Top 5Uses
Waldorf
Quantum“In terms of synthesizers, I have the Waldorf Quantum, a Sub 37, a Moog Muse, a PolyBrute 12, and a Super Gemini.”
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35 items · Last checked What's in Kevin Saunderson's studio?
Kevin Saunderson uses a Waldorf Quantum, Moog Sub 37 and Muse, Arturia PolyBrute 12, UDO Super Gemini and a Roland TR-1000, recorded through a Universal Audio Apollo x16 into Ableton. His DJ setup is Pioneer CDJ-3000s with ATC SCM45 monitors. In 1988 he said he used a Juno-106 a lot alongside a TR-909 and TR-808.
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Top 5Uses
What studio gear Kevin Saunderson uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Studio
Uses
Waldorf
Quantum“In terms of synthesizers, I have the Waldorf Quantum, a Sub 37, a Moog Muse, a PolyBrute 12, and a Super Gemini.”
Uses
Uses
Uses
Uses
Uses
Roland
TR-1000“I also have a Roland TR-1000 drum machine”
Said in Vintage King: Detroit Techno Legend Kevin Saunderson Talks Studio Gear, Plug-Ins, And Taking His Apollo On The Road, August 2026
Uses
Uses
Universal Audio
Apollo x16“the x16 really helps cut that down, especially when you're doing vocals.”
Uses
Ableton
Live 12“Being able to connect to Ableton and cut down on latency has helped my workflow greatly.”
Plug-ins
Uses
Universal Audio
1176 Classic Limiter Collection“Yeah, I like the Classic Limiter Collection”
Uses
Universal Audio
Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection“the Teletronix LA-2A, which is a smooth, optical kind of compressor, and it's perfect after the 1176 to give vocals warmth and consistency”
Uses
Universal Audio
Pultec Passive EQ Collection“The Pultec Passive EQ Collection is also great.”
Uses
Universal Audio
API Vision Channel Strip“it's great on kicks, bass, drums, and synths.”
Uses
Universal Audio
Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb“The Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb is legendary.”
DJ booth
Uses
AlphaTheta / Pioneer DJ
CDJ-3000“Then, for my DJ setup, I have the new Pioneer CDJ-3000s”
Uses
ATC
SCM45A Pro“a pair of ATC SCM45s with matching 12" subwoofers”
Said in Vintage King: Detroit Techno Legend Kevin Saunderson Talks Studio Gear, Plug-Ins, And Taking His Apollo On The Road, August 2026
Also at
Uses
Early Detroit studio
Has said they use
Roland
Juno-106“I use the Juno 106 a lot - in fact, I used it on the session last night.”
Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Roland
TR-909 Rhythm Composer“I like to use a combination of 909 and HR16 hi-hats, together with the 808 bass drum or sometimes the bass on the 909”
Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Roland
TR-808 Rhythm ComposerSaid in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Roland
TR-727Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Roland
TB-303 Bass LineSaid in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Casio
CZ-5000Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Roland
JX-8PSaid in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Korg
Poly-800Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Yamaha
DX100Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Roland
SRV-2000 digital reverb“I use Roland's SRV2000 a lot, and I'm into Lexicons.”
Said in Music Technology: The Techno Wave (Sep 1988), September 1988
Has said they use
Yamaha
TX81Z“The bass on 'Faith' is from the TX81Z, 'Till We Meet Again' came from the TX and the Prophet 5.”
Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Sequential
Prophet-5“The Prophet 5 is a good unit for bass, too, 'cos it's real thick.”
Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Moog
Memorymoog“Sometimes I mix it with the Juno 106, and sometimes I use the Memorymoog, it just depends on what kind of blend I want.”
Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Roland
JD-800Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Korg
Wavestation A/DSaid in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Akai Professional
MPC60“I was quite content to use it”
Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Akai Professional
S1000Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Has said they use
Said in Music Technology: Inner Space (Jun 1992), June 1992
Questions
About Kevin Saunderson's gear.
What synths does Kevin Saunderson use?
In a 2026 Vintage King interview he listed a Waldorf Quantum, a Moog Sub 37, a Moog Muse, an Arturia PolyBrute 12 and a UDO Super Gemini. In 1988 he said he used a Roland Juno-106 a lot, and in 1992 he named a Yamaha TX81Z, Memorymoog and Prophet-5 for bass sounds.
What DAW does Kevin Saunderson use?
He told Vintage King in 2026 that connecting his Universal Audio Apollo interfaces to Ableton cut down latency and helped his workflow. In 1992 Music Technology reported his studio ran Pro Tools and Opcode StudioVision, and in 1988 he sequenced on a Commodore 128.
What plugins does Kevin Saunderson use?
He named Universal Audio's 1176 Classic Limiter Collection, Teletronix LA-2A, Pultec Passive EQ Collection, API Vision Channel Strip and Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb as UAD favorites in 2026.
What audio interface does Kevin Saunderson use?
He uses two Universal Audio Apollo interfaces, an older one and the 16-channel Apollo x16, which he said helps cut latency when recording vocals.
What studio monitors does Kevin Saunderson use?
He said his setup includes a pair of ATC SCM45 monitors with matching 12 inch ATC subwoofers. In 1992 Music Technology reported Genelec and Tannoy monitors in his studios.
What drum machines does Kevin Saunderson use?
He has a Roland TR-1000 today. In 1988 he described layering TR-909 and Alesis HR16 hi-hats with the TR-808 bass drum, and he also had a TR-727. By 1992 he had added a Roland R-8 and Alesis D4.
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Named in this guide
KS
Kevin Saunderson
About this guide · Last checked
Kevin Saunderson is the Detroit techno pioneer behind Inner City, Reese and E-Dancer and the founder of KMS Records. This guide covers the synths, drum machines, plug-ins and DJ setup he named in a 2026 studio interview, plus the gear in his Detroit studios from 1988 and 1992 features.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Kevin Saunderson didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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