Black Lion Audio Auteur vs RNP

[dickiefunk]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

Apologies to you sir. I thought you had the BLA and DMP3 and were saying the DMP3 was a better preamp. I completely misunderstood and spoke out of line.

No worries!

[Paul D]

I just got my Auteur yesterday and still have my RNP so I'm going to try and do some comparison this weekend. I also have a Sparrow, with a Mytek stereo 96 AD coming today so I will be comparing converters as well. I'll probably try and get a short clip of each pre through each converter, but the only way I have of getting a repeatable performance into each pre/converter combination will be recording a guitar loop with my DD20 and miking my amp.


On first glance the Auteur underwhelms but in a quick listen last night it did sound nice and big and clear. I like the power switch and pad on the Auteur (RNP has neither, you have to unplug it). I do like the signal level LEDs, DI inputs and insert jacks on the RNP and may keep it just to run stereo in from a keyboard. For the record the RNP was my first good pre and I think it sounds damn good so far so I'm very interested in what these tests show me if anything. I also have one channel of Great River and I'm going to try and put that in the mix for the comparison. If it sounds better than both the RNP and Auteur I may end up selling all of it and getting a 2-channel Great River which has it all - DI, inserts, great metering, and more flexible gain staging.

[Obitheincredible]

Originally Posted by Paul D

I just got my Auteur yesterday and still have my RNP so I'm going to try and do some comparison this weekend. I also have a Sparrow, with a Mytek stereo 96 AD coming today so I will be comparing converters as well. I'll probably try and get a short clip of each pre through each converter, but the only way I have of getting a repeatable performance into each pre/converter combination will be recording a guitar loop with my DD20 and miking my amp.


On first glance the Auteur underwhelms but in a quick listen last night it did sound nice and big and clear. I like the power switch and pad on the Auteur (RNP has neither, you have to unplug it). I do like the signal level LEDs, DI inputs and insert jacks on the RNP and may keep it just to run stereo in from a keyboard. For the record the RNP was my first good pre and I think it sounds damn good so far so I'm very interested in what these tests show me if anything. I also have one channel of Great River and I'm going to try and put that in the mix for the comparison. If it sounds better than both the RNP and Auteur I may end up selling all of it and getting a 2-channel Great River which has it all - DI, inserts, great metering, and more flexible gain staging.

Cant wait to hear them!

[aleatoric]

cool! keep us posted paul!

[jsrockit]

Any results yet? Is the auteur a pre-amp with color or more of a clean transparent pre-amp. I have one channel of great river, and love it, but was looking for a stereo pre.

[Obitheincredible]

Ya its been forever! Were waiting!

[jsrockit]

Results would be great, but even a description of it would be good for me... I don't need a transparent pre... I need a stereo pre with color, but at a decent price. I am hoping this is it.

[Heartfelt]

The Autuer IS colored. It has a big punchy bottom and a nice, sparkly top. It will make your tracks sound bigger than life. The question is, do you want that on every track and/or do you have other options, if not?

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

The Autuer IS colored. It has a big punchy bottom and a nice, sparkly top. It will make your tracks sound bigger than life. The question is, do you want that on every track and/or do you have other options, if not?

I have a great river ME-1NV for all mono sources, and this would be for the few stereo sources I have. Thanks.

[Heartfelt]

I just went back and listened to a brief track I recorded with the Autuer. There is too much room in the clip and a bit of sibilance. However, with my 4047, it has a full sound. I noticed on a few syllables that the bottom loaded up, thus my statement about the big bottom.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3599652-post1.html

I think it is great and the only reason I sent it back was I needed at least one channel that was fairly neutral. I may pick one up again, now that I have myself covered.

I wouldn't think this would be your next choice after having a GR. I believe the Auteur was designed to sound like it is in the same camp, thus the comparisons to the 1272 on their site. If you want two cheaper channels of the same of similar in nature, then it would be great. If you want a different flavor, it won't be too different (I suspect).

Black Lion Audio Auteur Mic Preamp

[Slikjmuzik]

Since someone was asking...

Black Lion Audio made a name for themselves by taking budget gear, and upgrading the internal organs to better quality components. Their mods became famous for adding dynamic range, raising headroom on pres, upgrading the PSU's which allows for better performance of everything on the units and now they are making clocks, converters and pres. They are based out of Chicago, have good pricing and have good turn-around times considering how big they've grown in popularity, how small the company still is and the fact that their pre which stacks easily with high end pres(you'll see they put it right up against Vintech and Chandler on their site) and you get 2 channels for under $500.

Killer company in my book.

[Slikjmuzik]

Heartfelt, if that's the Auteur and the 4047, then I need to get me the Auteur and an AT4047 - lol. I've always liked the 4047, but it sounds really good with the preamp. The Auteur doesn't have any low cut filters, so you can cut that out inside the box. I'm sure it would sound awesome with my Telefunken and then with the Fairchild plugin I like to use on vocals.

