Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 - An Honest Gear Review
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- Опубліковано 20 гру 2024
- In this video I review the Cranbourne Audio Carnaby HE2 with my honest take on unit. What to be aware of if you are buying one and what I find it best useful for. I have always spoken very highly of the Cranbourne Audio Carnaby HE2 and my views on this unit have not changed.
UPDATE!! - Cranborne Audio have since release a software update that now supports AAX and I can confirm the software recall is now 100% stable and working perfectly for me.
In this video series, I provide honest, in-depth reviews of audio equipment after using it extensively for several weeks or months. By waiting until the "honeymoon period" has passed, I can offer a balanced perspective based on real-world mixing and mastering experiences. This approach allows me to thoroughly evaluate the equipment's strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance. I also highlight any flaws or issues you should be aware of, ensuring you get a clear and practical understanding of each product.
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✅ Buy Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 Legacy Edition USA ► sweetwater.sjv...
✅ Buy Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 USA ► sweetwater.sjv...
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Thanks! Just got mine and it runs smooth as butter this is my first "digital/usb plugin controlled " analog piece and it works so smooth I was pleasantly surprised...plus i think it sounds amazing it works on practically everything if you want it too and for me having mid/side in analog with insert which alot of people dont talk about enough is icing on the cake!!
@@justinhoffman1111 sounds like you are enjoying it as much as I am.
I picked one up a few months ago and have been very happy with it. I appreciate your videos, that is a great way to describe what it's doing! Thank you.
@FnFFoxFace great to hear you are happy with your purchase. I've seen a few people buying it thinking they are buying an EQ, which is why I wanted to highlight it isn't an EQ. It's more a 3 band saturation box. Which I think more accurately describes it.
do you feel "multiband saturator" would have been a better apt name for it?
@machineagevoodoo2106 I mean, that's exactly what it is. However it is more like an EQ as it doesn't have crossovers.
Very helpful vid, thanks and well done!
I use the unit and when I think I get it set sometimes I am not sure I am hearing anything. I then bypass the unit and go what the heck it is doing a lot and I put it back on. I love it!!!
@braxal6983 yes this is exactly what I love about it. The amount of harmonic content it adds is great.
Thank you for this review. I am considering purchasing this unit and your insight was very helpful.
@@MixMasterRick great to hear it was helpful
Investing in digital controllable analog gear means that you are trusting that the company will continue to keep up on updates/fixes/improvements/longevity/OS updates/DAW compatibility, etc. I believe companies like Wes Audio and Cranborne will take care of loyal customers and am hoping BM releases products that don’t seem like version 2 will come out in a year
@dougleydorite yes you are putting a lot of trust in these companies. However, if they aren't connected to the computer, they still function as they should with all the features. This is important. The only thing you lose is the digital recall. These companies are here to stay though.
You don't need the computer connectivity like you do with McDSP. I would view this as a different type of device. It's a fully analog device that operates as such and can be repaired as such the computer controlling is extra. If you're all in on McDSP and they go under, get bought out, or otherwise slack off on their software updates, you're SOL.
Paul, I appreciate you doing an update video. Seems like you have done a ton with the unit to see how it shines. Please keep up the videos. Thank you!!!!
@@braxal6983 I did this video to answer a lot of your questions you've asked recently.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I really appreciate that Paul. You have helped me a ton on many things this year and I owe you for that!
@braxal6983 my pleasure. Happy to help and the main reason I started this channel.
Great update video. I've been considering the Bettermaker Limiter 2.0, is there a review in the future on it? There are not many reviews about it.
@hammerfall66rulz yes I can review this. I want to compare the V2 to the Darthlimiter at similar settings. I will also review the V2 and show what new features it has.
@hammerfall66rulz yes I can review this. I want to compare the V2 to the Darthlimiter at similar settings. I will also review the V2 and show what new features it has.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Awesome! Thanks looking forward to it.
Would you say this is closer to a FabFilter Saturn2? What did you use before for similar texture?
I'm glad to hear someone explain it's use properly.
It hasn't made much sense what it actually is when others have talked about it and so had in mind it was more of a EQ with extras when it's more of extras controlled by the curves of a EQ.
In my mind I had always pictured it being use in the end of the chain so my intuition of what it's use would be is on point... but kind of thought it had that but with a little bit of a EQ boost also... which it doesn't, so perfect.
Have you heard the differences between this unit and the 500 series version of it?
Am I losing quality as well as features or just losing the features?
@TheSakuraGumiLTD I have tried the 500 series version and whilst that's a good module the HE2 is far better. You can get so much more from it. I was impressed with the 500 series version which is why I knew the HE2 was a must have without even hearing it. I mean they wouldn't make it worse only. Better.
I've been thinking of these on the end of a vocal chain as my main mix use
@@AudioAnimalsStudio So if the budget couldn't stretch to the HE2 then I shouldn't feel too bad... the budget will stretch eventually and I'll have both and then the 500 will be used in mix hybrid and the HE2 in mastering... of course with the 500 it depends on how good you 500 rack is also... feature wise HE2 is incredible, and the extra money does warrant that alone, but it's good to know it it's a bit of a overall upgrade too... does then maybe make it a better deal.
Actually, through SXPro it's £1799... it's seems a bit dumb not to stretch to it... I'll see.. thank you
@@TigroGumi I'd honestly recommend going for the HE2 over the 500 series version.
Speaking of Cranbourne Audio... How do find the DACs in their other units? Any thoughts or chance of a review. Trying to figure out what I can do their their 500 series stuff vs RME etc.?
