Home Studio Upgade: KT2A Optocell Swap | MMP Ep. 40

[@Wangavision]

I watch so many videos where people A/B different settings and upgrades etc. and I can honestly say that, although I usually hear a slight difference, it's rarely better or worse - just different, or barely audible - and rarely worth the money to upgrade or mod. In this example I really can hear a clear difference! The moded version is absolutely distinctly better, smoother, more controlled and sits better in the mix. I watched this vid because a guy near me is selling a stock version. And now, I'm going to buy it! Thanks!

[@CarlMooreMusic]

@@Wangavision definitely appreciate this comment. I’ve felt the same about certain mods I’ve heard or watched. One distinct difference I noticed was that the head room increased but a considerable amount. It was alot less compression needed to dial in.

[@dannydaniel8975]

You got the best thing of all...Great vocal performance..

[@johnlance3860]

Just upgraded mine! Really loving it. I kept my 2nd 2A-KT unit stock as well as I actually like it on some things because of the difference in release. Thanks for doing this! Great job!

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Thank you for checking out the video and commenting! I plan on swapping out the tubes and more of the innards to see if I can continue to make improvements overall on the unit. It really isn’t bad but I can tell the headroom difference. How about yours on your upgrades?

[@skaguitarist89]

Did you have to recalibrate the gain reduction meter?

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Initially but not after that one time

[@skaguitarist89]

@@CarlMooreMusic do you know of any resource detailing how to do that?

[@jcjacques]

Good morning. Congratulations for this test, and bravissimo for the quality of your vocal interpretation. It's beautiful! Vocally, musically, the editing of the test video is also excellent and the image processing is splendid too! I was really very happy to find your test (which deserves to be better known) because I am currently in a similar search. So I have a couple of KT2A for stereo (I use them for mixing Home studio in classical music) but they do not react in a strictly identical way. and I ordered two paired Kenetek cells. I hope that this will make it possible to have a more accurate pairing, even if once well calibrated it is currently very correct. They are currently in transit at Paris airport, but I am hopeful of a fast delivery... I admit that I am curious to hear the difference. For the moment I must say that KT2A are absolutely beautiful on voice or instrumental stereo buses (I do not use them on the master track, however). In any case, very happy to have been able to listen to your test.

[@richardpenrose1968]

I’ve got a KT-2a which is modded with the Kenetek T4b optocell, Harma Retro tubes and Alpha pots. I use this primarily for tracking vocals and am really pleased with the results. There is a thread on Gearspace where someone does a blind shootout between a stock KT-2a and an original Teletronix LA-2a and surprisingly 76% liked the KT-2a the most!! I have heard good things about the AudioScape Opto Compressor and I’ve been tempted to upgrade to this one but in all honesty, I’m not sure it would be worth the extra cost.

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Thank you for checking out the video and commenting! When you made your upgrades, what did you notice that was different between the stock and the modified KT2A? I plan to continue to modify as much as possible, and then document the changes via KZbin. I’m also curious to hear first hand what Audio-Scape’s opto compressor sounds like in comparison to the KT2A, as well as Stam audio. I’ve also seen that Lindell audio has a hardware opto compressor too. Maybe I’ll try to grab them all and have a go at it!

[@AenBeatz]

The update sounds less harsh, bit smoother. Just ordered it! Sounds great with, was about to cell it, now I'mma keep it. :)

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Glad to hear this changed your perspective on the unit. I plan to keep making updates to it to get it where I want it overall. Appreciate you for stopping by the channel, checking out the video and commenting.

[@AenBeatz]

I just noticed I spelled Sell with a C, not intentional haha! Btw, what camera do you use? crispy stuff! @@CarlMooreMusic

[@PharaohLawLess1]

Out of the box I have the Golden Age Project 2a and I will swap out the tubes for some better tubes but that compressor really does the job. Now in the box I use the UVI Opal plugin and man let me tell you that plugin is a beast! IMO it is the best La2a emulation in the box hands down!

[@MrJinusean90]

Thank you for the video. I definetiley update now. ;-)

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Glad to hear this was able to provide some assistance. Thanks for checking out the video and stopping by the channel

[@infinagon]

The newer optocel definitely has more pleasant sound to me. Did this unit have tubes in the circuit? Good video as always

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Both had the stock tubes the only difference was the opto-cell upgrade

[@PharaohLawLess1]

I did buy 2 of the Klark Tequnique’s emulation of the Pultec EQ and they ended up in the garbage…..yeah….. that bad.

[@CarlMooreMusic]

I know everybody experience is different but I’ve got two of them and they worked well on a matched pair of ribbon mics I used for drum overheads.

[@PharaohLawLess1]

@@CarlMooreMusic glad they worked out nice for you

[@db4ks]

Aye I'm a garbage man if you don't need them I'll take em 😂

[@tecno8335]

​@db4ks yep. They probably just need to be fixed

[@konstantinossarikos7181]

nice video..!I see your settings on the buttons are different..but the result on the VU meter is almost the same..!why is that?

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Thanks for checking out the video and commenting. The top KT2A has a modded TB4 Optocell. One of the things I mentioned in the video is that it took less peak reduction dialed in on the modded unit vs the stock unit.

[@konstantinossarikos7181]

I have 2 identical units, but I have a problem! I changed the optocell Black Lion Audio T4BLA in both units... but when I return to the DAW, one unit is 2 to 3 db higher, as can be seen on the VU meter, and I don't know if it can be adjusted from within from the circuit? do you know how it is done?@@CarlMooreMusic

[@kelvinwilkins8406]

Is warm audio new optical comp better

[@CarlMooreMusic]

I have yet to use the wa1b so I can’t answer that question directly but I do know that it has quite a bit more controls than the KT2A. In some regards, that can be better

[@eleven27mediagroup]

Dope videos as always,but how can I monetarily support the channel fam

[@CarlMooreMusic]

Thanks for the support and accountability. I’ll be sure to add info about the opportunity to support that way

[@PharaohLawLess1]

I watch your videos bcuz you remind me that I should be doing music and not effing around

[@CalvinMOfficial]

The mod is alot better, smoother, less clampy and the annoying harshness in midrange has gone 👏🏽

[@TheSpeedyr6]

Is Stam audio la2a better than this k2

[@CarlMooreMusic]

I would say yes….