How It Was Recorded

Meghan Trainor · Title, 2014

All About That Bass

Lead vocalTelecasterUpright bass (programmed)Programmed drumsPiano and organBaritone saxMix bus and effectsVerified29Reported2

What the sources do and do not say

Single Sound On Sound Secrets Of The Mix Engineers article with Kevin Kadish, read in full; it covers tracking and the in-the-box mix of this song. Kadish hedges the vocal preamp and compressor ("I think"). Studio gear lists, the Dymaxion desk and general habits were left out as not tied to the song.

Lead vocal

Meghan Trainor

Microphone

AKG C12VR

Verified

Microphone used to record Trainor's vocals.

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

Chandler LTD1

Reported

Kadish believes this was the mic preamp in the vocal chain.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection

preamp and EQ

The LTD-1 is built to the Neve 1073 design. This models the 1073 itself.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Tube-Tech CL 1B

Reported

Kadish believes this compressor followed the preamp in the vocal tracking chain, before going into Pro Tools.

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

Mix effects

Metric Halo Channel Strip

Verified

One of the plug-ins applied identically on each of the four lead vocal tracks.

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.

Nomad Factory Retro-Vox

Verified

Acted as a gate on the lead vocal tracks.

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.

McDSP CN1 compressor

Verified

Compressor on the lead vocal tracks, catching peaks.

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.

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Added grit to the lead vocal tracks, with a slightly different output level on each.

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.

Telecaster

Kevin Kadish

Instrument

Fender Custom Shop Telecaster

Verified

Guitar Kadish overdubbed after the vocals were recorded.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Lightfoot Labs Goatkeeper

Verified

Pedal used to give the guitar its tremolo effect.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro

amp and cabinet simulator

Includes a range of modelled pedals. Whether this exact pedal is among them was not checked.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Amplifier

At Mars Specialist head

Verified

Amp head the Telecaster was played through.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked).

Mojotone 1x12 cabinet with Scumback M65 speaker

Verified

Speaker cabinet fed by the amp head, loaded with a Scumback M65.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked).

Microphone

Shure SM57

Verified

Microphone used to record the guitar cabinet.

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. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.

Input chain

Classic API VP28

Verified

Mic preamp for the guitar microphone, with no compression.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. No plugin equivalent mapped yet.

Mix effects

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Plug-in on the Telecaster track in the mix session.

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.

Upright bass (programmed)

Kevin Kadish

Instrument

Native Instruments Maschine

Verified

Used to program the double bass part.

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

Metric Halo Channel Strip

Verified

On the upright bass track, alongside Decapitator and a reverb send.

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.

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

On the upright bass track, alongside the Channel Strip and a reverb send.

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

Kevin Kadish

Mix effects

Metric Halo Channel Strip

Verified

Gave a little EQ on the drum stereo 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.

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Added distortion on the drum bus to make the drums edgier and punchier.

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.

Audio Ease Altiverb (Bill Putnam echo chamber)

Verified

Reverb fed from a send on the drum bus, set to a Cello Studios echo chamber impulse.

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 organ

Dave Baron

Mix effects

Metric Halo Channel Strip

Verified

On the piano track, filtering it fairly high.

Settings
Filtering the piano at 500Hz

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.

Nomad Factory E-Retrovox

Verified

Set to limit mode on the piano to add some squash and tone.

Settings
Limit mode

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.

Nomad Factory E-Tube Tape Warmer

Verified

Added tape saturation to 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.

Crane Song Dark Essence

Verified

Used on the organ to make it darker and less harsh.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. No plugin equivalent mapped yet.

Baritone sax

Dave Baron

Mix effects

Waves PuigChild 670

Verified

Smoothed the baritone sax a little.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves PuigChild 660 & 670

compressor

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Added extra grit to the baritone sax.

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 bus and effects

Mix effects

EMT 250

Verified

An Altiverb EMT 250 plate reverb was set up as one of the session's reverbs.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb

reverb

Model of the EMT 250 digital reverb, made with EMT.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Avid Extra Long Delay II

Verified

Slapback echo set up in the session.

Settings
68.58ms

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

On the master track, raising the level.

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.

Solid State Logic XLogic G Series compressor

Verified

Outboard compressor on the stereo mix, used sparingly.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor

compressor

Made with SSL as a model of the G-series bus compressor, the circuit in this rack unit.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Solid State Logic SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 (SSL's own bus compressor plugin).

Behringer Edison EX1

Verified

Outboard stereo imager on the stereo mix, used sparingly.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. No plugin equivalent mapped yet.

Sources

  1. Inside Track: All About That Bass, Sound On Sound, 2015-02. 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.