All user reviews for the Black Lion Audio 002R Modification

A few years ago, I recorded an album with almost entire Pro Tools (I did not really choose) and Digi002R, not using almost only to allow the damn Pro Tools to open, as I plugged my microphones in a Amek DMCL Apogee converter and came back in the 002 by S-PDIF.
It is important to note that the 002 is far below the quality of a Motu 824, and a further RME Fireface ... I do not even talk about their range of MerdeBox!
Later, I discovered Black Lion Audio and changes they made to the interfaces of time but I've never taken the plunge, because of the cost and complexity of the transaction (shipping, customs, etc.. ..).
Pure luck, I found one in France, at a ridiculous price: 700 €. When I asked the seller why he was selling so cheap, he told me he had gone much higher, months before, but no one seemed to understand what it was ...
At the time, a 002 OCCAZ worth between € 3 and 400, the BLA mod cost over € 1000. As they had not hacked export papers, he had to pay customs fees (30%?) And also shipping. Total: € 1,800 in. We can therefore say that I almost had a third of the price.
In its "Premium", the passage from Black Lion include:
- Preamps, line inputs and outputs, headphone output: change all Op Amps for Burr Brown OPA4134's, replacing all capacitors analog circuit.
- Clock: their replacement by BLA 220-270SP competition.
- Converters "decoupling", filter replacement capacitors.
- General food and Phantom: adding a power supply stabilized filter.

UTILIZATION

Nothing special, it is always a Digi 002R, the operation is the same. It is still relevant, it is compatible with Pro Tools 9 and OS 10.6 Snow Leopard.

GETTING STARTED

Idem.

OVERALL OPINION

Without making a comparison with all that exists, I think that there is nothing on the market like a modified interface "BLA Premium". If this were the case, it would probably cost in € 3000! In sound (file creation), it is largely up to or above the HD. Quality (clean?) Sounds just copy. In mixing, the day and night, even if it is still 32 bit float to 48 bit and not HD, the funnel is rough ... But it could perhaps have a summer work with!

Incidentally, the 002 with only 4 preamps mics, I bought a kit JLM Audio BA4, which has the distinction of being equipped with -20 pad, which is sorely lacking in the Digi. It avoids the hassle of clipping on a snare or bass drum with zero gain ...
It becomes a true 8-channel interface! With Trident S100 and Apogee AD-8000 with ADAT card, plus a DMCL S-PDIF, you get 18-way high quality!

Happened recently in HD, I no longer use it too often, but I keep it as a mobile station.

Black Lion: http://www.blacklionaudio.com/content.php?p=7
A Comparative http://recordinghacks.com/2009/08/31/black-lion-audio-mod-comparison/
JLM BA4 Audio: http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=22
Requisite, the buddy that modifies the BLA Digi192: http://requisiteaudio.com/

The Black Lion Audio 002R Modification is a specialized set of mods that is only done by BLA. It is also only done to the rack versions of the Digidesign audio interfaces. I got mine done on the 002R, but you can also get it on the 003R. An important thing to mention about these mods is that when I got mine modded a few years ago, it was a different mod than what they offer up now. While I believe that they do many of the same things, they now do a whole lot more than they did in the past, so this review won't cover everything that the new mods do. I didn't get the pre-amplifiers upgraded either, only the converter upgrade. The newer mod is also more expensive than the one that I got done, and also comes in two different packages. I had heard great things about these mods and I'm very glad that I got mine done...

UTILIZATION

Everything about the make up of your 002R will be the same after it is modded - it is the insides that will be affected with the Black Lion Audio 002R Modification, and in turn your overall sound. Everything in your studio hinges on your digital to analog and analog to digital converters, as this is a crucial conversion. How good your converters are truly change the sound you get. A better conversion will give you a more reliable and faithful sound.

GETTING STARTED

The Black Lion Audio 002R Modification is probably the best bang for your buck in terms of upgrading your interface. It really gives you a whole new studio with the new converters, and if you get the pre-amp mod and the master clock upgrade as well, you're really going to be in business. Purchasing new converters and pre-amps to be used outside your 002R, will cost you an incredible amount more when compared to this mod.

OVERALL OPINION

If you're looking to upgrade your 002R to sound better without getting a new interface, the Black Lion Audio 002R Modification is the best way that you can do it. Like I said, I don't have the newest modification done to my 002R, but can only imagine that it sounds better than the one I have, which is an incredible upgrade in it's own right. I'd highly recommend this modification and any other Black Lion Audio mods as well.