Top 5Uses
u-he
Zebra2“90% of what I do is done on one software synth.”
h
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Hans Zimmer. Every item links to its public source.
40 items · Last checked What's in Hans Zimmer's studio?
Hans Zimmer told Rick Beato in 2025 that 90% of his work is done on u-he Zebra (his ZebraHZ version), and he uses Synapse Audio's The Legend HZ. His synth wall centres on a Moog modular, with the custom GIORGIO III modular on tour. In the 1980s he played Fairlight CMIs, a Prophet-5 and a Roland System-100M.
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Top 5
Where to start with Hans Zimmer's gear.
01
02
Top 5Uses
Synapse Audio
The Legend HZ“It's basically a Minimoog, with one important improvement”
03
Top 5Has said they use
Waldorf
Iridium“And we're huge fans of this little Waldorf Iridium, of which we have everywhere.”
Said in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
04
Top 5Seen using
Analogue Solutions
Colossus modular synthesizerSeen in MusicTech: Hans Zimmer on u-he Zebra, The Dark Knight and Dune, October 2022
05
Top 5Has said they use
Expressive E
Osmose“when you touch the keyboard, it knows you're already touching the keyboard.”
Said in MusicTech: Why Hans Zimmer worked with the Expressive E Osmose on Dune 2, December 2024
What studio gear Hans Zimmer uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Synths
Uses
u-he
Zebra2“90% of what I do is done on one software synth.”
Uses
Synapse Audio
The Legend HZ“It's basically a Minimoog, with one important improvement”
Has said they use
Waldorf
Iridium“And we're huge fans of this little Waldorf Iridium, of which we have everywhere.”
Said in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
Seen using
Analogue Solutions
Colossus modular synthesizerSeen in MusicTech: Hans Zimmer on u-he Zebra, The Dark Knight and Dune, October 2022
Has said they use
Expressive E
Osmose“when you touch the keyboard, it knows you're already touching the keyboard.”
Said in MusicTech: Why Hans Zimmer worked with the Expressive E Osmose on Dune 2, December 2024
Also at
u-he
ZebraHZ
Has said they use
u-he
ZebraHZSaid in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Seen using
Yamaha
CS-80Seen in Gearnews: Soundtrack Synths: Get That Blockbuster Sound, September 2026
Hans Zimmer Live stage
Seen using
Waldorf
QuantumSeen in guitarguitar: Hans Zimmer's synth, the story behind GIORGIO III, December 2025
Yves Usson
GIORGIO III modular synthesizerSeen in guitarguitar: Hans Zimmer's synth, the story behind GIORGIO III, December 2025
No store page for this one.
Software
Seen using
Steinberg
CubaseSeen in Sound On Sound: Studio SOS, Hans Zimmer, October 2011
Seen using
Mixing plugins
Has said they use
Universal Audio
Manley Massive Passive EQ“And then there's the new Manley Massive Passive EQ plug-in, of course.”
Has said they use
Universal Audio
Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection“Plus, I'm just so used to the Neves, so the Neve plug-ins are across everything.”
Has said they use
Universal Audio
dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter“So when you guys came out with the dbx 160 Compressor plug-in, I was very, very happy.”
Has said they use
Has said they use
Universal Audio
Harrison 32C EQ“The same goes for the Harrison 32C EQ.”
Has said they use
Universal Audio
FATSO Jr./Sr. Tape Sim. & Compressor“the FATSO on its tape-emulation setting was great for that.”
Has said they use
Universal Audio
EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverb“The EMT plates are on everything”
Studio
Has said they use
Roland
RE-201 Space Echo“I also use the Roland RE-201 Space Echo and all the Roland stuff.”
Has said they use
“We have a real set as well that we bought from Neve, 24 channels of hardware 1081s.”
Find it on
Quested
VS210 monitors
Seen using
Quested
VS210 monitorsSeen in Sound On Sound: Studio SOS, Hans Zimmer, October 2011
No store page for this one.
Dynaudio
BM5 MkII monitors
Seen using
Dynaudio
BM5 MkII monitorsSeen in Sound On Sound: Studio SOS, Hans Zimmer, October 2011
No store page for this one.
Euphonix
Series 5 console
Seen using
Euphonix
Series 5 consoleSeen in Sound On Sound: Studio SOS, Hans Zimmer, October 2011
No store page for this one.
Records that shaped me
Has said they love
Ennio Morricone
Once Upon a Time in the West“I heard the music and saw those images and I said, 'That's what I want to do'.”
Said in Far Out: Hans Zimmer tribute to Ennio Morricone, July 2020
Has said they love
Vangelis
Blade Runner (score)Said in Far Out: Hans Zimmer names his favourite film composer of all time, October 2022
No store page for this one.
