Editing Kling Klang Studio

{{Short description|German recording studio; private music studio of the band Kraftwerk}}
[[Image:Studio Kling Klang.jpg|thumb|225px|right|The original site of [[Kraftwerk]]'s Kling Klang Studio in Düsseldorf.]]
'''Kling Klang''' (also spelled as '''Klingklang''') is the private [[Recording studio|music studio]] of the band [[Kraftwerk]]. The name is taken from the first song on the ''[[Kraftwerk 2]]'' album. The studio was originally located at Mintropstraße 16 in [[Düsseldorf]], [[Germany]], near to [[Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof]], but in mid-2009 moved to [[Meerbusch]]-Osterath, around 10 kilometers west of Düsseldorf. The band also operate a record label named Kling Klang, which they use to release their music.

== Background ==
{{Infobox record label
| name        = Kling Klang
| image       = 
| image_size  = 
| founded     = {{start date|1975}}
| founder     = [[Kraftwerk]]
| distributor = {{ubl|[[EMI]] (1975–2012)|[[Parlophone]] (2013–present)|[[Warner Music Group]] (1981–present)}}
| genre       = [[Electronic music|Electronic]]
| country     = Germany
| location    = [[Düsseldorf]]
| website     = {{URL|www.klingklangkonsumprodukt.com}}
}}
Kling Klang (an [[onomatopœia]]; in English: ''ding dong'') began as a studio in 1970; the band marked this as the real beginning of [[Kraftwerk]].<ref name=emk>''Electronics & Music Maker'', September 1981</ref> The studio began as an empty room in a workshop premises located in an industrial part of [[Düsseldorf]].<ref name=emk /> The building exterior was clad in yellow tiles with a large electric shuttered doorway leading to an enclosed courtyard. On the right was a loading stage used by an electrical installation company that used the upper floor.<ref>Flür, W, ''I Was A Robot'', Sanctuary Publishing, 2001, page 40</ref> The studio was accessed through a small anteroom. The main studio room was fitted with sound insulation and measured about sixty square feet. Later on other adjoining rooms were used for things like making instruments such as home made [[oscillator]]s.<ref name=emk /> The basement of the studio was used to store old instruments and machines. The band never threw anything away, and subsequently used the older equipment to recreate sounds.<ref>Bussey, P, ''Kraftwerk - Man Machine & Music'', SAF Publishing 1993, page 163</ref>

When first using the studio, the band recorded with [[stereo]] tape machines and cassette recorders. These [[master tape]]s were then taken to a commercial recording studio for the final mix down. Part of the reason for this was so the band could self-produce their albums.<ref name=emk /> The [[Public address|PA]] equipment at this time was self constructed and consisted of [[plywood]] bass [[horn loudspeaker|horn]]s and cast aluminium mid range horns.<ref>Flür, W, ''I Was A Robot'', Sanctuary Publishing, 2001, page 43</ref> In 1971 [[Kraftwerk]] was still without a drummer, so the group purchased a cheap drum machine. By treating the sounds with echo and filtering they used the [[drum machine]] to record rhythm tracks for their second album.<ref name=emk /> During the making of their third album, they purchased their first commercial [[synthesiser]]s for the studio, the [[Minimoog]] and [[EMS Synthi AKS]]. Other equipment at this time included an Echolette Tape Echo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kraftwerk.technopop.com.br/data_setup.php |title=:::: Kraftwerk.technopop.com.br - Data - Setup - 2007-Dec-24 :::: |access-date=2009-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224191859/http://kraftwerk.technopop.com.br/data_setup.php |archive-date=2007-12-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Wolfgang Flür]] had joined the band at this time and was using a custom built electronic drum system.<ref name=emk /> At the time  of his first visit, a small acoustic drum kit was in the studio.<ref>Flür, W, ''I Was A Robot'', Sanctuary Publishing, 2001, page 42</ref> It was in 1973 that the studio was christened Kling Klang.<ref>Bussey, P, ''Kraftwerk - Man Machine & Music'', SAF Publishing 1993, page 51</ref> After [[Karl Bartos]] joined the band, more studio equipment was designed by all four band members. A full-time engineer was employed to assist with the designs and new equipment purchases.<ref name=emk />

