Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2

From the 500 Series to the Studio Rack: The Carnaby Evolution in HE2 Format

The Carnaby HE2 takes the founding idea of the Carnaby 500 and pushes it into a decidedly studio-oriented approach: a 3-band stereo parametric equalizer in a 19-inch 2U rack format, designed to become a central tool for coloration and finishing. Where many equalizers settle for a "clean" curve, the HE2 embraces a philosophy of euphonically saturated analog sound, while integrating the demands of hybrid mixing thanks to intuitive digital control and recall.

A Mixing Equalizer for Engineers Who Want Character... Without Losing Control

The Carnaby HE2 is aimed at producers and engineers seeking a characterful EQ capable of adding presence, body, and a "finished" feel to individual sources (vocals, guitars, synths), stems (drums, music, choirs), or buses (mix bus, instruments, effects). In Mid/Side mode, it becomes a true staging tool: tightening the center, opening the sides, clarifying the stereo image, or conversely thickening the mid to anchor the mix. In Dual-Mono, it behaves as two independent channels, ideal for treating two sources or for precise left/right work.

HarmonicEQ, Advanced Modes, and Digital Control: Analog Coloration at the Service of Your Session

HarmonicEQ: Equalization That "Sounds" as Much as It Corrects

The heart of the HE2 is an analog equalization circuit that uses harmonic saturation to boost and cut frequencies. The result translates into a sense of density and depth, particularly useful when you want to gain impact without resorting to cold, surgical EQ. It's a relevant choice to add body to a vocal, bring out an attack, stabilize the low end, or add a more organic brightness to digital sources.

Stereo, Dual-Mono, Mid/Side: One Rack, Multiple Ways to Mix

With its 3 operating modes, the Carnaby HE2 adapts to your method. In Stereo, you work your buses and stems with perfect channel coherence. In Dual-Mono, you gain flexibility for distinct treatments. In Mid/Side, the approach becomes both creative and technical: reinforcing energy in the center, cleaning the sides, or accentuating width without overloading the mix.

Digital Control, Recall, and DAW Integration: Designed for the Hybrid Studio

The LED ring encoders provide immediate reading of settings, convenient during sessions and recall. The HE2 is fully remotely controllable and recall-capable via USB-C and network connection, which streamlines validation back-and-forth and project changes. It is also possible to use the hardware simply from the DAW via a plug-in, maintaining a coherent workflow between analog and the modern production environment.

Creative Gain Staging: From Clean to Dense, While Staying Controlled

Thanks to the input and output levels of +/- 20 dB, you can choose your playground: remain clean and transparent, or push the circuit to achieve denser harmonic saturation. This gain management is valuable for adapting the EQ to the source: light polish on a bus, or real "drive" to push a track forward in the mix.

Practical Production Tools: Bypass, Filters, and Inserts

Each band features a bypass for instant comparison and faster workflow. Additional Low-Cut and Hi-Cut filters per channel allow cleaning unnecessary lows, taming harshness, or preparing a more complex processing chain. Finally, the presence of an insert per channel facilitates the integration of a compressor, saturation, or another external processor at the right place in your analog chain.

Technical specifications