Synth wall
Moog
Moog modular synthesizer
Has said they use
“Behind me is a Moog Modular that is mirrored in LA”
Said in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
No store page for this one.
AJHSynth
RadioPhonic modular synthesizer
SponsoredSeen using
AJHSynth
RadioPhonic modular synthesizerNo store page for this one.
Samplers
Roland
S-770 sampler
Seen using
Roland
S-770 samplerSeen in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
Seen using
Roland
S-760Seen in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
Nemesys
GigaSampler
Seen using
Nemesys
GigaSamplerSeen in KVR Audio: A KVR Interview with Hans Zimmer, October 2022
No store page for this one.
1980s rig
Fairlight
Fairlight CMI Series II
Has said they use
Fairlight
Fairlight CMI Series II“It's so faulty, it's nearly human.”
Said in Sound On Sound: No Presets Allowed (Hans Zimmer, Aug 1986), August 1986
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Has said they use
Roland
System-100MSaid in Electronics & Music Maker: Hans Zimmer (July 1983), July 1983
Roland
MicroComposer
Has said they use
Roland
MicroComposerSaid in Electronics & Music Maker: Hans Zimmer (July 1983), July 1983
No store page for this one.
RSF
Kobol synthesizer
Has said they use
Said in Electronics & Music Maker: Hans Zimmer (July 1983), July 1983
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
GS1
Has said they use
Yamaha
GS1Said in Electronics & Music Maker: Hans Zimmer (July 1983), July 1983
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Sample libraries
Spitfire Audio
Hans Zimmer Strings
SponsoredSeen using
Spitfire Audio
Hans Zimmer StringsSeen in Sound On Sound: Hans Zimmer Strings revealed by Spitfire Audio, February 2018
No store page for this one.
Spitfire Audio
Hans Zimmer Piano
SponsoredSeen using
Spitfire Audio
Hans Zimmer PianoSeen in Sonic State: Play Hans Zimmer's Piano, December 2015
No store page for this one.
On the scores
Harrison & Harrison
Temple Church four-manual organ (Interstellar)Seen in Classic FM: Hans Zimmer's Interstellar music on a beautiful church organ, September 2020
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Hans Zimmer's gear.
What synthesizers does Hans Zimmer use?
He told Rick Beato in 2025 that 90% of his work is done on u-he Zebra (ZebraHZ) and Synapse Audio's The Legend HZ. In hardware he has named a Moog modular, the Waldorf Iridium and the Expressive E Osmose. In 1983 he used Fairlights, RSF Kobols, a Prophet-5, a Roland System-100M and a Yamaha GS-1.
What is in Hans Zimmer's synth wall?
He told KVR in 2022 that a Moog modular stands behind him in London and is mirrored in LA, next to an Analogue Solutions Colossus. Sound On Sound wrote in 1986 that his Moog modular came from Chris Franke of Tangerine Dream. On tour he plays the custom GIORGIO III modular built by Yves Usson.
What plugins does Hans Zimmer use?
His main soft synths are u-he Zebra (ZebraHZ) and The Legend HZ. In a Universal Audio interview he named UAD Neve, dbx 160, Manley Massive Passive, Trident, Harrison 32C, FATSO and EMT plate plug-ins. Spitfire Audio sells his Hans Zimmer Strings and Hans Zimmer Piano libraries.
What DAW does Hans Zimmer use?
Sound On Sound's 2011 Studio SOS visit found him composing in Steinberg Cubase, with Pro Tools used to bring in the outputs of his samplers. The rooms had modified Quested VS210 monitors, with final mixes on a Euphonix console.
What keyboards are on stage at Hans Zimmer Live?
Three Waldorf Quantum keyboards sit in front of the GIORGIO III modular synth on the Hans Zimmer Live stage, and guitarguitar reports they also play polyphonic synth parts during the show.
Which film score made Hans Zimmer want to be a composer?
He told BBC Breakfast that the first film he saw was Once Upon a Time in the West: hearing Ennio Morricone's music with those images made him say that was what he wanted to do. He has also cited Vangelis' Blade Runner score among his favourites.
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Named in this guide
HZ
Hans Zimmer
About this guide · Last checked
Hans Zimmer is the film composer behind Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and Dune, working from studios in Los Angeles and London. This guide covers the synths, modular wall, samplers, software and studio tools he has named in interviews or been seen with, from his 1980s Fairlight and Prophet-5 days to the GIORGIO III modular on his live tour, plus the film scores he says shaped him.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Hans Zimmer didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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