Rehab by Amy Winehouse: how it was recorded

Lead vocal

Amy Winehouse

The real chain

Get the sound

Input chain

Unidentified Spring reverb

Verified

Spring reverb that Elmhirst believes was printed when the vocal was tracked; delivered to the mix as its own track

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves Magma Springs

reverb

A set of spring reverb models. The unit used is not identified, so pick by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Mix effects

Waves Q10 Equalizer

Verified

Surgical notch EQ removing hard frequencies in the lead vocal

Settings: Four bands each cutting 18 dB; 465 Hz and 917 Hz at Q 100; 3107 Hz at Q 13.7 (fourth frequency not stated)

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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

McDSP FilterBank F2

Verified

Low-end filtering of the lead vocal

Settings: Shelving at roughly 40 Hz (Elmhirst says 'probably')

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

McDSP FilterBank

equaliser

F2 is the filter module of FilterBank, the plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves DeEsser

Verified

De-essing the lead vocal

Settings: Centred around 5506 Hz, threshold 22, probably no more than 3 dB of reduction

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves DeEsser

de-esser

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Neve Console (model not stated)

Verified

Mix desk fed from Pro Tools; additional vocal filtering done on the board

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

console emulation

Adds the summing character of three desks, one of them a Neve. The source does not name the console model, so this is only a family resemblance.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Pultec EQ (model not stated)

Verified

First unit in the outboard vocal chain; adds air

Settings: Boost at around 12 kHz (Elmhirst says 'probably')

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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 revision. Second in the outboard vocal chain; catches peaks before the Fairchild

Settings: As Elmhirst recalls it: very fast attack, very fast release, perhaps 10 dB of gain reduction; adjusted continually through the mix

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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)).

Fairchild Compressor/limiter (model not stated)

Verified

Last in the outboard vocal chain; smooths and holds the vocal level after the 1176

Settings: Very slow release; how hard the 1176 drives it is varied during the mix

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection

compressor

Models the Fairchild 660 and 670. The source does not say which model was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves PuigChild 660 & 670 (Models the Fairchild 660 and 670 owned by Jack Joseph Puig).

EMT Plate reverb (model not stated)

Verified

Plate reverb on the vocal, recorded back into the session at Metropolis

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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).

Bandive Great British Spring

Reported

Spring reverb listed in the lead-vocal chain. The source does not name the maker

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves Magma Springs

reverb

Spring reverb models of the same type. No plugin of the Great British Spring was found.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Bass guitar

The real chain

Get the sound

Mix effects

Digidesign Smack!

Verified

Plug-in compressor giving the bass a slight vintage drive

Settings: Fairly fast release setting of 2; light action; used in the choruses only

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Avid Pro Tools

DAW

Smack! is still included with Pro Tools.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

UREI 1176

Reported

Blackface revision. Outboard bass compression

Settings: Elmhirst's usual bass setting: 4:1 and 8:1 ratio buttons pressed together, attack and release around 3 or 5

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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)).

Drum kit (single mono track)

Homer Steinweiss

The real chain

Get the sound

Microphone

Shure 556

Verified

Single drum microphone used by Roth on the Winehouse sessions

Position: Low, about a foot or two off the floor between bass drum and snare, angled up towards the underside of the snare

Source: Red Bull Music Academy, accessed 12 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

Trident Series 65

Reported

Desk at the Dap-Kings' studio (Daptone), where Ronson recorded drums for the album. Ronson says only that it was a Trident; the Series 65 model is from a 2008 profile of the studio

Settings: Gabriel Roth's general habit, not stated for this session: he rolls off low end around 80 to 100 Hz before the signal reaches tape

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026; Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. No plugin models the Trident Series 65. Plugins of the earlier Trident A-Range exist, but that is a different desk.

Tube-Tech ME 1B

Inferred

Midrange EQ Roth says he consistently tracks drums through

Settings: His usual approach: pull low mids around 200-300 Hz

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Gabriel Roth says he has consistently tracked drums through Tube-Tech EQs and names Winehouse among the drum sounds he is credited for. He does not say these units were used on these sessions.

Source: Tube-Tech, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Close match

Waves PuigTec EQs (EQP-1A and MEQ-5)

equaliser

The ME 1B is Tube-Tech's version of the Pultec MEQ-5 midrange EQ; this bundle includes the MEQ-5.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Tube-Tech PE 1C

Inferred

Passive EQ Roth says he consistently tracks drums through

Settings: His usual approach: boost and cut at 100 Hz, sharp boost somewhere between 4 and 10 kHz, attenuate at 5, 10 or 20 kHz to soften the top

Source: Tube-Tech, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Close match

Waves PuigTec EQs (EQP-1A and MEQ-5)

equaliser

The PE 1C is Tube-Tech's version of the Pultec EQP-1A design; this models the original Pultec.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Studer 16-track one-inch tape machine (model not stated)

Verified

Multitrack recorder for the live rhythm-section tracking

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

tape

Models a Studer multitrack on two-inch tape; a one-inch 16-track has narrower tracks and more noise, so drive it harder.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Mix effects

