Top 5Seen using
Neumann
KM84 microphones“the main microphones on that are two Neumann KM84s”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
d
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Dave. Every item links to its public source.
13 items · Last checked What gear does Dave use?
On Psychodrama, engineer Manon Grandjean recorded Dave's piano with two Neumann KM84s, sometimes with Shure SM57s underneath, into Pro Tools HDX, and ran his vocal through an UnFairchild compressor in the mix. Dave has named Hans Zimmer's Dark Knight Rises score as one of his favourites.
Top 5
Where to start with Dave's gear.
01
02
Top 5Seen using
Shure
SM57“Sometimes I will put Shure SM57 mics underneath the piano”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
03
Top 5Seen using
Avid
Pro Tools HDX“and then into Pro Tools HDX”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
04
Top 5Seen using
Universal Audio
Apollo 8“When he is writing, he uses a UAD Apollo 8 interface, and I just record the stereo output from that during the session.”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
05
Top 5Seen using
Undertone Audio
UnFairchild 670M II“through the Unfairchild compressor to give it that final polished sound”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
What gear Dave uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Psychodrama sessions
Seen using
Neumann
KM84 microphones“the main microphones on that are two Neumann KM84s”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
Find it on
Seen using
Shure
SM57“Sometimes I will put Shure SM57 mics underneath the piano”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
Seen using
Avid
Pro Tools HDX“and then into Pro Tools HDX”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
Seen using
Universal Audio
Apollo 8“When he is writing, he uses a UAD Apollo 8 interface, and I just record the stereo output from that during the session.”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
Seen using
Undertone Audio
UnFairchild 670M II“through the Unfairchild compressor to give it that final polished sound”
Seen in Sound On Sound: Inside Track, Dave 'Funky Friday' and 'Black', June 2019
Find it on
Film scores he loves
Has said they love
Hans Zimmer
The Dark Knight Rises (soundtrack)“I love Hans Zimmer, the score for the Dark Knight Rises is one of my favourites”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
Has said they love
Hans Zimmer
The Dark Knight (soundtrack)“[My favourite song is] probably Hans Zimmer's Like a 'Dog Chasing Cars'. It's from the Dark Knight.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
No store page for this one.
Has said they love
Hans Zimmer
Man of Steel (soundtrack)“I also like Man Of Steel. Inception. Interstellar. Braveheart.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
Has said they love
Hans Zimmer
Inception (soundtrack)“I also like Man Of Steel. Inception. Interstellar. Braveheart.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
No store page for this one.
Has said they love
Hans Zimmer
Interstellar (soundtrack)“I also like Man Of Steel. Inception. Interstellar. Braveheart.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
No store page for this one.
Has said they love
James Horner
Braveheart (soundtrack)“I also like Man Of Steel. Inception. Interstellar. Braveheart.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
Has said they love
Steve Jablonsky
Transformers: The Score“Transformers; Steve Jablovski with Arrival to Earth.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
Has said they love
John Williams
Schindler's List (score)“Schindler's List too, that's beautiful.”
Said in Classic FM: Brits rapper Dave is a classically trained pianist who loves movie soundtracks, February 2020
Questions
About Dave's gear.
How was Dave's piano recorded on Psychodrama?
Engineer Manon Grandjean told Sound On Sound in 2019 that the studio's upright piano was miked with two Neumann KM84s, sometimes with Shure SM57s underneath, and recorded into Pro Tools HDX.
What was used on Dave's vocals on Psychodrama?
Grandjean said that during the mix she sent Dave's vocal out through the desk for EQ and through the UnFairchild compressor to give it a final polish.
What film scores does Dave love?
Dave has said Hans Zimmer's Dark Knight Rises score is one of his favourites and named 'Like a Dog Chasing Cars' from The Dark Knight as a favourite song. He also likes Man of Steel, Inception, Interstellar, Braveheart, Transformers and Schindler's List.
How did Dave start playing piano?
Classic FM reported that it all started when his mum bought him a digital piano when he was 14.
Related gear guides
Setups that share gear with Dave.
Vicetone
EDM and big room
27 itemsSee Vicetone's gear →
Dire Straits
Classic rock
108 itemsSee Dire Straits's gear →
Tame Impala
Psychedelic
63 itemsSee Tame Impala's gear →
RAC
Indie dance
59 itemsSee RAC's gear →
Ólafur Arnalds
Ambient
46 itemsSee Ólafur Arnalds's gear →
Datach'i
Breakbeat and UK bass
41 itemsSee Datach'i's gear →
Named in this guide
D
Dave
About this guide · Last checked
Dave is the south London rapper and pianist behind Psychodrama, We're All Alone in This Together and The Boy Who Played the Harp. This guide covers the microphones and studio gear from the Psychodrama sessions at Fraser T Smith's studio, and the film scores he has named as favourites.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Dave didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
Report an error or ask for removal. We fix or remove within 72 hours. You don't need to sign up.
Are you Dave?
Claim this page to make it yours: verify with your Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, keep what's right, drop what isn't, and add your own.
Claim this pagetruerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Dave isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.