7 Years by Lukas Graham: how it was recorded

Lead vocal

Lukas Forchhammer

The real chain

Get the sound

Microphone

Unidentified Large-diaphragm condenser microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Recorded the scratch lead vocal on the day the song was written; the vocal was kept as the final lead.

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.

AKG C 12

VerifiedAlbum sessions

Used for Lukas's vocals at the Beachwood studio during the Los Angeles album sessions; the text does not tie it to this song, whose lead was the scratch vocal.

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

Neve 1073

VerifiedAlbum sessions

Preamp in the album vocal chain at the Beachwood studio (album sessions, not tied to this song).

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).

Teletronix LA-2A

VerifiedAlbum sessions

Compressor in the album vocal chain at the Beachwood studio (album sessions, not tied to this song).

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).

Mix effects

Tube-Tech CL1B (Softube plug-in)

Verified

First insert on the lead vocal aux, a slower compressor paired with a fast 1176-style one for smooth gain reduction.

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 CLA-76

Verified

Fast-attack 1176-style compressor on the lead vocal, set up with a fast-attack, quick-release two-compressor approach.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves SSL Channel (E or G version not stated)

Verified

Added a little top end and cut harshness on the lead vocal.

Settings: Cut around 7 kHz, with a small top-end lift

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Waves SSL E-Channel

channel strip

Kinelski names only the Waves SSL channel strip. Waves sells an E-Channel and a G-Channel; the source does not say which he used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).

Waves C6

Verified

Multiband compressor used heavily and automated to tame harshness from the cheap vocal microphone, with extra instances added through the mix.

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 C4

Verified

Multiband compressor on the lead vocal.

Settings: Pop Vocal setting

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.

Bass

The real chain

Get the sound

Mix effects

Waves CLA-76

Verified

Compressor on the sub-bass track.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves LoAir

Verified

Subharmonic generator to fatten the bass.

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.

Bomb Factory SansAmp PSA-1

Verified

Distortion on a dedicated 'Bass Distortion' track, mixed in very quietly for texture and grit.

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.

Programmed drums

The real chain

Get the sound

Instrument

XLN Audio Addictive Drums

Verified

Used with Abbey Road 70s Drummer to programme the drums as MIDI parts.

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 Abbey Road 70s Drummer

Verified

Named as one of the two sources of the drum sounds, alongside Addictive Drums.

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

Slate Digital Virtual Console Collection

Verified

Console emulation on the main kick drum (also used on the drum master).

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 SSL Channel (E or G version not stated)

Verified

Boosted the kick at 60 Hz for a round, solid bottom.

Settings: 60 Hz boost

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Waves SSL E-Channel

channel strip

Kinelski names only the Waves SSL channel strip. Waves sells an E-Channel and a G-Channel; the source does not say which he used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Added grit to the kick, and also sits on the drum master.

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.

Bomb Factory BF76

Reported

1176-style compressor, one of several used to control snare transients; the mixer recalls this with a hedge.

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.

SPL Transient Designer

Verified

Shaved a little attack off the sample-pack drum loop, and sits on the drum master.

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 API 2500

Verified

Compressor on the drum master to add street character.

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 C6

Verified

Multiband compressor added by Pilegaard on the drum master, doing a lot of gain reduction around 4 kHz.

Settings: Heavy gain reduction around 4 kHz

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 and keyboards

The real chain

Get the sound

Instrument

Native Instruments Alicia's Keys

Verified

The main piano sound on the record; only a short section in the bridge kept the real grand piano recorded in Copenhagen.

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

Slate Digital Virtual Console Collection

Verified

First plug-in on the piano insert, giving console-style processing to a key element.

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 Renaissance Equalizer

Verified

Added top end and rolled off some bass on the piano; added during production.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Renaissance Equalizer

equaliser

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves Renaissance Compressor

Verified

Gentle gain reduction on the piano to help it sit.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Renaissance Compressor

compressor

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Universal Audio Lexicon 224

Verified

Reverb used in production on the organ and other sounds to make very long pads.

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.

Stereo mix bus

The real chain

Get the sound

Mix effects

Universal Audio API 2500

Verified

Single plug-in on the Music bus, added to glue the instruments and make the track sound more street.

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.

Slate Digital Virtual Mix Bus

Verified

Console-style processing at the top of the stereo bus chain.

Settings: Brit 4k

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 SSL Compressor

Verified

Light glue compression on the stereo bus.

Settings: 1-2 dB gain reduction, very fast attack, medium release

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.

iZotope Ozone 5

Verified

Gentle smiley-curve EQ on the stereo bus.

Settings: 1-2 dB lift on each side

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.

Brainworx bx_hybrid v2

Verified

Used only for its stereo width control on the stereo bus.

Settings: Stereo Width between 100 and 120

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 L2

Verified

Final limiter on the mix, set right up to the limit for loudness.

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

Inside Track: Lukas Graham '7 Years', Sound On Sound, 2016-06. 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.