Cranborne Audio Camden EC1

Winning pedigree

Camden EC1 features one of the cleanest and most transparent preamplifiers on the market, in a standalone, desktop-friendly chassis that can be integrated with any audio interface. Designed to compete with the best, the Camden preamp achieves unprecedented performance in terms of low noise and distortion, as well as linear frequency response and phase at any gain setting. The latest addition to the Cranborne family captures sound sources with complete transparency; amplifies low-sensitivity microphones without adding noise or coloration; captures transients instantly and consistently, without adding phase distortion, which often causes anomalies during summing. The Camden EC1 offers performance and technical specifications that surpass the most revered “transparent” preamps on the market. The 12-step gain potentiometer allows for easy recall of settings, while the dedicated mic, line, and hi-z input selector makes the Camden EC1 not only your favorite preamp for many sources, but also a saturator for line signals or a convenient high-end DI box, thanks to the convenient ¼” jack Link output connector.

Vintage Persona

Using the “Mojo” analog saturation control, the Camden EC1 transforms from a transparent, natural, crystal-clear preamp into a vintage-feeling, fat, dirty, and harmonically rich machine as you turn the dedicated knob. With two different Mojo styles, called Thump and Cream, the Camden EC1 perfectly recreates the feel of both the transformers and valves used in classic vintage preamps. The Mojo circuit is fully adjustable, allowing you to easily find the right amount of harmonic saturation for any type of source. Use it around 3-4 to recreate the authentic saturation of a vintage preamp, or push it up to 11 for truly exaggerated effects! A big advantage (which we can't get on vintage machines...) is that when that characteristic sound isn't needed for a particular project and you want a completely transparent and detailed response, with the EC1 you can simply disable the Mojo circuit (by turning the potentiometer to the minimum position) and remove it (true bypass) from the signal path to reveal the purity of the Camden preamp circuit design. Record with the Mojo active to instantly get the desired harmonic coloration during recording, or route a line signal from your DAW tracks or stems to the Mojo circuit to enrich them with the typical saturation of vintage analog machines during mixing.

An advanced device for tracking and reamping

The Camden EC1's high-quality headphone amp and independent 4-channel line mixer allow for zero-latency direct monitoring of the Camden preamp by connecting headphones to the front panel. You can monitor the preamp in your headphones while positioning the microphone to find the sweet spot of the sound source, or create a zero-latency analog headphone mix using the preamp with external playback from a dedicated Stereo Aux and external Mono Line Inputs. The Camden EC1 also features a Hi-Z D.I. circuit for instruments with a dedicated Link output jack, making this product perfect for reamping bass and electric guitars in the studio or on stage. Simply connect your instruments to its Hi-Z inputs and connect the preamp's 1/4” Link output to your amplifiers/effects pedals for wet/dry recording and reamping.

C.A.S.T. transmission enabled

The Camden EC1 uses Cranborne Audio's C.A.S.T. system to distribute audio in the studio or on stage using Cat 5e, Cat 6, or Cat 7 cables, while maintaining the highest sound performance. By connecting the C.A.S.T. OUT to Cranborne Audio's 500R8 or 500ADAT, you can send the Camden EC1's preamp directly to the interface's input for recording or processing. At the same time, using the same cable, the 500R8 and 500ADAT can transmit their monitor mix directly to the EC1's headphone mixer for listening. This allows users of the 500R8/500ADAT to place the EC1 preamp with its headphone amp in the live room using a single network cable, freeing up the 500 slots of the 500R8/500ADAT and providing more space for EQ, compressors, and processing modules before reaching the converters.

Meticulously Designed and Engineered in the UK

With a remarkable amount of I/O available, the Camden EC1 ensures maximum flexibility with all third-party audio interfaces and recorders, including dedicated XLR outputs, impedance-balanced 1/4” jack outputs with a 10dB PAD, and a Link output when the Camden EC1 is used as a DI. Camden EC1 is another Cranborne Audio product engineered and designed by a dedicated and vigilant team. Camden EC1 offers high-end audio features and application-specific characteristics that challenge every price point and are available to professional sound engineers, project studios, and home studios.