Equipment

Here’s a list of gear and stuff I use to create my music.

Occasionally I buy broken synths and repair them, when I like them I keep them, and otherwise I sell them again. So I have a few interesting instruments on my list which I’ve probably repaired or traded for another instrument. That way I am able to try out some synths and buy stuff I otherwise could never afford.

A few years ago I decided that I wanted to mix everything “in the box” because of an easier workflow. But I missed the ‘hands on’ experience and analog feel of a real mixing desk. So I bought a BIG analog mixing desk, and an extensive audiointerface to route everything in-and-out of Logic on my Mac. This results in an analog/digital hybrid setup, where all signal paths can be mixed analog, and recorded digitally from separate busses. Also it gives me the opportunity to use external FX like reverb, delay, aural exciter or compression.

This new approach gives me an easy workflow with a lot of possibilities, and above all; the sound that I want to achieve.

Synthesizers

  • Behringer TD-3
  • Behringer Model D
  • Casio CZ-101 (in repair)
  • Ensoniq ESQ-1
  • Korg M1R
  • Korg Poly 800 (in repair)
  • Korg Polysix
  • Korg Wavestation SR
  • Korg X5D (sold)
  • Roland D-550
  • Roland Juno 106
  • Roland JP-8000
  • Roland JV-880
  • Roland JV-1080
  • Roland MKS-70
  • Roland PG-800 Programmer
  • Yamaha FB-01
  • Yamaha TX81Z

Vocoders

Vocoders are often used in Spacesynth music. I own a Behringer VC340 vocoder which is a very truthful remake of the Roland VP-330 vocoder from the eighties. It is an entirely analogue remake and also has the recognizable eighties strings and choir sounds.  I also own a Korg DVP-1, the same vocoder that was used by Laserdance and Rygar. The sound of this vocoder is very recognizable, you can hear it in some of my Neospace tracks.

I have also produced some vocoders and vocals for other producers like Cyberspace, Oblivion, SynthOne  and Areo51.

  • Behringer VC340
  • Korg DVP-1

Drumcomputers

In this modern day and age a drumcomputer isn’t something you really need for music production. There are loads of free sample packs which you can download for free. Also DAW’s like Logic come with their own software emulation of many drummachines. I do however own a few drumcomputers because it gives me the hands-on experience of making drumtracks, and basically just because its fun to have..

  • Behringer LMDRUM
  • Roland TR-8
  • Simmons SDS-V and other samples

Samplers

Why would someone still use a sampler in modern times? Because they all have a specific character and sound, and they are fun to work with. I owned a Roland W30 in the nineties and made my first house tracks with it.

Recently I bought an (assumed to be broken) E-mu Emax II sampler and repaired it. E-mu has a very big and diverse sample library, so there’s a whole new world of sounds to explore for me now. It contains some well known Spacesynth sounds like “Liquid stack” and “Horny Hits”.

I also owned an Ensoniq EPS 16+ and an Akai CD3000XL sampler but I sold them, they didn’t really fit into my workflow.
I use the build in ESX24 software sampler in Logic all the time though… It’s a very good software sampler and easy to work with.

  • E-Mu Emax II
  • Ensoniq EPS 16+ (sold)
  • Akai CD3000XL (sold)
  • ESX24 sampler (Logic)

Mixing

I want to be able to control every connected instrument (there are quite a few) separately from the mixing desk without having to change connections every time, so I bought a BIG analog Soundcraft Series Two mixing desk, and a Behringer U-Phoria audiointerface to route everything in-and-out of Logic on my iMac. This results in an analog/digital hybrid setup, where all signal paths can be mixed analog and digitally recorded from separate busses.

  • Soundcraft Series Two 32 channels
  • Behring U-Phoria UMC1820

Effects & Processing

Obviously, in my new hybrid setup, I use more external effects then I did before, and some of them are just used to create a more analog sounding mix.  I occasionally use external effect units for delay and chorus, and a tube compressor and aural exciter to get a more analog feel.

  • Alesis MicroVerb 4
  • ART Pro VLA II Tube Compressor
  • Behringer Ultrafex II
  • Boss CH-1 Super Chorus

Of course I use additional FX and plugins in Logic like stereo delay, reverb, bus-compressors and trackspacers.

Microphone

I don’t sing a lot, and often my voice gets distorted by the vocoders… so I don’t need a very good microphone for that. For me the cheaper ones are just fine.

  • AKG D44 S
  • Rode NT1-A

Computers

I use an Apple iMac which has a great stable platform for music writing software. I also use an iMac for creating videos that I post on Youtube. I use the Windows 10 laptop mainly for windows stuff that doesn’t run on the iMac, and the Windows XP desktop for old editing software that is not supported by Windows 10 anymore.

  • Apple iMac i7
  • Windows 10 laptop
  • Windows XP desktop

MIDI Stuff

As a MIDI controller keyboard I use an Arturia Keylab Essential 61. And as a MIDI interface I use an Icon Cube-Mi5 to send all signals from my computer to the synthesizers and other gear. It is small and has the nice aluminum look that fits nice with my Apple computers 😉

  • Arturia Keylab Essential 61
  • Icon Cube Mi5 (interface)

Software & Plugins

I use Logic Pro X on the Apple iMac as DAW. Logic is packed with great sounds and effects, and has some very good native Logic soft-synths and plug-ins. Besides Logic I use some third party plug-ins like Nexus, Alchemy, Dexed, Alter ego and Arturia Analog V lab.

On the PC I use sound-editors for some synths, and the usual sample editors and audio programs. The conversion of old sample formats, to something that can actually be used on a Gotek USB floppy emulator, can be a real pain sometimes. So I use some software tools that make my live easier.

  • Logic Pro X
  • Nexus
  • Alchemy
  • Adobe Audition
  • Audacity
  • Virtual CZ
  • Yamaha AN1x editor
  • Daemon Tools
  • etc…

Wishlist

Although I made a decision to keep my setup tidy and functional, I am always browsing auction-sites to find some nice gems. I mostly like old 80’s and 90’s synthesizers, and there are a few in particular that I would like to buy when I have the chance to get it for a decent price. My studio room is not that big so that’s why I prefer to buy the rack-versions of synths. But at this moment I decided not to buy anything that doesn’t add anything substantial to my setup.

I wouldn’t mind to own the more iconic devices like a Jupiter 8, a Linndrum or a real TR-909, but these are financially out of my reach.

Last updated: November 10, 2025 at 18:12 pm