How It Was Recorded

David Bowie · "Heroes", 1977

"Heroes"

Lead vocalFripp feedback guitarSynthesiser and ChamberlinPercussion room ambience (tape reel, tambourine)Recording consoleVerified8Reported2

What the sources do and do not say

Based on SOS Classic Tracks (Richard Buskin, October 2004), which is about the title track. It gives microphones for the vocal and room ambience, but names no preamps, tape machine or guitar amps. The Neve console and Chamberlin are the journalist's statements. The second Sound On Sound candidate was not read.

Lead vocal

David Bowie

Microphone

Neumann U 47

Verified

Close lead vocal microphone, the valve U47 in front of Bowie, fed through fairly heavy compression.

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.

Neumann U 87

Verified

Second vocal microphone, gated, adding room sound once it opened at a set level.

Position
About 15 feet from the singer

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.

Neumann U 87

Verified

Third vocal microphone at the far end of the room, gated so it opened only when Bowie sang loud, giving the room reverb.

Position
Far end of the studio

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

Unidentified Noise gate (model not stated)

Verified

Gates on the second and third vocal mics so the room mics opened according to how loudly Bowie sang.

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.

Unidentified Compressor (model not stated)

Verified

Fairly heavy compression on the close vocal mic to handle Bowie shouting; all three mics went to one track.

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.

Fripp feedback guitar

Robert Fripp

Input chain

EMS Synthi

Verified

Fripp's guitar was plugged into the Synthi while Eno altered filters and envelopes, treating the feedback line.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Synthi V

instrument

An emulation of the EMS Synthi AKS.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Synthesiser and Chamberlin

Brian Eno

Instrument

EMS Synthi

Verified

Eno's source of the shuddering, chattering effect, using a very slow oscillator 1 and the noise filter, over a couple of passes.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Synthi V

instrument

An emulation of the EMS Synthi AKS.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Chamberlin Chamberlin

Reported

Brass patch, intended as a trumpet part, giving the Stax-style horn sound at the start of the second verse.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Arturia Mellotron V

instrument

An emulation of the Mellotron, the tape keyboard that was developed from the Chamberlin.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Percussion room ambience (tape reel, tambourine)

David Bowie and Tony Visconti

Microphone

Neumann U 87

Verified

Ambience microphone picking up the large Hansa room for the tape-reel 'cowbell' and tambourine, with no artificial reverb.

Position
Percussion played about 15 feet from the mic

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.

Recording console

Input chain

Neve Console (model not stated)

Reported

Console Visconti recorded from in Hansa Studio Two.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 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

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: David Bowie 'Heroes', Sound On Sound, 2004-10. 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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