Studio Hardware vs Software | Are The Klark Teknik 76-KT, EQP-KT And KT-2A Really Any Good?

One of the most common questions we get asked is "What hardware should I buy?" In this video we recap on the Klark Teknik 76-KT and EQP-KT and ask the question.... should you buy them for your studio?

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[robertoj.fernandez]

The audience will never guess what gear was used to make music, but they will identify in an instant if they like it or not.

[kitmendoza]

Thank you for the generosity, skill, craftsmanship, humor, and honesty in your videos. What comes across is two guys who love to output good art by any means necessary.

[ronaldirawan]

ITB in 2020 is far different from 2010.
I leave Production stuff for 6 years and in 2020 i come back. I hear lots different.
Even free stuff sound great.
The thing is how much do we understand the material and the tools its self.
Thanks to the channel for convincing me too.

[okay]

Within such a short time, this has become my most trusted audio engineering channel. Honest advice, from people who are not aiming to sell you something, with decades of real experience. Love this channel

[StenOlleMoldau]

Please please, do not stop! You're doing audio reviews the way it should be done and I really hope you guys have the energy to continue, love it!

[SuperAroaro]

I'd recently decided to scrap my 2A-KT, 76-KT, pair of EQP-KTs, Neutrik patchbay and SKB road rack - and (of course) got the panic poos: "Is this perhaps a really stupid self-destructive thing I'm doing? Will I regret it?"

Your video helped to strengthen my resolve. I'm hocking off the lot. What I'll keep: two colourful preamp strips, one split channel/stereo compressor, my Dangerous Music D-Box. The rest of the hardware units can go.

[ArguZ]

Probably the most valuable video in the interwebs...
Go buy speakers guys...and rock wool :)

[intersweat]

You guys are on fire. I see this channel taking off in the second half of 2020. In fact it’s already the best thing that’s happened in 2020 :) Not that that would be hard to do :)

[naimabid]

I'm really amazed! You really are a great channel! I adore what you do. Thanks.

[spike]

I didn't know you guys existed until you popped up in my suggested box, and I'm glad I took the time to watch. Brevity, knowledge and humour are great for making interesting and watchable videos and you guys appear to tick all the boxes. We're living in strange times and not just regarding recording and production, the Wuhu Flu has decimated live work and studios seem to be closing at quite a rate which is great for the musician looking to either set up or add to a recording studio at home. I think quality as opposed to quantity is the way to go, both for hardware and plugins. SUBSCRIBED.. Looks like I have a back catalogue to go through..

[credman]

Excellent video my dudes, deserves a lot more views

[freakkyt]

Great review, detailed, unbiased and wise with the advice of not being obsessed with the tools and not being radical in the hardware vs software battle.
I would like to drop 3 notes, just for accuracy:
1) The comparison with the silverface 1176: the 76-KT actually aims at cloning the blackface 1176LN (or maybe the G-1176 clone)
2) "the Pulltec EQs feature passive inductors" VS "the KT unit features surface-mount components"
The KT also uses passive inductors. They have been tested to be not 100% accurate to the original on the high freq Qs, but otherwise they still follow the same passive inductors approach
3) "and the circuitry is very different"
True, although not because of SMT vs PTP components, mostly because of the removal of the interstage transformer. Again a solution that can be traced back to the G-Pultec clone by Gyraf audio, which all these clones (WA, KT, ...) appear to be basing their products on.

I ordered an EQP-KT mostly to see how it colors guitar preamps when tracking but mostly, as you put it, to have fun with it!!!
Thx again for the great tests!

[trapboihustle]

This channel is on of the best on YouTube...Thanks

[unclemick-synths]

I've been trying to get back to the speed and fun I had recording with my Tascam 244 and part of that was processing on the way in. Experience, taking care, and test recordings are the best precautions against over-processing.

[rarsn]

The Cranborne 500R8 seems like the best combination of hardware and software for someone who really wants to integrate hardware in a nice package on a reasonably small budget. The 500-series market offers a large variety of modules that are easy to swap out if you want to try to create a different sound, and with 8 slots available, there's theoretically enough room for a two channel setup including preamp, EQ, compressor, and something else on both channels. But since it's also a full-blown USB interface, you can even use it without any modules at all, but still use the inserts to plug in external gear like guitar effects or running audio through a synth filter.

There are a bunch of cheaper 500 chassis out there, and while some of them seem really nice, when I looked into the capabilities and flexibility of the 500R8, I was a little bit blown away. For everything that it does, you're probably not going to find all of that functionality in a single 4U rack setup, let alone for that price. Yeah, it's $1700 but when you factor in the cost of a USB interface with as many inputs, you're easily looking at $700+ alone, just for that, so all of the extra functionality seems worth it IMO.

Rack units are nice but to have a bunch of rack boxes sitting on the desk is not that ideal, nor is routing everything and plugging everything in! IMO 500-series gear is the way to go for minimal fuss and budget options for anyone wanting to get in on the hardware game. The 500R8 is but one option, although having everything in one box makes it the ideal option IMO.

[matthill]

I'd love it if you did a video about analogue summing. I've found that summing through a nice desk sounds better than summing in the box and don't really know why, could be the introduction of harmonics, could be that the way it puts the soundwaves together is more analogous to the way soundwaves combine in real life. My friend who is an audiophile and an IT guy was skeptical but at first but when we A/B'd the mix with two different methods of summing he agreed that the analogue one sounded better. I'd love to hear your take on it.

[DC-tici]

Great production values topped off with 'dry' British humour! Keep up the great work, you're easily one of the better channels on YT!

[moa]

Actually really liking your channel. Just keep on being seriously funny !

[tobysuniverse]

Great video... This was a question i had for years

[unclemick-synths]

6:50 you'll love it - especially with those speakers.