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Roland MKS-50

It always seems to be snowing when I use this synth. A rackmount Alpha Juno that comes to life when used with its PG-300 controller.

My favourite feature has to be its chord memory. This allows you to play a chord, store it and then it play it across each key.

It features a great sounding chorus, a dedicated pulse-width rate control, a choice of aftertouch routing options and a noise level control for extra snowiness.

Here it is used alongside Uncle 303 and Aunty CR-8000 on the Wrong Music Japanese Tsunami Appeal Compilation:

Yamaha PortaSound PSS-460

Way back when I worked in a restaurant, I put a sign up in the staff room advertising for free synths and someone gave me this Yamaha PortaSound PSS-460. It wasn’t until one day, when Ed DMX popped by, that I realised its full potential. It features a programmable drum machine and FM synth, along with some backing chord and bassline accompaniment features. I particularly like the brassy sounds it makes, which I used recently on my remix of ‘Peter and Mary’ by Radioactive Man. Check that out here.

Roland SRE-555 Chorus Echo

This brilliant analogue tape echo has three heads that can be used either alone, for various delay lengths or, in combination, for slap-back delay sounds. The ‘sound on sound’ feature allows you to build up feedback to incredible levels.

Additionally, it features a wonderfully metallic spring reverb and a very warm analogue chorus that Roland do so well.

It is all wrapped up in a handy rack mount so you can change the tapes really easily. This is the absolute king of my effects arsenal and I use it on almost every track. Listen here.

Roland CR-8000

The CR-8000 has my favourite clap on any drum machine. Its cowbell is very similar to the TR-808 and I love duelling them together as they have slightly different tunings.

There is a cool trick where you can mash up between two patterns by connecting the trigger out to the register in. I would love to know if it’s possible to program the clave.

Roland SH-101

This synth is a great all-rounder so you can easily make whole tracks with it.

It’s good for percussion; snares, kicks, hats, zappy sounds. Terrific for acid and for all kinds of basslines. Add some portamento, mess with the pulse width, it just gives you those uplifting rave moments from back in’t day.

The best features for me are the transposable sequencer and arpeggiator, which turns you into Philip Glass in an instant.

Listen to it in action here: