How It Was Recorded

Olivia Rodrigo · Sour, 2021

Drivers License

Lead vocal (mix)Juno sub bass (mix)Drums and percussion (mix)Piano and keys (mix)Mix busVerified15Reported2

What the sources do and do not say

A single Sound On Sound Inside Track interview with mixer Mitch McCarthy about his mix of this song, so rows are mix-stage only. Tracking, microphones, and the producer Dan Nigro’s recording chain are not covered. The piano is said to be a real piano recorded in Nigro’s studio but no gear is named.

Lead vocal (mix)

Olivia Rodrigo

Mix effects

iZotope RX 8

Verified

Used to clean up mouth noise, pops, clicks and harsh esses in the first verse and chorus, and to repair a distorted spot in the lead vocal.

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.

DMG Audio EQuilibrium

Verified

First insert on the lead vocal, removing the low end and dipping two mid frequencies.

Settings
Cuts below 100Hz; dips at 350Hz and 1000Hz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

DMG Audio EQuilibrium

equaliser

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves CL76

Verified

Compressed the lead vocal as part of the vocal chain.

Settings
Ratio 4:1, medium attack, very slow release

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

McDSP MC404

Verified

Multiband compression on the lead vocal to control high-mid harshness.

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.

FabFilter Pro-DS

Verified

De-esser on the lead vocal, working with Soothe 2 to reduce sibilance.

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.

Oeksound Soothe 2

Verified

Follows the de-esser on the lead vocal to remove harsh resonance.

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 EL-8 Distressor

Verified

On the Parallel Vox aux fed from the lead vocal, automated to add body and presence when needed.

Settings
Crush set to hard

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Soundtoys MicroShift

Reported

On the Doubler aux, automated to thicken the vocal with chorus and backed off in the verses.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Soundtoys MicroShift

modulation

The plugin used on the record.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Juno sub bass (mix)

Mix effects

Waves RCompressor

Verified

Side-chained to the kick on the Juno sub to control odd low-end information in the middle eight.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Renaissance Compressor

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Drums and percussion (mix)

Mix effects

Soundtoys Decapitator

Verified

Used on one of the claps to darken them and add body and some dirt.

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 Echoboy

Verified

Used on the sticks to give them subtle movement.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Soundtoys EchoBoy

delay

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Piano and keys (mix)

Mix effects

Dangerous Music BAX EQ

Verified

On the piano to add presence and remove unneeded low end.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Plugin Alliance Dangerous Music BAX EQ

equaliser

Made with Dangerous Music as a model of the BAX EQ.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Teletronix LA-2A

Verified

On the Keys P parallel track blended with the main keys and automated over the 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).

Maag Audio EQ4

Verified

Also on the Keys P parallel track alongside the LA-2A.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Plugin Alliance Maag Audio EQ4

equaliser

Made with Maag Audio as a model of the EQ4.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Mix bus

Mix effects

Dangerous Music BAX EQ

Verified

Only analogue processor on the summing path, filtering both ends of the mix.

Settings
Filtering at 36Hz and at 28kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Plugin Alliance Dangerous Music BAX EQ

equaliser

Made with Dangerous Music as a model of the BAX EQ.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor

Reported

Applied very lightly on the master track in Opto mode with side-chain on; McCarthy believes about 0.5 to 1 dB of gain reduction.

Settings
Opto setting; probably 0.5 to 1 dB gain reduction; side-chain on

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor

compressor

Made with Shadow Hills as a model of the Mastering Compressor.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Universal Audio Precision K-Stereo

Verified

Subtle stereo widening on the master track by boosting the sides.

Settings
Sides +1dB

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

  1. Inside Track: Olivia Rodrigo ‘Drivers License’, Sound On Sound, 2021-04. 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.