Black Lion Audio MicroClock is here!

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:53 pm

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

Get your analog mod on, too.

Jeff

aizo · Post by **aizo** » Wed May 02, 2007 11:57 pm

i wants....................a picture.....oh and the microclock

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:53 pm

SSSWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:50 am

Any know of any on-line reviews of this item?

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Fri May 04, 2007 11:42 am

It just came out on Tuesday, so nothing yet. I am *VERY* curious about this little guy and if it will take off. I have a BLA modded 828mk2 and the clock in there is killer. They no longer offer the all-in-one mod so this clock makes up for the analog-only mod that they now offer.

Jeff

Dwetmaster · Post by **Dwetmaster** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:55 pm

So a mod is now more expensive because you still have to buy their clock.

How would someone rate compared to motu timepiece (which I belive does the same job if you take off the MIDI interface?)

Am I right to try to compare both?

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:47 pm

It's probably more appropriate to compare the BLA clock to the lucid or apogee master clocks for a more stable clock to tighten up the sound of digital converters. The motu timepiece probably doesn't have as stable of a clock as the BLA, but the motu does connect to a wider variety of digital equipment. The BLA clock doesn't connect to adats, spdif, or MIDI equipment. It is word clock on BNC only (3 outputs on BNC).

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Sun May 06, 2007 8:07 am

Dwetmaster wrote:So a mod is now more expensive because you still have to buy their clock.

Well, yes, but no. Figure that for 2005-2006 they were getting their feet wet and offering their services for way less than they should have, and now the pricing is more in line with market value, though still a value.

I paid $350 + shipping for my analog/clock mod last November. What I received was an upgraded analog path and a clock on par (supposedly) with the Apogee Big Ben for $350. All done to an 828mk2 that I paid $375 for used. So I basically upgraded the front end to my G5 for under $800 and it'll compete with Apogee, etc. It sounds terrific, and is worth much more. So yes, I got a killer deal.

If this clock is on par with a Big Ben (someone needs to A/B this!!!), then $400 vs $1200 is definitely a deal. Consider that folks who purchase the Apogee Ensemble still feel that they need to pick up a Big Ben, too. I definitely feel that BLA's clock is a deal.

If the $300 for the analog mod makes your 828mk2 or Traveler sound as good as a Metric Halo interface, then this is good. And if you consider the fact that I prefer the BLA MOTU mic preamp mod to my Sytek's clean channels for acoustic guitar, well, consider the $300 analog mod to be for two really nice preamp channels and again, deal. Then there are the other 22 analog i/o via 1/4" that get modded, too.

Jeff

OldTimey · Post by **OldTimey** » Wed May 09, 2007 10:34 am

ill probably take the plunge and pickup the clock soon...i have wanted to get the analog stages of my 828 modded, but i just can't find a good time to part with the damn thing for two weeks. anyway, the clock is good news. Now I don't have to buy a Lavry DA10 (for now...hehe)

tblanchard · Post by **tblanchard** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:54 pm

Can someone - using small words, explain why I need one of these? I'm a long time midiot, but still feeling my way with the whole audio thing.

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Thu May 17, 2007 5:31 pm

tblanchard wrote:Can someone - using small words, explain why I need one of these? I'm a long time midiot, but still feeling my way with the whole audio thing.

It makes analog to digital and digital to analog converters work better and your audio sound better as a result.

Jeff

reekguitar · Post by **reekguitar** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:31 am

Gearboy,
Sounds interesting, thanks for the inormation.
Do you think that using this unit will make an audible difference in the recorded sounds?
I understand you had the preamp mods done too which seems to make a difference, but the clock only?
Haven't had a chance to try this myself so I'd be happy to have your opinion.
Thanks

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:26 am

I don't know, as I have had the entire analog i/o and the clock done to mine. I cannot separate the sound of the new clock from the sound of the clock + D/A converters.

They do offer a 30 day Money-back guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose is you want to check it out. They're a great company.

EDIT: Updated with photo and pricing for old/new customers...

Microclock

Jeff

OldTimey · Post by **OldTimey** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:03 am

gearboy wrote:I don't know, as I have had the entire analog i/o and the clock done to mine. I cannot separate the sound of the new clock from the sound of the clock + D/A converters.

They do offer a 30 day Money-back guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose is you want to check it out. They're a great company.

EDIT: Updated with photo and pricing for old/new customers...

Microclock

Jeff

\

jeff, you could clock an unmodded 828 with a modded 828...

gearboy · Post by **gearboy** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:05 pm

OldTimey wrote:
gearboy wrote:I don't know, as I have had the entire analog i/o and the clock done to mine. I cannot separate the sound of the new clock from the sound of the clock + D/A converters.

They do offer a 30 day Money-back guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose is you want to check it out. They're a great company.

EDIT: Updated with photo and pricing for old/new customers...

Microclock

Jeff
\

jeff, you could clock an unmodded 828 with a modded 828...

Duh, thanks!

Sometimes I am very dense.

Funny thing. I'm on location tomorrow night recording ADR, as I was on Sunday. I'm using the modded 828mk2 so I have the G5 running through the unmodded 828 right now. Guess what? I could immediately tell the difference, as the dark haze was in effect.

I am going to have BLA mod the stock one sometime soon. When I have some free time (holy crap don't get me started, my life is a series of deadlines!), I'll do that taste test. I'll wait to send the 828mk2 into BLA until I get a comparison going.

Jeff