How It Was Recorded

Chris Isaak · Heart Shaped World, 1989

Wicked Game

Lead vocalLead guitar (James Calvin Wilsey)Drum loops and bassOverdub preamps, background vocals and mixVerified2Reported11

What the sources do and do not say

Single Mix Classic Tracks piece built on an interview with engineer Mark Needham, covering the sampled drum loops, guitar and vocal chains and the mix. Needham often hedges ("recalls", "I can’t remember"); those rows are marked hedged. Not covered: Isaak’s two acoustic guitars have no gear named, and the 1073 preamps are not tied to a specific part.

Lead vocal

Chris Isaak

Microphone

Sanken C-41

Reported

Needham recalls this as the lead vocal microphone.

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

George Massenburg Massenburg preamp/EQ (model not stated)

Reported

Needham recalls the vocal mic going through a Massenburg preamp and EQ.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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

EAR Compressor (model not stated)

Reported

Needham recalls an English EAR compressor on the vocal.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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

Mix effects

Lexicon 480L

Reported

Vocal reverb, using an altered version of the Snare Plate program. (recalled with uncertainty)

Settings
Pre-delay taken down, room size 35 metres, overall decay probably about two seconds, high frequencies rolled off to around 5 or 6 kHz

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Lexicon 480L Digital Reverb and Effects

reverb

A model of the Lexicon 480L itself, endorsed by Lexicon, with its main reverb and effects algorithms.

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Lead guitar (James Calvin Wilsey)

James Calvin Wilsey

Amplifier

Fender Deluxe (1964)

Reported

Wilsey’s lead guitar was played through this amp.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear).

Microphone

Shure SM57

Reported

Microphone on the 1964 Fender Deluxe amp for Wilsey’s guitar.

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

Mix effects

TC Electronic 2290

Reported

Mono guitar track was sent here for pre-delay ahead of the H3000 chorus, giving the swelling triplet delay.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

TC Electronic TC2290 Native / TC2290-DT

delay

The maker's own plug-in version of the 2290 delay.

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Eventide H3000

Reported

Stereo Rich Chorus program fed from the 2290 delay, so the delayed guitar spreads into a pad.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Eventide H3000 Factory Mk II

multi-effect

Eventide's own plugin version of the H3000.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Drum loops and bass

Kenney Dale Johnson

Instrument

Akai DD1000

Reported

Johnson’s drum tracks were sampled into this sampler to build the metronomic loops.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is a digital recorder and editor rather than an effect or instrument; cutting and looping audio is now done in any recording software.

Input chain

MCI JH-24

Reported

Finished loops were dumped back to this 24-track recorder, and cymbals were overdubbed after.

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).

Overdub preamps, background vocals and mix

Input chain

Neve 1073

Verified

Needham says the studio had four of these, bought early on at his urging.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection

preamp and EQ

Made with AMS Neve as a model of the 1073 preamp and equaliser.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves Scheps 73 (Models the 1073's preamp and equaliser, made with Andrew Scheps).

Mix effects

Neve V Series console with Necam automation

Reported

The mix was done on this console at Amigo Studios, Hollywood.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

console emulation

A console-summing plugin that includes one Neve desk. It gives a Neve flavour, not this console's channels.

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Publison Infernal Machine

Verified

Its Sound Hoarder program sampled and offset the held vocal note to make the long delay at the end.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Savant Audio Labs Savant IM90

multi-effect

A model of the Publison Infernal Machine 90 itself, with its delay, pitch-shifting and time-stretching sections.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Chris Isaak’s "Wicked Game", Mix, 2002-05. 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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