Digidesign SoundReplacer

Verified

Added two bass-drum samples and a snare sample under the mono kit track. Elmhirst says Sound Replacer without naming the maker

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Close match

Steven Slate Drums Trigger 2

drum replacement

SoundReplacer is discontinued. Trigger 2 does the same job: it layers or replaces drum hits with samples.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves Q4 Equalizer

Verified

Notching unwanted resonances out of the mono drum track

Settings: Cuts at 155 Hz, 218 Hz and 423 Hz, all at maximum Q

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Q10 Equalizer

equaliser

Q4 is the four-band version of Q10 and is included with it.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Empirical Labs Distressor

Verified

Adds bite to the drums, feeding a Fairchild

Settings: British Mode; not driven hard

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

compressor

Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit).

Fairchild Compressor/limiter (model not stated)

Verified

One channel inserted on the original drum track, after the Distressor, to glue it together

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection

compressor

Models the Fairchild 660 and 670. The source does not say which model was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves PuigChild 660 & 670 (Models the Fairchild 660 and 670 owned by Jack Joseph Puig).

Neve 33609

Verified

Compressor across the drum subgroup on console buses 3-4

Settings: Hit fairly hard with a very quick release; one bass-drum sample bypassed it via the main mix bus

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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

Prism EQ (model not stated)

Verified

EQ on the drum subgroup, alongside the 33609; the order is not stated

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

FabFilter Pro-Q 4

equaliser

No plugin of the Prism EQ was found. A clean, precise EQ does the same job without the unit's character.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Unidentified Spring reverb

Verified

Only effect on the drums; printed back into the session and ridden on its own fader

Settings: Drier in the verses, pushed up in the choruses and bridge

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves Magma Springs

reverb

A set of spring reverb models. The unit used is not identified, so pick by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Piano

The real chain

Get the sound

Mix effects

Neve Console (model not stated)

Verified

Desk EQ removing drum and bass spill from the piano track

Settings: Elmhirst says he would have shelved off everything below 500 Hz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

console emulation

Adds the summing character of three desks, one of them a Neve. The source does not name the console model, so this is only a family resemblance.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sony Oxford EQ

Verified

Plug-in EQ shaping the piano towards mid and high frequencies

Settings: Cut below 100 Hz, small boost around 5 kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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

Waves L1 Ultramaximizer

Verified

Limiter on the piano track

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves L1 Ultramaximizer

limiter

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

McDSP FilterBank F2

Verified

High- or low-end filtering on the piano

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

McDSP FilterBank

equaliser

F2 is the filter module of FilterBank, the plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Trillium Lane Labs TL Space

Verified

Convolution reverb giving the dry piano a spring reverb

Settings: Vintage spring-type impulse; used as an insert with the dry fader at 0 and level set with the wet fader

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Avid Pro Tools

DAW

TL Space became Avid Space, the convolution reverb included with Pro Tools.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Wurlitzer

The real chain

Get the sound

Instrument

Wurlitzer Electric piano (model not stated)

Reported

Keyboard part on its own track, panned hard left in the mix

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Wurli V

instrument

Physical model of the Wurlitzer 200A electric piano. The source does not give the model used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Timpani

The real chain

Get the sound

Mix effects

Waves Renaissance Equalizer

Verified

Removes timpani low end and brings out the upper range

Settings: Low end cut; boost around 1-3 kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Renaissance Equalizer

equaliser

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves L1 Ultramaximizer

Verified

Heavy limiting to tame the attack and even out the sustain

Settings: Heavy limiting with a slowish release

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves L1 Ultramaximizer

limiter

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Digidesign Lo-Fi

Verified

Sample-rate and bit-depth reduction to narrow the timpani's spectrum so it cuts through

Settings: Sample rate 33 kHz, bit depth 13

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Avid Pro Tools

DAW

Lo-Fi is still included with Pro Tools.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Horns (baritone sax, tenor sax, trumpet)

The real chain

Get the sound

Microphone

Royer Ribbon microphone (model not stated)

Reported

Album-level: Ronson describes one ribbon mic for a three-piece horn section on Back To Black and Version generally. Tom Elmhirst says the brass on Rehab was recorded later at Metropolis in London, so this set-up is not established for this song

Position: Players crowded tightly around the mic, per Ronson

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 Nov 2026; Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 12 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.

Sources

Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Tom Elmhirst - Amy Winehouse: 'Rehab', Sound On Sound, 2007-08. Accessed 12 Nov 2026.
Gabriel Roth: The Mathematics of Soul (lecture transcript, London 2010), Red Bull Music Academy, 2010. Accessed 12 Nov 2026.
Mark Ronson: Writer & Producer (Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse), Sound On Sound, 2007-05. Accessed 12 Nov 2026.
Gabriel Roth: Recording For Daptone Records, Sound On Sound, 2008-06. Accessed 12 Nov 2026.
TUBE-TECH at Daptone Studios, Tube-Tech, 2017-11. Accessed 12 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.