Aphex Twin

'The SH-101 didn't survive the surgeon's screwdriver: "It doesn't look like a 101 anymore – I use the sliders, but for different things."'

In this photo, the MS-20 is the keyboard in the upper right above the MPC60. This was used in some live performances and in the studio. The positions of the knobs are indicative of the MS-20.

Part of this 1993 interview says that his gear includes a Roland TB303, a Yamaha DX7, an old Korg analogue sequencer, an ST and monitor, CD player, DAT machine and loads of his own creations.

On this link, down on the comment section there's a conversaton between Richard David James (user18081971) and other SoundCloud user. They talk about the usage of microtuning on the Korg Monologue. The comment that confirms Richard's usage of the product is the following: "yeah thankfully that was implemented at the last minute, ive only tested it a few times myself so far but yes it fucking works, nice1, that machine now rules, if they put pattern chaining to have longer than 16 notes, it would be boss. But you can switch prgrams manually or externally as a workaround."

Aphex twin's Cheetah EP got its name from the Cheetah MS800, and 2 tracks are named after it as well

In an interview with Future Music Magazine in 1993, Aphex Twin used a TB-303 in his London studio.

Per this press release and video, dated April 14, 2019, Richard James worked with Novation developers to craft a firmware update for the Bass Station II. The firmware includes an "AFX Mode" which allows for per-key parameter locks and a range of other things the artist had always wanted to see implemented on a commercial synth.

James is cited as a user of the instrument in the web copy:

The latest firmware update for Bass Station II adds five powerful and innovative new features to Novation’s hugely popular monosynth, all of them developed in response to user feedback and requests, one of those users being particularly noteworthy…

AFX Mode

Electronic music legend Richard James, aka Aphex Twin, has already played an instrumental part in the Bass Station II story, having provided guidance for the implementation of the micro-tuning added with Firmware v2.5. His conceptual contribution to v4.14 is even more profound, however.

Used in studio and some live performances. In the picture, it's on the right side below the MPC60.

This is likely the Synthi A and not the AKS model, as this photo does not show the keyboard found on the AKS model.

Another item that is hinted to be used by Richard David James himself is the Roland MKS-50. On a reply that he left about micro/MIDI tuning methods, he mentions: "yeah also with that hpi box you can tune things like mks50 i recently discovered as its got midi mode 4, which was meant for use with guitar players but it enables me to retune it, works a treat!"

Another device mentioned by Richard David James on his SoundCloud account page is the Yamaha Reface DX FM Synth,as well as other methods of inputting data: "I always hook up several input devices simultaneously, including special shaped microtonal keyboards, wind input devices, pads, mini keys, big weighted keys, loads of things, then just pick which one you want for whatever your working on, then you find each keyboard has its use..Learn how to use minikeys, it gives you a different way to input stuff. one of my fave keyboards ever is the reface FM, love it, shame the synth doesn't have MT though.."

Richard David James seems to enjoy the usage of this piece of gear, as he mentions the Yamaha RS7000 quite a lot. Notably on his SoundCloud page, with comments like "oh , u gotta check it, the midi feedback, you can do stuff like press one key and get a whole load of cascading notes ascending or descending and u can even have the repeitions increase or decrease, lilke bouncing ball or inverse, sounds a bit like a pitchshifter, top 4 a bloody rs7000" and "yo eod, RS7000 has some cool tricks though, i like the user LFO's and the midi feedback parameters!" (these comments can be found on user18081971's [i.e Richard's SoundCloud page] track called "Love 7"), as well as his own appeal to Yamaha on his now-archived-extremely-lenghty Syro interview: "used fz's on many things ,like the kik & snare drum on isopropophlex! Which got used in some yamaha gear like the rs7000! i was so chuffed when i heard it, i was like yeah yamaha got one of me sounds! they even have a description of it in the manual, rs7000's are dope btw yamaha please release the source code for that ffs you bastards!"

