Top 5Uses
Sequential
Prophet-5“I just can't bear to part with an old synth”
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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by N-Trance. Every item links to its public source.
21 items · Last checked What DAW does N-Trance use?
Kevin O'Toole uses a Neumann U87 for vocals, a Yamaha DM2000 desk, Genelec 1037B and Yamaha NS10 monitors, an LA Audio TCX2 compressor and Lexicon PCM91 reverb. His synths include a Prophet 5, Access Virus C, Roland JV-2080, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Roland TB-303 and the Korg M1 behind the early hits.
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Top 5
Where to start with N-Trance's gear.
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Top 5Uses
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Top 5Uses
What studio gear N-Trance uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Studio
Neumann
U87 microphone“These U87s are just brilliant. They last forever.”
Said in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
No store page for this one.
Said in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
No store page for this one.
Genelec
1037B studio monitors“I always say that you need massive monitors if you're making stuff for clubs”
Said in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
NS10 studio monitors“I'm surprised they still work because I've had them for such a long time.”
Said in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
No store page for this one.
Vocals
LA Audio
TCX2 compressorSaid in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
No store page for this one.
Lexicon
PCM 91 reverbSaid in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
No store page for this one.
Synths
Uses
Sequential
Prophet-5“I just can't bear to part with an old synth”
Said in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
Korg
miniKorg 700
Uses
Uses
Akai Professional
S3200Said in Why 90s rave icons N-Trance used their original hardware, including the mic for Set You Free, to record their first release in 22 years, April 2026
Find it on
Uses
Uses
Uses
Uses
Roland
TB-303 Bass Line“I snapped it up for £50… they now trade for £3,000”
The 90s studio
Has said they use
Korg
M1“In the early days, my Korg M1 was the main keyboard”
Has said they use
Roland
R8 drum machine
Has said they use
Roland
R8 drum machine“When we started, we had just the Korg M1, the Roland R8 drum machine, and the Atari”
Said in N-Trance: Do You Think I'm Sexy?, December 1997
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Has said they use
Atari
Atari 1040 STSaid in N-Trance: Do You Think I'm Sexy?, December 1997
No store page for this one.
Steinberg
Pro-24 sequencer
Has said they use
Steinberg
Pro-24 sequencer“We did the first album on Pro24. We didn't even have Cubase.”
Said in N-Trance: Do You Think I'm Sexy?, December 1997
No store page for this one.
Mackie
8-Bus mixing console
Has said they use
Mackie
8-Bus mixing consoleSaid in N-Trance: Do You Think I'm Sexy?, December 1997
No store page for this one.
TASCAM
DA-88 digital multitrack (four chained)
Has said they use
Said in N-Trance: Do You Think I'm Sexy?, December 1997
No store page for this one.
Questions
About N-Trance's gear.
What microphone does N-Trance use?
Kevin O'Toole uses a Neumann U87, the same microphone that recorded Set You Free, and cut the vocals for the 2026 single Higher on it, with an LA Audio TCX2 compressor and a Lexicon PCM91 reverb.
What studio monitors does N-Trance use?
O'Toole uses Genelec 1037B and Yamaha NS10 monitors with a Yamaha DM2000 mixing desk, all unchanged for decades, and has said you need massive monitors if you are making music for clubs.
What synth does N-Trance use?
O'Toole's studio holds a Sequential Prophet 5, miniKorg 700, Akai S3200, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Roland JV-2080, Access Virus C and a Roland TB-303 he bought for 50 pounds in Oldham in 1990. The Korg M1 was the main keyboard in the early days.
What was Set You Free made with?
In 1997 Dale Longworth said they started out with just a Korg M1, a Roland R8 drum machine and an Atari, and O'Toole added that they also had a Juno 106. Sequencing ran on an Atari 1040ST.
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N
N-Trance
About this guide · Last checked
N-Trance are the Manchester dance act founded by Kevin O'Toole and Dale Longworth, behind Set You Free and Stayin' Alive. This guide covers the studio gear O'Toole uses today, much of it kept since the 90s, and the rig the duo described in 1997.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. N-Trance didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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