Motu BlackLion Mod + BLA Micro Clock

[Adam Howden]

Hi All,

I'm just wondering if any of you out there have had a BlackLion Audio Mod done at all.

I recently had my 2408 MkIII done and it sounds a lot better, more open and warmer to, a nice improvement.

I also purchased a Micro Clock of them, I'm based in Australia and from the non existent instructions that came with (not that it needs a lot) I wasn't able to work out wether I can run it here in Aus. So I tried anyway I went and purchased what appears to be the correct DC Adaptor and have it set up in the studio.

I've been using it all day and it seems fine, I'm been playing with a few projects with it running into the BNC Work Clock in etc 44.1 Project set to external word clock in no worries, 48 Project set it on the BLA Micro Clock no worries.

This may sound silly but I can't really tell if it's working or not, everything is running fine, I guess it all sounds a little better (can't really tell so far) and there's no groovy LED or anything on the BLA Micro Clock, so I can't even really tell if the damn thing is on?

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Adam

[zandurian]

I have a black lion modded 24i/o but this included the black lion clock installed inside. I would say if you have your PCI 424 set to external word clock then the micro-clock should be running things.

I personally could hear the difference between my modded and an my unmodded units just based on the analog section change - even when both were synced to the BL clock. I don't know if the clock alone is going to slap you in the face with an instant obvious difference or not since I did not a/b the clock alone. I would assume the improvement would be subtle.

- Byron

[duncan]

I'm pretty sure if you select 'word clock' in the audio menu up at the top of the screen next to the counter (DP4.6) and there's no word clock coming in, there will be no audio playing. I know this because now and then when I have mine set for 'adat sync' instead of word clock, and the HD24 isn't turned on, audio won't play until I switch it back to 'word clock', or turn on the HD24. (In my setup, it's either word clock via a GENx6 or ADAT, depending on whether or not the HD24 is doing anything. The HD24 works better as master clock when it's in use - something about termination of the WC connector on the HD24)

When I upgraded my HD24 to the XR A/D converters, I compared it to my BLA modded 2408. They say the HD24XR compares to the Radar system, but I thought the 2408 sounded better - more presence/balls. I noticed a big difference between the stock 2408 and the BLA mod. Even my clients noticed it. The clock is a more subtle difference - probably more clarity, less 'fuzz'.

[beautypill]

My studio is all Apogee AD16x/DA16x Symphony and Dangerous Music now (absolutely brilliant stuff) but we used to have a MOTU HD192 w/ Black Lion mod and it sounded wonderful. There is a crystalline, glistening, refined quality to the Apogee stuff that is pretty extraordinary, but this is reflected in a significant price differential.

I'm an Apogee man now, but I highly recommend the Black Lion stuff. A marked move forward in quality. Worth the dough.

- c

[gearboy]

I use an Apogee Duet and a BLA modded 828mk2. Both of them sound stellar. My 828mk2 was modded back in Nov 2006 before they had the stand-alone Microclock, so it's the older version of the BLA MC onboard give or take whatever it took them to get it in there. It sounds really great and I spent some time A/Bing it against a stock 828mk2 and it was night and day. The DA was a big difference alone!

I highly recommend their mods for MOTU gear. I also highly recommend the Apogee Duet, as it sounds stellar as well.

Red vs. stock Oktava caps, Apogee Duet vs. BLA 828mk2...

The following files were all recorded with the same MK-012 preamp/body and 10' Monster XLR cable. I paid close attention to gain staging but of course there will be slight differences. My Taylor 310ce was miked at the 12th fret approx 6" away for each 24-bit 44.1kHz WAV file. All files are presented here with no EQ and no processing of any kind. Straight off the microphones and raw.

Apogee Duet:
Red MK-12 Capsule
Oktava MK-012 Cardioid
Oktava MK-012 Omni

MOTU 828mk2 w/ BLA mod (analog/clock):
Red MK-12 Capsule
Oktava MK-012 Cardioid
Oktava MK-012 Omni

I'd love to hear some feedback.

Jeff

[Adam Howden]

Thanks for your responses guys. I guess I was on the right track, I had set DP4.6 to word clock in and it was running. But I can confirm its working as in Peak I switched it between 44.1 and 48 and there was a very noticeable change in speed, so all good.

Between the new analog stages and the word clocks the system is sounding sweet. Tight and clear bottom end, warm high's all is good.

Any other pluses I should be looking for?

Cheers,

Adam H.