How It Was Recorded

Adele · 21, 2011

Someone Like You

Lead vocalPianoMix effectsVerified8

What the sources do and do not say

Source is Tom Elmhirst's mix breakdown in SOS (Sept 2011), mainly about 'Rolling In The Deep' with a short 'Someone Like You' section on the mix only. Nothing is said about how the piano or vocal were recorded. The Neve 33609 is called an EQ in the text although it is a compressor; the unit is kept as written. The article also mentions three de-essers on the vocal without naming a maker, so no row was made.

Lead vocal

Adele

Mix effects

Waves Q10 Equalizer

Verified

Used on the lead vocal to notch out three narrow bands.

Settings
Notches at 537 Hz, 2973 Hz and 10899 Hz, each at maximum Q

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Q10 Equalizer

equaliser

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sony Oxford EQ

Verified

Used on the lead vocal to remove the low end and add a little top.

Settings
Removes everything below 100 Hz; adds a little around 8 kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Sonnox Oxford EQ

equaliser

The same EQ: Sony's Oxford plugins are now made by Sonnox.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Pultec EQ (model not stated)

Verified

On the lead vocal insert, as on his 'Rolling In The Deep' mix.

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

On the lead vocal insert, as on his 'Rolling In The Deep' mix.

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 Compressor (model not stated)

Verified

On the lead vocal insert, as on his 'Rolling In The Deep' mix; the passage names the maker only.

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.

Piano

Mix effects

Neve 33609

Verified

On the stereo piano insert (the article calls it an EQ).

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Neve Dynamics Collection (33609)

compressor

The collection includes a model of the 33609 stereo compressor.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Mix effects

Mix effects

Trillium Lane Labs TL Spring

Verified

Reverb plug-in set up to return on a console channel (43 or 44) for manual control; the passage does not say which part it was sent from.

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.

Trillium Lane Labs TL Orban

Verified

Reverb plug-in set up to return on a console channel (43 or 44) for manual control; the passage does not say which part it was sent from.

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.

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.