@pb3662 I haven't ever tested their DAC out, but now you mention it, I would be interested in testing this out as it could be useful in my current setup.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I have heard good things about it and its specs and jitter seem to match it with RME. Harder to get a demo over here so watching for the next few videos
Hope they will implement the Lan port as advertised.
Great review. This seems to be a cost effective unit for what it can do.
I imagine you guys work on a lot of different mastering projects. I (and hopefully others) would love to get your take on outboard that shines on particular genres. As some examples, go to mastering compressors for rock, eq chain for house & dubstep, processors for pop, etc. I'm sure most are fine on any genre and it's somewhat mastering engineer dependent, but is there outboard that really hits the pocket for certain applications?
@AS-mm3wi this is why we have do much gear. Certain gear is better suited for certain genres. Most gear if used correctly works with all genres. The Carnaby he2 works with all genres. Some you can be more aggressive with and others you need to be subtle.
I’m deciding between this and the Gainlab Empress … what do you think for rock/pop music.
@JimboJones99 you'll get a lot more out of a HE2. Especially if you have other EQs in the chain. Remember the HE2 isn't an EQ.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio ive only got an SSL Ultraviolet EQ in the chain ... I'm after a nice warm tube sound for the vocals as am using an SM7B as the mic for vocals and acoustic guitar. was hoping the Empress's tubes would be a good match
@@AudioAnimalsStudio I also have a pair of 542’s for tape type saturation. So would getting the HE2 be overkill?
@@JimboJones99 the silk textures are quite different. I did a video comparing these. Silk red is smoother. I did remove the MBT from this studio in favour of the HE2. I personally preferred the HE2 as I could be more precise with it.
I have both - got the empress first the the HE2 and to be honest if you can get both, together they are a great sounding combo I put empress first then HE2 in mid side and it works on everything for mixbus/ mastering
Curious to understand if it is doing a similar job that the Vertigo VSM-2 does?
@Rokolai similar but I would say you can be far more advanced with the VSM-2.
I'm considering getting one but slightly reluctant because I already have a McDSP APB and this seems like a processer that could also be created or emulated in the APB. Of course there is no way of knowing whether this is actually going to happen. They are tight lipped about future products. What do you think Paul?
@Final2.0 I have 6 mcdsp APBs in this room so I'm quite good to answer this question. I also have 2 Carnaby he2s in here as well. I don't find there's anything in the mcdsp that can replicate this. Closest thing would be the KD1. It's similar in some ways but with the KD1 it's more like a blackbox where you choose lows, highs or full band. The he2 is like having control of low mid and high. The KD1 has focus for the mid band. Which I find is more of a tight q. The he2 feels more broad. I'd definitely say if you have an APB the HE2 would compliment the studio. I know it does for me. I get a totally different feel for the HE2 compared to what I get from the KD1. There's nothing new I know of coming for APB that is going to work in a similar way to the HE2. Next APB plugin is a multichannel royal mu. It's awesome.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Thank you very much for taking the time to share your insights in such detail. Much appreciated. And looking forward to the multi channel Royal MU
@Final2.0 a channel strip is what im really excited for. 1 instance for EQ compression and saturation.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio Moo X is almost that, but no mid band. That would be a welcome addition, although the EQ part would still be handled on the computer, as it is now. Attack, release and ratio for the compressor part would be welcome too. Probably better to leave Moo X as it is and introduce a 'real' channel strip as you suggested.
@Final2.0 Yes, it'll end up being a fully channel strip with full 4 band EQ handled on the computer utilising the circuitry in the APB then a full compressor that'll include a saturation amount. It'll come but there's a few products in line first.
Have you ever tested the cranborne 500 series rack/interface?
@Genital.Wartzenegger I haven't tested the interface on the 500 series rack. But I've had a few people recently ask about this. I have used the Cranborne Audio 500 series rack but never used it as an interface. The rack itself was great and worked perfectly.
Is it similar to the RND silk? I always saw that as a high-end exciter circuit - love it
@Rhuggins yeah it is similar. Silk is smoother one a little more subtle sounding. I did a review comparing the two on this channel as I was interested in how they sound.
As your a McDsp APB user, How does the HE2 compare to the KD1 Kinetic Drive for saturation? Granted the HE2 has 3 bands while the KD1 is probably closer to the HG2 Black Box in its saturation focus ie top end / low end... Come to think of it, a comparison of the KD1 vs Black Box would be awesome!
@djdanger9812 I find them to be very different. The HE2 is a lot more forgiving. Whereas the KD1 can go in the wrong direction fast. Which the same can be said in some was with the HG2.
@@AudioAnimalsStudio HE2 seems to have a fairly broad Q by the sounds too.
@djdanger9812 yes it does.
Since you consider it a saturation box would you rather have it vs a Black Box H2?
@risingphoenix1484 they are quite different in terms of sound. The HG2 uses tubes. So a different sound is achieved. I prefer the HE2.
I would love to use it on my movie trailer music / sync music. I want to try making old distorted kung fu movie type music with one.
Try some TEGELER stuff if you can, it's digitally recallable also.
THAT'S ALMOST A YEAR IT CAME OUT SIR OR MORE THAN..😊
@T-BOUNCING no it isn't. It was announced at Namm maybe that long ago. The release was May 13th 2024 as i released my audio review video on the day it came out. I had mine a few days before the official release date. It's actually only been out just over 4 months.