Black Lion Audio Revolution Clock XC

The best word clock we’ve ever made.
Revolution Clock XC delivers rock-solid clocking to keep all of your digital audio devices running in perfect sync over BNC, S/PDIF, optical, and AES/EBU at even the highest sampling rates. 44.1kHz - 384kHz sample rates are supported over BNC.

With only 0.5pS RMS of jitter at the BNC outputs, it has the lowest jitter of any clocks we’ve ever made. When all of your devices are running in perfect sync, your productions will sound their absolute best.

Once a system is set up and clocked correctly, many users observe a greater sense of space and depth thanks to more accurately-reproduced reverbs and stereo imaging. Some even notice elements of their mixes they didn’t even hear prior to synced clocking!

Why clock?
Short answer: For supreme audio fidelity when using multiple digital audio devices.
Long answer: When running multiple digital audio devices simultaneously without clock sync, clocking jitter can result in smearing of the stereo field, and is particularly noticeable in transients and higher-frequency material like cymbals and lengthy reverb tails.

It’s also worth noting that the effects of superior clocking are cumulative. Noise reduction and jitter may be hard to discern on a two-track recording of vocals and guitar. But if you record a 64-track production through poorly clocked hardware, all that noise and jitter begins to stack up!

Two Black Lion-exclusive clocking technologies
All Revolution clocks employ Black Lion Audio’s patented Macro-MMC technology, developed from years of experience in creating dedicated word clocks, as well as our interface modification service.

Macro-MMC is a unique clocking technology that ensures low noise and minimal jitter, accomplished through strict component selection and proprietary methods of signal propagation. We start with a high quality oscillator (timing signal) and apply proprietary methods of signal transfer throughout the unit to keep the quality and accuracy intact all the way up to the output of the device.

Revolution Clock XC is the most accurate word clock we’ve developed to date, thanks to its Suspended Oscillation technology. Suspended Oscillation uses a special vibration dampening material custom made for us by Sorbothane to float the oscillators in a manner that protects them from environmental vibrations, which of course any recording studio is chock full of. Sorbothane is also used in precision GPS devices to keep vibration from affecting the devices’ function.

In our testing, Revolution Clocks using Suspended Oscillation displayed a consistently lower jitter spec while playing nearby speakers at 65 dB SPL.

Feel free to crank the bass in your studio, it won’t affect your clock timing.

Clock nearly anything
Revolution Clock XC  is our flagship clock with a broad array of connectivity options. If you’ve got a device in your studio that accepts clock in, the Revolution Clock XC can drive it — up to 14 devices, eight over BNC. You also get two S/PDIF, two ADAT, and two AES/EBU outs.

And if you’ve already got a clock you really like, the Revolution Clock XC graciously accepts Clock In over BNC.

Set and forget
Revolution Clock XC is easy to set up. Simply connect your existing digital devices to the clock outputs (we recommend a 75 ohm purpose made BNC word clock cable) and set those devices to receive external clock. Use the encoder to choose your sampling rate. Done.

The encoder knob will lock after three seconds to prevent any clocking mishaps resulting from accidental bumps.

MEMS Oscillators for superior stability
While many popular clocking solutions use quartz crystal oscillators, we’ve chosen MEMs (Microelectromechanical systems) oscillators for Revolution Clock XC. We choose MEMs after conducting a blind shootout with the traditional quartz crystal oscillators used in our XB clocks.

The MEMS oscillators won in terms of subjective sound quality, but also won out objectively. Many clocks are oven stabilized for less sensitivity to temperature fluctuations; MEMs require no thermal solution for stability as their stability is less affected by temperature. 

Furthermore, MEMs oscillators enjoy greater shock resistance than quartz crystals… but as if that wasn’t enough, we took shock resistance one step further with the addition of our  Suspended Oscillation technology.

Fantastic price to performance ratio
Revolution Clock XC delivers low-jitter synchronization on par with clocks that can be extraordinarily expensive. Why pay more when you can get world-class performance at a Black Lion Audio price?

Features

• The best word clock we’ve ever made
• Suspended Oscillation technology physically isolates the oscillator from mechanical vibrations
• Patented Macro-MMC technology for jitter and phase noise reduction
• Robust connectivity:
  • 8 BNC outputs
  • 2 S/PDIF outputs
  • 2 ADAT optical outputs
  • 2 AES/EBU outputs
  • 1 BNC input
• Lock feature to prevent unwanted sample rated changes
• Built rugged and road-worthy; Black Lion tough