Egret
Best analog summing for professional audio engineers seeking sonic enhancement.
The Crane Song Egret is a highly flexible digital audio workstation back end. It contains eight channels of high quality D/A converters and a stereo line level mixer with color options to help bring analog summed digital mixes to life. Each channel of the stereo mixer has a level control, an aux send, a color control, and a pan control. The color function is adjustable from a transparent sound to a complex mix of second and third harmonic content, creating the possibility of having clean modern sounds mixed with vintage sounds. The master stereo bus level control has 1 db steps for accurate gain control, repeatability, and stereo gain matching. The headphone system allows a monitor mix to be created when Crane Song Egret is being used in multi channel location recording. The D/A converters support sample rates up to 192K and have sample rate converters on each channel for jitter reduction. The standard interface supports AES single wire to 192KHz, ADAT, and S/MUX to 96K.
$5999.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
109
/ 663
#109 in Audio Converters
Price vs Category Average
+37%
Above average
Who it's for
- Audio engineers seeking uncompromised sonic fidelity for critical listening.
- Mix engineers desiring the benefits of analog summing without extra gear.
- Studio professionals needing dependable, high-performance equipment for daily use.
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious producers or home studio owners with limited funds.
- Casual listeners or those needing only basic digital-to-analog conversion.
- Novice engineers unfamiliar with the nuances of analog summing.
Performance breakdown
D/A Conversion Fidelity
Delivers an exceptionally transparent and detailed analog signal reconstruction.
Analog Output Stage
Discrete circuitry provides a rich, musical character with impressive headroom.
Jitter Suppression
Advanced clocking technology ensures rock-solid stability for precise imaging.
Build Integrity
Rugged, studio-grade construction built to withstand years of professional use.
Signal Path Purity
Minimalist design keeps the audio path clean and free from coloration.
Connectivity Versatility
Essential I/O options cover the needs of most high-end monitoring setups.
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the Egret for its exceptional sound quality and robust build. Users frequently highlight its ability to add a desirable analog warmth and depth to digital mixes, transforming the sonic landscape. The unit's reliability and consistent performance are also strong points, ensuring a professional grade experience. Many appreciate the transparent yet characterful summing, making it a cornerstone for serious audio engineers. Its integration into studio workflows is often described as seamless, contributing significantly to final mix polish. This device is seen as a substantial upgrade for those seeking premium analog summing.
Know before you buy
The Egret is an eight-channel digital-to-analog converter that also functions as a high-quality analog summing mixer. It is designed to take digital stems from your DAW and blend them in the analog domain for a more cohesive, three-dimensional sound.
Yes, it features Crane Song’s signature 'Color' circuit on each channel. This allows you to add subtle harmonic saturation and tube-like character to individual tracks or your overall mix.
You connect the Egret to your interface via an ADAT lightpipe connection. It acts as an extension of your system, providing eight high-fidelity analog outputs that feed into the internal summing bus.
While it is primarily built for summing and monitoring, you can certainly use the high-quality D/A converters for critical listening or routing audio out to outboard hardware processors during the tracking phase.
Summing through the Egret typically provides a wider stereo image and a more refined low-end response. The analog circuitry adds a level of depth and glue that is often difficult to replicate with software plugins alone.
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