Top 5Has said they use
Ableton
Live“I also really like Ableton for new ideas, because you can work so fast and it's so creative in that way.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Photo: Paulgg · CC BY-SA 4.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Kiasmos. Every item links to its public source.
18 items · Last checked What gear does Kiasmos use?
Kiasmos have said they start ideas in Ableton Live and finish them in Pro Tools. Their album II was built on vintage Korgs like the PS-3100, MS-20 and MS-50, plus a Nonlinear Labs C15 and Roland Space Echos, and live they play Softube's Model 84 from MIDI keyboards.
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Top 5
Where to start with Kiasmos's gear.
01
02
Top 5Has said they use
Avid
Pro Tools“We use a lot of Beat Detective in Pro Tools.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
03
Top 5Has said they use
Korg
PS-3100“For most of the songs on this record, we used the PS-3100, the big polyphonic Korg.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
04
Top 5Has said they use
Korg
MS-20“It's the perfect monosynth, to me. It always fits into a production.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
05
Top 5Has said they use
Korg
MS-50Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
What synths Kiasmos uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Studio
Has said they use
Ableton
Live“I also really like Ableton for new ideas, because you can work so fast and it's so creative in that way.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Avid
Pro Tools“We use a lot of Beat Detective in Pro Tools.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Korg
PS-3100“For most of the songs on this record, we used the PS-3100, the big polyphonic Korg.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Korg
MS-20“It's the perfect monosynth, to me. It always fits into a production.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Korg
MS-50Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Korg
MS-10Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Korg
SQ-10 sequencerSaid in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Nonlinear Labs
C15“It's this really beautiful physical modelling digital synth - it's a hardware synth.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Slate + Ash
CyclesSaid in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Slate + Ash
ChoreographsSaid in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Has said they use
Roland
RE-201 Space Echo“Think it is the RE-201 Space Echo. We use it on everything.”
Said in Talking Shop: Kiasmos (MusicRadar), November 2014
Has said they use
Elektron
Machinedrum“We usually start with a beat. Often with Elektron's Machine drum.”
Said in Talking Shop: Kiasmos (MusicRadar), November 2014
Has said they use
Universal Audio
Apollo audio interface“The Apollo interface is just so fantastic, it changed everything for my setup.”
Said in Talking Shop: Kiasmos (MusicRadar), November 2014
Stage
Has said they use
Softube
Model 84“We're using really carefully tweaked patches on the Softube Juno Model 84.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Recording
Has said they use
AMS Neve
33609C compressorSaid in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
“I think most of it was using the old AKG C12A mics, which are the old versions of the C414.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
Keys
Kawai
Custom felt rail grand piano
SponsoredHas said they use
“I got a new grand piano that was customised for me by Kawai.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
No store page for this one.
Daily rituals
Has said they love
Apple
iPhone“I love the iPhone mic.”
Said in Kiasmos on the "perfect mono synth" (MusicRadar), July 2024
Questions
About Kiasmos's gear.
What synths do Kiasmos use?
Olafur Arnalds has said most songs on II used a Korg PS-3100 patched with an SQ-10 and MS-50, alongside an MS-20, an MS-10 and a Nonlinear Labs C15. Janus Rasmussen calls the Korg MS-20 the perfect monosynth.
What DAW do Kiasmos use?
Both. Olafur works more in Pro Tools and Janus more in Ableton Live. Tracks usually start in Ableton, and detailed sound design and Beat Detective swing editing happen in Pro Tools.
What do Kiasmos use live?
To avoid touring fragile vintage synths, they went all MIDI in 2024, playing carefully tweaked patches on Softube's Model 84 Juno emulation from MIDI keyboards.
What piano does Olafur Arnalds play in Kiasmos?
He recorded II partly on a Kawai grand piano customised for him with a felt rail system, and he has said Kawai lends him pianos for tours. The piano was mostly recorded with old AKG C12A mics.
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K
Kiasmos
About this guide · Last checked
Kiasmos is the Reykjavik based electronic duo of Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds and Faroese producer Janus Rasmussen, signed to Erased Tapes. This guide covers the synths, software, outboard and microphones the two have named in interviews about their 2014 debut and their 2024 album II.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Kiasmos didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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