How It Was Recorded

The Spinners · Album, 1973

Mighty Love

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

Vocals and strings (studio microphones)GuitarsDrumsConsole, tape and reverbReported3Inferred4

What the sources do and do not say

Mix Classic Tracks with engineer Don Murray on the 1973 Sigma Sound session. Equipment lists are the journalist's narrative about Sigma generally, so most rows are reported and general-practice or album-level; only the Norman Harris guitar remark is Murray's own words about this song. The L5 is stated as an 'L5-type' guitar. No settings or positions are given.

Vocals and strings (studio microphones)

Philippe Wynne, Bobbie Smith and group

Microphone

Neumann U 87

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Among the microphones Sigma relied on most, and used across a wide range of sources from vocals to strings.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Article describes what Sigma Sound's engineers habitually used, not this song specifically.

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.

Guitars

Norman Harris, Bobby Eli, Roland Chambers

Instrument

Gibson L5 (type, model not stated)

ReportedOne song

Norman Harris played the melody and chord part on a guitar of this L5 type, per the engineer. (recalled with uncertainty)

Source: Mix, 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.

Drums

Earl Young

Microphone

Altec Saltshaker (model not stated)

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Sigma engineers used it on the snare drum.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Article describes what Sigma Sound's engineers habitually used, not this song specifically.

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.

RCA BK5

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Sigma engineers used it on the kick drum.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Article describes what Sigma Sound's engineers habitually used, not this song specifically.

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.

Console, tape and reverb

Input chain

Electrodyne 32-input custom console

Reported

The control room's console; the article says mixing was done on it with faders ridden by hand.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A one-off or custom-built desk. No plugin models it.

Scully 16-track recorder

Reported

The 16-track recorder in Sigma's control room at the time.

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

EMT Plate reverb (model not stated)

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: A mono plate blended with the echo chamber signal to make stereo reverb, a Tarsia technique.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Article describes what Sigma Sound's engineers habitually used, not this song specifically.

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).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: The Spinners' "Mighty Love", Mix, 2011-05. 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.