002R...to BLA or not to BLA ?

[Gerax]

Hi

I've been intrigued by all the reading I've done here on the BLA mod to the 002R. I've also exchanged a few emails with Black Lion Audio actually, and got almost all the answers I was looking for. I downloaded and auditioned the files about the different rendition of the analog stage, which isn't huge once the files are normailzed to equal volume, but noticeable for sure. I'm mainly looking to find answers about how the unit is going to behave mixing-wise once modified (mostly beacuse I don't track with the 002R), I mean: the mod to the clocking stage is said to improve the sound a fair bit; is this comparable to clocking the unit to an external unit like, say, a Rosetta 200 or something in that league? Would I eventually need to do so once I'd modded my 002? Are the clocking improvements noticeable only in a monitoring environment or the final mix (be it a bounced ITB mix or a printed stem) is going to benefit from it too?
Forgive my "analty" but I'd eventually be sending two units to mod, so I really need to know if it's worth the hassle (uncabling...shipping...customs...) and the downtime, on paper and for the money it surely looks so...but I need some real world user opinions.

Thanx everybody

L.G.

[Gerax]

Great feedback...thnx everybody...

[meteor]

I have a 002 that I use for a writing/demo/pre-production rig that I would like to be able to use for "keeper" overdubs. I wouldn't generally do basic tracks or final mixes for a serious project on that rig but I do want it to be able to contribute to serious work. That said, I just got notice from BLA that my 002r was coming back to me today.

I should say that my main reason for having the thing modded was to see if it could improve the output and monitoring side as well as the line in conversion side. The BLA guys told me that the converter chip upgrade wasn't worth it and that you could only "maybe" tell a bit of difference if you were recording at 96k. Anyway, $400 for a clock/preamp/audio path upgrade did not seem like too expensive an experiment for the possible improvements. I had a window of time and took the plunge. It's coming back to me one week later than It was scheduled to return.

All that to say... in a couple of weeks, barring some earth-shaking catastrophe or other distraction... I "will" respond to the questions advanced by this thread.

However, in the meantime, do a little searcharooski as there is tons to learn.

cheers,

[Gerax]

Meteor, thanx for your reply.

I did my research, but most of the topics where the BLA mod is found are referring to the MOTU interface; yes, the 002R is being named here and there, but I just wanted to start a dedicated topic, since it got no reviews on the BLA site: I just wanted to have some opinions going; I understand it may not be to big an hassle to have your 002 modded, but an overseas shipping of 2 units really has to be worth it to make me move and do it, if you understand what I mean.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to hear your results and evaluations, as the files I downloaded and auditioned (being only about the recording side which I care less about) didn't answer the questions I need to know about clocking and monitoring/rendering improvements.

Thanx

L.G.

Gerax,
Sounds to me like you don't use the conversion going in and only need good conversion going out for monitoring.

Why not just get a good 2 channel converter and use the SPDIF outputs?



David

[Gerax]

Originally Posted by dpasch

Gerax,
Sounds to me like you don't use the conversion going in and only need good conversion going out for monitoring.

Why not just get a good 2 channel converter and use the SPDIF outputs?



David

Because 1) I'm using the SPdif I/O for digital FX send and return with my outboard reverbs/multifx and 2) if I can have the same result for a $400 mod that can take care of both monitoring and clock...

L.G.

[Jeff16years]

Originally Posted by Gerax

Because 1) I'm using the SPdif I/O for digital FX send and return with my outboard reverbs/multifx and 2) if I can have the same result for a $400 mod that can take care of both monitoring and clock...

L.G.

hello.
i don't know much about these mods, but I have a feeling that for a $400 mod you'll probably be getting a converter mod that is about $400 (at the most) worth of better converters.
what I mean is I'd be surprised if with this $400 mod that you would be getting conversion qualities as good as, for example the Roseeta 200.
I wouldn't expect "the same result" converter wise

good luck
-jeff

[meteor]

I just noticed that you are from Italy, so I understand needing to feel more informed or confident. Make sure to bump this thread in a couple of weeks and I'll do my best to give you my subjective but experienced impressions. Before anyone gets carried away with asking for audio samples and other forms of hoop jumping - etc... I'll just go ahead and say that I'll be limiting my comments to my impressions 'cause I think that is really the only useful part of forum commentary.

I work and have worked in a variety of fantastic rooms and listening environments, but this little experiment is just about adding a little value to what I can do in my own little corner. I use a Mytek 2 ch. AD on the input side that also serves as the clock source (which make a fairly dramatic improvement on all fronts) so I will have some point of reference. I like the way the monitoring and input functions of the 002r fit into the creative side of my workflow so I decided not to get an outboard DA (which, after adding a decent source selector and passive volume control, would be well over twice the cost of the BLA mod).

I rarely use the onboard preamps and I am curious to put them through a few paces, but I am mostly interested in an improved internal clocking/re-clocking source and the line-in/ monitor out signal path upgrades.

cheers,

[thejook]

One of the biggest advantages I see to doing the BLA mod, and the primary reason I wish it was available for Digi 001, is that with the 001/002 series of hardware, you can connect 8 I/O of awesome front-end via lightpipe. I do this with an Apogee AD-8000 - and I get 8 I/O this way. However, when it comes time to mix, I'd like to utilize the other 8 analog outputs on the 001 (or in your case, 002), and I'd assume that the BLA mod would improve the quality at the end of the day of the 8 analog outs.

Then again, since I'm clocking the 001 (or in your case, you'd be clocking the 002) to an external clock like the Apogee, maybe it's not so drastic an improvement?