How It Was Recorded

Rihanna · A Girl like Me, 2006

SOS

Lead vocalBacking vocals'Zap' synth sound and othersVerified5Reported1

What the sources do and do not say

Source is Paul Tingen's Sound On Sound Secrets Of The Mix Engineers piece with mixer Phil Tan, covering his in-the-box Pro Tools mix of SOS. It covers mix plug-ins only; it says nothing about the recording or production chain. The lead vocal reverb row is the journalist's statement, since the quote under that heading appears to concern the Unfaithful reverb.

Lead vocal

Rihanna

Mix effects

Waves Renaissance Compressor

Verified

Compressed the lead vocal to keep its level fairly constant and forward, in its Opto mode, with a modest ratio.

Settings
Opto button engaged; ratio described as not high

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

Waves Renaissance Reverb

Reported

Provided the reverb on the lead vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Renaissance Reverb

reverb

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Backing vocals

Mix effects

Waves Renaissance Compressor

Verified

Compressed the background vocals.

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

McDSP FilterBank E2

Verified

Shelf filter that restored top end to the background vocals after compression, adding sheen.

Settings
Boost of 3.5dB from 5kHz upwards

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

McDSP FilterBank

equaliser

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Digidesign Pitch-shifter

Verified

Detuned the background vocals slightly flat on the left and sharp on the right with varying delay, thickening them with a chorus-like effect.

Settings
Mix set to 100 percent, fed from an auxiliary 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.

'Zap' synth sound and others

Mix effects

Digidesign EQII

Verified

High-pass filter that removed unwanted low end from the 'Zap' raygun synth sound, which had bottom end getting in the way.

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: Rihanna 'SOS' & 'Unfaithful', Sound On Sound, 2007-02. 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.

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