Svart's AD/DA: NYC hang/listening session

Will do this tomorrow, was bumper to bumper the last two days.

Just plugged it in, it looks like it's working. I set my Apollo to spidif in.I'll track a little acoustic guitar and vocal later, or tomorrow. Listening with just the new clock, it's much more transparent. I borrowed a BLA Microclock for a week 2 years ago. The Microclock was excellent, and there was no doubt it helped with the Apollo, it was absolutely cleaner and clearer.

The clock on the svartbox is similar, way more transparent than the Apollo's clock, and I feel there's a little more life and sparkle with the svartbox compared to the Microclock, if memory serves.

Got it running earlier today John, thanks. I'll do a quick recording with the SB, and then without, just as a general comparison. I'd like to do more extensive testing, like a complete remix, but just can't spare the time right now. My sister's terminally ill and I've been focusing on that for a while now.

I like what I've heard so far, the new clock is more transparent, much like the BLA micro clock was, but more life and sparkle. I did notice what seemed like a little reticence in the low end, but I think it's just plain ol' more accurate.

* I think when I hit 2,000 posts I'll need an honorary title or a nickname under my icon. Could be, "Wears Black, like Johnny" But I'll leave it up to you, perhaps you' guys will think of something better. 

The UAD Apollo, monkeyxx.


UAD has just upgraded the Apollo line with many new mods, chips and new converters. The Apollo was already close for my uses, but the converters were the achilles heel. With new converters, the new Apollo might be all I'll need for my purposes. I'll get the new model eventually, and then I can compare the SvartBox files to the new Apollo, Then I'll know for sure if I need a separate converter or not.

I am very curious about the black Apollos for the reasons you've stated.  Also as a consideration, I believe the Apollo 16 has "even better" technical specs on the DAC side than the 8 or 8P, like the conversion chips used.  If you are going for the ultimate all in one interface, that might be worth thinking on.

BLA mods are an interesting idea for version 1.  But at that point it seems like, why not just upgrade to version 2, for possibly even less money lost.

Personally, I think I will always rely on stereo DACs for monitoring.  I just have my favorites.  I think what I like would have to be an Orpheus or a Symphony or something at that level to get the DAC quality I'm used to in a rackmount full sized interface.  I guess "Mastering quality" would be the goal.  Simply buying a really good 2-channel DAC makes sense for me since Orpheus or whatever is clearly beyond my budget.  Apollo is my go-to for tracking and mixing, and I don't feel like "mastering quality" is nearly as critical for multiple tracks.  It's good enough.  I am such a digital junkie.

Just be careful falling in love with marketing buzzwords. "New converters" and such give the impression of improvement, but it's rarely more than a lateral change in what would usually be considered objective descriptions once you get above a certain level. I think a lot of these devices already play in the area of "good enough", and it's really just shades of sonic opinions. Do you like more highs, or more lows? Do you like clinical sound, or smoothness? Etc.

Haha I love it!

I am coming from a dirty, noisy rock and roll upbringing so I'm used to a certain amount of filth.

However, I truly aspire to a classical level of fidelity.  This is a new interest of mine.  I'd love to be able to buy some Schoeps, M49, Johny Hardy preamps, the best converters money can buy, and see what the heck I could accomplish with that.  And what types of music I could branch into with a cleaner sound.

As it stands, I've still got one bare foot in the mud puddle, the other is a polished black Italian boot stepping ahead.  So I'm inching my way in that direction.

I have to agree with Svart though, past a certain point of technical completeness, conversion is still ultimately a taste-test in the subjective realm.  I do think it's a pretty critical concern though in the scheme of a production.  I do not think it's arbitrary, since it has a sonic impact.

I'm also a little worried that this obsession can take away from the creative impulse and lead to making less actual music.

in console the input wil be on spdif.

the spdif channels default to spdif but of course you can rename them

Chuck is the man! helps me out a ton, very smart, filter free, friendly NY kinda guy, whats not to like 8) 

I could almost live in Seattle, if only the weather was a little better. I have family there now, and love it when visiting. Gonna try some tracks this afternoon, to be continued..