Black Lion MOTU Interface Modifications

[giles117]

Simple answer.

If what you start with is better, your end results will be that much better...

So in short. YES....

Taisoul Said:

So here is the deal for me.

Sweet!!!

I am going to be mixing a ton of stuff that's been recorded this year (30+ songs). I am planning on having one of my MOTU828mkii interfaces modded within the next few weeks.

This raises my #1 question regarding the clock:

Will recording from the ground up with the BLA mod sound better than simply mixing with an interface that's BLA modded? What is the difference???

The reason that I am asking is that although I am planning on modding both of my 828mkii units, I'm not sure when I'll be modding #2. Is it ok to record with the stock interface and mix on the modded interface, or should I just get both modded???

Jeff

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[Taisoul]

Is it ok to record with the stock interface and mix on the modded interface, or should I just get both modded???

I have yet to record any external audio yet but I'm sure i will be more than happy with the results. I feel that my music would sound better if tracked after the mods were done. But I would not let that stop me from recording now.

I guess it's your call.

BTW.

I just got a reply from Matt with the instructions. So communication and response is very good indeed.

[TnMike]

This might be a silly question but...

I have a DA-7 digital mixer that I run my instruments and mics into...I have 3 banks of ADAT optical cards that send the digital info. to the MOTU 2408mkIII...then out of the MOTU 2408mkIII (using firewire) into my G5 computer. I have nothing plugged into the 2408 except 3 pairs of ADAT optical cables...and a firewire cable running to the computer. My master clock is coming from my DA-7 digital mixer.

Question...since I am not using any analog (preamp) inputs on the 2408...and I am using the wordclock master and converters on the DA-7 digital mixer, would the Black Lion Mod. be all that helpful to my sound?
Thanks,
TnMike

[/list]

[Sergievsky]

No.

[TnMike]

Thanks Sergievsky...
You just saved me $350!
TnMike

[David Helpling]

I had my 896HD moded by Black Lion (Analog and Clock) and it definitely made a difference. I am actually selling it now as I am upgrading my system to the Apogee Symphony PCI Card. Here is an eBay link for anyone interested...

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTU-896-HD-Upgrade ... dZViewItem

[kelldammit]

i thought i'd read somewhere that having the mods done changed/limited some of the functionality of the unit as regards cue mix, etc...i was just curious as to what exactly changes, or if this is even true at all?

kell

[Sheva]

Okay, that sounds interesting...

Sample-rate will be reduced to 44.1/48 ?
I'm not able to make other machines to the "master"?

I use as amp my Pod XT pro, and I have problems to send and get the signal back. The main problem is: It is hard to configure, that the signal wont run in circles.

I must, when I have my acoustic guitar, plug it into the Traveler, because the Pod don't have an phantom XLR input. So, I plug it into the Traveler, must sende the signal to the pod, the the acoustic gets edited, and I have it to send back to the Traveler, OR I can go from the pod into the computer. Well, this should'nt be that problem.

But will the Master/Slave thing work after the mod?

I can't engage my Traveler under Mac OS bX, but under Windows, I don't have a guarantee that it would work.

What about the firmware, when there would be an update? Is it comatible? And the written software? Does it can handle with the new hardware?

Questions over questions...

[Phunker1]

have anyone of you listened to the sound samples on their website? I‘m not questioning that someone can judge the units based on their own experience, but to come back to the samples.. not only that the actual recordings are horrible, but I don‘t even like the audible difference. the cymbal test for instance. cymbal is incompetently beaten and sounds like crap anyway. What shall I compare by that?? Have you heard the voice sample?
I like those guys ideas, but what you do is judgeing the samples they give you . To be honest, I like the original ones more, than the modded.

[electropoet]

Believe the hype.

I'm not a professional so I didn't know if I'd hear much a difference...especially without being able to A/B material.

The samples on the web site weren't very convincing for me either...so I considered this a bit of a gamble...especially considering the fact that everything was working well already.

