How It Was Recorded

Madonna · Album, 1984

Like a Virgin

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: Angel, Dress You Up, Like a Virgin, Material Girl. We found nothing specific to these songs, so this album record is the closest account we have.

Lead vocalGuitar (Nile Rodgers)Bass (Bernard Edwards)Drum kit (Tony Thompson)Keyboards (Rob Sabino)Recording medium, console and effectsVerified8Reported18

What the sources do and do not say

One Sound On Sound Classic Tracks article, read in full, with engineer Jason Corsaro describing the Power Station sessions for the album. His statements are about the album sessions rather than the title track alone, so this is an album record with album-level scope. The article gives few settings; the guitar 57s are named only as '57s' and are listed as SM57 on that reading.

Lead vocal

Madonna

Microphone

AKG C24

Reported

Used one capsule of the stereo tube microphone for Madonna's lead vocals, recorded in the small wooden piano room.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Input chain

Schoeps Mic preamp (model not stated)

Reported

A Schoeps mic preamp was used alongside the C24 for Madonna's lead vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Pultec EQ (model not stated)

Reported

A Pultec EQ was used alongside the C24 for Madonna's lead vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection

equaliser

Models the Pultec EQP-1A, MEQ-5 and HLF-3C. The source does not say which Pultec was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves PuigTec EQs (EQP-1A and MEQ-5) (Models the Pultec EQP-1A and MEQ-5).

Guitar (Nile Rodgers)

Nile Rodgers

Instrument

Tokai Guitar (model not stated)

Verified

Rodgers's guitar for the sessions.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Amplifier

Music Man Guitar amp (model not stated)

Verified

Amplifier Rodgers's guitar was played through, alongside a DI feed.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear).

Recorded direct (DI), no amplifier

Verified

Direct feed taken from Rodgers's guitar in addition to the amp.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Recorded direct, so there is no amp to model. Leave the amp simulator off.

Bass (Bernard Edwards)

Bernard Edwards

Instrument

Music Man Bass (model not stated)

Reported

Corsaro recalls Edwards using either this or a Spector bass for the sessions.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A bass guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Amplifier

Gallien-Krueger Bass head (model not stated)

Reported

Amplifier head for Edwards's bass rig.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear).

H&H Bass cabinet (model not stated)

Reported

Cabinet for Edwards's bass rig.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear).

Microphone

Sennheiser MD 421

Reported

Microphone on Edwards's bass cabinet.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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 MD 421 is still made.

Drum kit (Tony Thompson)

Tony Thompson

Instrument

Unidentified Simmons drums (model not stated)

Reported

Corsaro thinks Jimmy Bralower sometimes triggered Simmons drums from his rig, pitched well down, to add weight to the programmed drum parts.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

drum instrument

A sampled drum instrument. It does not claim to be this kit or drum.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Microphone

Shure SM58

Verified

Close microphone on the bass drum with a pop shield, chosen because it was the only one that survived the drummer hitting it hard.

Position
Close on the bass drum

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Neumann U 47 fet

Verified

Added behind the bass drum close mic to supply the low end the SM58 lacked.

Position
Behind the close bass drum microphone

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Beyerdynamic M 160

Verified

Dual ribbon microphone further out in the room on the drums.

Position
About 10 feet farther back in the room than the close bass drum mics

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Sennheiser MD 421

Reported

Corsaro thinks he used these on the toms.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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 MD 421 is still made.

Neumann U 47 fet

Verified

Four used as room microphones around the kit.

Position
Two behind the kit and two in front

Source: Sound On Sound, 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

Publison Stereo harmoniser (model not stated)

Verified

Took the drum room sound, fed it back into itself and pitched it down to deepen it and bring out the bass drum.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Savant Audio Labs Savant IM90

multi-effect

Models the Publison Infernal Machine 90, with its pitch-shifting and delay sections. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Keyboards (Rob Sabino)

Rob Sabino

Instrument

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5

Reported

Main keyboard Sabino played for his overdubs.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Prophet-5 V

instrument

An emulation of the Prophet-5.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: u-he Repro (Includes Repro-5, a component-level model of the Prophet-5).

Rhodes Electric piano (model not stated)

Reported

Used for some of Sabino's keyboard parts alongside the Prophet 5.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

New England Digital Synclavier

Reported

Played by Nile Rodgers on the overdubs.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Synclavier V

instrument

An emulation of the Synclavier, made with one of its original developers.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Recording medium, console and effects

Input chain

Sony 3324

Reported

Digital 24-track tape machine that Corsaro made sure was supplied for the sessions.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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).

SSL E Series console

Reported

48-input console in Studio C's control room that the engineer worked behind.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Waves SSL E-Channel

channel strip

Made with SSL as a model of the 4000 E channel strip.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (SSL's own channel-strip plugin, based on a later desk).

Pultec EQ (model not stated)

Reported

A rack of 24 supplemented the console's EQ in the control room.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection

equaliser

Models the Pultec EQP-1A, MEQ-5 and HLF-3C. The source does not say which Pultec was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves PuigTec EQs (EQP-1A and MEQ-5) (Models the Pultec EQP-1A and MEQ-5).

Mix effects

Sony F1

Reported

Two-track digital recorder Corsaro bought for the 12-bit mix.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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).

Yamaha SPX (model not stated)

Reported

One of the digital reverbs used for effects on the album.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Valhalla DSP ValhallaVintageVerb

reverb

A reverb built on the methods of 1980s digital units such as Yamaha's SPX range; it does not cover their other effects. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Ursa Major Space Station

Reported

One of the digital reverbs used for effects on the album.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Audiority Space Station UM282

reverb

A model of the Ursa Major Space Station SST-282 itself, with its multi-tap delay line and reverb.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Madonna 'Like A Virgin', Sound On Sound, 2007-09. 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.