Lead vocal
Selena Gomez
Mix effects
Waves Renaissance Compressor
VerifiedCompressed the vocal tracks in the shared insert chain to make her voice bigger and more exciting, with heavy squashing.
- Settings
- Ratio of nearly 7; around 5 dB of gain where the vocal does not reach the threshold
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Waves Renaissance Compressor
compressor
The plugin used on the record.
Waves Q10
VerifiedEqualised the verse vocals in the insert chain, rolling off the low end and adding small lifts.
- Position
- First plug-in in the vocal insert chain, on the verse vocals
- Settings
- Roll-off below 100 Hz, slight push at 400 Hz and at 4 kHz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Waves Q10 Equalizer
equaliser
The plugin named in the source.
FabFilter Pro-DS
VerifiedDe-essed the vocal tracks; Maserati swapped it in for the Massey de-esser that Sir Nolan favours.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack
VerifiedUsed on the verse vocal group aux, with the Revival module adding thickness and the Virtual Channel set to a US A console with some drive.
- Position
- On the 'