How It Was Recorded

10cc · The Original Soundtrack, 1975

I'm Not in Love

Lead vocal and voice loopsRhythm guitarBass soloDrums and bass-drum partFender RhodesRecording chainVerified5Reported7

What the sources do and do not say

One Sound On Sound Classic Tracks article read in full, mostly Eric Stewart's own account of the song's a cappella voice-loop backing. Drum microphones, the Helios desk and the 3M machine are album-level statements. The article says nothing about the vocal mic positions, settings, or any mix chain.

Lead vocal and voice loops

Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, Graham Gouldman

Microphone

Neumann U 67

Reported

Eric Stewart's lead vocal was recorded through his usual valve U67, with no reverb or EQ applied.

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 67

Verified

Kevin, Lol and GiGi stood around a valve U67 to sing the 'Aahhh' notes that were then built into the voice loops.

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

Studer Stereo tape machine (model not stated)

Verified

A Studer stereo machine took the mixed-down voice notes and ran them as a long tape loop, which was then bounced back to the 16-track.

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).

Rhythm guitar

Amplifier

Recorded direct (DI), no amplifier

Verified

The rhythm guitar part was a Gibson 335 recorded direct, with no amplifier.

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 solo

Graham Gouldman

Input chain

dbx 160

Verified

Compressed the direct-injected Rickenbacker for the bass solo so that its full, punchy tone stayed controlled and even.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter

compressor

Made with dbx as a model of the original 160.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter (Made with dbx as a model of the original 160).

Drums and bass-drum part

Kevin Godley

Microphone

Neumann U 87

ReportedAlbum sessions

Overhead microphones on Kevin Godley's Ludwig kit during the album's sessions.

Position
overhead

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.

AKG D12

ReportedAlbum sessions

Bass drum microphone on Godley's kit during the album's sessions.

Position
in 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.

Shure SM57

ReportedAlbum sessions

Snare microphone on Godley's kit during the album's sessions.

Position
under the snare

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 SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.

Neumann KM 84

ReportedAlbum sessions

Hi-hat microphone on Godley's kit during the album's sessions, also picking up some snare brightness.

Position
on the hi-hat

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.

Fender Rhodes

Eric Stewart

Instrument

Fender Rhodes electric piano

Verified

Stewart played the Rhodes on the single mono track alongside the bass drum and a rough guide vocal, to keep the song's timing.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Stage-73 V

instrument

A physical model of the Rhodes Stage and Suitcase electric pianos.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Recording chain

Eric Stewart (engineer)

Input chain

Helios Console (model not stated)

ReportedAlbum sessions

Strawberry Studios' new Helios wraparound desk, which Stewart engineered from, was the console for the album sessions.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio Helios Type 69 Preamp and EQ Collection

preamp and EQ

Models the Helios Type 69 channel, with its transformer microphone preamp and three-band equaliser. The source does not say which Helios desk was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

3M 16-track tape machine (model not stated)

ReportedAlbum sessions

The 16-track multitrack used for the Original Soundtrack album sessions, replacing the earlier eight-track Scully.

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: 10cc 'I'm Not In Love', Sound On Sound, 2005-06. 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.

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