antichef
pornk rock
I'm seriously considering sending my MOTU Traveler to Black Lion for mods - I like the before/after samples on their website (and I recognize the before samples). Anyone done this?
antichef
pornk rock
Well, antichef, I did it, and let me tell you....
Just trying it out today. The output is strikingly better - no good way I can think of to let you all hear it, but listening to things recorded before, you really notice it -- seems bigger and with more detail.
I haven't had a chance to try recording with it much -- I *tried* to do a before/after acoustic guitar thing, but I was so rushed just now that the mic placement was not good, and basically blew the comparison. I'll try again later, because the "before" clip was OK. Subjectively, the pre-amped inputs seem quieter at high levels (not that this was much of an issue before) and sound better, without the harsh coloration on vocal sounds that I remember from before. Also, I believe channel 3 was unusably hissy when I had phantom power engaged, but now it's fine - nice!
I also ordered the micro clock, but I don't have it yet.
Whoopysnorp
New member
The guy behind Black Lion used to work at my company...I remember going into Guitar Center one day, and he was walking out the door with a MOTU Traveler under one arm. Funny to see how he's kind of famous within the home recording community now (deservedly so from what I hear of his work).
Supercreep
Lizard People
I have a modded 896 HD and to my ears the difference is not striking.
After 70 or so tracks, however, I find the mixes to be less cloudy, and the stereo field to feel a little more spacious. It's definitely not a night/day type thing. I find most of this audio stuff to be similar. People hype stuff up so much that you're expecting to hear a major difference.
Again, the difference is like a glass of water and a glass of water with 2 tablespoons of sugar in it. It's not stark, it's subtle. But it all adds up in the end, so I think it's a no-brainer gear purchase.
After 70 or so tracks, however, I find the mixes to be less cloudy, and the stereo field to feel a little more spacious. It's definitely not a night/day type thing. I find most of this audio stuff to be similar. People hype stuff up so much that you're expecting to hear a major difference.
Again, the difference is like a glass of water and a glass of water with 2 tablespoons of sugar in it. It's not stark, it's subtle. But it all adds up in the end, so I think it's a no-brainer gear purchase.
antichef
pornk rock
I should be more specific, and now that I've been working with the unit for a couple weeks, I can be -- on the D/A side, I hear more detail and separation of sound, with better stereo placement - makes good mixes sound better and bad mixes sound worse. Reminds me of when I went from computer speakers to the low end monitors that I use now. The change is even more noticeable for bad mixes using a decent pair of headphones.
On the input side, there was an edgy high-mid hype that's gone, and it seems like the pres are more demanding with regard to mic placement (this could be the improvement to the D/A side, but it does seem to be more of an issue for new tracks). I'm finding that I have be more precise with X-Y configurations, for instance. Currently, this is slowing me down, because I'm having to learn more about placement, but ultimately I believe it'll lead to better work product once I get the hang of it.
I do realize that, along with the improvements to the unit, I have to account for a) improvements to my own ear/brain that are occurring as they do for noobs who work at it, and b) my imagination, but I really do notice a big difference. Perhaps the context of the rest of my system (monitors, room, brain, cables, etc.) brings it out as well.
On the input side, there was an edgy high-mid hype that's gone, and it seems like the pres are more demanding with regard to mic placement (this could be the improvement to the D/A side, but it does seem to be more of an issue for new tracks). I'm finding that I have be more precise with X-Y configurations, for instance. Currently, this is slowing me down, because I'm having to learn more about placement, but ultimately I believe it'll lead to better work product once I get the hang of it.
I do realize that, along with the improvements to the unit, I have to account for a) improvements to my own ear/brain that are occurring as they do for noobs who work at it, and b) my imagination, but I really do notice a big difference. Perhaps the context of the rest of my system (monitors, room, brain, cables, etc.) brings it out as well.
antichef
pornk rock
and finally, here's a before/after:
before:
http://recursor.net/BeforeBLA.wav (~22M)
(~600k)
after:
http://recursor.net/AfterBLA.wav (~22M)
(~600k)
Both were done in the same room, sitting in the same place, and I did everything I could to duplicate the environment -- these were several weeks apart, of course. Signal chain is:
Martin D28 -> SM81 x2 stereo XY pointing at 14th fret -> 5' XLR cables -> MOTU Traveler channels 1&2 -> Logic Express (dry)
The guitar has the same strings on it (actually several weeks worth of occasional playing "older" in the after sample)
before:
http://recursor.net/BeforeBLA.wav (~22M)
(~600k)
after:
http://recursor.net/AfterBLA.wav (~22M)
(~600k)
Both were done in the same room, sitting in the same place, and I did everything I could to duplicate the environment -- these were several weeks apart, of course. Signal chain is:
Martin D28 -> SM81 x2 stereo XY pointing at 14th fret -> 5' XLR cables -> MOTU Traveler channels 1&2 -> Logic Express (dry)
The guitar has the same strings on it (actually several weeks worth of occasional playing "older" in the after sample)