If you've watched a Fred again.. live set, you know it feels less like a traditional DJ performance and more like a high-stakes laboratory experiment. Between the frantic finger drumming on his MPC and the iconic "found sound" vocal chops - including those signature pitched-up vocals - it's easy to wonder: What is the engine behind all of this?
Whether he's finishing his latest USB002 collaboration or crafting the intimate textures of Actual Life, Fred Gibson's setup is a masterclass in efficiency over ego.
That’s right, the short answer is: Fred again.. uses Apple Logic Pro.
While many electronic music heavyweights swear by Ableton Live for its session view, Fred has been a Logic Pro loyalist since he was 16. In fact, his proficiency in Logic was his "secret weapon" when he first started assisting the legendary Brian Eno.
While Logic Pro is his digital audio workstation for songwriting and recording, his live performances often utilize a hybrid approach.
For massive shows (like his 2026 residency at Alexandra Palace), a "midi madman" (often his collaborator Tony) helps manage a complex sync rig. While Fred might be playing instruments into Logic or triggering samples, Ableton Live is frequently used in the background of professional live rigs to handle stem playback, lighting cues, and visual synchronization.
It's the question most producers land on eventually. We've put Logic and Ableton head to head, and there's a separate look at GarageBand versus Logic Pro if you're coming up from the free end.
Fred's music production setup is surprisingly portable. Originally trained as a guitarist before crossing into electronic music, he often works from hotel rooms, trains, or his home studio using a mix of tactile hardware and "lo-fi" recording methods.
Equipment Used by Fred again:
Main Controller:
Akai MPC Live II or Native Instruments Maschine+
Synthesizers:
Teenage Engineering OP-1, Moog Matriarch (semi-modular), Yamaha Reface CS
MIDI Controllers:
Akai MPK Mini MK3, Alesis V49, Arturia KeyLab Mini
Audio Interface:
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 or Behringer U-PHORIA UMC1820
Monitoring:
ATC SCM25A (Studio) and Apple EarPods (Portable/Live)
Secret Weapon:
iPhone (For voice memos and field recordings)
You don't need his rack to get the idea. Our pick of pad controllers for beginners and the MIDI keyboard buying guide cover the affordable end of the same idea.
Fred doesn't hide behind a wall of expensive VSTs. He relies heavily on a few core music tools:
If you're building out a chain from scratch, we've covered the plugin types worth having before you start buying.
If you want to produce like Fred, the Fred again.. recording software choice matters less than your rhythm and sampling technique. This music producer treats the world as his sample pack, recording everything on his iPhone and then "playing" those sounds like an instrument.
Fred Gibson's creative process is rooted in emotional immediacy - capturing a feeling before it disappears.
Pro Tip: To master that signature "finger drumming" style - a technique with deep roots in hip hop beatmaking culture - you don't necessarily need an MPC immediately. Tools like Melodics offer tutorials specifically designed to help producers build the muscle memory and rhythmic precision needed to perform live, regardless of which DAW you eventually choose.
We've also pulled apart the Victory Lap beat with Skepta and Plaqueboy Max if you want to hear this setup doing its thing.
Fred again.. proves that you don't need the most "industry-standard" dance music DAW to dominate the charts. By sticking with Logic Pro, he focuses on what matters: the emotional resonance of the sounds and the speed of the idea.
NEW LESSON DROP!
NEW LESSON DROP!
Doo Wop (That Thing)
As made famous by Lauryn Hill
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