Purchased final yr. Superior sounding and closely laden function set has two completely different constantly variable mojo choices to get that gooey classic vibe if needed, if you need an extremely exact clear sound it could possibly try this too. Wonderful bang for buck however between my console preamps, Phoenix Audio, BAE and API should let some go so this and the DAV BG1 are transferring on as a result of I’ve these bases already coated.
I had this racked therefore the small quantity of rack rash on the highest however not on the underside. Because it stands it doesn’t include the 19” rackmount equipment , I‘ve put the bits someplace and might’t no discover them but when and once I do I’m very happy to incorporate them. This equipment price £40. It’s right here someplace however can’t assure I’ll discover it.
Please see my different gadgets and extra will probably be listed over the approaching days. Thanks
Sound on Sound evaluation:
Although billed as a excessive‑high quality single‑channel mic preamp, the EC1 is an entire lot extra.
You’d should have been dwelling below a rock for the previous few years to miss out on Cranborne’s emergence on the professional audio scene. Their 500R8 and 500ADAT racks and Camden 500 preamp module have since taken the five hundred‑sequence world by storm. Extra not too long ago, their Camden EC2 rackmountable two‑channel preamp improved on the already glorious Camden design. Each of these preamps supply excellent technical efficiency for a really cheap value however in addition to extremely‑clear acquire, in addition they function a Mojo circuit that permits you to dial in one among two completely different tonal characters to style. In addition to enhancing barely on the Camden 500’s specs, the EC2 added a lot of useful options, together with a reference‑high quality stereo headphone amp and a few inputs for exterior line‑degree sources, akin to clicks and backing tracks. For a extra detailed exploration of what makes these preamps so particular, try Hugh Robjohns’ critiques in SOS September 2018 () and September 2020 ().
EC Does It
The newest addition to the vary, the Camden EC1, is at coronary heart one other preamp. Because the identify and half rack‑width type issue indicate, it’s basically a single‑channel model of the EC2. And that, it must be stated, makes it excess of a preamp: whereas the asking value is just like that of a Camden 500 module paired with a single‑slot 500‑sequence rack/energy provide, the EC1 provides you slightly extra performance for that cash.
An non-compulsory 19‑inch rackmounting equipment is offered, however my guess is that most individuals will select to make use of the EC1 as a desktop gadget. Certainly, to that finish, the unit ships with 4 detachable rubber toes already fitted to the underside panel. The ability provide is an exterior ‘line wart’ 24V swap‑mode sort with a latching connector. I do know that a few of our readers desire inner PSUs however, even setting apart the arguments in favour of maintaining mains AC away from the audio circuitry, I feel that is the correct name right here: I hate having thick mains IEC leads trailing from the rear of desktop units!
As with the EC2, the core of this product is the most recent iteration of the Camden preamp, which, technically talking, is marginally higher than within the authentic Camden 500 module — not that you could hear any distinction. As with most high quality preamps, you’ve a mic/line enter on the rear and a excessive‑impedance instrument enter on the entrance. A considerate departure is that the entrance‑panel excessive‑impedance enter may also settle for line sources, not simply instrument ones, making it helpful for patching in not solely the standard guitar or bass but in addition devices akin to synths and keyboards. There’s one other exterior line enter on the correct. And on the rear is a CAST port (Cranborne’s protocol for sending and receiving two channels of audio over shielded CAT5e, 6 or 7 cable) and a mono/stereo aux enter offered on two quarter‑inch jacks.
The Hyperlink output permits the Camden EC1 to carry out as a DI field, passing the pre‑acquire‑stage sign by to an amp or different vacation spot.
When it comes to outputs, you even have a couple of choices. There’s an electronically balanced XLR line‑degree output, and that is duplicated on an impedance‑balanced TRS jack. Each outputs, in addition to the CAST port, can be utilized concurrently, so you possibly can route the enter sign to a number of locations. There’s additionally a pre‑acquire quarter‑inch jack Hyperlink output, which serves the identical perform as a via or amp socket on a typical DI field, with the road‑out feeding your interface and the Hyperlink port feeding your amp — however it could possibly carry out that perform not simply with instrument indicators but in addition line‑degree ones. As with the EC2, there’s additionally a headphone out on the entrance.
Put the EC1 in entrance of a good price range interface and also you’ll have ample clear acquire and higher technical efficiency… since your interface received’t want to supply any acquire in any respect.
An Interface For Your Interface?
