Top 5Has said they use
Universal Audio
1176 compressor“I use a Universal 1176 for a lot of the compression on vocals”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
Photo: Hamish2k · CC BY-SA 3.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Groove Armada. Every item links to its public source.
10 items · Last checked What's in Groove Armada's studio?
Groove Armada's Tom Findlay has said he runs vocals through a Universal Audio 1176 and his bass through a Thermionic Culture Vulture, and that an Oberheim Matrix-6 pad runs across his recent work. He has also named a modified Orban Optimod-FM 8100A compressor.
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Top 5
Where to start with Groove Armada's gear.
01
02
Top 5Has said they use
Thermionic Culture
Culture Vulture“It’s valvey and warm and I plug that into a Culture Vulture.”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
No store page for this one.
03
Top 5Has said they use
Oberheim
Matrix-6“I’ve got an old Oberheim Matrix 6 that has a pad sound that’s all across the record”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
04
Top 5Has said they love
Prince
Prince“I love the raw funk on this record.”
05
Top 5Has said they love
Marvin Gaye
What's Going On“The greatest soul record of all time.”
What studio gear Groove Armada uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Tom's studio
Has said they use
Universal Audio
1176 compressor“I use a Universal 1176 for a lot of the compression on vocals”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
Has said they use
Thermionic Culture
Culture Vulture“It’s valvey and warm and I plug that into a Culture Vulture.”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Oberheim
Matrix-6“I’ve got an old Oberheim Matrix 6 that has a pad sound that’s all across the record”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
Orban
Optimod-FM 8100A (modified)
Has said they use
“I’ve had that done now to make it a bit less extreme, but it’s still completely mental and incredibly intense!”
Said in Groove Armada's Tom Findlay on his new collaborative project (MusicRadar), July 2023
No store page for this one.
Records that shaped me
Has said they love
Prince
Prince“I love the raw funk on this record.”
Has said they love
Marvin Gaye
What's Going On“The greatest soul record of all time.”
Has said they love
Hall and Oates
Abandoned Luncheonette“Overall the album is a winner.”
Said in Tom Findlay from Groove Armada's Top Five Albums of All Time (Classic Album Sundays), April 2020
No store page for this one.
Has said they love
Frank Ocean
Channel Orange“I listened to this on loop for most of last year.”
Said in Tom Findlay from Groove Armada's Top Five Albums of All Time (Classic Album Sundays), April 2020
Buy
Has said they love
Jon Savage (compilation)
Meridian 1970“Jon Savage is the master of the comp for me.”
Said in Tom Findlay from Groove Armada's Top Five Albums of All Time (Classic Album Sundays), April 2020
No store page for this one.
On my nightstand
Has said they love
Said in 15 Questions Interview: Groove Armada, October 2020
Questions
About Groove Armada's gear.
What compressor does Groove Armada use?
In a 2023 MusicRadar interview Tom Findlay said a Universal Audio 1176 handles a lot of his vocal compression, and named a modified Orban Optimod-FM 8100A that he called completely mental and incredibly intense.
What synth does Groove Armada use?
Tom Findlay has said he has an old Oberheim Matrix-6 whose pad sound runs all across his Bright and Findlay album, especially on 'Hello In The Dark'.
How does Groove Armada process bass?
Tom Findlay has said he puts his bass through a valve mono unit and plugs that into a Thermionic Culture Vulture.
Which albums shaped Groove Armada's Tom Findlay?
For Classic Album Sundays he named Prince 'Prince', Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On', Hall and Oates 'Abandoned Luncheonette', Frank Ocean 'Channel Orange' and the Jon Savage compilation 'Meridian 1970'.
What book did Groove Armada name?
In a 2020 15 Questions interview the duo pointed readers to 'Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey into Regenerative Agriculture' by Gabe Brown.
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Groove Armada
About this guide · Last checked
Groove Armada are the English duo of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay, behind 'At the River' and 'Superstylin''. This guide covers the studio outboard and synths Tom has named, plus the albums and book the pair have singled out.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Groove Armada didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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