Only buy this if you've already got...
1. Great microphones (e.g. Gefell UM70, Schoeps condensers, SM7 etc.)
2. Great preamps (e.g. SPL Crescendo, GainStation, UA 610)
3. Professionally designed acoustics (If you haven't spent 10.000 USD or more, it's probably better to spend the money on the room than on this clock)
4. Decent converters (We use SPL Madison converters)
5. Good speakers (Quested VS2108)
6. Good cables (Mogami)
If that's the case, you can do what I did: Order the clock, do a blind listening test and have an assistant switch the clock source from internal to externally clocked. If you can reliably tell the difference, it might make sense to buy this clock.
That's the process we did go through and the results were:
- Stereo imaging is a lot more precise. It's almost like you don't need to solo tracks anymore when mixing, because it's so much easier for your brain to pick out each individual track separately.
- It'll be easier to hear subtleties like distortion from tube stages or compressors.
- For some reason I don't fully understand, the low end sounds so much more precise and clear, it's almost as if somebody had installed more bass traps in the room.
- The emotional impact of music was definitely increased. Each instrument entering the mix feels like, super exciting and fascinating.
- Recording sessions I did with this clock were just ridiculously transparent and clear. I'd say, better than anything I've recorded before.
- It was very easy to hear what mixing engineers of successful productions have done, incl. what's not ideal about the mixes or the recordings. I think listening to music using this clock can improve the learning process for sound engineers because subtleties become so much more obvious.
Another thing that's nice is that the brightness of the background illumination can be adjusted. We do lots of vocal recordings with candle lights so that's a plus. :-)
Cons:
- You need to install a control panel software, connect the thing via USB, register it, and that's quite annoying, considering there's no technical necessity to do so.
- Price
- Did I mention the price?
- Doesn't come with a free Tesla Model S
