How It Was Recorded

Herb Alpert · Rise, 1979

Rise

BassDrum kitElectric pianoTrumpetMarimba and vibesHandclapsOverall recording and mixVerified3Reported8Inferred5

What the sources do and do not say

One Mix Classic Tracks article, based on interviews with Herb Alpert, Randy Badazz and engineer Don Hahn. Hahn hedges several mix recollections, and the drum, hi-hat, overhead, tom and Wechter microphones are described as his go-to scheme of the period, so they are marked as general practice. Hahn does not remember the mic or distance used on the drums.

Bass

Abraham Laboriel

Amplifier

Recorded direct (DI), no amplifier

Reported

Laboriel's bass was recorded direct.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Recorded direct, so there is no amp to model. Leave the amp simulator off.

Mix effects

Fairchild Compressor/limiter (model not stated)

Reported

Hahn believes he probably used a Fairchild on the bass at the mix.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection

compressor

Models the Fairchild 660 and 670. The source does not say which model was used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves PuigChild 660 & 670 (Models the Fairchild 660 and 670 owned by Jack Joseph Puig).

Drum kit

Steve Schaeffer

Microphone

Sennheiser MD 421

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Kick drum microphone in Hahn's go-to miking scheme of the period.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Barbara Schultz describes the engineer's usual setup at the time rather than stating it for this song alone.

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.

Neumann KM 84

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Hi-hat microphone in Hahn's go-to miking scheme of the period.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Barbara Schultz describes the engineer's usual setup at the time rather than stating it for this song alone.

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.

AKG C 12

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Overhead microphones in Hahn's go-to miking scheme of the period.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Barbara Schultz describes the engineer's usual setup at the time rather than stating it for this song alone.

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.

Electric piano

Andy Armer

Instrument

Fender Rhodes

ReportedAlbum sessions

Album sessions, not stated for this song: Armer played Fender Rhodes in the band chosen for the early disco sessions.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Stage-73 V

instrument

A physical model of the Rhodes Stage and Suitcase electric pianos.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Trumpet

Herb Alpert

Microphone

Sony C-37

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Alpert used this microphone on his trumpet for many years because it gave a mellower tone without screaming highs.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Barbara Schultz describes the engineer's usual setup at the time rather than stating it for this song alone.

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.

Marimba and vibes

Julius Wechter

Microphone

Neumann U 87

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Microphones on Wechter's instruments in Hahn's go-to scheme of the period.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Barbara Schultz describes the engineer's usual setup at the time rather than stating it for this song alone.

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.

Handclaps

Studio staff

Microphone

AKG C 12

Reported

Hahn believes he probably placed one or two C12s in the room to record the overdubbed handclaps.

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

Eventide Harmonizer (model not stated)

Verified

Hahn says he later used an Eventide Harmonizer on the handclaps.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Eventide H910 Harmonizer

multi-effect

Eventide's own plugin of the H910, its first Harmonizer. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Eventide H3000 Factory Mk II (Eventide's own plugin of the later H3000 Harmonizer. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record).

Overall recording and mix

Don Hahn

Input chain

Quad Eight Mic preamps (model not stated)

Reported

Every input was tracked through the microphone preamps of the Quad 8 desk.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

MixWave Quad Eight MM-310

preamp and EQ

Models Quad Eight's MM-310 preamp and three-band EQ module, made with Quad Eight. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

3M 32-track digital tape recorder (model not stated)

Reported

Rise was recorded on the loaned 3M 32-track digital machine, which Alpert wanted to try.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A digital recorder. Your DAW does this job, so no plugin is needed to stand in for it.

MCI 24-track analogue tape machine (model not stated)

Reported

Everything was backed up to this analogue machine so it could be edited and mixed.

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

Teletronix LA-2A

Verified

Hahn says LA-2A compression was among the processing used at the mix; the part is not stated.

Source: Mix, 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).

dbx Limiters (model not stated)

Verified

Hahn says dbx limiters were used at the mix; the part is not stated.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Waves dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter

compressor

dbx limiters are VCA designs, and this models the best known dbx unit, the 160. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Universal Audio dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter (dbx limiters are VCA designs, and this models the best known dbx unit, the 160. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record).

EMT 140

Reported

Hahn thinks an EMT 140 reverb was probably used at the mix; the part is not stated.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator

reverb

Models three EMT 140 plates, made with EMT.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Soundtoys Little Plate (A simpler EMT 140 model with one decay control).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Herb Alpert’s “Rise”, Mix, 2015-12-04. 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.