Hey Elektronauts,
thinking about setting up a new studio and I was researching the Cranborne R8. Seems to be a nice alternative with great specs. Is anyone here using the R8 or the ADAT version and can give me some advice?
If you recommend another forum I will head over there, but so far I have not found a place where these boxes are a topic.
Thanks in advance.
Go to gear space mate and post in High End
I’ve never used one, buy I’ve definitely been eyeing those for a while. It’s like an audio interface and a 500 series lunchbox together – such a cool idea.
I don’t have any best practices to share. I’ve never had one.
I’m curious: what 500 modules do you plan on using with it?
Thanks mate. Yes thought about it, too, but there wasn’t much feedback on previous Cranborne R8 threads. Anyway, will try it within the next days!
So far I have the following 500 units in an external rack:
2x Chandler Little Devil Preamp
2x Kush Audio Elektra
2x Great River PWM-501
Like all of them a lot. As I have a Silverbullet for Neve/API preamp-colors to add-on and two compressors for busduties (Alan Smart C2M and a EI Fatso) I am unsure what to add in the remaining two slots.
I also have a Culture Vulture and Lexicon PCM 81 and 91, so there is a lot of stuff that I can add to the inserts 
The big Six came also to my mind, but the Cranborne seems to be a lot of fun for mobile productions, when I want to work with other guys.
Some ideas for the remaining two slots:
Dual Vandergraph
WES Audio _Dione
WES Audio _Rhea
or another Pre like the
elysia skulpter 500
I tried my best for feedback, but Gearspace seems to be a different place than it was before. Less real gearheads and more Windows vs. Mac, Hardware vs. Software debates from keyboard cowboys.
Many old fellows from the gearslutz time seem to have left.
If you can find a reseller that allows returns I say get one of the models and return it if you don’t like it. Remember that a restocking fee “is the cost of doing business .
What I have noticed is most convertors coming out sound really good.
Try these links for research:
Anyone here using a Cranborne R8/ADAT and using the inputs for mainly synths and drummachines? I would love to ask you a few questions.
Yep me if it’s still relevant
I was hoping to use some of the empty slots also as extra line-in - but it seems the levels from my synths are too low…
I don’t remember the amount of gain available on slots, but using kinda +4db ish input level my gain is usually not more than half (at 12 o’clock). I think with approx -10db from synths should be still enough gain?
I’ve never used this rack with synth level signals tho, all my synths are going to DIs first, dropping level for preamping, then to the rack after external preamps.
And you should have some cable converters if you want to go straight from unbalanced synths to 500R8. Because the rack has only balanced XLR inputs. Maybe there is some tricks using insert points which are unbalanced, but am not such good at it, need to google more. And worth to check also, maybe these tricks connecting unbalanced stuff to balanced XLR or to unbalanced insert points causing slight dropping of the level.