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Cranborne Audio has established itself as a leader in analog audio gear, blending innovative design with a passion for sonic excellence. Founded in 2017, the company captured has gone on to produce a number of groundbreaking and award-winning products.
Among these game-changing products, the Carnaby series emerged as a revolutionary tool, offering engineers a fresh take on EQ. The Carnaby 500 introduced a new technique—Harmonic EQ—that utilized saturation to shape frequencies with musicality and warmth.
Now, Cranborne Audio has pushed the envelope even further with the Carnaby HE2. This full-rack, two-channel Harmonic EQ builds upon the success of the Carnaby 500, adding expanded features and greater versatility.
Combining analog richness with cutting-edge technology, the Carnaby HE2 is not just another EQ—it’s a creative powerhouse designed for the modern studio. Let’s dive into what makes the HE2 a standout in the world of audio processing.
The Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 is a 2U rack-mountable unit that features three bands of harmonic EQ for each channel, offering a new way to boost or cut frequencies while adding harmonic saturation for a rich and textured sound. Here's a closer look at some of the standout features:
At the heart of the Carnaby HE2 is its unique “saturation-core” technology. This allows you to shape the harmonic content of your signal across three parametric bands—HI, MID, and LO—delivering a level of musicality that traditional EQs simply can’t match. Whether you're adding warmth to vocals, thickening up drums, or fine-tuning your mix, the HE2 brings a new level of control.
Each channel offers three interactive Harmonic EQ bands that can be independently bypassed. The HI band spans from 5 kHz to 25 kHz, perfect for adding a polished brightness to your mix, while the LO band focuses on 20 Hz to 420 Hz, enriching sub-harmonic frequencies with hard-clipping saturation. The MID band covers the 200 Hz to 6.2 kHz range, offering thick saturation with a fixed Q, ideal for sculpting the body and presence of your audio.
Thanks to the HE2’s integration with DAW software, you can remotely control the unit via USB or Ethernet, making it an excellent choice for hybrid studios. With the accompanying VST/AU/AAX plug-in, you can save and recall your favorite settings, allowing for seamless integration and workflow. Whether you're working in stereo, dual mono, or mid/side mode, the HE2 gives you the tools you need to dial in the perfect sound.
In addition to its powerful EQ bands, the HE2 offers high and low-cut filters for each channel, enabling even more precise tonal shaping. The unit also includes per-channel TRS inserts, allowing for the integration of outboard gear directly into the signal chain. This flexibility makes the HE2 suitable for a wide range of applications, from mixing and mastering to sound design.
To give you a better sense of what the Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 can do, Vintage King's Bryan Reilly has provided his settings for a variety of tracks, showcasing the unit's versatility in different sonic environments. Continue reading to check out sound samples of instrument busses such as drums, guitars, and vocals, as well as mix bus processing for songs across five different genres.
For this drum track, Reilly boosts the low end for punch at 81 Hz, dips the midrange at 503 Hz to reduce boxiness, and adds brightness at 9.7 kHz. The result is a drum sound that’s tight, present, and cutting through the mix.
On the bass, a gentle boost at 63 Hz gives the low end some weight, while cutting 558 Hz removes muddiness. A significant boost at 8.5 kHz adds clarity, making the bass stand out without overpowering the mix.
For the electric guitars, Reilly uses a dual mono approach. In the MID channel, he boosts low mids at 206 Hz and attenuates some brightness at 4701 Hz, while on the SIDE channel, he enhances clarity with boosts at 3794 Hz and 9.7 kHz. The result is a full-bodied, well-defined guitar sound that complements the mix.
Reilly sculpts the vocal track with a low boost at 108 Hz for warmth and a slight presence boost at 3063 Hz. The significant 10 dB boost at 15 kHz adds air, making the vocals shine with clarity and articulation.
For this Indie Rock song, subtle adjustments in the MID section add warmth and clarity, while the SIDE boosts at 10 kHz open up the stereo image, giving the mix a wider, more immersive feel.
This Motown mix emphasizes the bass in the MID, boosting the low frequencies while taming mids at 685 Hz. On the SIDE, the significant boost at 15.6 kHz adds brilliance and sparkle to the top end.
Reilly also printed a Stereo pass for this track, with a hearty boost at 20 Hz to help the kick and bass cut through and a modest boost around 2 kHz for additional clarity. A massive 10 dB boost at 14 kHz works with the Hi Cut filter set at 11 kHz to emulate the classic "Pultec trick," giving the track a nice, polished sheen.
In this rock mix, Reilly enhances the low end with a 5 dB boost at 58 Hz, providing punchy bass, while the 5 dB boost at 3 kHz adds bite and presence to guitars and vocals. On the high-end, a 5 dB lift at 16.8 kHz brings out brilliance and air, giving the track more depth and space.
In Stereo mode, the hefty 7 dB boost at 39 Hz adds serious weight to the kick drum and bass, while a 5.5 dB boost around 2.8 kHz gives extra edge to the upper mids. The 4 dB lift at 8.5 kHz adds brightness and clarity to the overall mix, with a Hi Cut at 12.5 kHz to tame the top end and keep everything balanced.
When using the HE2 to mix a pop song, Reilly used the MID channel to add a solid low-end boost at 46 Hz, giving the track a tight, punchy bass foundation, while a subtle cut at 1.4 kHz reduces any harshness in the mids. A 4.5 dB lift at 10.1 kHz adds a smooth brightness to the high end, making the vocals and percussion shine.
On the SIDE, the 5 dB boost at 2.1 kHz adds clarity to the stereo field, while a massive 10 dB lift at 16.2 kHz opens up the top end, giving the track an expansive, airy feel.
In Stereo mode, the 6 dB boost at 46 Hz ensures the bass sits strong and clear in the mix. The gentle cut at 503 Hz cleans up any muddiness in the low mids, while a 4.5 dB lift at a soaring 25 kHz adds sheen and sparkle to the overall mix, giving it that polished, modern pop sound.
In this hip-hop mix, the MID channel gets a hefty 7 dB boost at 30 Hz, bringing that deep, sub-heavy bass forward in the mix, while a 4 dB lift at 200 Hz adds punch and body to the kick and low mids. A 6.5 dB boost at 7.8 kHz adds clarity and brightness, helping the vocals and hi-hats cut through without sounding harsh.
The Lo Cut filter at 40 Hz cleans up any unnecessary low-end rumble, and the Hi Cut at 11.5 kHz keeps the high frequencies tight.
On the SIDE, a huge 9.5 dB boost at 19.5 kHz adds air and sparkle to the stereo image, opening up the track's width while maintaining control with Lo and Hi Cut filters at 80 Hz and 20 kHz.
In Stereo mode, a 4.5 dB boost at 46 Hz emphasizes the track's low-end groove, while a smaller 2 dB boost at 200 Hz adds warmth and depth to the low mids. The 6.5 dB lift at 7.8 kHz ensures crisp highs and detail in the mix, with the Lo Cut at 40 Hz and Hi Cut at 11 kHz keeping everything balanced and polished.
The Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 is a powerhouse of harmonic EQ, offering unparalleled tonal control with its saturation-core technology and intuitive interface. Whether you're mixing, mastering, or shaping individual tracks, the HE2 delivers warmth, clarity, and precision.
With its extensive feature set and versatile operation, it’s a must-have for any modern studio. If you're looking to add depth and dimension to your sound, the Carnaby HE2 is the perfect tool to elevate your productions.
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