Black Lion Mod for MPC X. Anyone with the Mod ?

I am new to the MPC world and after buying a MPC One and trying it out for 3 days, I upgraded to a new MPC X. I really like the sequencer on the MPC product lines and the workflow is speedy.

I am not impress with the audio input gain stage. Need to boost incomming signals quite high to get good signals. Doing so increased noise floor and having 8 tracks of audio playing would be bad. Output from Korg Kronos to MPC-X with short expensive Monster Gold instrument cables ($80 each cable). I still need to set signals on keyboard high and lots of boosts on the MPC X to get decent levels.

I would like to know from users who have the Black Lion modification. Does this MOD improve the overall noise floor if you have multiple audio tracks with midi tracks.

I did a search on this forum and this is an old topic that didnt have users who actually use the Mods.

If I only wanted to sample sounds with the MPC, no modification would be needed since the sounds would be very short and some noise would actually add warmth to some samples.

However, I plan to record audio tracks on the MPC-X (mic, guitar, synth) with midi tracks as well. Once I have a good composition, I will export project to Ableton Live for mixing and further sequencing/recording. I do own Manley and Avalon DI and preamps but would like to improve audio inputs on MPC-X. I also have Universal Audio Apollo interface.

I'd love to know a little more about the improvement ( if there's any ) , on the paper, it seams pretty cool.

Digital
– New internal, ultra-low-jitter, XB word clock with proprietary implementation
– Proprietary decoupling on all A/D and D/A converters using methods found in our Signature, FM, and XB modifications

decoupling the converters normally clear up the noise floor for a clearer sound.
As a true audio fan, i'm really thinking of this upgrade.
But what about the guaranty : Black Lion gives a 3 years guaranty ...

Warranty
We extend a three-year warranty on defects in materials and workmanship for all Black Lion Audio modifications from the modification date. This does not cover user error, wear, tear, abuse, or OEM failures related to hardware, firmware, or software.
Should your B.L.A. modification experience any problems or failures during the warranty period, please email us at [email protected] to request an RMA form. Warranty repairs that don’t include a completed RMA form in the box cannot be processed.

Do you guys think it's worth the upgrade ?

It might not make that much of an audible difference compared to using your audio interface. What do you think is lacking in your AD conversion when sampling through your X?

If you can’t describe what’s being lost then will your listener be able to describe it? This is the question I ask myself when writing and mixing.

Don’t get me wrong I have a Burl ADC and Merging Anubis for running my analog gear through and there’s things that I would only get to hear at the DA level that the listener can. One a smart phone or computer they may never get to hear those subtle changes.

I agree, it‘s a good point; although I would understand the need if there were more devices with digital signal processing to have them all run in sync (samplewise) to avoid clicks and distortion. Other than that, a wee bit of jitter rarely hurts, as long as you listen back to it on other systems, too.

But it is like that, the difference is only audible in direct comparison. I wouldn‘t mind clocking multiple HDD recorders or multiple interfaces if I use them as an aggregate input device, but other than that... only real fit I see is in a mastering studio. In a creative studio I‘d invest that money differently.


EDIT: Black Lion Audio products are superb. If I‘d buy some clocking device, I‘d surely get one of BLA.

ACRE wrote:Do you guys think it's worth the upgrade ?

For me, personally......
Hellllllll no!

Yeah nah. Drop $2K for the X. Another $800 for some stupid BLA mod that voids your factory warranty and gets you a three year warranty ONLY on the mods BLA did. Thats gonna be fun when your X shits the bed and Akai tells you "Sorry star, shouldn't have hacked up your $2000 MPC for some extra 'clarity and headroom'".

Monotremata wrote:'clarity and headroom'

Isn't that the name of a strip club?

There is a lot more trouble shooting that needs to be done before you throw money at it.

in the Kronos' settings (output) ensure that it is set to a line-level signal and the gain is set (not just the output volume) as in "make sure the Kronos knows you're not plugged into a speaker., there may be many other settings, idk I don't have a Kronos.

In the MPC's settings make sure you set the input and adjust the corresponding gain knobs. Make sure you are using the gain knobs for input 1 or 2 if using 1 or 2, or if you are using 3/4 use that separate gain knob, (make sure you don't have both the 1/4" AND the RCA plugged into input 3/4 as you can only use 1 set at a time)

What you are describing seems like an easy fix, the x was designed to accept any musical source , it even has phantom power.

I would not mod the MPC.

P.S.

Manley? $80 cables? MPC One to MPC X in three days?!!

I guess you COULD afford to risk modding it, baller.

Yea I’d make sure everything is calibrated and if still had issues, I would put a mixer or something on the inputs. I know it kind of defeats the all the ins on the X but I think the solution might be easier then getting your new machine modded.

I think it's dope that BLA is doing anything really. Whether or not it fits my or your needs, it's hard to say. For $800 I think it would be more responsible for people to put that toward a higher end interface / workstation for recording.

I don't see much of a point performing a lot of these mods when all you're doing is recording into your computer on some cheap Saffire usb interface. With that being said,
I am a bit curious if their (supposedly) better wordclock modification is noticeable ? Then again, this is all contingent on other external hardware that you have to do the conversion process anyway.

Speaking of the Legendary Audio Masterpiece. I kind of rolled my eyes about it until I actually ran some stems through it and instantly realized "wait I didn't hear that before?" which opened another can of worms wanting to get other outboard gear.

I just want to clarify that i am not having problems with the MPC-X and everything is working as they should. I just wish that the gains on the input is a little cleaner. I have to adjust the trim pot to 2/3 to get good signals from my korg kronos which the volume is also at 2/3. Doing so, i can hear the noise floor go up a little more. Can't really tell with my JBL studio monitors but the noise was audible using my Sennheiser HD650 headphones.

I finally had a chance to record 8 stereo audio tracks to the MPC-X and I am please with it. With all 8 stereo tracks playing back, it still sounded very good.

I guess i am use to no noise from my Apollo audio interface and when i plug my Kronos to my Apollo Twin direct, I use very little gain on the Apollo Twin to get good levels. Obviously, the converters and the gain on the Apollo is higher quality than the MPCX.

Overall I still think that the MPC-X was a great buy. I just bought mine at Guitar Center store brand new unopen box for $2199 plus tax. They allowed me to use my internet coupons and took off $500. So with tax, out the door price was around $1900.

I would still appreciate it if someone with the Blacklion MOD would share their experiences.

I haven't heard of anybody on the forums getting the BL mod... would be interested to hear experiences myself... but on the MPC Live I've got a quite clean signal coming in.

Why are you concerned about running the Kronos at 2/3 volume? I'm almost always pushing the source device to the highest output available to reduce the input requirements coming in to limit noise floor myself. Are you getting clipping at 2/3 volume on the Kronos?

Unless the output on a MIDI instrument is set to BOOST, that thing needs to be at 100%/127/Full blast whatever. You want the strongest signal coming out of it, and then adjust your gain on your input/preamp from there. Otherwise you're sending a half ass weak signal into it to begin with. Of course your noise floor is going up when you crank the input, you've got more noise than signal going in. Every single device here is at full volume before it goes into my mixer and the output level is adjusted with the gain knob itself and then finally the faders.