The Model by Kraftwerk: studio, gear and credits

The Model by Kraftwerk: recorded at Kling Klang Studio, Düsseldorf, Germany, produced by Florian Schneider, Ralf Hütter. See the credits and gear, then recreate the sound in your DAW.

Details

Song: The Model (Das Model)
Artist: Kraftwerk
Genre / Style: Synth-pop / Electronic
Date(s) Recorded: Late 1977 to early 1978
Original Record Company & Catalog #: Kling Klang / EMI Electrola (1C 058-32 843)
Release Date: May 1978 (Album track) / September 1981 (UK Single EMI 5207)
YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

Personnel and session credits

Producer(s): Florian Schneider, Ralf Hütter
Musicians & Session Performers:

Ralf Hütter - Lead vocals, Minimoog Model D, Polymoog 203a
Florian Schneider - ARP 2600 sound effects, vocoder, electronic processing

Studio and recording technology

Tracking Studio & Room: Kling Klang Studio, Düsseldorf, Germany
Mixing / Overdub Studio: Studio Rudas, Düsseldorf, Germany
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

DBX 160 (VCA Compressor): Clamped down on electronic kick transient peaks to solidify low-end headroom

Reported gear and setup (not independently verified)

Mixing Console / Desk: Harrison 3232 Inline Console (Studio Rudas) / Custom Telefunken V72 Modular Sub-Desk (Kling Klang)
Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Telefunken M15A 24-Track 2-inch Tape Machine (@ 30 IPS)
Studio Monitors: Klein + Hummel OY Active Monitors
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

EMT 140 (Plate Reverb): Provided subtle stereo space and tail extension on lead vocals and melodic synthesizers during final mixdown
EMT 156 (PDM Compressor/Limiter): Controlled dynamic peaks on electronic snare and voice with fast pulse-duration modulation
Eventide H910 Harmonizer (Digital Pitch Shifter/Delay): Generated micro-pitch detune widening on the lead monophonic synthesizer hook
Telefunken V72 (Tube Preamplifier): Discrete tube amplification modules used inside Kling Klang custom sub-racks for line-level instrument boosting

Synthesizers, Drum Machines & Electronic Instruments:

Moog Micromoog (Analog Monosynth): Generated the driving eighth-note sequenced bassline using a resonant 24dB low-pass ladder filter
Minimoog Model D (Analog Monosynth): Performed the soaring primary melody hook with three oscillators tuned in slight chorusing
Polymoog 203a (Polyphonic Synthesizer): Provided lush polyphonic string beds and brass-pad chord voicings across the arrangement
Custom Kling Klang Electronic Drums (Triggered Percussion Synthesizer): Metal touch-contact pads triggering discrete analog pulse and noise circuits built by Florian Schneider and Wolfgang Flür
ARP 2600 (Semi-Modular Analog Synthesizer): Produced white noise bursts filtered to emulate fashion runway camera shutters
Matten & Wiechers Synthanorma Sequencer (Hardware Step Sequencer): Bespoke 16-step analog sequencer delivering precise CV/Gate timing pulses to the synthesizer rigs

Signal chains covered in the full track sheet

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals, Electronic Sequenced Bass, Lead Hook Synthesizer, Polyphonic String Pad Synthesizer, Electronic Kick Drum, Electronic Snare Drum, Electronic Hi-Hat & Percussion Clicks, Synthesized Camera Shutter Sound FX.

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