How It Was Recorded

Adele · 21, 2011

Rolling in the Deep

Lead vocalAcoustic and electric guitarsDrumsRoom sound and final mixVerified22Reported3

What the sources do and do not say

One Sound On Sound Inside Track article read in full: Tom Elmhirst on the mix and Paul Epworth on the demo and Eastcote recording. The Neve VR console, outboard reverbs and some other mix units are named but their function is not tied to a part, so they are left out. The article does not say which mic recorded the snare or bass.

Lead vocal

Adele

Microphone

Rode Classic 2

Verified

Epworth's microphone for all of Adele's vocals on the demo, which became the final vocals.

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

Universal Audio 6176

Verified

Mic preamp the Rode fed when Epworth recorded Adele's vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. No plugin equivalent mapped yet.

Apple Logic Pro Overdrive

Reported

Epworth believes he added Logic overdrive to the voice for extra harmonics.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Mix effects

Waves Q6

Verified

Notch EQ on the chorus vocal to remove three problem frequencies so the voice stays forward.

Settings
Notches at 930 Hz (-18 dB), 1634 Hz (-18 dB) and 3175 Hz (-12.1 dB), very narrow Q

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Pultec EQ (model not stated)

Verified

On the lead vocal insert (desk channel 25), giving gentle colour with a boost in the low and high ends.

Settings
Boost around 100 Hz and 12 kHz, not much gain

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).

UREI 1176

Verified

Blackface 1176 on the lead vocal insert, set fast.

Settings
Fast attack, fast release

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

compressor

Models several revisions of the 1176, including the blackface units.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (Models two 1176 revisions (blacky and bluey)).

Tube-Tech CL 1B

Verified

Evened out the lead vocal level on the insert with slow timing.

Settings
Slow attack, slow release

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II

compressor

Made with Tube-Tech as a model of the CL 1B.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Acoustic and electric guitars

Paul Epworth

Instrument

Martin 1964 acoustic guitar (model not stated)

Verified

Epworth's acoustic, close-miked for the recording.

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.

Gibson Les Paul (1957)

Verified

The electric guitar part, which Epworth says is barely audible but adds tension.

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

Mesa/Boogie Combo (model not stated)

Verified

Amp the electric guitar was played through.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked).

Microphone

Telefunken Elam 250

Verified

Close mic on the acoustic guitar to capture body and presence.

Position
Three feet from the front of the guitar

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.

Telefunken Elam 260

Verified

Elam 260s on the head, placed horizontally at the listening position, used when recording the acoustic guitars.

Position
Positioned horizontally at the listening position, on the head

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.

Royer Microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Microphone used to record the electric guitar.

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.

Drums

Leo Taylor

Instrument

Unidentified Marching band bass drum (model not stated)

Verified

Pressed against the front head of the kick drum to sharpen the attack and add a big boom.

Position
Up against the front head of his 1972 Super Classic kick

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

Unidentified 1972 Super Classic bass drum (26-inch)

Verified

Epworth's kick drum, a 26-inch drum tuned low, which he says needs its decay shaped with mutes, a little tape and a blanket.

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

AKG D12

Reported

The session screenshot caption identifies a D12 as the mic that recorded the original live bass drum track.

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

dbx 160

Verified

On the inserts of the bass drum and snare channels at the desk for the mix.

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).

Chandler TG1

Verified

Limiter on the drum ambience bus return, run hard so it pumped and added trashy character.

Settings
Limiter mode, very fast recovery time, maximum input

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. No plugin equivalent mapped yet.

Waves MV2

Verified

Compressor on the overheads, which Elmhirst calls a creative plug-in working like a multi-band limiter.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Avid Lo-Fi

Verified

On the snare, taking off some top end and adding distortion and aggression because it sounded too clean.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Waves Renaissance Bass

Reported

Elmhirst thinks he added RBass on the kick for more low end.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Room sound and final mix

Microphone

Schoeps Microphone (model not stated)

Verified

A couple of Schoeps mics flanked a binaural head at Eastcote, as a Tchad Blake-style stereo room sound, blended with close mics.

Position
Either side of the binaural head

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

Manley Vari-Mu

Verified

Part of the chain the mix was printed back through into the 24/96 session.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor

compressor

Made with Manley as a model of the Variable Mu.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Chandler Curvebender

Verified

Part of the chain the mix was printed back through into the session.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Chandler Limited Curve Bender Mastering EQ

equaliser

Made with Chandler Limited as a model of the Curve Bender.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Crane Song HEDD

Verified

Tape simulator that also did the A-D conversion when the mix was printed back; Elmhirst likes its colour.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A converter between analogue and digital. Your audio interface does this job, so no plugin is needed.

Sources

  1. Tom Elmhirst: Recording Adele 'Rolling In The Deep', Sound On Sound, 2011-09. 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.