CRANBORNE AUDIO 500ADAT Expander With 500 Series Rack

Turn the unused ADAT ports on your audio interface into a gateway for a complete analog production system. The Cranborne Audio 500ADAT combines an eight-slot 500 Series rack, 8-in/8-out ADAT expansion, high-performance A/D-D/A conversion, an 8-into-2 analog summing mixer and zero-latency artist monitoring in a single 4U unit. Load its eight slots with your choice of preamps, EQs, compressors or other 500 Series modules to create a personalized recording front end, then capture those channels directly into your DAW over ADAT. True ADAT and SMUX II/IV operation supports sessions up to 192kHz, while 121dB A-weighted converter dynamic range, +24dBu maximum I/O levels and a master reference-quality internal clock with less than 0.5 picoseconds of jitter preserve the character of your analog signal chain. From tracking and hardware processing to summing and cue mixes, the 500ADAT bridges analog hardware and digital recording without forcing either side of the studio to compromise.

Eight 500 Series Slots Build a Custom Analog Front End

Eight high-current slots provide 250mA per rail per slot, with 2A available across the rack, giving engineers room to configure the system around the sound and workflow they want. Fill it with vintage-flavored preamps for drums, clean preamps for strings or combinations of preamp, EQ and compression modules to create custom channel strips. Each slot includes XLR input and line output connectivity plus a pre-A/D converter TRS insert, while dedicated source switching determines what feeds the installed module. Individual bypass switches also allow channels to operate without a module installed, making the rack useful even as a studio configuration evolves.

ADAT Conversion Integrates Hardware With the DAW

High-performance conversion allows analog sources and installed modules to move cleanly between the rack and an ADAT-equipped audio interface. The system provides eight channels of I/O at 44.1–96kHz and four channels at 176.4 or 192kHz, with 121dB A-weighted dynamic range and THD+N below 0.00032% under specified A/D test conditions. Dedicated module source switching also lets engineers route ADAT playback from the DAW through installed 500 Series processors and back into the interface, effectively turning a rack of analog hardware into hands-on outboard processing paths for mixing. Word Clock input and output plus external synchronization over Word Clock or ADAT provide additional flexibility when integrating the converter into larger digital systems.

Analog Summing and Zero-Latency Monitoring Keep Mixing Hands-On

An integrated 8-into-2 summing mixer sits after the 500 Series slots, allowing processed channels to be blended through dedicated analog level and pan controls before the stereo mix is returned to the recording system. With +26.5dBu of summing headroom, this path can incorporate saturation, bus compression and other analog processing before reaching the balanced 1/4" mix outputs. The same architecture supports a zero-latency artist mixer, blending live sources with DAW playback without routing monitoring through a software mixer. Two high-power headphone outputs provide independent level and blend control, helping engineers create responsive cue mixes during tracking sessions.

C.A.S.T. Extends Analog I/O Across the Studio

Four C.A.S.T. ports provide another way to position analog connections where performers and instruments actually are. Cranborne Audio's Cat 5 Analogue Snake Transport carries four channels of balanced analog audio over standard shielded Cat 5e, Cat 6 or Cat 7 cable, with compatible breakout devices such as the N22 and N22H relocating inputs to live rooms, vocal booths or other recording spaces. The analog monitor mix can travel back through the same cable, creating a bidirectional connection without digital conversion, configuration or added latency. With supported cable runs up to 100 meters, C.A.S.T. can simplify studio wiring while keeping microphone and line connections close to the source.

A Central Hub for Hybrid Analog and Digital Studios

By combining 500 Series hosting, conversion, ADAT expansion, analog summing, artist monitoring and distributed I/O, the 500ADAT can serve as more than a conventional expansion rack. Its 19" 4U chassis provides a centralized platform for tracking through analog hardware, processing DAW playback, building analog stereo mixes and distributing cue audio, while the external locking 24V/5A power supply helps dissipate heat outside the chassis. Designed and engineered in the UK, each unit is extensively tested before shipping. For engineers looking to make 500 Series hardware an integral part of an ADAT-based studio rather than a separate collection of outboard gear, the Cranborne Audio 500ADAT provides a flexible bridge between hands-on analog processing and modern digital production.