The mod you guys did on my RME Fireface has definitely improved the sound quality, depth and panning focus of the sound stage- instruments sound larger, rounder and more focused- not really louder, just bigger, even without the external clock. When doing listening tests between the Fireface internal clock and external Black Lion Micro Clock, I noticed additional improvements in panning focus, depth and perceived size and realism- instruments sound more like they are in the room with me and less like a recording. Reverb decays and their sense of space are also easier to hear.
I did these listening tests at different sample rates- 44k, 88k, 176.4 and 192. It especially seems improve the sound quality of sessions recorded at a lower sample rate, but the overall improvements are across the board.
I would recommend your mods to anyone with a Digidesign 002 or 003 unit, or any MOTU, RME or MAudio interface. People like us that run smaller budget studios are dying to get a grip on a competitive level of sound quality that decent microphones and pre-amps will not alone achieve. For us, improving the quality of our converters is the missing link.
Thanks again for your attention to audio detail.
-Steve Kirk
Composer/Guitarist
http://www.steve@stevekirkpop.com
