How It Was Recorded

David Kushner · The Dichotomy, 2023

Daylight

Lead and backing vocalsDrumsPianoMusic folder and mix busVerified20

What the sources do and do not say

Source is Sound On Sound's Secrets of the Mix Engineers on Jacob Morris, with a producer section from Rob Kirwan. It covers mixing plug-ins and outboard in detail but no tracking microphones, and Kirwan says he does not know the vocal mic. Morris mixes mostly in the box; the vocal outboard (CL-1B, 1073) is stated, but the article does not say which part of the vocal chain Kirwan's gear (LA-2A, Vac Rac, Moisturizer, Echoplex) was applied in, so the stage for those rows is a best fit.

Lead and backing vocals

David Kushner

Input chain

Teletronix LA-2A

Verified

Producer's own hardware compressor used to process Kushner's vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection

compressor

Universal Audio owns the Teletronix name; this is its own model of the LA-2A.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter (Models an LA-2A from Chris Lord-Alge's collection. Cheaper and runs without UA hardware).

Inward Connections Vac Rac

Verified

Producer's own EQ used on Kushner's vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

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

equaliser

A valve equaliser with stepped frequencies and broad low, mid and high bands, so it shapes a vocal in the same gentle way; it is not a model of this unit.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Knas Ekdahl Moisturizer

Verified

Spring reverb used on both the lead and backing vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Waves Magma Springs

reverb

A spring reverb like the original, with the same splashy, metallic tail; it is not a model of this unit and has no filter or playable springs.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Maestro Echoplex EP-3

Verified

Delay used on both the lead and the backing vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio EP-34 Tape Echo

delay

Models the Echoplex EP-3 and EP-4 tape echoes.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Soundtoys EchoBoy (Includes an Echoplex-style tape echo setting among its delay styles).

Tube-Tech CL 1B

Verified

Outboard compressor Morris ran the lead vocals through during the mix.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II

compressor

Made with Tube-Tech as a model of the CL 1B.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Neve 1073

Verified

Outboard unit Morris ran David Kushner's vocals through to boost a little high end; the backing vocals did not go through outboard.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Used to dirty up the vocals further, including the re-recorded second verse.

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.

FabFilter Pro-DS

Verified

De-essing the vocals after they returned from the outboard.

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.

Universal Audio UAD LA-2A

Verified

Plug-in compression on the vocals after the outboard stage.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Valhalla DSP Valhalla Room

Verified

Reverb added by Morris on the vocals, alongside some Altiverb.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Valhalla DSP ValhallaRoom

reverb

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

FabFilter Pro-Q 3

Verified

Two instances adjusted the tone of the re-recorded second verse vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

FabFilter Pro-Q 4

equaliser

Pro-Q 4 is the current version of the same equaliser.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Drums

Mix effects

Universal Audio UAD Fatso

Verified

Compressing the overall drums, together with Pro-C 2.

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.

FabFilter Pro-C 2

Verified

Compressing the overall drums, together with the Fatso.

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.

Universal Audio UAD Little Labs Voice Of God

Verified

Used on the kick drums to add low end; the UAD emulation.

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.

Piano

David Kushner

Mix effects

Universal Audio UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor

Verified

Hard compression on the piano.

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.

Universal Audio UAD Ampex ATR-102

Verified

Added to the piano to bring out the room tone and dirtiness.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder

tape

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Added to the piano, with the ATR-102, to bring out room tone and dirtiness.

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.

Valhalla DSP Valhalla Vintage Verb

Verified

Reverb on the piano.

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.

Music folder and mix bus

Mix effects

Universal Audio UAD Studer (model not stated)

Verified

Tape emulation across the whole Music folder for vibe.

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.

Jaycen Joshua The God Particle

Verified

Mix bus processing, with Pro-L 2 used for volume.

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. Inside Track: David Kushner 'Daylight', Sound On Sound, 2023-07. 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.