Creative Tools and Hardware Preferences

Known for their signature chiptune sound, the members of Anamanaguchi—Peter Berkman, James DeVito, Luke Silas, and Ary Warnaar—recently shared details regarding the technology that powers their creative output. The band, which rose to prominence with soundtracks for games like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, maintains a high level of digital engagement in their professional and personal lives.

In the studio, band members rely on specific hardware to maintain their workflow. Peter Berkman highlighted the Logitech MX Master 3S, praising its quiet clicks, smooth scroll wheel, and ergonomic feel. He noted that the device has become indispensable, even comparing the loss of its gestural fidelity when using a standard trackpad to a significant disadvantage in productivity.

For music production, Luke Silas pointed to Ableton Live Operator as a go-to tool for its simplicity and efficiency. Meanwhile, Ary Warnaar noted the surprisingly high audio quality of built-in laptop and cellphone microphones, which the band often uses to capture scratch tracks that eventually make it into their final recordings.

Managing Digital Workflows

Beyond music production, the band utilizes various software utilities to manage their computer systems. James DeVito highlighted the utility of an application called Amphetamine, which prevents a computer from entering sleep mode during long rendering tasks. DeVito also suggested a productivity hack involving the adjustment of keyboard key-repeat rates within operating system settings to increase typing speed.

The band members also expressed frustration with some modern hardware trends. Ary Warnaar, for instance, criticized the industry-wide removal of the 1/8-inch headphone jack, noting that the need for dongles is both wasteful and inconvenient. This sentiment highlights a broader tension between minimalist design trends and practical user needs.

Browser Management and Digital Clutter

Browser management is another area where the band members show distinct personalities. Peter Berkman utilizes Firefox, describing his tab grouping methods as an "artform" that allows him to organize memory like save files. In contrast, Luke Silas admitted to having a significant number of tabs open at once, noting that he frequently manages dozens of pages across multiple windows. Despite regular weekend "cleanouts," he noted that some tabs remain open for months.

The band continues to explore new corners of the web, such as the radio aggregator vvorldwide.com, which Berkman praised for its lightweight and useful design. Their habits reflect a broader trend of artists integrating niche digital tools into their daily routines, further cementing the band's identity as being deeply connected to the "weirder sides of the internet."

Evolving Musical Direction

The band's technical interests often mirror their artistic evolution. Following their 2025 album Anyway, the group released a new single titled "Yeah I Guess." This track continues the indie rock-infused path they began when recording at the American Football house. As they continue to innovate, their reliance on tools ranging from 3D printers to specialized software remains a core part of their collaborative process.

Sources

• The VergeAnamanaguchi has ‘too goddamn many’ browser tabs open right now