Metallica · Album, 1991
Metallica
12 sourced items across 6 sectionsVerified3Reported8Inferred1
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: Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, Sad but True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam. 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
One Mix Classic Tracks article, read in full, with Randy Staub and Bob Rock interviewed. It describes the Black Album sessions at One on One and the mix at A&M in general, so most rows are album-level; only the SSL 4000 console row is tied to this song. Drum microphones are described only as 50-plus models, and the guitar cabinets and the 3224 digital machine are not given with a maker, so none has a row.
Lead vocal
1 item
James Hetfield
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann FET microphone (model not stated)
Reported
Among the other microphones used on the sessions, listed for Hetfield’s lead vocal.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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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.
Lead guitar
2 items
Kirk Hammett
Amplifier
The real chain
Marshall Amplifier (model not stated)
Reported
Hammett played through Marshall amps in the live room.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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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.
Also worth a look 1
- 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)
The real chain
Mesa/Boogie Amplifier head (model not stated)
Reported
Hammett’s Marshall amps were used with Mesa-Boogie heads.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
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.
Also worth a look 1
- 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)
Rhythm guitar
2 items
James Hetfield
Amplifier
The real chain
Mesa/Boogie Amplifier head (model not stated)
InferredUsual practice
Usual practice, not stated for this record: Staub thinks Hetfield’s standard setup was a Mesa-Boogie head, with other amps added to fill out the tone.
A suggestion, not a documented fact: Randy Staub describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
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.
Also worth a look 1
- 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)
The real chain
Marshall Amplifier head (model not stated)
Reported
Staub says Hetfield’s huge cabinet rig might have included an old Marshall head as one part of the sound.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
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.
Also worth a look 1
- 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)
Bass
2 items
Jason Newsted
Amplifier
The real chain
Ampeg SVT cabinet (model not stated)
Reported
Newsted played bass through a few SVT cabinets in the live room.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Plugin Alliance Ampeg SVT-VR Classic
bass amp simulator
A licensed model of the Ampeg SVT-VR.
Also worth a look 1
- Universal Audio Ampeg SVT-VR Bass Amp (A licensed model of the Ampeg SVT-VR)
The real chain
Recorded direct (DI), no amplifier
Reported
The bass was also taken as a direct (DI) signal alongside the cabinets.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Recorded direct, so there is no amp to model. Leave the amp simulator off.
Drums
2 items
Lars Ulrich
Input chain
The real chain
Studer 2-inch tape machine (model not stated)
Verified
Drum pieces (verse feel, chorus, fills) were recorded over several reels of two-inch tape before being edited together.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Approximate
Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines
tape
Models two Studer machines, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape.
Also worth a look 1
- Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models a Studer A800, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape)
The real chain
Sony 24-track digital recorder (model not stated)
Verified
The heavily edited analogue drum tape was transferred to this digital machine because it could not be played back many more times.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. A digital recorder. Your DAW does this job, so no plugin is needed to stand in for it.
Tracking and mix chain
3 items
Input chain
The real chain
SSL Console (model not stated)
Reported
Tracking at One on One went through the studio’s SSL console.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2
channel strip
SSL's own channel-strip plugin. It is not a model of this particular desk.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves SSL E-Channel (Models the 4000 E channel strip; the source does not make this the same desk)
Mix effects
The real chain
SSL 4000 Series console
ReportedOne song
This song was the first track mixed on the A&M Studios SSL 4000 Series console in Hollywood.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Close match
Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2
channel strip
SSL's own channel-strip plugin. It is not a model of this particular desk.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves SSL E-Channel (Models the 4000 E channel strip; the source does not make this the same desk)
The real chain
SSL 4000 compressor
Verified
Rock used an SSL compressor across the drums and bass buses and left the guitars uncompressed, because Hetfield disliked what it did to his guitars.
- Position
- Across the drums and bass buses, not the guitars
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor
compressor
The source does not say whether this was the desk's bus compressor or a channel compressor. This models the bus compressor.
Also worth a look 1
- Solid State Logic SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 (The source does not say whether this was the desk's bus compressor or a channel compressor. This is SSL's own bus compressor plugin)
Sources
- Classic Tracks: Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”, Mix, 2010-10-25. 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.