Aphex

Aphex is a name used in music and audio technology to refer to several related, but distinct, entities. It is most commonly encountered as shorthand for Aphex Systems, a British manufacturer of professional audio equipment, and as a shortening for Aphex Twin, the electronic musician Richard D. James.

Aphex Systems is a company that designs and manufactures signal processing hardware used in recording studios and live sound applications. Its products are noted for analog and early digital techniques and include devices such as the Aural Exciter, Big Bottom, and Compellor. The Aural Exciter is designed to enhance harmonic content and presence of audio signals, while Big Bottom adds perceived low-end, and Compellor functions as a dynamics processor. The brand has had a significant afterlife in both studio and broadcast contexts, with its gear widely referenced in industry circles.

Aphex Twin, the stage name of Richard D. James, is a highly influential figure in electronic music. Emerging in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Aphex Twin helped shape ambient, techno, and IDM styles through a prolific and experimental output. Notable releases include Selected Ambient Works 85-92, which is frequently cited as foundational in ambient and IDM genres, as well as later works such as Come to Daddy and Windowlicker. In fan and media usage, the term Aphex is sometimes used as shorthand for the artist.

In usage, Aphex may refer to either the audio equipment company or the musician, depending on context.