[Slikjmuzik]

To me, the Auteur sounds like a killer pre for just about anything. Yes, I wish it wasn't a wal-wart, that it had XLR outs and that it had line and instrument level ins, or a pad, but nonetheless, with the other tools I have in my facility, I can use it with anything. I'd love to try it on room mics and guitars. Heck, I'm sure bass and keys would kill through it as well.

[Heartfelt]

Originally Posted by Slikjmuzik

Heartfelt, if that's the Auteur and the 4047, then I need to get me the Auteur and an AT4047 - lol. I've always liked the 4047, but it sounds really good with the preamp. The Auteur doesn't have any low cut filters, so you can cut that out inside the box. I'm sure it would sound awesome with my Telefunken and then with the Fairchild plugin I like to use on vocals.

Just to make it fun... here is the 4047 with the Daking Pre. Less room in the mic and it doesn't load up on the bottom while remaining full. It has the same weight as i am right up on it and turned the hipass up a bit. Worked like a charm BEFORE it got in the system. I'm not knocking the auteur, per se.
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3796275-post26.html

[Slikjmuzik]

lol - how much was that Daking pre? I love Daking pre's, but still, if I'm going to spend that much, I'll get a Chandler or a John Hardy. That's just me.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Slikjmuzik

lol - how much was that Daking pre? I love Daking pre's, but still, if I'm going to spend that much, I'll get a Chandler or a John Hardy. That's just me.

The Mic Pre One is less than $675... but one channel.

[Heartfelt]

[Snatchman]

Hey Heartfelt... Thanks for the samples.. I like both pres, but I've always been a fan of sorta "rolled off " high end vocals when tracking..To my ears it sounds more natural.. I actually prefer the way the Auteur sound. Sorta that Nat King Cole sound.....Just me tho'...... Thanks again....

[jaz49]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

Just to make it fun... here is the 4047 with the Daking Pre. Less room in the mic and it doesn't load up on the bottom while remaining full. It has the same weight as i am right up on it and turned the hipass up a bit. Worked like a charm BEFORE it got in the system. I'm not knocking the auteur, per se.
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3796275-post26.html

Wow, thanks for posting. Love that mic/pre combo. Only my $.02 but I'd say the Daking Pre was a wise choice on your part

[Paul D]

Hey, sorry guys been real busy since I got the Auteur and haven't had a chance to do the level of comparison that I wanted to!

I did do a quick test, running an electric guitar loop into an e906 and comparing the GR ME-1NV, FMR RNP and Auteur. The GR is very nice, colored yes but also fairly balanced with nice depth. The Auteur is also very good sounding, BIG low end which may or may not be overkill depending on whether or not you could EQ it out if necessary...but it's very smooth and big sounding, nice high end and sense of depth. The RNP I liked the least, it seems to add some (subtle but) unpleasant midrange content, a bit "honky" to my relatively untrained ears, and lacking the defined low end and sense of depth that the other two give, sounded a bit "flat" or 2-D by comparison. Not bad sounding, I'm splitting hairs but that's what we're here for....

I wouldn't mind putting the clips up if anyone is interested just keep in mind it's not an exhaustive comparison by any means....

PS the Auteur actually does have a -10dB pad...

[Obitheincredible]

SWEET! I'm definitely ordering one!

[badhorsie777]

...just got my auteur this afternoon - i'll get on it this weekend, posting some clips. I'm EXTREMELY interested in your sparrow findings - please tell us how it performs. Comparisons to mytek would be great.

Thanks,
Matt

[Blu Exile]

I might be buying a BLA pre also. I was looking at both these pres also, and the BL seems right for me. I'll almost exclusively be recording rap vocals (Mostly paired with an SM7). I only need 1 channel, but I can't seem to find anything cheaper than the BLA Auteur that I like the sound of more. Trying to find one used is nearly impossible. I was hoping to buy one for $300 and something. I know they came out brand new at around $300.

I've been researching and looking at pre-amps for too much time lately. I was looking at that Golden Age Pre-73 for $300, but then everybody says you have to mod it to sound right and they have a wooliness on higher gains stages, etc. Black Lion seems like a more solid choice. I just wish I was ballin' and could afford the Great River and be done with it.

[Paul D]

I wanted to qualify my previous statement a bit, regarding the RNP vs Auteur...

First, I'm new to this so what sounds good to me solo might not be what fits best in the mix.....

Second, while I do feel that the Auteur sounds slightly better, the RNP has alot more useful features that the Auteur does not, like DI inputs, signal/clip lights, and insert points.

I still feel you get very good bang for the buck from both of these units, the RNP makes up for in very useful features what it *may* slightly lack in sound quality.

I do have clips but no way to host them, my Putfile account is apparently hosed. If anyone wants me to email them to them I can, and if someone wants to host them that would be even better. It is three 20 second 44.1/16 WAV files of clean electric guitar, not quite 4MB each, let me know if you want me to send them to you....

EDIT: BTW the differences are almost inaudible on my Sony headphones at work, but I can hear them more clearly through my monitors at home, if that gives you an idea of the fairly small differences between them....

