Top 5Has said they use
Sequential
Prophet '08“I've been using the Prophet '08 since I started my career,”
Photo: Knar Bedian · CC BY 2.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by James Blake. Every item links to its public source.
21 items · Last checked What's in James Blake's studio?
James Blake has said they use a Prophet '08 synth, a Moog DFAM, a Five12 Vector Sequencer, an Intellijel Metropolix and Arturia's Stage-73 V plugin. On stage he has been seen using a DPA d:facto mic and a Meris Mercury7 reverb, and he has said they love wearing Zegna.
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Top 5
Where to start with James Blake's gear.
01
02
Top 5Has said they use
Moog
DFAM“I used this one to create the kick drums on 'Show Me,'”
03
Top 5Has said they use
Five12
Vector Sequencer“I used this to make the introduction to 'I'm So Blessed You're Mine.'”
04
Top 5Has said they use
Arturia
Stage-73 V“I use the Arturia Rhodes as the main percussion when the beat comes in.”
05
Top 5Has said they use
Intellijel
Metropolix“I owe more to more to Intellijel, who make the Metropolix sequencer, than I do to Stevie Wonder on this album,”
What studio gear James Blake uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Studio
Has said they use
Sequential
Prophet '08“I've been using the Prophet '08 since I started my career,”
Has said they use
Moog
DFAM“I used this one to create the kick drums on 'Show Me,'”
Said in Billboard: Geeking Out With James Blake on the Synths That Pay For Themselves on His New Album, October 2021
Has said they use
Five12
Vector Sequencer“I used this to make the introduction to 'I'm So Blessed You're Mine.'”
Has said they use
Arturia
Stage-73 V“I use the Arturia Rhodes as the main percussion when the beat comes in.”
Has said they use
Intellijel
Metropolix“I owe more to more to Intellijel, who make the Metropolix sequencer, than I do to Stevie Wonder on this album,”
Stage
Seen using
DPA Microphones
d:facto Vocal MicrophoneSeen in Mix: DPA d:facto Front and Centre For James Blake's Unique Vocal Chain, November 2016
Seen using
Meris
Mercury7Seen in Mix: DPA d:facto Front and Centre For James Blake's Unique Vocal Chain, November 2016
Seen using
Empirical Labs
Lil FrEQSeen in Mix: DPA d:facto Front and Centre For James Blake's Unique Vocal Chain, November 2016
Seen using
Empirical Labs
DistressorSeen in Mix: DPA d:facto Front and Centre For James Blake's Unique Vocal Chain, November 2016
Dior
Tour pieces
Seen wearing
Dior
Tour piecesSeen in Blackbird Spyplane: If you're feeling lonely and cynical, hit the club ASAP, September 2023
No store page for this one.
What I wear
Prada
Velvet overshirt
Seen wearing
Prada
Velvet overshirtSeen in Highsnobiety: Maybe James Blake Makes a Better Model Than Musician, October 2023
No store page for this one.
Prada
Vest
Seen wearing
Prada
VestSeen in Blackbird Spyplane: If you're feeling lonely and cynical, hit the club ASAP, September 2023
No store page for this one.
Zegna
Italian tailoring
Has said they love
Zegna
Italian tailoring“Recently I've found a lot of joy in Italian suitmaking”
Said in Blackbird Spyplane: If you're feeling lonely and cynical, hit the club ASAP, September 2023
No store page for this one.
Zegna
Sneakers
Seen wearing
Zegna
SneakersSeen in Highsnobiety: Maybe James Blake Makes a Better Model Than Musician, October 2023
No store page for this one.
Bottega Veneta
Cassette bag (intrecciato)
Seen wearing
Bottega Veneta
Cassette bag (intrecciato)Seen in Highsnobiety: Maybe James Blake Makes a Better Model Than Musician, October 2023
No store page for this one.
Yohji Yamamoto
Matching sets
Seen wearing
Yohji Yamamoto
Matching setsSeen in Blackbird Spyplane: If you're feeling lonely and cynical, hit the club ASAP, September 2023
No store page for this one.
Balenciaga
Tracksuits
Seen wearing
Balenciaga
TracksuitsSeen in Blackbird Spyplane: If you're feeling lonely and cynical, hit the club ASAP, September 2023
No store page for this one.
Digital Mystikz
DMZ seventh birthday t-shirt
Has said they love
Digital Mystikz
DMZ seventh birthday t-shirt“This is the one t-shirt I've ever kept.”
Said in Blackbird Spyplane: If you're feeling lonely and cynical, hit the club ASAP, September 2023
No store page for this one.
Records that shaped me
Has said they love
Ruff Sqwad
Functions on the Low“shows how a great melody transcends what its place is”
Said in SoundCloud Stories: Sound Advice, James Blake, March 2026
Listen
Has said they love
Has said they love
Joni Mitchell
Blue“Until writing my first album I'd only listened to Blue”
Said in The Independent (RADAR): The Joni Mitchell generation, via jonimitchell.com, November 2013
Questions
About James Blake's gear.
What synth does James Blake use?
James Blake has said they use the Prophet '08 and have done since the start of his career (Billboard, 2021). He has also said they use Five12's Vector Sequencer and Intellijel's Metropolix modular sequencer, which drove much of Playing Robots Into Heaven.
What drum machine does James Blake use?
James Blake has said they use a Moog DFAM, which made the kick drums on Show Me and percussion on other songs from Friends That Break Your Heart (Billboard, 2021).
What plugins does James Blake use?
James Blake has said they use Arturia's Stage-73 V Rhodes plugin, turning up the mallet sound to make the percussion on Coming Back (Billboard, 2021).
What microphone does James Blake use live?
James Blake has been seen using a DPA d:facto vocal mic on tour, run through an Empirical Labs Lil FrEQ and a Distressor with a Meris Mercury7 reverb, per his front of house engineer in Mix (2016).
What clothes does James Blake wear?
James Blake has said they love Zegna tailoring (Blackbird Spyplane, 2023) and has been seen wearing a Prada velvet overshirt, Zegna sneakers and a Bottega Veneta Cassette bag (Highsnobiety, 2023), plus Yohji Yamamoto sets and Balenciaga tracksuits.
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JB
James Blake
About this guide · Last checked
James Blake is a London producer, singer and pianist who came out of the dubstep scene with CMYK and went on to records like Overgrown and Playing Robots Into Heaven. This guide covers the synths and stage gear he has talked about, what he has been seen wearing, and the records that shaped him.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. James Blake didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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