How It Was Recorded

Barry Manilow · Even Now, 1978

Copacabana

Lead vocalRemix bass drum trackPianoTape machinesVerified1Reported7

What the sources do and do not say

One Mix Classic Tracks article by Dan Daley, read in full, covering the July 1977 sessions at A&M Studio D and the later disco remix at MediaSound. Nearly all gear statements are narrative, so most rows are reported. The Quad 8 console, Altec monitors and Scully-or-3M decision are only partly usable: the console is listed with no stated function and was left out.

Lead vocal

Barry Manilow

Microphone

Neumann U 87

Reported

Used for Manilow's lead vocal, and was engineer Michael Delugg's usual choice for him.

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.

Input chain

Unidentified Compressor (model not stated)

Reported

Applied a small amount of compression to the lead vocal.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Unidentified Equaliser (model not stated)

Reported

Gave the lead vocal a slight boost at 5 kHz.

Settings
Slight boost at 5 kHz

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Remix bass drum track

Maelin

Microphone

Electro-Voice RE38

Reported

Old microphone Delugg used while the percussionist tapped quarter-notes, creating a new bass drum track for the disco remix.

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.

Mix effects

Unidentified Equaliser (model not stated)

Verified

Delugg used heavy EQ on the new remix bass drum track.

Settings
Boost at 50 to 60 Hz, mids taken out, some top end added for attack

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Piano

Bill Mays

Microphone

Sennheiser MD 421

Reported

Pair of microphones Delugg recalls adding on the piano to get more attack for this upbeat song.

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. The MD 421 is still made.

Tape machines

Input chain

3M M56 16-track tape machine

Reported

The basic tracks were recorded on either a Scully or a 3M M56 16-track deck; Delugg does not remember which. (recalled with uncertainty)

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

Studer A80 24-track tape machine

Reported

Used at MediaSound for the disco remix, after the multitrack safety copy was moved onto it.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

tape

Models a Studer A827 multitrack and an A80 mastering machine.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models the related Studer A800).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Barry Manilow's Copacabana, Mix, 2008-01-01. 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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