[Heartfelt]

Clips please?

Originally Posted by Paul D

Hey, sorry guys been real busy since I got the Auteur and haven't had a chance to do the level of comparison that I wanted to!

I did do a quick test, running an electric guitar loop into an e906 and comparing the GR ME-1NV, FMR RNP and Auteur. The GR is very nice, colored yes but also fairly balanced with nice depth. The Auteur is also very good sounding, BIG low end which may or may not be overkill depending on whether or not you could EQ it out if necessary...but it's very smooth and big sounding, nice high end and sense of depth. The RNP I liked the least, it seems to add some (subtle but) unpleasant midrange content, a bit "honky" to my relatively untrained ears, and lacking the defined low end and sense of depth that the other two give, sounded a bit "flat" or 2-D by comparison. Not bad sounding, I'm splitting hairs but that's what we're here for....

I wouldn't mind putting the clips up if anyone is interested just keep in mind it's not an exhaustive comparison by any means....

PS the Auteur actually does have a -10dB pad...

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

Clips please?

Like I mentioned my hosting site is acting up and I don't have a place to put them online right now. I'd be glad to email them to you, just PM me your email addy and I'll send them out ASAP.....

[Michael_Joly]

Did y'all know that Black Lion and OktavaMod are running a 15% off promo? Buy an Auteur and any OktavaMod mic mod or '012 package and save 15%. Swell deal for folks who have been sitting on the fence considering both the Auteur and a mod. Just say'n. Not pitch'n. At least check out the photos at the link above, I'm trying to be a better photographer and have been working like crazy to get correct white balance and a deep depth of field.

[Groberts]

Hi gang! First post here ever. Been lurking as I come up to speed on some quality basic components for my modest recording set up.

I really liked both clips of the Auteur, and the Daking. But I'd have to say the Daking/4047 together just sounded smooth and sweet. It would have been interesting to here an identical test clip through both however.

My intentions are to record a very high end Santa Cruz D/PW Mahogany Acoustic guitar, and also male vocals (tenor range). My acoustic guitar has a rather pronounced low end bass response to begin with. (made some sample recordings using an AT4150 mic. Nice mic!) After hearing the clips and reading the thread, I think the Auteur low-end emphasis might be a bit too much? The AT4150 mic is on loan from a friend so I can decide if I want to buy one. (probably yes) But I think I might prefer the AT4047 mic instead. I need to try a 4047 so I can compared for myself. But that's for another thread.

I also have a Blue Bluebird mic that is also has a bit of low end emphasis. But it sounds rich on my somewhat high, and thin voice. Given it's inherent low end emphasis, I don't want to stack too many components together with enhanced low end. Don't need it. The source (my acoustic guitar) has plenty low end to begin with. However that nice rich low end I heard on the singing track through the Auteur sure sounded sweet and rich. Hmmm

I am looking for a nice preamp (preferably two channel) to improve on going direct into my M-Audio Fasttrack Ultra interface. (yeah I know, that's probably not hard to improve upon) Will my M-Audio fasttrack Ultra Interface be a tonal bottleneck if I add a good pre like the Auteur, or perhaps an FMR RNP? I tend to think that adding a good preamp, paired with a decent mic like my blue Bluebird, or an AT4050 or 4047 would still sound better than going straight into the audio interface. (Forgive me if I am pointing out the obvious or sounding like a total newbie. I AM!) I've read a ton of threads here so far and learned a lot! Thanks! Gary

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by Groberts

I am looking for a nice preamp (preferably two channel) to improve on going direct into my M-Audio Fasttrack Ultra interface. (yeah I know, that's probably not hard to improve upon) Will my M-Audio fasttrack Ultra Interface be a tonal bottleneck if I add a good pre like the Auteur, or perhaps an FMR RNP? I tend to think that adding a good preamp, paired with a decent mic like my blue Bluebird, or an AT4050 or 4047 would still sound better than going straight into the audio interface. (Forgive me if I am pointing out the obvious or sounding like a total newbie. I AM!) I've read a ton of threads here so far and learned a lot! Thanks! Gary

Looking at a pic of the back of the Fasttrack it looks like you could go out from a preamp like the Auteur or RNP into the 1/4" inputs on the back, bypassing the preamps in the Fasttrack but still using the converters. Then at some point you could upgrade your converter which would probably be another step of improvement....

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

Did y'all know that Black Lion and OktavaMod are running a 15% off promo? Buy an Auteur and any OktavaMod mic mod or '012 package and save 15%. Swell deal for folks who have been sitting on the fence considering both the Auteur and a mod. Just say'n. Not pitch'n. At least check out the photos at the link above, I'm trying to be a better photographer and have been working like crazy to get correct white balance and a deep depth of field.

I got that email, wish I'd have known this was coming before I paid the full $465 price for the Auteur a few weeks ago instead of $395 plus your 15% discount, might've been able to jump on the MK-012s I've been eyeing!!