Aphex Twin

On this link, there are Richard David James's comments/replies to some of his fans (back when the account had a different name: "user487363530"). In response to the user @kinbotte, Richard not only confirms that he owns the Elektron Analogue Rytm, but also a bunch of other gear: "ive never found one i really liked. i would love to design my own with someone who could build it for me, I dont really want to spend my time building instruments. Elektron RYTM is prob fave right now, although it doesn't sample which is a shame, dsi tempest, RSF SD140, Pearl fightman[needs mods], Pearl sc40,doepfer a112, Dynacord Add one,loads good plugins these days, sds3, Klone dual perc synth. For synth drum sounds, always best to make your own on a modular+imagination, can make more complex and original sounds than any of the above really, just more of a pain to conjure up."

Aphex Twin includes the A Designs Pacifica Stereo Microphone Preamplifier/DI in the gear list for his album "Syro," as shown in the user-uploaded photo on Imgur.

The API 3124+ is listed on the Syro album packaging as being one of the many pieces of gear used on the recording of the album.

The API 550A is listed on the Syro album packaging as being one of the pieces of gear used on its recording. It is important to note that this list indicates that Richard has used both the original and the reissued version of the API 550A.

Listed on the Syro album packaging as being used at some point on the recording.

Listed on the Syro album packaging as being one of the pieces of gear used to make the recording of some song(s).

This list, present on the Syro album packaging, regards equipment used on the recording of this album. In this case, the list specifically mentions two different units: The first one being the "Chandler Delay Black" and the second one being the "Chandler Delay Cream". It turns out that these names actually refer to rare units known as the Chandler Stereo Digital Echo (sometimes referred to as the Chandler SDEs). Richard is known for having quite expensive rare gear, and these two fit in these categories. It is important to note that these aren't two completely different units. The only thing that differs one from the other is the finish (notably the color). The reason for them to be treated as two "different" units on this list must be to bring the importance of the rarity of these two.

Listed on the Syro album packaging as being one of the pieces of gear used at some point on the recording.

Listed on the Syro gear list as one of the pieces used on the recording of such album.

Another item mentioned on the Syro album packaging as being one of the pieces of gear used on the recording of such album is the Eventide H3000 D/SE.

On the Syro gear list, the Focusrite ISA430 is mentioned. Since there's no "MKII" written there, it is assumed that Richard owns the older version, released in 1999.

Also on the official album packaging of Syro (2014), the Lexicon 480L reverb is mentioned.

Also listed on the official Syro album packaging is the Lynx Aurora 16-channel Analog/Digital Digital/Analog Converter.

The Syro album packaging mentions the Quad Eight 248 Console. But it is important to keep in mind that this particular console is different from usual ones since it's a module-based mixing console, which means that you can buy separate modules and reorganize the modules you already have the way you want. This is appearent when looking for pictures of the console, one will notice that every picture shows a mildly different setup of modules with different placements. It is so customizable that it even suited radio TV needs. The reason this relates to Richard David James is that we can't know exactly how he used this console (or rather, two instances of it like the list says) because there are loads of probabilities that he can come up with. We just know that he has the console, but nothing about the modules or its organizing whatsoever.

Also on the extensive official Syro gear list is the Retro Instruments Powerstrip, which is a pre-amp EQ, DI and Compressor.

Present on the extensive Syro Gear list is the famous RME Fireface 800 Audio Interface.

Also on the official and extensive Syro gear list present on the album packaging is the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS.

On the Syro gear list is written "Songbird Trichorus", which indicates that Richard uses the Tri Stereo Chorus from Songbird. It is important to be very specific here, since this rack effect has lots of other versions, from probably 3 different brands. Notably Dyno-my-Piano and That-80s-Rack-Chorus, which makes this unit rather common in a way but still rare in other.

On the list present on the album packaging of Syro, you can spot "Soundcraft Ghost" written on the lower left. Since it's not written "Soundcraft LE", we assume it's the standard version. However, it is not specified wether he uses the 24-channel (standard) version or the 32-channel version. Not being specified, we assume it's the standard (or in some cases, most common or earliest) version.

The item can be seen 24:21 into this video

From a MusicRadar interview with Aphex Twin:

I bought a Roland 100M monosynth when I was 13 - it’s like an [SH-]101 - but I got really pissed off with it. I started customising my keyboards, then changing the components. When we started secondary school there was an electronic course, so music and electronics went hand in hand. Plus the fact that I didn't have any money! If I wanted to get anything different, I had to change what I had or make something.

Original source here.

In this photo, Aphex Twin can be seen sitting at his EMS Synthi 100.

From an interview with David Burraston of Noyzelab.

Dave: "wow, great stuff, thats a whole bunch of top modular racketing! hey that reminds me, ow's the System 700?! i rem u showing it me when i came over before i came to oz, first time i'd ever seen one in the flesh."

Rich: "I mean as far as analogue synths go, all you really need is a system700, If I had to keep only one synth it would be that, absolutely the most beautifully designed synth of all time, it's the best for all the conventional type synth sounds, you can go weird on it but it really begs you to set it up and play it like a proper instrument. Its so inspiring to look at and use, system100m's are absolutely gorgeous but 700's sounds and look 4 times as good, and about tht many times heavier. Ive got 2 of the sequencers for it which are just ridiculous to look at, the size of them! and are actually pretty unique."

In this Youtube video by Ben Jordan, posted May 26, 2024, Ben shares that Composers Desktop Project was used in the creation of Bucephalus Bouncing Ball 8:16.

I assumed this was speculation, until Ben clarifies at 17:57 the info in this video was based on direct conversation with Richard James.

It is very plausible that someone of Ben's stature and career-depth would have access to Richard like this. Additionally, lying about such things would be career su1c1de, while the upside is minimal -- so it just wouldn't make any sense for someone in this position to fabricate. Ben is just as trustworthy in 2024, if not more so, than the traditional media outlets that get the automatic green light here on Equipboard all day long.

A Korg MS-50 can be seen in the top left corner of this well known image of Aphex Twin.

In the comments, Aphex Twin/user18081971 wrote: "@peter-marigold: no samples or vocals, all generated on the JH fx matrix".

Appears on the equipment list used to make Syro.

Per this June 2017 feature in Fact Magazine, Aphex Twin was spotted using the 4ms Company Spectral Multiband Resonant Filter as part of their live rig.

Per a quote from developer Then Try This' own site, Richard James (aka Aphex Twin) commissioned the creation of this software for his own ends, then opted to let the rest of the world have a try:

"This idea came about a long time ago, not sure exactly when, 2002 ish but when mp3's started to become a thing, when for the first time there were a ton of them sitting on my hard drive and the brilliant Shazam had recently launched. Started thinking hmm all this music sitting there, maybe it can be used for something else other than just playing or dj'ing [hi Atomixmp3 & rudimentary max/msp patches] I had originally contacted the founders of Shazam to discuss further creative uses of their genius idea but they were busy making an automatic dj program, I still think Shazam could be re-purposed for something incredible but in the meantime we have Samplebrain. What if you could reconstruct source audio from a selection of other mp3's/audio on your computer? What if you could build a 303 riff from only a cappella's or bubbling mud sounds? What if you could sing a silly tune and rebuild it from classical music files? You can do this with Samplebrain. We soon realised after Dave had started to get things going that with a few cheaty sliders you could actually re-make anything from just one source file, so the options are all there to play with. Since funding this project I seemed to have found very little time to explore it properly and the time has now come to let you lot have a fiddle with it too." -Richard James.

Per this June, 2017 feature in FACT Magazine, Aphex Twin was spotted using a Deeper A-186-1 as part of their modular live rig that same year.