A.R. Rahman

A.R. Rahman mentions about his discovery with his first MIDI computer Yamaha CX5M in 3:05 section of this video . This is the first MIDI based keyboard used by A.R. Rahman. It came in 1984. His friend gifted him in the same year. After experimenting with synthesizers and working as a Keyboard player for music directors for many years, he discovered Yamaha CX5M MIDI computer. He experiments many sounds with this MIDI computer.

In this Instagram picture, A R Rahman is seen using a Novation Impulse MIDI controller.

In this Instagram picture. A.R Rahman is using the NI Komplete Kontrol Keyboard.

The new studio's control room is equipped with a 140-channel Euphonix System 5-M digital mixing console with 2 DSP cores. Having worked in several top studios in the UK , USA and Canada , Rahman had the opportunity to work on and evaluate all the large format consoles currently available in the market. He chose the Euphonix System 5 for the speed, power and flexibility that he needs for his music recording and mixing, and 5.1 surround mixing. Another important factor in selecting the System 5 was support for 24-bit/96kHz audio which allows him to work in the highest quality digital environment. Recording will be done on the Euphonix R-1 48-track 24-bit / 96K digital audio multi-track recorder. The decision to use the R-1 Recorder was a natural one for Rahman, its simple user-interface, superior sound quality, and reliability.

In the YouTube video titled "A R Rahman: Man Behind Rockstar," at the 1:31 mark, A.R. Rahman is seen using the M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 Advanced 61 Key USB MIDI Controller.

A.R. Rahman utilized the Yamaha KX5 during his 1990s music concerts and film compositions, as showcased in images on Videosinspire.

A.R. Rahman's Mixing Console during 90's . He used it extensively during the 90's . Here you can see Fostex 16 track recorder and Korg Keyboard used by A.R. Rahman

In the YouTube video "Midnight Recording of Maryan Song - 'Yenga Pona Rasa'," A.R. Rahman is seen composing music at home using an Apple MacBook Pro.

In this instagram photo, AR Rahman is using a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S25 MIDI controller keyboard.

Using the Raven MTi @ 00:21 in the music video.

A.R. Rahman uses Roland DM-80 to temporarily record the music and playback it to see whether it sounds good or not.

He used Fostex 16 track recorder to record the master mixing from his Fostex Mixer during his 90s

AR Rahman tweets, "My Roli Seaboard has landed !".

“I’m using the Vista X as a full-fledged post-production console,” he said. “Geoff Foster from Air Studios is here mixing over 600 tracks of ProTools on it right now.”

In the "Making of Yenga Pona Rasa" video by Sony Music India, A.R. Rahman is seen using an Apple iPad Air.

In the YouTube video "A.R. Rahman - Man Behind Rockstar," A.R. Rahman is seen using the Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch) in his studio.

A.R. Rahman is one of the artists listed in ROLI artists and if you Google him with a ROLI, it's a Seaboard RISE 25.

A.R. Rahman used the Akai Pro Advance 61 MIDI Keyboard Controller during his TED Talk titled "The Sublime Beauty of Indian Ragas."

A R Rahman is seen using the Akai MPC Key 61 during a live performance of the song The Garden Of Our Heart at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai. This performance also features Sunmisola Agbebi and the Firdaus Orchestra. Video for the same was uploaded on A R Rahman's official YouTube channel on Feb 14, 2023.

In the video "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage for the 21st Century," produced by Sound On Sound magazine, A.R. Rahman mentions at 4:36 that he possesses a Fostex E-16 multitrack recorder in his home studio.

In the video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," produced by Sound On Sound magazine, A.R. Rahman mentions at 4:41 that he used a Tascam 244 Portastudio 4-track cassette recorder in his home studio before acquiring a Fostex E16 multitrack recorder.

In the video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," published by Sound On Sound magazine, A.R. Rahman discusses the Yamaha C1 Music Computer at 6:44, describing it as a life-changing purchase he made in 1985.

At 7:39 in the video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," A.R. Rahman mentions that he purchased a Roland MC-500 Micro Composer during the early years of his professional career, as documented by Sound On Sound magazine.

At 8:50 of the video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," A.R. Rahman states that he used a Yamaha TX81Z sound module, which he carried in a rack case for his writing sessions abroad. This information is provided by Sound On Sound magazine on YouTube.

At 12:14 in the Sound On Sound magazine video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 analog mixing console is clearly visible as part of the mixing desk at A.R. Rahman's Firdaus Studio.

At 16:01 of the video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century" by Sound On Sound magazine, Firdaus Studios' head Aditya Modi states that the Avid S6 is integrated alongside the Rupert Neve Designs 5088 into the mixing desk and also digitally controls the Rupert Neve Designs 5088, confirming A.R. Rahman's use of the Avid S6.

At 12:08 in the Sound On Sound magazine video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," an Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (Space Grey) can be seen on A.R. Rahman’s mixing desk at Firdaus Studio.

In the video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century" by Sound On Sound magazine, at the timestamp 12:08, a Kensington SlimBlade trackball mouse is clearly visible near the Apple Magic Keyboard on the mixing desk in A. R. Rahman’s Firdaus Studio.

At 21:08 in the Sound On Sound magazine video titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," a Tube-Tech HLT-2A equalizer is clearly visible in a rack on the left side of the mixing desk in A.R. Rahman's Firdaus Studio.

In a video produced by Sound On Sound magazine titled "AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The 21st Century," A.R. Rahman discusses his use of the Roland DM-80 Multi-Track Disk Recorder for music production. This conversation occurs at the 5:54 mark, providing clear evidence of his utilization of this specific piece of studio recording gear.