Coldplay · Album, 2016
A Head Full of Dreams
9 sourced items across 4 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: A Head Full of Dreams, Adventure of a Lifetime, Up&Up. 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 article read is Paul Tingen's Sound On Sound piece with Rik Simpson, which is mainly about 'Hymn For The Weekend' and the album's sessions. It says little about the recording of 'Adventure Of A Lifetime' itself (a reused guitar riff sped up from 95 to 112bpm; mixed by Phil Tan), with no gear named for it, so this is an album record. Vocal rows are album-level statements; drum, guitar and bass rows are Simpson's stated usual miking and are marked general-practice.
Lead vocal
4 items
Chris Martin
Microphone
The real chain
Soyuz SU17
Verified
Lead vocal microphone Simpson preferred for the album after shootouts against vintage Neumanns and newer mics modelled on classic designs.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Shure SM58
Verified
Handheld vocal mic that Martin sometimes chose; Simpson says a lot of these takes ended up on the album.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Telefunken M80
Verified
Handheld vocal mic Simpson asked Martin to use at the start of the album sessions, before they went back to the SM58.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
Universal Audio 610
Verified
Microphone preamp for both the SM58 and the Soyuz vocal mics on the album.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection
preamp and EQ
Universal Audio's own model of its 610-A and 610-B valve preamps, including the valves, transformers and EQ.
Electric guitar
2 items
Microphone
The real chain
Shure SM57
InferredUsual practice
Close microphone on electric guitar cabinets in Simpson's usual approach.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Simpson describes his habitual miking of electric guitar cabinets.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.
The real chain
Royer Ribbon microphone (model not stated)
InferredUsual practice
Second microphone, alongside the SM57, on electric guitar cabinets in Simpson's usual approach.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Simpson describes his habitual miking of electric guitar cabinets.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Bass
1 item
Microphone
The real chain
Shure SM7
InferredUsual practice
Microphone on the bass cabinet in Simpson's usual approach.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Simpson describes his habitual miking of the bass cabinet.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. Its successor, the SM7B, is still made.
Drum kit
2 items
Will Champion
Microphone
The real chain
Telefunken M82
InferredUsual practice
Usual practice, not stated for this record: Dynamic microphone Simpson uses on the kick drum, which he likes for its weight and attack without a clanking tone.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Simpson describes his own habitual drum-mic setup, not a stated use on this song.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Telefunken 251
InferredUsual practice
Used as a pair of drum overheads in Simpson's usual drum-mic setup.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Simpson describes his own habitual drum-mic setup, not a stated use on this song.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Sources
- Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Rik Simpson (Inside Track: Coldplay ‘Hymn For The Weekend’), Sound On Sound, 2016-03. 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.