Black Lion Revolution 14x16 Audio Interface + HitVerb Plugin  From Black Lion Audio

REVOLUTION 14X16

Master control for your studio

The Revolution 14×16 is a class-compliant, 14-in / 16-out USB-C audio interface that delivers sterling Black Lion Audio audio quality, supreme clocking, and a robust suite of monitoring features unheard of in a 1U audio interface. It’s expandable via ADAT for additional I/O; boasts superior connectivity for your external processors; and even includes two channels of Black Lion Audio-designed Auteur preamps. The unique Mix Edit feature lets you create a custom headphone mix for its three crystal-clear headphone amps. Patented Macro-MMC clocking ensures that any hardware you sync to your Revolution 14×16 will sound its absolute best.

Auteur preamps built-in

Channels 1 and 2 of the Revolution 14×16 proudly feature Black Lion Audio’s Auteur preamps, which until now have only been available in our standalone preamp hardware. Auteur preamps deliver the best of both worlds of classic preamp designs — at lower gain levels, you get the fast attack of American-style preamps; a fantastic compliment for drums and rhythm guitar. Crank up the gain a bit, and you’ll get the warmth and color of classic British preamps, which can be particularly flattering to vocals and bass. You can access the Auteur preamps by connecting to either the front or rear Channel 1/2 inputs.

Auteur preamps are transformer-coupled like classic consoles of yore; Cinemag transformers are responsible for the added harmonic weight and saturation when pushed.

Unrivaled connectivity and expandability

The Revolution 14×16 plays well with others. You get four mic/instrument preamps; channels 1 and 2 can be accessed from either the front or back of the unit. You also get 4 switchable insert/returns for connection to external hardware processors; you can A/B your signal at the touch of a button. The Return connections double as Line inputs for keyboards, synths, and other line-level devices. You can even use the Revolution 14×16 as a standalone mic preamp with no computer connection, thanks to the Insert/Return connections. 

A secondary set of user-definable Analog Outs let you route two analog signals wherever you like. S/PDIF connections round out the package for connection to digital devices, and the Revolution 14×16 is readily expandable with an additional 8-in and 8-out over ADAT. (We recommend the Revolution EXP for this.) 

Versatile monitoring and metering

Revolution 14×16’s three crystal-clear, plenty-loud headphone amps let you and your collaborators produce music without worrying about feedback from your mains. Use the intuitive Mix Edit feature to quickly create a dedicated low-latency headphone mix from both hardware inputs and software playback.

Revolution 14×16’s bright, eight-stage metering can be set to monitor Channel input levels, output levels, or even the input levels of the rear-mounted Channel Inserts. The main Monitor and Headphone Outputs are mono-summable. 

Shocking clocking

Rest assured that your connected devices will run in perfect sync with the Revolution 14×16 thanks to patented Macro-MMC clocking. Macro-MMC was developed from our experience creating dedicated word clocks, as well as modifying many embedded clocks found in other recording interfaces. You’ll get the best possible performance from its converters, and anything you connect via the BNC connections will benefit from maximum sync and ultra-low jitter; minimizing the phase distortions that can muddy your high-end and dull your transients.

If you’ve already invested in a clock you like, that’s fine — the Revolution 14×16 graciously accepts clock in. 

Spared no expense

We’ve put everything we’ve learned about interfaces from years of boutique modding into the Revolution 14×16 — as we like to say, it’s modded out of the box — for crystal-clear audio that will move you and your fans. Highly-filtered power rails work with full-circuit power decoupling to further reduce noise contamination. And for the best possible capture and playback, Revolution 14×16 sports over two dozen high-end, hard-to-get Vishay, Wima, and Nichicon capacitors and thin film resistors. (A component-sourcing nightmare but an audiophile’s dream!) All internal gain-staging is optimized for the best signal-to-noise ratio. Last but not least, all analog I/O is fully decoupled and balanced — right to the very core of the converter — for even further noise reduction.

All the software tools you need, included.

The Revolution Software Suite covers all of your software needs so you can start creating from day one. You’ll record straight into the award-winning Studio One Pro, of course… and we’ve also included a ton of other valuable software:

• PreSonus Studio One Pro+ (90 days): Recording and music production DAW, plus all the extras
• Sonarworks SoundID Reference for Headphones: (90 days) Headphone calibration software
• Audified GK Amplification 3 LE: Bass amp modeler of legendary Gallien-Krueger amps and cabs
• Audified MixChecker: Mix checking plug-in with playback device emulations
• Psychic Modulation EchoMelt3: BPM-based modulation and echo

HITVERB PLUGIN

The most legendary rooms of all time — now at everyone’s studio.

HitVerb is a convolution reverb plug-in for use in your DAW of choice, developed in close partnership with Troy Germano, CEO of The Hit Factory Studios. HitVerb delivers the sounds of the most sought-after rooms of The Hit Factory recording studios, where countless legendary records have been recorded. You instantly get the  vibe and ambiance The Hit Factory is known for when adding HitVerb to your tracks - and you don’t even have to book session time or fly to New York. 

HitVerb’s impulse responses are the real deal - they were produced right within the same hallowed halls responsible for the reverb heard on platinum records from artists like Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion… just too many A-listers to list, really.

HitVerb has been designed to be easy to use for even the first-time producer, while delivering audio quality that professionals can stand behind.

12 Legendary Rooms.

HitVerb provides you with 12 rooms from Hit Factory studios across the globe, including NYC and London, each with their unique sonic signature. 

Detailed descriptions of each room are included in HitVerb, including which of your favorite artists recorded which albums in which rooms.

HitVerb includes presets created by top studio engineers, and it’s easy to store and recall your own. 

Full control.

HitVerb gives you full control over your virtual mic distance as well as position, including height and width. You get three mic options to choose from: Neumann® U67s, Coles® 4038 Studio Ribbons, and Sennheiser® MKH 800 Twins.

Shape controls include low and high-cut filters and tail length… and you can even add or remove carpet to the floor at the click of a button to dampen reflections or open them up. 

The shape controls include low and high-cut filters and tail length… and you can even add or remove carpet to the floor at the click of a button to dampen reflections or open them up. 

Convolution; Not Convoluted.

As distinct from analog reverb processors like plates, chambers, or springs, convolution reverb is a digital reverb type that is created using impulse responses recorded in real-world physical environments. Test signals like sweeps and white noise are played in the desired acoustic space and recorded through various microphones - usually a matched stereo pair. Once captured, this impulse response data is used to accurately recreate the behavior of an acoustic space as it applies to musical sources.

Some reverbs can be hard to use, presenting too many tweaky options at the expense of usability. We made sure to design HitVerb with a streamlined, intuitive UI that’s easily understandable by everyone.

About The Hit Factory Studios

Since their start in 1969, The Hit Factory recording studios have existed in six different locations in New York City and London. With countless hits tracked at The Hit Factory studios, they’ve been earning their name for over 50 years. 

The Hit Factory

The Hit Factory built its storied history by being a top-shelf destination recording facility for many of the world's greatest artists and bands. 50 years after its inception, we thought it was time to bring the sound of The Hit Factory rooms to everyone. After all, not everyone can get to New York, London to track and mix their songs.

“HitVerb is a collaborative effort with years in the making. Historically, there have been a total of 26 recording studios across the seven Hit Factory locations since 1975. 12 of the room reverbs within HitVerb were collected over the years as impulse responses and proprietary captures. 

Seminal albums were recorded and mixed within all of these studios; pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, blues, jazz, and soundtracks we all have come to listen to during the past half century. We’re confident you’ll enjoy using these spectacular sounding virtual live rooms on your productions for many years to come.

 Troy Germano