How It Was Recorded

Heart · Album, 1977

Little Queen

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: Barracuda. We found nothing specific to this song, so this album record is the closest account we have.

Lead vocalGuitar amp and roomDrum kitRoom effects, tape and consoleVerified3Reported4Inferred3

What the sources do and do not say

Mix Classic Tracks with producer Mike Flicker, read in full. Only the MXR DDL vocal delay is tied to Barracuda by name; the rest describes the Little Queen sessions at Kaye Smith Studios or Flicker's habits. Left out because no function was stated or the gear was hedged: API 550 equalisers, Jensen transformers, a room mic given as Neumann 67 or 87 or AKG C-12 or C-21, and the snare bottom mic (hedged, numbers forgotten).

Lead vocal

Ann Wilson

Microphone

Neumann U 87

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Lead vocal microphone for Ann Wilson; one chosen example, the only mic used on her.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: The source describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Mix effects

MXR DDL

VerifiedOne song

Lo-fi digital delay that produced the repeating effect heard on the vocals of this song.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Soundtoys PrimalTap

delay

An early digital delay like the original, where longer delay times bring a narrower, grittier sound; it is not a model of this unit.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Guitar amp and room

Microphone

beyerdynamic M 69

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Close microphone on the guitar amp, chosen for warm low mids.

Position
On the amp

A suggestion, not a documented fact: The source describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Drum kit

Michael Derosier

Microphone

Shure SM57

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Flicker's stated preference for the top snare microphone.

Position
Top of snare

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Mike Flicker describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

AKG D112

Reported

Kick drum microphone used on the drummer's kit.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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 D112 is still made.

Electro-Voice RE20

Reported

Floor tom microphones used on the drummer's kit.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Room effects, tape and console

Input chain

Ampex MM1200

Reported

Sixteen-track tape machine mostly used for recording at Kaye Smith Studios.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

tape

Models two Studer machines, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models a Studer A800, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape).

Mix effects

Eventide Clockworks

Verified

Digital effect used at Kaye Smith to make the studio room sound larger.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Eventide H910 Harmonizer

multi-effect

A model of Eventide's H910 Harmonizer, a digital delay and pitch unit from the same maker and years; the record does not say which Eventide unit was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

EMT Plate reverb (model not stated)

Verified

Plate reverbs available at the studio, used alongside the digital effects to enlarge the room sound.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator

reverb

The 140 is the EMT plate most studios have; the source does not name the model.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves Abbey Road Reverb Plates (Models the EMT 140 plates at Abbey Road).

API Console (model not stated)

Reported

Console in Studio A on which the album was mixed in its final phase.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio API Vision Channel Strip Collection

channel strip

Models the channel strip of API's Vision console, built from the same module family.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Heart's "Barracuda", Mix, 1999-09. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
Verified

Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.

Reported

Stated by a reputable secondary source.

Inferred

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.