So, slightly than merely a ‘preamp’, the EC1 might higher be thought-about a excessive‑high quality analogue recording entrance finish and headphone monitoring system. Or, put one other approach, doubtlessly the proper companion for any audio interface.
That raises an attention-grabbing query: why did Cranborne not merely add stereo USB conversion and name this factor an audio interface? Truly, I’m virtually sure that Cranborne have plans in thoughts to create a excessive‑high quality desktop interface sooner or later (they’d be mad to not, given the success of their bigger interfaces and the dimensions of the desktop interface market).
The factor is, the converters in Cranborne’s 500‑sequence racks are critically good, and never only for the worth. Including stereo conversion of the identical high quality would push the worth of the EC1 up significantly. Choosing cheaper converters, then again, would danger damaging the corporate’s fame and, in any case, loads of producers already supply inexpensive interfaces. Within the meantime, then, Cranborne’s focus right here is on providing their current excessive‑high quality preamp and monitoring amenities to customers of third‑celebration interfaces. And to make it extra helpful than some skilled outboard is with a variety of interfaces, they’ve thoughtfully included a ‑10dB output pad: interfaces that haven’t the headroom to deal with full skilled‑degree outputs will pair properly with the EC1.
It makes good sense to me. There aren’t many causes so as to add exterior preamps to an interface that already has them, since impartial acquire isn’t an enormous technical problem today. However some will battle to supply sufficient clear acquire, notably for passive dynamic mics. Certainly, a motive that Cloudlifter‑sort inline ‘booster’ preamps have confirmed so standard is that many individuals utilizing ribbons and transferring‑coils just like the Shure SM7b and the Electro‑Voice RE20 have discovered that their interface’s preamps have struggled to carry out effectively when their acquire is cranked up. Put the EC1 in entrance of a good price range interface and also you’ll have ample clear acquire and higher technical efficiency than with a booster preamp, since your interface received’t want to supply any acquire in any respect. And when the time involves improve your interface, the EC1 can, if you want, stay a part of your setup.
The opposite essential motive individuals are likely to look to exterior preamps, after all, is a quest for musically interesting tonal character. Once more, the EC1 provides way more tonal choices than most preamps do, courtesy of the Mojo circuit’s Thump and Cream settings. I’ve mentioned this function in these pages earlier than, so received’t dwell on it right here, suffice to say that it provides the selection of a thicker backside finish or extra edge increased up the spectrum, and in each instances you possibly can dial in as a lot or as little as you need.
Then there’s the headphone amp, which boasts extra spectacular specs than these you’ll discover on most interfaces. Extra importantly, it sounds clear and succesful in observe, and has greater than sufficient ‘welly’ to drive excessive‑impedance cans. The headphone monitoring sign comes from a summing bus: you possibly can stability the contribution of the primary mic/line/instrument enter sign being amplified by the EC1 towards the rear and entrance‑panel aux inputs. This implies you possibly can, for instance, place this ‘preamp’ the place you need to be when performing (eg. the opposite facet of the room from a loud pc!), and each tweak the mic enter acquire and stability a backing observe, click on‑observe and the enter sign from there.
Hit Single?
I used the Camden EC1 on a variety of mic, line and instrument‑degree sources and was at all times impressed. With none Mojo processing, it’s delightfully unobtrusive: clear and quiet in any respect acquire settings, leaving you free to give attention to the efficiency.
A terrific take a look at is spoken phrase, as you would possibly file for audiobooks or podcasts, for the reason that supply is uncovered and ranges of backround noise are vital. Noise from the preamp was by no means a difficulty, even with passive ribbons and transferring‑coil dynamics used at a larger distance than I usually would. I might EQ and compress the ensuing sign pretty assertively and the one audible nasties have been the place it revealed sounds within the room or in my voice: the electronics at all times stayed effectively out of the best way.
Evaluating the sound with a Camden 500 module I had right here on the similar time, I actually couldn’t discern any audible distinction. I imply I’m clearly joyful that they improved the spec, as that conjures up confidence, however the circuit was already that good. The Mojo processor was all the pieces I anticipated, an actual pleasure. And that you should use this not simply as a mic/instrument preamp but in addition as a line‑degree processor when mixing actually will increase the EC1’s enchantment and worth for cash. Briefly, I’m smitten yet again.
Abstract
A top quality analogue entrance/again finish and sign processor for many who have already got their A‑D/D‑A wants coated, and for a superb value.
