How It Was Recorded

Jimmy Buffett · Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, 1977

Margaritaville

Lead vocalKeyboardsRecording and mix chainReported8

What the sources do and do not say

Single Mix Classic Tracks piece by Dan Daley (originally January 2003 issue), based on producer Norbert Putnam. Mostly narrative, so rows are reported; gear covers the vocal, keyboards, console, tape machine and mix. No drum, bass or guitar gear is named. The LA-2A sentence is not tied to the song by name, so it is album-level.

Lead vocal

Jimmy Buffett

Microphone

Neumann U 87

Reported

Buffett's lead vocal was sung live into this microphone while the band played, and most of those live vocals made the final version.

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

Teletronix LA-2A

ReportedAlbum sessions

Album sessions, not stated for this song: The vocal was compressed by this unit with little other processing.

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).

Keyboards

Mike Utley

Instrument

Fender Rhodes

Reported

One of three keyboards (with a grand piano and a clavichord) that Mike Utley moved between during the live take.

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

Unidentified Clavichord (model not stated)

Reported

Utley played a small clavichord figure that leads into Buffett's first vocal entry.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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

Recording and mix chain

Instrument

Unidentified Marimba (model not stated)

Reported

A marimba was overdubbed on the song in Miami as part of the producer's effort to give Buffett a distinctive sound.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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

Input chain

MCI 500 Series console

Reported

Console used for the live tracking at Criteria in Miami.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Metric Halo MBSI Channel Strip

channel strip

Models the channel strip of a custom MCI desk at Criteria Studios from the same years; it is the same maker's sound but not a JH-500.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

MCI JH-24

Reported

Multitrack recorder for the tracking, run at 30 ips without noise reduction.

Settings
30 ips, no noise reduction

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

MCI 500 Series console

Reported

Console on which the mix was done at Quadrafonic in Nashville, with an early automation system fitted.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Metric Halo MBSI Channel Strip

channel strip

Models the channel strip of a custom MCI desk at Criteria Studios from the same years; it is the same maker's sound but not a JH-500.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville", Mix, 2003-01. 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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