How It Was Recorded

Supergrass · Album, 1995

I Should Coco

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

VocalsGuitarBassDrumsPianoStudio and mixVerified1Reported15

What the sources do and do not say

Both pages of the Sound On Sound Classic Tracks piece were read in full. It is mostly about the first Sawmills session for I Should Coco, so most gear rows are album-level; only the detuned piano is tied to Alright. Drum mic recollections for the toms and kick are hedged by Williams, and the vocal mic is given as either a C12 or a U87.

Vocals

Gaz Coombes

Microphone

AKG C 12

Reported

Williams says lead and backing vocals were usually re-recorded after the live takes on either this or a U87, so the choice between the two is not settled. (recalled with uncertainty)

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 87

Reported

Williams says lead and backing vocals were usually re-recorded after the live takes on either this or an AKG C12, so the choice between the two is not settled. (recalled with uncertainty)

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

Universal Audio 176

Verified

Valve limiter that the studio engineer rigged at the mix for a parallel distortion treatment on Gaz Coombes's vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection

compressor

Universal Audio's own plugin model of the 176 valve limiter.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Guitar

Gaz Coombes

Instrument

Fender Telecaster

Reported

One of the two guitars Gaz Coombes played, as the band simply used their own equipment; the article does not say which was used on Alright.

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.

Epiphone SG

Reported

The other guitar Gaz Coombes used in the sessions, from the band's own gear; the article does not say which was used on Alright.

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

Sound City 2x12 combo (model not stated)

Reported

Combo amp that Gaz Coombes's guitar was played through during the sessions.

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).

Bass

Mick Quinn

Instrument

Carlsbro Bass and amp (model not stated)

Reported

Mick Quinn's own bass and amp were used; Williams says the bass had a blown-up, farting sound that was key to the distortion.

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.

Drums

Danny Goffey

Instrument

Premier Drum kit (model not stated)

Reported

The studio's Premier kit was set up the evening before the first session so a drum sound was ready for tracking.

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

Sennheiser MD 421

Reported

Williams thinks Sennheiser 421s were on the toms, though he is not certain.

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.

AKG D12

Reported

Williams believes the kick drum was miked with an old AKG D12, but he does not state it flatly.

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.

Piano

Instrument

Rönisch Grand piano (model not stated)

ReportedOne song

The studio's grand piano, deliberately detuned by Williams and Cornfield to give the pub-style piano sound on Alright, and overdubbed after the live take.

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.

Studio and mix

Input chain

Trident 80B

Reported

The control room console; Williams praises it as transparent and mentions its monitor section's different EQ.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Trident Audio Developments 80B EQ (Trident Digital Edition)

equaliser

Trident's own model of the Series 80B channel equaliser; it covers the EQ only, not the microphone preamp.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Otari MTR-90 MkII

Reported

The 24-track two-inch machine used for tracking at 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).

Mix effects

EMT 140

Reported

Plate reverb that the engineer set up as an effects send on the Trident for the mix of the first six tracks.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator

reverb

Models three EMT 140 plates, made with EMT.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Soundtoys Little Plate (A simpler EMT 140 model with one decay control).

Roland Dimension D

Reported

Stereo chorus set up as an effects send on the Trident ahead of the mix of the first six tracks.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Studio D Chorus

modulation

Models the Roland Dimension D.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Revox Reel-to-reel tape machines (model not stated)

Reported

Two reel-to-reels set up as sends on the Trident for tape echo at the mix of the first six tracks.

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).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Supergrass 'Alright' (page 2), Sound On Sound, 2020-01. 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.