Cranborne Audio develops innovative analogue and digital studio equipment for modern recording, mixing and mastering workflows.
Cranborne Audio - analogue innovation for the modern studio
Cranborne Audio develops professional analogue and digital studio equipment, combining modern engineering with the character and workflow associated with classic analogue hardware.
The Cranborne Audio range includes 500 Series microphone preamps, analogue EQs, analogue compressors, 500 Series racks, audio interfaces, ADAT expansion, headphone amplifiers and the company's C.A.S.T. analogue audio distribution system.
The 500 Series plays a central role in the Cranborne Audio range. Cranborne Audio develops both individual 500 Series modules and complete 500 Series systems, allowing engineers to build recording and mixing setups around analogue processing while retaining the flexibility of modern digital production.
The Cranborne Audio Camden 500 combines an exceptionally clean and transparent microphone preamp with Cranborne Audio's variable Mojo analogue saturation. Mic, line and Hi-Z operation allow the module to handle microphones, instruments and line-level material, while the switchable THUMP and CREAM Mojo modes provide two different forms of analogue colour when a less transparent sound is required.
For equalisation, the Cranborne Audio Carnaby 500 introduces Cranborne Audio's HarmonicEQ technology. Rather than relying solely on conventional EQ circuits, HarmonicEQ uses harmonic saturation as part of the boost and cut process. Its three interactive frequency bands allow sources, stems and mixes to be shaped while simultaneously introducing analogue harmonic content.
The Cranborne Audio Brick Lane 500 brings Cranborne Audio's Modal PWM Compression architecture to the 500 Series format. Six compression modes provide different dynamics behaviours, while the Stress control adds harmonically enriched compression effects. Threshold, Attack, Release, sidechain filtering and input and output level controls provide further control over compression and saturation.
The Cranborne Audio 500R8 combines an eight-slot 500 Series rack with a 28-in/30-out USB audio interface, high-performance A/D and D/A conversion, monitoring, analogue summing and artist mixing.
Rather than treating the 500 Series rack and audio interface as separate parts of the studio, 500R8 integrates them into a single system. Analogue, USB and C.A.S.T. sources can be routed through installed 500 Series modules, allowing outboard processing to become part of the recording and mixing workflow.
An integrated 8-into-2 analogue summing mixer, monitor controller, dual headphone outputs and zero-latency artist mixer further allow 500R8 to operate as the central hub of a hybrid analogue and digital studio.
For studios that already have an audio interface, the Cranborne Audio 500ADAT provides another route into the Cranborne Audio 500 Series ecosystem.
500ADAT combines eight high-current 500 Series slots with A/D and D/A conversion and ADAT connectivity. It can expand an existing ADAT-equipped interface with additional analogue recording and playback channels while placing 500 Series processing directly in the signal path.
Like 500R8, it also incorporates an analogue summing mixer, zero-latency artist monitoring, high-power headphone amplification and Cranborne Audio C.A.S.T. connectivity.
500R8 and 500ADAT can also be combined to create a larger system with up to sixteen channels of 500 Series processing.
The Camden preamp topology is one of the key technologies behind Cranborne Audio's microphone preamps.
Designed for extremely low noise, distortion and phase shift, Camden provides transparent amplification when an accurate representation of the original source is required.
Cranborne Audio then adds its variable Mojo circuit for situations where more analogue character is wanted.
Mojo was developed by studying the harmonic behaviour associated with transformers, valves and vintage audio equipment. Its two modes provide distinct saturation characteristics.
THUMP concentrates harmonic enhancement towards the lower frequencies, while CREAM introduces a broader harmonic character inspired by valve and vintage equipment behaviour.
This combination of transparent amplification and variable analogue saturation is available in the Camden 500, Camden EC1 and Camden EC2.
Cranborne Audio's HarmonicEQ technology takes a different approach to analogue equalisation.
Introduced with Carnaby, HarmonicEQ integrates harmonic saturation directly into the EQ process. Boosting and cutting therefore affects not only frequency response but also harmonic content.
The Carnaby 500 provides HarmonicEQ in a single-slot 500 Series module, while the Carnaby HE2 expands the concept into a two-channel 19-inch rackmount processor.
Carnaby HE2 adds Stereo, Dual Mono and Mid/Side operation, analogue inserts, additional filtering and digital control while retaining an analogue HarmonicEQ signal path.
The Cranborne Audio Brick Lane range applies the company's own approach to analogue dynamics processing.
At its core is Modal PWM Compression, a Pulse Width Modulation compression architecture with six selectable compression modes: VELVET, FLOAT, SMASH, TAME, GLUE and POLISH.
Rather than offering a single compression character, the modes alter the way the compressor responds and allow Brick Lane to move between different styles of dynamics processing.
The Brick Lane 500 provides Modal PWM Compression in the 500 Series format, while the Brick Lane MC4 expands the concept into a four-channel rackmount dynamics processor with additional routing and processing possibilities including Stereo, Mid/Side, Series, Dual-Band and De-Esser operation.
Cranborne Audio's C.A.S.T., or Cat5 Analogue Snake Transport, is designed to simplify analogue audio distribution around a recording studio or stage.
Instead of using network cable for digital audio, C.A.S.T. uses shielded Cat 5e, Cat 6 or Cat 7 cable to transport four channels of balanced analogue audio over a single cable at distances of up to 100 metres.
Products including the N8, N22 and N22H allow inputs, outputs and headphone monitoring to be relocated around a studio with significantly less analogue cabling.
The system is also integrated directly into products such as 500R8, 500ADAT, Camden EC1 and Camden EC2, allowing C.A.S.T. to become part of a larger Cranborne Audio recording system.
Headphone amplification and artist monitoring are also integrated throughout the Cranborne Audio range.
The N22H combines a reference-grade headphone amplifier with C.A.S.T. connectivity and can operate as a remote monitoring and breakout box.
Camden EC1 and Camden EC2 incorporate high-powered headphone amplification and direct monitoring facilities, while 500R8 and 500ADAT provide integrated artist mixers and dedicated headphone outputs for recording sessions.
These products allow analogue recording signals and DAW playback to be combined for direct, low-latency monitoring without requiring a separate headphone monitoring system.
Explore the Cranborne Audio range at KMR Audio, including Camden microphone preamps, Carnaby HarmonicEQ processors, Brick Lane compressors, 500R8 and 500ADAT 500 Series systems, C.A.S.T. audio distribution products and studio accessories.
Whether you are building a 500 Series rack, expanding an existing audio interface, adding analogue colour to a hybrid mixing setup or creating a flexible studio audio distribution system, Cranborne Audio offers a range of interconnected tools designed around modern professional recording workflows.