Billie Eilish · Album, 2019
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
9 sourced items across 2 sectionsVerified4Inferred5
This is an album-level record: the sources describe how the album as a whole was recorded, not one song. Where a detail belongs to a single song, the row says so.
Songs this record stands for: Bury a Friend, When the Party's Over. We found nothing specific to these songs, so this album record is the closest account we have.
What the sources do and do not say
The only source is Rob Kinelski's mix interview, which is mainly about 'Bad Guy'. It says the 'Bury A Friend' mix session is almost identical in structure, with similar plug-ins and identical master bus chains, and that every album song shares the master chain, so those rows are album-level. Vocal-chain rows are Kinelski's stated habits, kept as general practice because the chain is described on another song. Nothing here covers tracking, microphones or instruments.
Vocals (mix chain)
2 items
Billie Eilish
Mix effects
The real chain
FabFilter Pro-Q 2
InferredUsual practice
Usual practice, not stated for this record: Used as a low-cut EQ at the start of the vocal chain in the mix of the album single covered in the article, which the mixer calls very standard for him.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Kinelski calls the low cut at the head of the vocal chain very standard, a statement of habit; the chain he walks through is from another song.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
FabFilter Pro-Q 4
equaliser
Current version of the plugin used on the record; Pro-Q 2 is no longer sold.
The real chain
Waves PuigChild 670
InferredUsual practice
Usual practice, not stated for this record: Compressor the mixer puts on every vocal for a gentle smoothing and some colour, without hitting hard.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Kinelski says he uses it on all vocals because he likes its sound; a habit, not tied to one song.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Waves PuigChild 660 & 670
compressor
The plugin used on the record.
Mix bus and summing
7 items
Mix effects
The real chain
Dangerous Music 2-Bus
InferredUsual practice
Usual practice, not stated for this record: Analogue summing stage that all of his mixes are routed through before the compressor.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Kinelski says all his mixes go through the 2-Bus; a general working statement.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. An analogue summing mixer designed to be transparent. Mixing inside the DAW is the equivalent; no plugin is needed.
The real chain
Dangerous Music Dangerous Compressor
InferredUsual practice
Usual practice, not stated for this record: Analogue compressor that his mixes pass through after the summing mixer, on the way back into Pro Tools.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Kinelski says all his mixes go through it; a general working statement.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
Solid State Logic SSL Native Bus Compressor 2
compressor
A VCA stereo bus compressor, the same circuit type and job as the Dangerous unit, though less transparent. It is not a model of the Dangerous Compressor.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD Ampex ATR-102
Verified
Tape-machine plug-in placed first on the master chain; the artists disliked its added hiss, so the hiss was turned off.
- Settings
- 30 ips, half-inch
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
tape
The plugin used on the record.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD Thermionic Culture Vulture
Verified
Follows the tape plug-in on the master chain, adding a small amount of drive.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio Thermionic Culture Vulture
saturation
The plugin used on the record.
The real chain
FabFilter Pro-L 2
Verified
Final limiter on the master chain, using a preset for aggressive, tight limiting; the two printed mixes differ only in its level.
- Settings
- Preset 'EDM-Aggressive and Tight'
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
FabFilter Pro-L 2
limiter
The plugin used on the record.
The real chain
TC Electronic Clarity M
Verified
A meter listed alongside the master chain.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Soundtoys MicroShift
InferredUsual practice
On his Width aux track, which on Eilish mixes was usually the only effect track left in the session, adding some space. (recalled with uncertainty)
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Rob Kinelski describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys MicroShift
modulation
The plugin used on the record.
Sources
- Inside Track: Billie Eilish 'Bad Guy' (Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Rob Kinelski), Sound On Sound, 2019-07. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.