Japan Tin Drum gear list

(last updated: 22/08/24)

Musical equipment

Drums & percussion:

Linn LM-1 drum machine – “Cantonese Boy” claps, “Still Life In Mobile Homes” bass drum, claps & tom-tom hits
TAMA Superstar green kit:

22” bass drum
8”, 10”, 12”, 13”, 16” concert toms
2 Octobans

Pearl Chrome snare
Wuhan Chinese cymbals (possibly the following): 10”, 14” & 16”, 16” crash, 18” crash

Keyboards & synthesizers:

Sequential Circuits Prophet-5: played by David Sylvian and Steve Jansen
Oberheim OB-X: Richard Barbieri’s main synth
Roland System 700: Richard Barbieri

Other:

Wal custom bass: Mick Karn's
Travis Bean TB-2000 bass: Mick Karn's, “Talking Drum”
Rickenbacker guitar /w e-bow
Roland RE-201 Space Echo – for Prophet-5

Studio & Recording gear

Microphones:

AKG:

C414 EB: overheads
D12: likely bass drum
D19(?): snare

Neumann:

KM84: possibly hi-hats
U47 FET: David Sylvian vocals

Shure SM57: tom-toms, possibly snare
STC (a.k.a. Coles) 4038: overheads

Drum microphone details partially based on photos from the 1982 Akiko Yano sessions with Japan (which Steve Nye also engineered) and those used by other AIR engineers

Outboard gear (partial list):

Digital delays & multi-effects:

AMS DMX 15-80 delay/pitch shifter: AIR Studios
Eventide H910 Harmonizer
Eventide H949 Harmonizer
Lexicon Prime Time: Regents Park Studios

Reverberation:

EMT plate
Lexicon

Other:

ADR SCAMP rack units
Klark Teknik DN-22 graphic: AIR Studio 4
Neve preamps: AIR Studios
UREI 1176LN compressors

Dolby 361 Noise Reduction

Tape recorders:

Multitrack:

3M M79 24-track: Regents Park
MCI JH24 24-track: Odyssey Studios
Ampex MM1200 24-track: The Manor Studio
Studer A800 mk. III 24-track: AIR Studios

2-track mixdown:

Studer A80 (AIR Studios)

Mixing consoles:

Helios custom 32/24 with Allison 65K automation: The Manor
MCI JH500 custom 56-channel: Odyssey studios, London
MCI JH542C: Basing Street Studios, “Art Of Parties” basic tracks with John Punter
Neve custom: AIR Studios Oxford Street (final mix)
Trident TSM 40/32: Regent Street Studios