Black Lion Audio Auteur 8DAT – 8-Channel Auteur Mic Preamp / Word Clock with ADAT

OVERVIEW

The Biggest, Baddest Auteur Preamp to Date.

For many years, Black Lion Audio’s Auteur preamps have been lauded for their signal quality and versatility. With the Auteur 8DAT, you get a whopping 8 channels of Auteur character in a trim 2U enclosure. You also get ADAT outs; DB25 connections for the per-channel Sends and Returns; and a Macro-MMC word clock to drive your whole recording rig in perfect sync.

Auteur preamps are known for their fast, transparent, IC-based front-end that also provides a fat, colourful back end via Cinemag transformers. This hybrid of vintage and modern preamp designs makes Auteur preamps extraordinarily versatile; you get the transparent snap of American-style preamps with the saturation and warmth of British-style – if you want it.

While Auteur sounds great on everything, it particularly shines on sources that require detail but also benefit from some added weight, such as drums or vocals.

The Best Mic Preamp Features.

With the Auteur 8DAT, you’ll track up to eight inputs simultaneously. You get independent +48v on every input, as well as polarity reverse and a -10 dB pad. Each channel is equipped with a front panel ¼” connection, switchable for DI or line-level recording. Use the analog XLR outs to connect to your mixer, or take advantage of the ADAT connections to add eight channels of Auteur preamps to your existing audio interface.

You also get eight insert connections via DB25 for integrating hardware processors; switchable from the front panel so you can easily A/B test your processing when using the ADAT outputs! These connections double as mults, allowing you to split your signal across multiple modules for parallel processing or even mid-side. You also get eight-stage metering on all channels.

Shocking Clocking.

Auteur 8DAT supports all popular sample rates up to 192 kHz, and you can rest assured that your connected devices will run in perfect sync with the Auteur 8DAT thanks to our 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, minimising the phase distortions that can muddy your high-end and dull your transients.

Black Lion Audio have been hot-rodding audio interfaces for a long time now, and they know a thing or two about converters. The Auteur 8DAT includes the same crystal-clear converters made famous by our Revolution interfaces for maximum signal integrity and low noise.

It is recommended that you confidently sync your entire rig with the Auteur 8DAT’s Macro-MMC Clock. But if you’ve already invested in a clock you like, that’s fine – the Auteur 8DAT graciously accepts clock input.

Built from Experience for I/O You Can Trust.

We’ve put everything we’ve learned about audio hardware from years of boutique modding into the Auteur 8DAT. 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, Auteur 8DAT 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 optimised 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.

The Auteur 8DAT is built Black Lion-tough, with black-anodized aluminum faceplates that make for a matched and sophisticated look. It’s right at home in-studio or on the road.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Eight Premium Auteur Mic Preamps

Capture up to eight microphones simultaneously with Black Lion Audio’s acclaimed Auteur preamps. Combining a fast, transparent IC-based front end with Cinemag output transformers, they deliver detailed transients alongside rich analogue warmth when driven.

Expand Any ADAT Recording System

The Auteur 8DAT instantly adds eight high-quality microphone preamps and premium A/D conversion to any ADAT-equipped audio interface, making it an ideal solution for expanding studio I/O without compromising audio quality.

Premium Conversion with Macro-MMC Clocking

Built around the same high-performance converters found in the Revolution series, the Auteur 8DAT incorporates patented Macro-MMC word clock technology to minimise jitter, improve stereo imaging, and keep your entire digital recording system perfectly synchronised.

Flexible Front-Panel Connectivity

Each channel features a front-panel Hi-Z/Line input for direct connection of guitars, basses, synthesisers, and other line-level sources. Independent phantom power, polarity reverse, pad, and insert switching provide maximum flexibility for every recording session.

Built-In Hardware Integration

Eight DB25 insert send and return connections allow seamless integration of compressors, equalisers, and other outboard processors. Insert sends can also function as signal mults, making parallel processing and Mid/Side recording setups simple and efficient.

Designed for Modern Professional Studios

From premium Vishay, Nichicon, and Wima components to fully balanced analogue circuitry and rugged aluminium construction, every aspect of the Auteur 8DAT is engineered for exceptional sonic performance, reliability, and long-term durability in both studio and live environments.

FEATURES

• 8-channel Auteur preamp / Word Clock with ADAT
• Add 8 channels of Auteur tone to your ADAT-compatible interface with detailed, high-end conversion
• 8 versatile, Cinemag transformer-equipped Auteur preamps deliver clean, fast transient response at low gain settings and add heft and colour when driven
• 8 front-mounted Hi-Z/Line inputs for line-level devices and guitars/basses
• 8 Send/Returns over DB25 let you connect a rack full of hardware processing; sends double as mults
• Independent +48v, polarity, 10 dB pad, and insert control per input
• Incredible internal clocking featuring patented Macro-MMC technology with BNC I/O
• High-end Vishay, Nichicon, and Wima capacitors, and high-end ICs for low noise
• All inputs and outputs are fully decoupled and balanced in a manner only found in the most premium audio equipment available

TECHNICAL SPECS

Digital

Internal Sample Rate:

• 44.1 khz
• 48 khz
• 88.2 khz
• 96 khz
• 176.4 khz
• 192 khz

Bit Depth: 24-bit

Digital Reference Level: +16 dBu = 0 dBFS

Input

Type: XLR Female, Balanced

Mic Input Gain Range: +10 to +66 dB

Phantom Power: +48v

Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz ± .1 dBu

THD+N: .003%

Noise Floor: -90 dBu

Max Input Level: +19 dBu

Hi-Z Input Type: ¼” TRS Female

Hi-Z DI Input Gain Range: +10 to 65 dB

Line Inputs

Type: ¼ TRS Female

Line Input Gain Range: -6 to +50 dB

Max Input Level: +16 dBu

Digital Reference Level: +16 dBu = 0 dBFS

Line Outputs

Type: XLR Male, balanced / DB25

Max Output Level: +29 dBu

Power

Line Voltages: ± 21 volts

Amperage: 1.52 amps

Physical

Dimensions:

• Width — 483 mm (19”)
• Height — 86 mm (3.4”)
• Length — 229 mm (9”)

Weight: 5.9kg (13 lbs)