KliveAudio KStrip VST — Three Console Circuits in One Channel Strip
If you’ve ever wanted the character of three different large-format consoles without buying rack gear or juggling separate plugins for every channel, KliveAudio KStrip VST is worth a close look. This channel strip plugin combines three distinct analog-inspired circuit models — each with its own preamp, EQ, and compressor character — into a single, well-organized interface.
The idea is straightforward: one plugin per channel, with the flexibility to switch between completely different tonal signatures depending on what the source material needs.
KliveAudio KStrip VST — Three Circuits Explained
Each of the three circuits (labeled A, N, and S) runs independently through the preamp, EQ, and compressor sections. You can mix and match them or keep the same character across the full signal chain. Here’s how they behave:
Preamp / Saturation
- A — Punchy: Forward mids and subtle grit. Works well on drums and electric guitars where you want presence without mud.
- N — Warm: Rich, smooth harmonic coloring. Flattering on vocals, bass, and anything that benefits from a more rounded sound.
- S — Clean: Stays transparent until you push it. Good for acoustic sources or when you want saturation on demand rather than baked in.
EQ Section
- A — Musical Punch: Bold boosts that flatter drums and guitars without introducing harshness at the top end.
- N — Smooth & Broad: Natural-sounding curves ideal for sweetening vocals, piano, and bass.
- S — Surgical: Tight, precise boosts and cuts for shaping problem frequencies or pulling mud out of a drum bus.
Compressor
- A — Fast & Punchy: Quick attack that enhances transient snap on drums and guitars without over-squashing.
- N — Vintage Glue: Smooth program-dependent leveling that works naturally on vocals and bass.
- S — Transparent: Tightens dynamic peaks with minimal coloration. Useful for bus compression where you want control without obvious processing.
Why This Structure Is Actually Useful
The A/N/S system means you’re not locked into one flavor for the whole mix. You might run drums through the A circuit for punch, vocals through N for warmth, and use S on the mix bus for clean dynamic control. Swapping between them takes seconds. And because each section can use a different circuit independently, there’s a lot of tonal range within one plugin instance.
For engineers who already own separate analog-modeled plugins, the appeal here is consolidation. One insert slot handles preamp color, EQ shaping, and compression — which keeps the routing simple and the CPU load manageable, especially on sessions with a high track count.
🛒 Get KliveAudio KStrip VST
3 Console Circuits · Preamp, EQ & Compression · PC & Mac
Who KStrip Is Built For
Mixing engineers who want classic console character without the plugin stack. Producers who track through software and want to add analog-style processing at the source. Anyone working in a genre — hip-hop, pop, rock, electronic — where the tonal difference between A, N, and S actually matters on a mix.
Browse more channel strip and mixing plugins at ReverBay, or read about large-format console EQ design on Sound On Sound.
Compatibility & System Requirements
| Mac | M1/M2 and Intel — optimized for Apple Silicon |
| Windows | Modern 64-bit systems |
| Formats | AAX, AU, VST3 |
Compatible with Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, Studio One, and all major DAWs supporting the above formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different circuits in the EQ and compressor independently?
Yes. The A, N, and S circuits can be selected independently for the preamp, EQ, and compressor sections, giving you a wide range of tonal combinations within one plugin instance.
Does KStrip VST work in Pro Tools?
Yes. It supports the AAX format, so it loads directly in Pro Tools on both Mac and Windows.
Is KStrip suitable for mastering as well as mixing?
Yes. The S circuit’s transparent EQ and compression work well on a stereo bus or mastering chain where you want control without obvious coloration.
Is this optimized for Apple Silicon?
Yes. KStrip is natively optimized for M1 and M2 Macs, and also runs on Intel processors.




Reviews
There are no reviews yet.