big Sur

Here I release a homebrew app to replace now unsupported SaffireControl LE app. The app supports Focusrite Saffire LE interface (does not support original Saffire) and works on macOS Catalina. It allows for a little bit more than the original (computer channels may be used both as stereo or double mono).

Download the app from GitHub. Should you find any issues, please report them on GitHub Issues.

Update #1 (2020-11-23) Good news! macOS Big Sur supports firewire audio and Focusrite Saffire LE. The app also works!

Focusrite Saffire LE on macOS Catalina

macOS 10.15 (Catalina) dropped support for legacy 32-bit apps including SaffireControl LE. Luckily, Firewire audio interfaces are still supported, so only control app is missing.

A few months ago I have reverse-engineer control app and since then I have implemented rough CLI-based implementation that is able to read and update mixer settings, as well as monitor inputs and outputs. While it’s far from being convenient it allows for basic stuff. The implementation is available on GitHub repo.

I plan to develop user interface with more or less the same features as original app and will be posting updates on this page.

Update #1 (2019-12-09) I released application with GUI.

Baudline Spectrum Analyzer on macOS High Sierra & Mojave

Baudline unfortuanetly does not work on new macOS versions due to changes to XQuartz. Since source code is not avaliable there is no easy fix (which probably would be to just recompile app). Inspired by StackOverflow post I found a non-invasive way to have it running again. The workaroud is to start Baudline with the following command: DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/X11/lib/flat_namespace /Applications/baudline.app/Contents/Resources/baudline.

Update [2019-01-02]: You may make the fix permament by running install_name_tool -change /usr/X11/lib/libXt.6.dylib /usr/X11/lib/flat_namespace/libXt.6.dylib /Applications/baudline.app/Contents/Resources/baudline. Probably install_name_tool is bundled with Xcode, so you may need to install this. Then you may run baudline as usual.

Update [2019-10-19]: 32-bit apps (which baudline is) are no longer supported on macOS Catalina.

Traktor Kontrol S5 MIDI mapping

One of the activities I do in my free time is DJing. Few months ago I bought Traktor Kontrol S5 that features two LCD displays. Unfortuanetly, customization possibilities are very limited. I discovered then that displays & controller logic is implemented in QML and the source files are bundled with Traktor. This was really great, as it opened possibility for major customizations. Later on, some folks did also even more hacking.

However, it is possible to modify Traktor S5/S8/D2 functionality even more. One of the missing functions of S5 is ability to change default mapping. It is possible to map some of the buttons and faders of Traktor S8 to MIDI, however it is not available for S5. Luckily, buttons are wired to Traktor functions also using QML and it is possible to remap some buttons to emulate S8 MIDI buttons.

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Complete guide to Denon DRA-F109 control protocol

Hardware specs

Denon DRA-F109/DNP-F109/DCD-F109 remote connector is in fact TTL-level (5V) serial port. The connector is 3.5mm TRS jack (standard stereo plug). Tip is RX, ring is TX, sleeve is ground. Data is transmitted at 115.2 kbps baud rate. It may be easily connected to non-Denon hardware by using cheap 5V tolerant USB-to-Serial adapter. The receiver (DRA-F109) echoes back data recieved from other devices.

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