Mike Dean reveals his Analogue Synth Collection

Mike Dean, the man behind some of the biggest artists like The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Kanye West, and Travis Scott recently gave a sneak peek inside his studio. Dean has not only helped craft modern classics with today’s hitmakers but also left an indelible mark on Southern hip-hop, lending his talents to legends like Scarface, Geto Boys, UGK, and Devin the Dude earlier in his prolific career.

When musicians enter Mike Dean’s studio, they step into a “candy store” of synthesizers and vintage gear spanning decades of music history. Let’s dive in to see what synths Mike Dean possesses.

His studio contains a living timeline of electronic music innovation – from a Memory Moog Model D to a Korg Triton responsible for some of the most iconic hip-hop sounds of the early 2000s. Still, at the end of the day, Dean returns to the hands-on control of his Oberheim and analog synths from Moog, ARP, and more.

“The Oberheim Four Voice is the best synth in the world,” Dean declares, his fingers gliding across its keys. He also sings the praises of the Jupiter 8, used extensively on Beyoncé’s latest album for arpeggios and rich, analog synth tones. The CS-80, meanwhile, remains one of the most coveted instruments among keyboard players.

Dean combines the Jupiter 8’s cascading arpeggiations with the Moog Grandmother and Matriarch for a powerful duo in his live shows. During studio sessions, these tools merge with modern keyboards like the Native Instruments S-88 controller and a Moog Subsequent 37, which Dean ranks among his top five favorite synthesizers.

Here’s a complete list of the synths used in the video.

DAW: Ableton

1. Moog Matriarch
2. Moog Grandmother
3. Roland Jupiter 8
4. Yamaha CS-80
5. Oberheim OB-X
6. Oberheim Four Voice
7. Moog Subsequent-37CV
8. Memory Moog
9. Minimoog Model D
10. Moog Voyager
11. Korg Triton
12. Native Instruments Kontrol S88

Check out the complete video by Reverb down below: