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Cranborne Audio 500R8 USB Audio Interface and 8-Slot 500-Series Rack Chassis

BH #CRCA500R8 • MFR #CA-500R8
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Cranborne Audio 500R8 USB Audio Interface and 8-Slot 500-Series Rack Chassis
Key Features
  • 28-In / 30-Out USB 2.0 Audio Interface
  • 8 High-Current 500-Series Module Slots
  • Up to 192 kHz Sampling
  • ADAT, S/PDIF, MIDI, Clock & Analog I/O
Upgrade your studio with convenience and powerful expandability through the 500R8 USB Audio Interface and 8-Slot 500-Series Rack Chassis from Cranborne Audio, a complete studio in a box that provides comprehensive I/O, high-spec digital conversion up to 192 kHz, and the ability to grow your 500-series module collection while being easy to reconfigure on the fly for your needs. With full-featured monitor control and talkback facilities, an 8x2 summing mixer, a powerful low-latency headphone mixer with dual dedicated outputs, and reference-quality audio performance and internal clocking, the 500R8 is an ideal central brain for your studio that can be picked up and carried to your next session.
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Cranborne Audio 500R8 Overview

Analog Character Meets Digital Precision
Upgrade your studio with convenience and powerful expandability through the 500R8 USB Audio Interface and 8-Slot 500-Series Rack Chassis from Cranborne Audio, a complete studio in a box that provides comprehensive I/O, high-spec digital conversion up to 192 kHz, and the ability to grow your 500-series module collection while being easy to reconfigure on the fly for your needs. With full-featured monitor control and talkback facilities, an 8x2 summing mixer, a powerful low-latency headphone mixer with dual dedicated outputs, and reference-quality audio performance and internal clocking, the 500R8 is an ideal central brain for your studio that can be picked up and carried to your next session.

The eight 500-series module slots deliver 250mA per slot, with 2A total for all slots, ensuring the best possible performance from your precious rack modules. The audio interface features 28 inputs and 30 outputs with high-stability low-latency USB 2.0 and plenty of further options for expanding your connectivity including ADAT (up to 16 channels), S/PDIF, 5-pin MIDI, and Cranborne's proprietary C.A.S.T. ports, which use Cat 5e, Cat 6, or Cat 7 cabling for connecting to breakout boxes to eliminate excess cabling or to increase available channels with modules like the 500ADAT or a second 500R8. The 500R8 includes an external power supply, an IEC power cord, 16 module mounting screws, and an allen key.

Studio in a Box
Configure 500R8 to suit your desired analog flavor. Fill it full of vintage-style 500 series preamps, when you're recording drums, clean and pristine preamps when you're recording strings, or EQ, compression, and saturation 500-series modules when it's time for mixing.

Connect 500R8 directly to your PC/Mac and capture every last nuance of your analog sources with reference-class AD/DA conversion and superior internal clocking. Effortlessly pass audio between analog and digital worlds without digital artifacts that color and degrade your recordings.

Comprehensive Monitor Controls
Switch between two sets of speakers (A/B), toggle Mono sum, Mute, Dim, and Talkback facilities with phantom power whilst monitoring the peak level of your mix with 28-segments of LED detail by using the built-in, high-headroom monitor controller. You get push-to-talk activation as well as automatic routing to all headphones. Finally, the front panel controls for all monitor controller functions are illuminated for easy access.
Analog Summing Mixer
The 8x2 analog summing mixer provides you with +26.6 dBu of headroom, dedicated ADC, and balanced 1/4" outputs. Sum your 8 USB sources through your 500-series modules into the discrete analog mixer and record it back into your DAW as a stereo track. You can also use the C.A.S.T. link port for increasing your summing mixer to a 16x2 using the Cranborne Audio 500ADAT.
Zero-Latency Artist Mixer
Monitor live sources in the analog domain with zero latency using dedicated mix level and pan controls per channel combined with Cranborne's seriously high-powered headphone amps. Use the DAW return blend controls for the perfect tracking mix. Each of the two headphone outputs feature independent blend and level controls.
Enough I/O for Any Hardware Setup
The 500R8 integrates with all of your analog/digital hardware. Patch in 500R8 with your own converter or integrate your 19" rack gear with dedicated TRS insert jacks per slot.

  • Eight balanced XLR inputs, one per module, plus one 1/4" insert per module input
  • Eight XLR direct module outputs
  • Stereo XLR and balanced 1/4" speaker outputs
  • Stereo 1/4" pairs for Mix Output, Aux Output, and DAW 2 Input
  • XLR Talkback Input with phantom power
  • Two high-powered 1/4" headphone outputs
  • Dual optical ADAT inputs and outputs (16-channel max capacity)
  • 3.5mm S/PDIF I/O
  • BNC Wordclock input and output with DIP-switch controls for clock settings
  • 5-pin DIN MIDI input and output
  • USB-B 2.0 host connection
  • Four Cat 5 C.A.S.T. ports with extra C.A.S.T. link port for second 500R8 system
Deep, Configurable 500-Series Integration
Mix and match your 500-series modules to find the best combinations during recording, and mixing to help create your own signature, analog sound. Repatch your 500R8 at a flick of a switch.

Dedicated source select switches for each 500-series slot adjusts the signal routing to send analog, C.A.S.T., or USB sources through each of your modules. Bypass unused 500-series slots using 500R8's dedicated slot-bypass switch and you can use all of the available analog paths for recording whilst you continue to build your 500-series collection.

Expandable via C.A.S.T.
Fitted with Cranborne's C.A.S.T. system, the 500R8 is compatible with the N22 and N22H C.A.S.T. breakout boxes that cast away excess cabling spaghetti and offer a cost-effective, low-maintenance, plug-and-play solution to rewire your studio. C.A.S.T. transports 4 channels of balanced, analog audio over shielded Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 7 cable directly to the location where it is needed in your studio.

Create vocal booths, isolation booth, or run our a microphone to the hallway for ambience, C.A.S.T. is the best way to expand your 500R8 and get the most out of your studio space. If you have preamps installed into the 500R8, C.A.S.T. can transport their 48V phantom power through the C.A.S.T. connection via Cat cables and directly to condenser or active microphones connected at the end point. C.A.S.T. is completely plug-and-play and works at distances up to 328' for maximum flexibility and convenience.

Versatile Ergonomics
The 500R8 is not only versatile in function, it also has a convenient physical design. With the included, prefixed 19" rack ears, you can easily pick up the 500R8, carry it to a recording session, and even mount it directly onto a traditional equipment rack. Now you have 8 rack modules taking up only 4 RU of rack space.

Cranborne Audio 500R8 Specs

Key Specs
Channels of I/O
28 Input / 30 Output
Maximum Sampling Rate
88.2 kHz / 16-Bit
Number of Microphone Inputs
8
Analog Audio I/O
8x XLR 3-Pin Mic/Line Input
1x XLR 3-Pin Control Room Input
8x 1/4" TRS Aux Input
2x 1/4" TRS Stereo Input
8x XLR 3-Pin Line Output
2x XLR 3-Pin Main Output
2x 1/4" TRS Aux Output
2x 1/4" TRS Headphone Output
2x 1/4" TRS Monitor Output
2x 1/4" TRS Stereo Output
Digital Audio I/O
RCA Coaxial S/PDIF Input
RCA Coaxial S/PDIF Output
TOSLINK Optical ADAT Input
TOSLINK Optical ADAT Output
RJ45 MADI Input
Host Connection
1x USB-B (Class-Compliant)
Power Requirements
AC/DC Power Adapter (Included)
General
Display
Multi-Segment LED Meter
Channels of I/O
28 Input / 30 Output
Built-In DSP
No
Maximum Sampling Rate
88.2 kHz / 16-Bit
Number of Microphone Inputs
8
Built-In Microphone
No
Input Level Adjustment
8x Knob
Signal Processing
Pad
No
Gain/Trim Range
XLR Mic Inputs:
+30 dB
High-Pass Filter
No
Solo/Mute
Mute per Master
Connectivity
Analog Audio I/O
8x XLR 3-Pin Mic/Line Input
1x XLR 3-Pin Control Room Input
8x 1/4" TRS Aux Input
2x 1/4" TRS Stereo Input
8x XLR 3-Pin Line Output
2x XLR 3-Pin Main Output
2x 1/4" TRS Aux Output
2x 1/4" TRS Headphone Output (on Optional Breakout Cable)
2x 1/4" TRS Monitor Output
2x 1/4" TRS Stereo Output
Phantom Power
48 V
Digital Audio I/O
1x RCA Coaxial S/PDIF Input
1x RCA Coaxial S/PDIF Output
2x TOSLINK Optical ADAT Input
2x TOSLINK Optical ADAT Output
4x RJ45 MADI Input
Host Connection / USB
1x USB-B (Class-Compliant)
Host Connection Protocol
USB 2.0
USB (Non-Host)
No
Sync I/O
1x BNC Word Clock Input
1x BNC Word Clock Output
Network I/O
No
MIDI I/O
1x DIN 5-Pin Input
1x DIN 5-Pin Output
Expansion Slots
8x 500-Series Slot
Wireless
No
Performance
Frequency Response
D/A Converters:
1 Hz to 61 kHz
XLR Mic, Line A/D Converters:
20 Hz to 20 kHz /-0.05
2.2 Hz to 80 kHz /-1
1/4" Headphone Outputs:
1 Hz to 70 kHz /1
Maximum Input Level
Inputs:
+24 dBu
Maximum Output Level
Outputs:
+24 dBu
Headphone Output Power
1/4":
250 mW per Channel into 600 Ohms (1 kHz)
Impedance
1/4" Line Outputs:
150 Ohms (Balanced)
75 Ohms (Unbalanced)
XLR Line Outputs:
150 Ohms (Balanced)
1/4" Headphone Outputs:
0.33 Ohms
Dynamic Range
1/4" Headphone Outputs:
114.5 dB (A weighted, AES method, 20Hz - 20kHz 300 ohm load)
XLR Line/Speaker Outputs:
109 dB (A Weighted, AES17 method, 20 Hz - 20 kHz)
1/4" Line/Speaker Outputs:
105 dB (A Weighted, 20Hz - 20kHz, (Unity Gain))
A/D Converters:
121 dB (A Weighted, AES17 method, 20Hz - 20kHz)
D/A Converters:
121 dB (A Weighted, AE17 method, 20 Hz to 20 kHz)
THD
XLR Line/Mic A/D Converters:

