Recording - September 2016 - 48

B Y PA U L V N U K J R .

Black Lion Audio Auteur MKII and B12A MKII Mic Preamps
Black Lion Audio is a Chicago-based
company that first gained fame for modifications-upgraded components, preamps,
and converters-to well-known audio interfaces. Starting in 2007, Black Lion began
crafting its own converters, clocks, preamps, compressors, EQ, and summing
boxes. Today we're taking a look at two
of Black Lion's own designs: the Auteur
MKII and B12A MKII mic preamps.
Auteur MKII
Merriam-Webster defines auteur as
"an artist (as a musician or writer) whose
style and practice are distinctive." This
frames the Auteur as a preamp with its
own distinct sonic stamp.
The Auteur is a 2-channel half-rackspace mic preamp (a single-channel 500
Series version with Hi-Z instrument input is
also available). You can tell right away

...and a look at the Micro Clock MKIII as well!

that Black Lion spends money on components rather than bling: it's a utilitarian
black brushed-metal box with smooth pots,
solid buttons and switches, bright LEDs,

Black Lion's Micro Clock MkIII
Black Lion was also kind enough to
send me a Micro Clock MkIII ($999). In
recent weeks they've released a furtherupdated XB version for $1299, available
as a $350 upgrade to the MKIII. Both
units come in a small 1/3-rackspace
black box (6.5" L x 6" W x 1.75") that
can be used on a tabletop or racked with
optional rack ears. The Micro Clock MKIII
has a Jitter of 1.92 pS RMS (BNC outputs) and the new XB version measures at 0.6
pS RMS.
On the front is a large numeric LED display and a small black stepped knob. Turning
this knob once does nothing. Seriously! It's designed so the first turn "wakes it up" and
the second turn changes the clock rate (44.1 through to 384 kHz). This is by design,
so an accidental knob-turn doesn't throw your studio's clock scheme into a tizzy!
The rear has six BNC word clock outs. There are also RCA S/PDIF and XLR AES
outputs that top out at 192 kHz, and an ADAT optical out which maxes out at 96
kHz. Finally there's a jack for the small wallwart power supply.
The function and merits of external clocking have filled AES papers and sparked
many debates from respected evangelists on both sides. A digital external clock can
reduce jitter and can affect the sound of internal clocks on some, not all, digital
devices. An external clock can also serve as a master synchronization device
between multiple digital sources. In my interview with Black Lion's Nate Bierdeman,
he even admits that some products benefit greatly from their clock and some do not.
Your results may be a matter of accuracy vs. personal taste.
I have a popular 16-channel converter whose sound I love. When Recording
Editor Mike Metlay was at my studio a few weeks ago we tested it against the Micro
Clock MKIII in a a listening session. Despite initial skepticism, both of us heard slight
sonic improvement-tighter lows, more dimensional highs, a clearer stereo image.
End result, I liked the sound better... and doggonit, now I want a Micro Clock MKIII
of my own.-PV
48

RECORDING SEPTEMBER 2016

and overall hefty and well-crafted build.
Each channel offers a Gain knob for levels from +14 dBu to +65 dBu, +48V phantom power, phase reverse, and 10 dB
pad. The front panel finishes with power
and phantom LEDs and a power switch.
The rear panel has balanced XLR inputs,
balanced TRS outputs, and the AC input.
Internally the Auteur uses a transformerless ultra high-speed input stage
coupled to an Edcor output transformer.
The MKII designation is due to a circuit
redesign: "a revamped gain stage that
results in higher gain, lower noise, lower
distortion, and a more extended frequency response than the original design."
The Auteur is a dimensional, clean, and
open preamp. It's not a "straight wire with
gain" (Grace Design, Millennia Media)
design; it does have its own sound. Having
said that, it does not fit in the "classic console" (Daking, Focusrite, Great River) category, either. It lives between the two, with a
wide, bold bottom end coupled with gently
forward and polished highs.
Many midlevel console-style preamps
use an input transformer for initial color
with a transformerless output stage. The
Auteur is the opposite, with a fast accurate
capture and a transformered hint of weight
at the end. That may seem like semantics,
but sonically it make a difference.
This preamp works well on any and
every source. It's an instant step up from
the onboard preamps found on budget
all-in-one interfaces.
I liked it on vocals, acoustic guitars, and
drum overheads the most. Its 51 dB gain

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - September 2016