Pharrell Williams

In the video titled "GarageBand Showcase | Alchemy Synth (Synths)" by EB The Original Master, it is demonstrated that the preset "Antarctic Sun" from Apple Logic Pro X Alchemy is recognizable at the 0:13 timestamp. This specific preset has been identified in several tracks produced by Pharrell Williams, including "Airplane Tickets", "Down in Atlanta", and "Deep Down Body Thurst", providing clear evidence of Williams' use of this software instrument in his production work. This conclusion is drawn from the detailed showcase of Alchemy synth presets available in GarageBand, as presented by the source.

In a photograph from Getty Images, Pharrell Williams is seen using a Shure U2 SM58.

There are numerous references to Pharrell using the Korg Triton, in this article it states him and the Neptunes used it in the 2000s as a tool for their sound. In his new song from the Piece by Piece Soundtrack, VIRGINIA BOY, he raps "first keyboard was Korg and then Triton". These are only two references to his use of the keyboard and there are also videos that show him playing it. It is a fun fact to note that the keyboard name references the Greek god Triton, Pharrell is originally from the Atlantis projects in Virginia Beach, all subtle ties to water.

Used extensively on the Neptunes debut and "In My Mind" (2006), Pharrell expanded his production abilities

In the provided image, Pharrell Williams is observed using Logic Pro 9 on his laptop.

In the photo provided, Pharrell Williams is seen holding a Sennheiser SKM 5200-II microphone.

Most of the heat comes from Williams' longtime weapon of choice — a vintage Korg 01\/W synth, which he used to sequence the one-bar acoustic bass loop that drives the main rhythm. On top is a Roland TR-808 snare and hi-hat, both programmed with an extremely light and syncopated touch. “All those are synthetic sounds, but the snare ends up sounding like live brushes,” Williams explains. “I'm very proud of that. I wanted to make it sound like it's being played from the aural cavity of a whale , so I added a little '80s synthetic snare from the 808. It sounds chopped because it's not an actual snare strike — it's just a grace note from the drum machine.”

Pharrell Williams is confirmed to use the Korg 05R/W, as stated in an interview featured on Gearspaceforum. The source describes Williams' use of a vintage Korg 01/W synth for sequencing an acoustic bass loop, which is a key component in his music production. Williams explains, "All those are synthetic sounds, but the snare ends up sounding like live brushes," highlighting his creative approach to sound design.

Pharrell Williams is confirmed to use a Universal Audio SD-1 microphone, as evidenced in the "Men's Fall-Winter 2025 Behind The Scenes with Pharrell and Nigo" video by Louis Vuitton. At approximately 0:52, the SD-1 is clearly visible in the corner of his in-office studio.

According to an article in Sound On Sound titled "Recording The Neptunes," Pharrell Williams utilized a Korg TR-Rack on his tour bus console, as confirmed by his engineer Andrew Coleman.

Pharrell Williams uses the Roland SRX-09 World Collection Expansion Board, as evidenced in his song "That Girl," where various sample including: a woman chanting "eh", someone saying "fuego", and distinct laughter. The former two samples utilize the "414 Voice Menu 3" & the latter one utilizes the "413 Voice Menu 2" presets. This information is corroborated by a YouTube video titled "Pharrell Feat Snoop Dogg - That Girl" by Music World.