1/4" Line D/A Converters:
< -117.5 dB / < 0.00014% (@ -8 dBFS, 20Hz - 40kHz, 1kHz, A weighted)
< -115 dB / < 0.00018% (@ -4 dBFS, 20Hz - 40kHz, 1kHz, A Weighted)
< -109 dB / < 0.00036% (@ -1 dBFS, 20Hz - 40kHz, 1kHz, A Weighted)
1/4" Headphone Outputs:
< -104.4 dB / < 0.0006%
THD+N
XLR A/D Converters:
< -110 dB / < 0.00032% (@ -4dBFS, 20 Hz -20 kHz, 1kHz, A Weighted)
-104 dB / 0.00065% (@ -1dBFS, 20Hz - 40kHz, 1kHz, A weighted)
D/A Converters:
< -110 dB / < 0.0003% (@ -4dBFS, 20Hz - 40khz, 1kHz, A Weighted)
< -108 dB / < 0.0004% (@ -1dBFS, 20Hz - 40kHz , 1kHz, A Weighted)
1/4" Line Outputs:
< 0.003% (@ +18 dBu, 1kHz)
XLR Line Outputs:
< 0.0016% (@ +24 dBu, 1kHz)
1/4" Headphone Outputs:
< -101.4 dB / < 0.00085% (@ 20 dBu,1kHz, A Weighted, 300 ohm Load)
Digital Audio
Sample Rates
44.1 to 192 kHz
Sample Rate Conversion
No
Sync Sources
ADAT, Internal
Clocking
Internal:
Jitter: < 0.5 ps
Audio Storage & Playback
Media/Memory Card Slot
No
Compatibility
OS Compatibility
Windows / macOS
Mobile Device Compatibility
No
Required Hardware
USB 2.0 Port, USB 3.0 / 3.1/3.2 Gen 1 Port, USB-A Port, USB-C Port
Power
Power Requirements
AC/DC Power Adapter (Included)
AC Input Power
100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
AC/DC Power Adapter
24 VDC at 5 A
Power Consumption
120 W
Physical
Rackmount Size
8 U (with Included Hardware)
Operating Conditions
33 to 86°F / 1 to 30°C
Storage Conditions
-4 to 122°F / -20 to 50°C
Dimensions
21.7 x 13.2 x 11" / 550 x 335 x 280 mm
Weight
16.5 lb / 7.5 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
16.655 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
22 x 13.3 x 11.7"

Cranborne Audio 500R8 Reviews

Brilliant

By Steven
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-01-28

Hands down one of the most well conceived and useful designs in pro audio.

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