The official gear list included in the packaging of Aphex Twin's album Syro mentions the "Sci Prophet 5 racked/keyboard," suggesting Richard D. James owns both the traditional Prophet-5 synthesizer and a racked version. Although the list is somewhat ambiguous, it indicates his use of the Prophet-5 in some form. Known for extensively modifying his equipment since 1993, James could have customized a Prophet-5 himself or had someone else do it. Regardless, the core sound remains consistent across variations, aligning with his collection of rare vintage gear.

On Description of 'Korg funk 5' , Minilogue is Mentioned.

On this link, there are (what's left of) Richard David James's comments/replies on his SoundCloud account (user487464530) that got deleted with the respective SoundCloud tracks. In response to the user @howtodefinetime, on the track "medievil rave Mk2 [pre plague mix]", Richard says: "yeah i filmed that in the bank, i sold those speakers and ex42 to Gordon Reid!" The EX42 is the Yamaha Electone EX-42 Organ Synthesizer.

On the Syro gear list, the Yamaha DX100 is mentioned. It is important to note that it is not a regular DX100, but a modded one.

Aphex Twin ended up selling a CS-5 with the sleeve notes of Selected Ambient Works, Volume II written on the bottom of it.

On Richard David James's SoundCloud account, it is possible to read the various comments he left on some pages. One of them shows that he owns a Technos Acxel Resynthesizer: "yeah equipment online is theoretically a top idea..better than gathering dust. would like to put my technos axcel online"

Richard David James appears to be an extensive collector of expensive rare gear. On the Syro album packaging, the gear list shows us that he owns not one, but three instances of the Korg PS-3300 Polyphonic Synthesizer. It is important to note that this is not an ordinary synth: Sources claim that only 20 to 50 units have been produced. This synthesizer is not only the biggest, but one of the most expensive pieces of rare analog gear ever. Of course, to some people, this list can be somewhat of a fraud, based on the various rumours that surround the Aphex Twin's history. The rumours that he owns a tank, a submarine, has a bank converted to a house, at the age of 11 made a Sinclair ZX Spectrum produce sound after tweaking it and many others has led many to believe that the artist is a compulsive liar. Especially in some interviews. Some of these were confirmed, some weren't. The Analord series itself has its own mythology of what was used to produce it. But after all, this is for each one to decide. Despite having a few mistakes according to Richard himself on a 2014 interview with Dave Noyze, the Syro album packaging is an official product, and it is one's choice to decide wether he/she believes what is written there.

On the comment section, Richard David James (under the name of user18081971) mentions that he used the Yamaha GX-1 for a few tracks. "i did quite a few with it, looking very forward to having it fully midified. Trouble is though id rather Colin make more o.s updates to Cirklon!"

on the syro gear list it is listed as Jomox Sunsyn V1x2 which suggests he has two of them.

Besides being mentioned on the Syro gear list, Richard gives more details about this piece of gear with a comment about microtunings left on his SoundCloud page (user18081971). Comment can be found on his uploaded track called "Love 7": "with the chroma, i just use midi for sysex midi tuning dumps to get them in, bit more tricky getting them out but doable."

Present on the Syro gear list, which is part of the album's packaging.

On Description of 'Korg funk 5' , Volca Key is Mentioned.

The titular instrument of "Synthacon 9".

In the track title "[S770/SCI 3000, powertran] beautiful Japanese people" from the album Rushup Edge by The Tuss, Aphex Twin references the Sequential Circuits Prophet 3000, indicating its use in his production.

In this article from 1992, Richard can be seen in his studio playing a Roland System-100 (Model 101).

Another scan from the 1992 article can be found here: https://lannerchronicle.wordpress.com/2021/07/16/richards-at-door-of-disc-dreamland-the-west-briton-and-royal-cornish-gazette-january-3rd-1992/

On the list of gear used for Syro.

On the list of equipment used to make Syro.

Appears on the equipment list used to make Syro.

Also listed on the Syro album packaging is the rare Korg PS-3200.