How It Was Recorded

Dua Lipa · Future Nostalgia, 2020

Don't Start Now

Lead vocalBass lineVerified13Reported1Inferred2

What the sources do and do not say

Single source: Paul Tingen's Sound On Sound interview with producer Ian Kirkpatrick, read in full. The vocal and bass chains come from his walk-through of the Cubase rough mix of this song, so they are plug-in chains from the producer's rough mix; Josh Gudwin's final mix is not described. The two microphone rows are the producer's stated habit for Dua's recording sessions, not tied to this song. Drums, chords and the vocal chop are only partly covered and were left out.

Lead vocal

Dua Lipa

Microphone

Telefunken ELA M 251

InferredUsual practice

Mic Dua Lipa usually sings into when recording at the producer’s studio.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Ian Kirkpatrick describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

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.

Shure SM7

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Alternative vocal mic Dua sometimes uses at the producer’s studio.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Ian Kirkpatrick describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

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. Its successor, the SM7B, is still made.

Mix effects

Brainworx bx_cleansweep v2

Verified

First plug-in in the lead vocal chain, clearing sub-audible low end so the compressor behaves.

Settings
Removes low end around 30Hz

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.

Goodhertz Vulf Compressor

Verified

Compressor in the lead vocal chain used mainly for a slightly more analogue, gritty character rather than heavy compression.

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.

Waves LA-3A

Verified

Gentle compression on the lead vocal to keep it natural.

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.

Oeksound Soothe

Verified

Takes a little of the body out of the lead vocal, where Dua’s prominent lower mids can overpower things.

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 Pultec EQP-1A

Verified

Trims a little more low end from the lead vocal and adds a high boost for air.

Settings
Boost at 12kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection

equaliser

The current version of the plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

Reported

Ordinary EQ after the de-esser, to give back a little of the high end the vocal may have lost in it.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

FabFilter Pro-Q 4

equaliser

Current version of the plugin used on the record; Pro-Q 2 is no longer sold.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Xfer Records LFO Tool

Verified

Ducks the lead vocal volume against the kick, preferred to side-chaining for control over the recovery speed.

Settings
Ducking of 10 percent when the kick hits, 40 percent in the verses

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 Vintage Verb

Verified

Reverb on the lead vocals.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Valhalla DSP ValhallaVintageVerb

reverb

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Universal Audio UAD 1176

Verified

Compresses the vocal reverb return.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Bass line

Ian Kirkpatrick

Instrument

Native Instruments Scarbee MM-Bass

Verified

Main bass sound; Kirkpatrick played the part on a keyboard and edited it afterwards.

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.

Spectrasonics Trilian

Verified

Bass patch supplying the slap bass blended in during the drop.

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.

Native Instruments Reaktor

Verified

Used to build a sub-bass that is a low-octave copy of the main bass, because the Scarbee has no subharmonics.

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.

Mix effects

Xfer Records LFO Tool

Verified

On the bass bus, ducking the bass in time with the kick.

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

Slight compression on the bass bus.

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. Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Ian Kirkpatrick (Dua Lipa 'Don't Start Now'), Sound On Sound, 2020-05. 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.

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.