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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Dr. Dre. Every item links to its public source.
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What's in Dr. Dre's studio?

Mike Elizondo told Sound On Sound the Akai MPC3000 is Dr. Dre's priority instrument, and Mixdown links him to the E-mu SP-1200, Roland TR-808, Minimoog Model D, Korg Triton and a Fender Rhodes. He mixed The Chronic and 2001 on an SSL 4000 G+ and uses a 96-input SSL Duality Fuse at Aftermath.

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What gear Dr. Dre uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Samplers and drum machines

4 items

Keys and synths

2 items

Recording and mixing

1 item

Records that shaped him

3 items

Studio

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Questions

About Dr. Dre's gear.

What drum machine does Dr. Dre use?

Mike Elizondo told Sound On Sound in 2006 that Dre programmed beats into an Akai MPC3000 and called the MPC his priority instrument. Mixdown also links him to the E-mu SP-1200, the Akai S900 and the Roland TR-808 on N.W.A records.

What synths has Dr. Dre been seen using?

Mixdown's gear rundown says Dre used the Minimoog Model D for bass and lead sounds and used the Korg Triton on most of his productions from 2001 onwards.

What console is in Dr. Dre's studio?

Mix reported in July 2025 that Dre upgraded his Aftermath studio to a 96-input Solid State Logic Duality Fuse. Dre said in the announcement that the SSL board was the first love of his life.

What MPC does Dr. Dre use?

Mike Elizondo told Sound On Sound that Dre programmed beats such as The Real Slim Shady, In Da Club and Family Affair on an Akai MPC3000. Mixdown also links him to an MPC60 in the N.W.A era and an MPC2000.

What DAW does Dr. Dre use?

Elizondo said Dre's team recorded to two-inch tape until The Eminem Show, then moved to Pro Tools HD with 192 interfaces for the speed of working.

What albums does Dr. Dre love?

Dre called Nirvana's Bleach one of his favorite albums ever made in a Vibe outtake, and told Complex in 2024 that Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly were the last hip-hop albums that inspired him.

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Dr. Dre
About this guide · Last checked

Dr. Dre is the Compton producer, rapper and Aftermath founder behind N.W.A, The Chronic, 2001 and Compton, and the producer of Snoop Dogg's Missionary. This guide covers the samplers, drum machines, synths and console named in interviews and features about his studio, plus the records he has said he loves.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Dr. Dre didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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