Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 HarmonicEQ®

Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 HarmonicEQ® builds on the same groundbreaking concept first introduced in the Carnaby 500, using harmonic saturation as the means to boost and cut frequencies. Instead of simply adjusting gain, it enhances sources, stems, and mixes with true analogue harmonic colour, all with the familiar workflow of an equaliser.

Designed for stereo, dual mono, or mid/side use, Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 offers three fully sweepable and bypassable bands of HarmonicEQ® per channel, each with up to ±10 dB of boost or cut. Every band applies a carefully chosen blend of harmonic content specific to its frequency range for maximum musicality. The HI band (5 kHz–25 kHz) uses smooth saturation to add natural air and detail to vocals and acoustic instruments. The MID band (200 Hz–6.2 kHz) introduces harmonic emphasis across a broad spectrum with a fixed-Q peaking filter. The LO band (20 Hz–420 Hz) employs harder saturation to extend subharmonics into the audible low end, providing anything from subtle warmth to powerful, driven bass.

Unlike conventional EQs, Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 is dynamic: the harder you drive it, the more the boost/cut and harmonic content increase. Each band has independent input and output level controls with ±20 dB of adjustment, letting you push for richer saturation or keep things cleaner when required.

Modern workflow integration is a central feature. Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 is fully digitally controlled and can be operated remotely via USB or Ethernet. The dedicated Control Plugin integrates with your DAW for real-time control, total recall, and preset management. For mastering, mixing, and creative processing, Carnaby HE2 includes onboard mid/side functionality, handling encoding and decoding internally so you can apply HarmonicEQ® separately to mid and side signals without additional gear.

Each channel also features a bypassable TRS insert point, placed post-M/S encoding and pre-M/S decoding. This allows external processors to be patched in-line before HarmonicEQ® treatment, adding flexibility for hybrid workflows.

Features

• Two-channel HarmonicEQ® for stereo, dual mono, or mid/side use
• Three interactive, bypassable bands per channel with ±10 dB boost/cut
• HI band 5 kHz to 25 kHz for smooth, airy saturation
• MID band 200 Hz to 6.2 kHz peaking filter for harmonic emphasis
• LO band 20 Hz to 420 Hz with harder saturation for subharmonic weight
• Dynamic response that adds more harmonics as levels are driven
• Per-band input and output controls with ±20 dB range
• USB and Ethernet control with DAW plugin for real-time control and recall
• Built-in mid/side processing with internal encode and decode
• Bypassable TRS inserts per channel, post M/S encode and pre M/S decode