The Real Mike Dean

Mike Dean is playing with the Osmose Prototype

In this Instagram post, Mike Dean showcases his Tube-Tech CL 1B Opto Compressor with his name labeled onto it. He captions this post with:

"U can’t imagine the lines this has processed."

Sitting on top of the moog is an orange Pulsar-23!

The Real Mike Dean has confirmed his use of the Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar by stating on Instagram, “Rocking my Fender Stratocaster—legendary tone and timeless style. I made a lot of hits with this guitar.”

In the April 2022 issue of Sound on Sound, an article features The Real Mike Dean discussing his studio setup, synths, and recording history. In the fifth photo accompanying the article, the Roland VP-9000 is visible in a rack on a console alongside Mike Dean's DAW, positioned next to his hand on an Apple mouse.

The full article, together with photos, is contained here: https://www.soundonsound.com/people/mike-dean)

In the YouTube video titled "Mike Dean - Making of 'Challenger' (Live via Stream)," The Real Mike Dean is observed using the ValhallaVintageVerb plugin at the 3:40 mark, as part of the studio session for the track "Challenger" from the album 4:22.

In the video titled "Mike Dean Building a Track Is Analog Synth Mayhem | The Process" by Reverb on YouTube, The Real Mike Dean is shown using the Moog Memorymoog Plus as a string pad.

The Real Mike Dean uses the Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice, as evidenced by his Instagram post where he captioned, "FIRING UP THE OB 2VS SOUNDING HUGE."

The Real Mike Dean uses the Moog Muse, as evidenced by his Instagram post where he is seen using it while recording the track "Beat It" by Future and Metro Boomin. The post is captioned: "@metroboomin @future that new synth u all been waiting on on its 1st album."

The Real Mike Dean is shown using the Sequential Circuits Prophet-10 in a post on his Instagram.

The Real Mike Dean uses the Oberheim OB-X8, as evidenced by his Instagram post.

In the video "Mike Dean Building a Track Is Analog Synth Mayhem | The Process" by Reverb on YouTube, The Real Mike Dean is shown using the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 in his studio.

In a video by Reverb titled "Mike Dean Building a Track Is Analog Synth Mayhem | The Process," The Real Mike Dean, a renowned music producer and audio engineer, demonstrates the use of the Oberheim OB-X. He states, "The CS-80 and Jupiter 8 were the best synths in the room until I got the Four Voice and the OB-X."

In the video titled "Mike Dean Building a Track Is Analog Synth Mayhem | The Process" by Reverb on YouTube, The Real Mike Dean demonstrates the Elka Professional Synthex by playing a few chords.

The Real Mike Dean is confirmed to use a Moog Polymoog Synthesizer 203a, as evidenced by a post on his Instagram account (@therealmikedean), where he showcased the rare synthesizer with the caption "More rarities from @bitcrush.vintagegear."

In the video titled "MIKE DEAN MAKES A BEAT AND MIXES IN PRO TOOLS USING GAINSTATION WITH KENNY BEATS LIVE ON TWITCH" by Beats & Audio, The Real Mike Dean is shown using the Brainworx bx_2098 EQ plugin at the 41:43 timestamp.

At 52:14 in the YouTube video titled "MIKE DEAN MAKES A BEAT AND MIXES IN PRO TOOLS USING GAINSTATION WITH KENNY BEATS LIVE ON TWITCH" by Beats & Audio, The Real Mike Dean uses the Waves Renaissance Equalizer.

Mike Dean uses three JBL SRX828SP Dual 18" Powered Subwoofers as his main subwoofers, as evidenced by a photo shared by him on Instagram.

At the "After Hours Til Dawn" Tour at Met Life Stadium on July 16, 2022, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, The Real Mike Dean was photographed using a Fender Telecaster. The image, captured by Theo Wargo for Getty Images and published by HotNewHipHop, clearly shows the guitar's headstock with the Fender logo and a standard Telecaster neck pickup.

In an Instagram post dated December 13, 2022, The Real Mike Dean is seen using a Fender Custom Shop Double Neck Stratocaster. The post, authored by Mike Dean himself, includes the caption, "Love this @fender @fendercustomshop double neck!" The image clearly shows both pickup configurations as SSS setup.

In an Instagram post by The Real Mike Dean, he is shown shopping and selecting a 1965 Fender Jazzmaster, captioned "1965 jazzmaster #tourguitarshopping @rufusguitarshop."

On July 15, 2025, The Real Mike Dean shared a photo on Instagram showcasing his Dean ML 79 Floyd with a stage view.

In an Instagram video, The Real Mike Dean is shown playing a vintage Silvertone Aristocrat 1365 guitar, as confirmed by the post from @therealmikedean with the caption: "New guitar @yoojean and @louise_donegan in the fuzzy shoes."

In an Instagram post by The Real Mike Dean, dated December 4, 2022, he shares a photo featuring the Rogue RLS-1 Lap Steel guitar, captioned "It's that time. #deltablues." This confirms his use of the instrument.

The Real Mike Dean is confirmed to use the Master & Dynamic MH40 Headphones, as evidenced by his Instagram post dated December 3, 2022, where he shares a photo of the headphones accompanied by the caption "@masterdynamic my favs." Master & Dynamic further confirmed in the comments that the headphones shown are indeed their MH40s.

Music producer and audio engineer The Real Mike Dean uses the Oberheim Xpander, as evidenced by his Instagram post where he describes it as his "super portable powerful analog synth" and expresses gratitude to @rosen_sound and @photocallmusic, stating that he will "put it to good use."

Music producer and audio engineer The Real Mike Dean is confirmed to use the Oberheim OB-X8 synthesizer. This is supported by his Instagram post on August 16, 2022, where he states, "Everyone. The OBX8. Amazing synth. Want couple more for on stage. Make this the most liked post on this so they give me one!"

In a photo posted on his Instagram, The Real Mike Dean is seen showing off an EMS Synthi AKS in his studio.

In a post by The Real Mike Dean on Instagram, a zoomed-in image clearly shows the Echo Fix Tape Echo EF-X2, as evidenced by the alignment of knobs under the meter. The caption, "@echofixaustralia firing this up today!" further confirms the use of this gear.

In an Instagram post by The Real Mike Dean, dated May 27, 2022, it is evident that the front synthesizer shown in the image is an ARP Rhodes Chroma.