Black Lion Audio has announced its Revolution 14x16 class-compliant 14-input/16-output USB-C audio interface with Auteur preamps and proprietary Macro-MMC clocking in a 1U-high device.
As a class-compliant USB-C audio interface, the unit delivers on high audio quality, accurae clocking and a suite of monitoring facilities. Revolution 14x16 is expandable via Adat for additional I/O and connectivity for external processors. Its Mix Edit feature allows a custom headphone mix to be created for its three headphone amps.
On the front panel, Channel 1 and Channel 2 inputs – replicated as overrides on its rear panel – feature the Black Lion Audio Auteur preamps previously onlyavailable in the company’s standalone preamp hardware. These combine classic preamp designs with lower gain levels offering the fast attack of American-style preamps. Cranking up the gain brings the characteristics of classic British preamps into play– particularly flattering with vocals and bass. Auteur preamps are transformer-coupled like classic consoles with Cinemag transformers.
There are four rear panel mic/instrument preamps – Channel 1In, Channel 2In, Channel 3In and Channel 4In – each featuring independent front panel +48V phantom power toggle switches. Four switchable insert/returns allow connection to external hardware processors. It is possible to A/B the signal with a front panel button, while the return connections double as line inputs for keyboards, synths,and other line-level devices.
Further, it is possible to use Revolution 14x16 as a four-channel standalone mic preamp with no computer connection using those insert sends. A secondary set of user-definable analogue outputs let users route two analogue signals wherever they wish, while S/PDIF connections round out the package for connection to digital devices. Revolution 14x16 is readily expandable with an additional eight inputs and outputs over Adat, with Black Lion Audio’s recently released Revolution EXP offering a roadworthy, rack mountable metal enclosure encompassing 16 analogue TRS connections alongside 16 channels of Adat I/O, plus Macro-MMC clocking to ensure that every connected device stays tightly synchronised.
Anything connected via the unit’s word clock BNC connections will benefit from maximum sync and ultra-low jitter, minimising phase distortions that can muddy high-end frequency content and dull transients. Revolution 14x16 also accepts word clock input via its rear panel.
The headphone amps and the Mix Edit feature can be used to quickly create a dedicated low-latency headphone mix from both the hardware inputs and software playback. A software mixer for Windows with virtual channels and loopback capability lets users reroute system audio to a DAW or app of choice.
More: www.blacklionaudio.com/store/interfaces/revolution-14x16
