Black Lion Audio Motu Mods...

[cxi2001]

Hey all,
Looked up Black Lion audio after the Sound On Sound article - has anyone had this done on an 828 ? What's the verdict ? Has anyone from the UK had the upgrade and how much extra did it cost for shipping back and forth ?

Cheers,
cxi2001.

[gearboy]

I just had mine done in November after months or research, waiting, etc. I plan on having my other 828mk2 done this winter/spring (saving right now for a trip to London to visit my brother while he attends LSE).

I have not recorded anything from the ground up yet, as I am in the middle of mixing three records. However, what the clock/analog mod has done to pre-mod recorded material is definitely not subtle. Highs and lows are definitely more defined. Reverb is no longer muddy and blurred but sounds natural (WAVES IR-1). Mixes are more 3D and I can perceive more separation between instuments.

I A/B'd DP projects between the BLA-modded 828 and my stock one with a friend who has a great ear and we both could immediately tell the difference.

I recommend this mod to anyone who owns an 828mk2, Traveller, 896HD, etc. It has me in upgrade frenzy mode right now as I want everything to pass analog through the 828mk2. Selling the Digimax LT for sure.

Jeff

[Atardecer]

Hey there,

Am curious, by getting the Black Lion mod i'm assuming that it will completely void the MOTU warranty? I would be interested in getting it done but knowing how touchy and prone to malfunction the 828 can be i would want to have some sort of safety net. What kind of warranty do Black Lion offer?

regards,
James

[gearboy]

http://www.blacklionaudio.com/motu_faq.html

My BLA modded 828mk2 was bought used back in May and had no warranty. I waited to burn it in for six months before I sent it to Matt.

My other 828mk2 was three yrs old in late September when I sent it back in for a screen repair (only problem with either of my interfaces in 3.5 yrs of combined use). MOTU sent me a new unit as a repalcement with a 90-day warranty. I decided to have a burn in time on this 828mk2 before I get it modded. Warranty is up in late December.

Jeff

[msmith92]

so if i'm using my 2408 with a digimax adat I/O would a mod of the analog stage be of use? i wonder if they'd just do the clock mod only?

[cloudy house]

had my traveler done last year...sounded great...used it on my album...then it just quit on me(luckily after the record was done). emailed BLA and they had me send it back...they got it back to me in a timely manner and it's perfect again...one weird thing was that the SPDIF i/o wasn't working after the original mod(analog and clock), but after the 2nd trip to BLA it works again! Those guys are awesome!!

I bought my traveler used, so the mod was a no brainer for me...It really does make a huge difference in my sound! Punchy and crisp.
<><
mark

[3rdeye]

...However, what the clock/analog mod has done to pre-mod recorded material is definitely not subtle. Highs and lows are definitely more defined...

I don't mean to be a smartass here but what you're hearing is not the clock, just the analog part of the mod.
You would hear the clock enhancement when recording.

[daveyboy]

Anyone have the Blacklion mod done to their hd192? Have been toying with the idea but wanted to hear some feedback first.

[33122a]

I had my 192 done and am pleased. The 192 mod is just replacing the analog stage.. It cleared up the lows for me, and everything seems to sit in its own place a little easier. As far as service goes - they were very fast for me, and there communication was excellent.

[taylor12k]

i'm about to do mine.. i'm sending my mix out from DP/ITB, to some analog outboard, and back in to the HD192 analog inputs.. so, i want those inputs to be the best they can be...

Anyone have the Blacklion mod done to their hd192? Have been toying with the idea but wanted to hear some feedback first.

[OldTimey]

...However, what the clock/analog mod has done to pre-mod recorded material is definitely not subtle. Highs and lows are definitely more defined...

I don't mean to be a smartass here but what you're hearing is not the clock, just the analog part of the mod.
You would hear the clock enhancement when recording.

why is that? There is a D/A conversion going on, whether or not the original material was recorded pre-mod. Thus, the A/D/A converters are being used, and they rely on the 828's clock. Upgrade the clock, reduce the jitter on playback. Isn't this the way it works, or am i taking crazy pills?

[monkey man]

Hey there,
Am curious, by getting the Black Lion mod i'm assuming that it will completely void the MOTU warranty? I would be interested in getting it done but knowing how touchy and prone to malfunction the 828 can be i would want to have some sort of safety net. What kind of warranty do Black Lion offer?
regards,
James

G'day, James.

As a fellow Melbournian, I'm curious as to whether there's a more local option.
Sounds extra-risky to have to send the thing halfway around the world again.
Halfway to Oz and halfway back, then halfway back to us again makes a 'round the world trip and a half.

Surely someone local's doing this kind of thing?
MOTU hardware is popular in Australia, isn't it?

I'm getting a couple o' 24I/Os, so it'd be nice to know...

[rbellevue@aol.com]

anyone who has had the black lion mod care to tell me how they have been holding up?
as am looking to do my 2408 and ad there word clock
the guy pushed the word clock for an extra $275
going to try an squeze a little more out of this systeem as the intel macs seem to have given some people
problums

best ross byron
1gig duel g4 tci card
2408
reason 2.5 looking at 4
live 6
DP 5

[gearboy]

It's been 11 months for me and it's holding up fine. I forget what their warranty is for it but with the analog mod it's probably straight ahead component swaps. They warranty their work. I would be more concerned with a non-BLA 828mk2 component failure than BLA's work.

I would definitely pick up their clock and try it for yourself at home with your modded MOTU interface. Remember, it has a 30-day trial period, so if you don't think that it makes a difference, then send it back for a refund. No-brainer IMHO.

At some point I may have my second 828mk2 modded and I'll definitely pick up the Microclock at the same time. My 828mk2 was done when they offered the analog and clock mod internal. The Microclock is supposedly superior to the modded MOTU clock, so I'll benefit. I may step up to a Metric Halo interface down the line instead. It's kind of a non-issue for me at the moment.

I hear you regarding holding onto your stuff and updating down the line. I am totally happy with my dual 1.8G5 and Powerbook and I can't see going Intel for a while. Hopefully my Macs will last me into 2009 or so! I can make music on both of them so no worries over here!

Jeff

[mesaken]

After having one of my HD192s modded and then listening to some drum tracks through the BLA and the stocker, I sent my other two in for the mod. The improvement in the DA side alone was worth it. That was over a year
ago and they're all doing fine.

I just bought one of Matt's clocks and have been shooting it out with my Big Ben. The difference is harder to discern on the DA side than the analog mod
of the 192s, however, we picked the BLA clock for mixing a grand piano and drum album. Its a great word clock and nothing but a great word clock. Its very minimalist in design without even a power-on indicator. Matt used the Big Ben for A/B-ing when prototyping the design. It has three WC outputs
and thats it.