Well, I just got my 2408 mk3 back after a slightly less than 2 week turn-around...and...I am really impressed with what I've heard so far. I've got a couple decent front end processors to record mics and what not and the playback of some of my acoustic material sounded more defined...the fidelity has been unquestionably increased. A couple quick recording tests of acoustic guitar and vocals also sounded better then I ever remembered.

I know this isn't an end all/be all type of comparison...in fact, who knows, maybe the difference isn't that big...so...all I can say is, I'm very happy at this point with the decision, would recommend it highly, and I feel strongly that the increase in fidelity is real and substantial.

scott

[umlaat]

Firstly, Hey Folks!!

OK, I have a couple question regarding the mod and its use within sample based music.

1. If your sound sources are mostly soft synths and samplers (a la exs24) and all the summing is done in your daw, would the mod be beneficial?

2. If your math is done thru a summing amp (a la folcrom or nicerizer) and you have 2 mk2s synced, would the mod be beneficial?

Has anyone a/b'd a pair of 828's summed externally before/after bla mod?

thanks

[gearboy]

1. If your sound sources are mostly soft synths and samplers (a la exs24) and all the summing is done in your daw, would the mod be beneficial?

Yes. It will be benifical for monitoring, as the analog path is much better sounding. Also, once the BLA clock is released, you'll be able to clock off of something better than the stock clock and get results that are in theory supposedly as good as Apogee gear.

2. If your math is done thru a summing amp (a la folcrom or nicerizer) and you have 2 mk2s synced, would the mod be beneficial?

Yes, as, once again, your analog path will be greatly enhanced. I am assuming that you are going out of and coming back into the 828mk2 interfaces before and after summing.

I have an 828mk2 that has both the analog and clock mod (they used to offer both under the hood). It smokes the stock 828mk2 with pre-mod recorded material. It's night and day, and all I am hearing is the D/A converters with improved clocking and the analog mod on the monitor outs.

Has anyone a/b'd a pair of 828's summed externally before/after bla mod?

No, but I have both the modded and a stock 828mk2, and the difference on the monitor outs alone is very noticable, even for the untrained ear. I would imagine that the summed material will shine with this mod, even more with better than stock 828mk2 clocking.

Jeff

[billruys]

You send your soundcard away to have it improved. Two weeks later, you are trying to compare what it used to sound like two weeks ago. All the time, telling yourself how much better it's gonna sound. I have to admit that I am the worlds biggest skeptic. There are so many snake oil merchants out there in the audio world.

So, I'm waiting for someone to be a little more scientific about this. Please, if you're gonna send your unit to Black Lion for this mod, do us all a favour and run a test with RightMark Audio Analyser first . Then perform the same test when you've got your card back and publish the difference.

Thanks!

[gearboy]

You send your soundcard away to have it improved. Two weeks later, you are trying to compare what it used to sound like two weeks ago. All the time, telling yourself how much better it's gonna sound. I have to admit that I am the worlds biggest skeptic. There are so many snake oil merchants out there in the audio world.

So, I'm waiting for someone to be a little more scientific about this. Please, if you're gonna send your unit to Black Lion for this mod, do us all a favour and run a test with RightMark Audio Analyser first . Then perform the same test when you've got your card back and publish the difference.

Thanks!

I am working on (time permitting) a very scientific comparison between interfaces, preamps, mics and instruments. Maybe I'll just feed some signal through both of my 828mkIIs and use that Analyser (EDIT... Windows only... What the heck?!?!!?). I seem to be the only one on here that has said that s/he has both a modded and unmodded interface.

I can tell you with 100% certainty that it is a VERY noticable difference. Even my Dad picked out the BLA modded one and he is not a musician. It improves stereo spread, depth, and high and low end due to less jitter and better analog components. It makes sense.

I'm not trying to sell you on this. I personally don't care at all what you do with your 828mkII. But for me, it seriously has improved my setup and I am a very happy camper. I will be comparing the BLA 828mkII with a Metric Halo interface soon (holy free time Batman!) and I will publish the differences for sure.

A week and a half ago I did a test using my preamps with a 414B/ULS through both interfaces and there was a noticable difference as well. I want to be more scientic, though.

Jeff