How It Was Recorded

Neneh Cherry · Raw Like Sushi, 1988

Buffalo Stance

Lead vocalGuitar riff (sampled)Bass lineProgramming and synthsRecording and mixVerified1Reported9

What the sources do and do not say

Single Sound On Sound Classic Tracks article read in full; it covers the song’s programming, vocal and mix. Microphone detail is limited to the vocal U87, and the guitar riff was an Emulator II sample rather than a recorded guitar. Saunders also recalls the Hot Nights desk only as "a Soundcraft or something", so it is left out as hedged and unidentified.

Lead vocal

Neneh Cherry

Microphone

Neumann U 87

Reported

Microphone the studio used to record Cherry’s lead 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.

Guitar riff (sampled)

Mark Saunders

Instrument

E-mu Emulator II

Verified

Played a sampled twangy guitar sound to lay down Saunders’ riff, instead of a real guitar.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia Emulator II V

instrument

An emulation of the E-mu Emulator II.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Bass line

Mark Saunders

Instrument

Yamaha DX7

Reported

Synth on which Saunders programmed the bass line, using the studio’s own unit.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia DX7 V

instrument

An emulation of the Yamaha DX7.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Digital Suburban Dexed (A free, open-source DX7 emulation that loads original DX7 patches).

Programming and synths

Mark Saunders

Instrument

Akai S900

Reported

Sampler in the basic programming set-up alongside the Atari running Cubase.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

TAL Software TAL-Sampler

instrument

A sampler plugin with vintage-style converters. It is not a model of this unit, and you load your own samples.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Casio CZ-101

Reported

Used as the mother keyboard in the basic programming set-up.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Arturia CZ V

instrument

An emulation of Casio's CZ-101 and CZ-1000.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Steinberg Cubase

Reported

Sequencer on an Atari 1024 ST used to program the groove.

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.

Roland Super JX-10

Reported

Source of the rising arpeggio synth sound heard at the end of the choruses.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Roland Roland Cloud

instrument

Includes Roland's own model of the JX-8P; the JX-10 is two JX-8P engines in one instrument.

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Recording and mix

Input chain

Otari 24-track tape machine (model not stated)

Reported

Multitrack on which the programmed parts were recorded before the vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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

Lexicon 480L

Reported

Reverb whose fully wet signal was recorded on a flipped tape to make the backwards swell before the bridge.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Lexicon 480L Digital Reverb and Effects

reverb

A model of the Lexicon 480L itself, endorsed by Lexicon, with its main reverb and effects algorithms.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

SSL G-Series console

Reported

Console at The Roundhouse that attracted the team to the studio for the mix.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Waves SSL G-Channel

channel strip

Made with SSL as a model of the 4000 G channel strip.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (SSL's own channel-strip plugin, based on a later desk).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Neneh Cherry ‘Buffalo Stance’, Sound On Sound, 2017-04. 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.

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