In 1976 Kraftwerk began recording ''[[Trans-Europe Express (album)|Trans-Europe Express]]'' at Kling Klang studio.<ref>Bussey, P, ''Kraftwerk - Man Machine & Music'', SAF Publishing 1993, page 79</ref> Hütter and Schneider had commissioned Matten & Wiechers, the [[Bonn]] based synthesizer studio, to design and build two "Synthanorma" ([[music sequencer|32-step music sequencers]]). The "Synthanorma" controlled the band's [[Minimoog]] creating the album's rhythmic sound.<ref>Flür, W, ''I Was A Robot'', Sanctuary Publishing, 2001, page 96</ref>

The band members had begun spending eight to ten hours a day in the studio, regarding themselves as "musical workers". That time was spent designing a complete portable studio setup, including stage backdrops, curtains, lighting, staging and a [[stereo]] [[Public address|PA]] system.<ref name=emk /> Portable nineteen inch equipment frames were designed and linked to other equipment using custom made wiring looms used for quick dismantling while touring. This new system of mobile equipment was designed for the ''[[Computer World]]'' tour and replaced the previous "messy" system. Kraftwerk spent three years designing the newer system.<ref name=emk /> The newer studio could be set up in about two hours and was far easier to transport whilst touring. The Kling Klang 12k [[Public address|PA]] system was also designed to be portable and matched the grey colour of the equipment frames.<ref name=emk />

== Studio relocation==
In September 2007, the ''[[Neuss-Grevenbroicher Zeitung]]'' reported that Ralf Hütter had purchased property space in a proposed new commercial property development ("Mollsfeld") in [[Meerbusch]]-Osterath, about 10 kilometers west of Düsseldorf, with the intention of building a new sound studio and office there, so that Kraftwerk's recording, merchandise, and administration can be managed from a single location.<ref>NGZ-online.de, 9 September 2007</ref> The move to the new premises was completed in mid-2009 and, as well as sound recording, the new Kling Klang includes a rehearsal space for the preparation of concert performances.

== Kling Klang as a record label and music publishing rights ==
Starting in 1975, Kraftwerk released its records on the [[vanity label]] ''Kling Klang Schallplatten''. Later and current releases are credited to ''Kling Klang Produkt'', or simply ''Klingklang''. [[EMI]] and [[Warner Music Group]], along with their subsidiaries, have promoted and distributed the records in various territories. ''Kling Klang Music'' and ''No Hassle Music'' existed as [[Music publisher (popular music)|music-publishing]] companies for a small period of time in the [[United States|US]], being associated with [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP]]. In 1999, the band signed a new worldwide deal with [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]. In 2013, the band's entire recorded catalogue went to Warner Music; a rare example, given that the catalogue of Kraftwerk's German label, [[Electrola|EMI Electrola]], was consolidated when EMI was sold to Universal Music.

== Kling Klang Konsumprodukt GmbH ==
Kraftwerk also sells all of its band merchandise through ''Kling Klang Konsumprodukt''.<ref>[https://www.klingklang.de/index.php?main_page=conditions&language=en Conditions of Use] on www.klingklang.de</ref>

== External links ==
*[http://www.klingklang.com/ Klingklang Konsumprodukt GmbH]

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kraftwerk}}

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kraftwerk]]
[[Category:German record labels]] <!-- as a label -->
[[Category:1970 establishments in West Germany]] <!-- as a recording studio -->
[[Category:1975 establishments in West Germany]] <!-- as a label -->
[[Category:Record labels established in 1975]] <!-- as a label -->
[[Category:Pop record labels]] <!-- as a label -->
[[Category:Vanity record labels]] <!-- as a label -->
[[Category:EMI]] <!-- as a label -->
[[Category:Recording studios in Germany]] <!-- as a recording studio -->
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Düsseldorf]] <!-- as a recording studio -->
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Rhein-Kreis Neuss]] <!-- as a recording studio -->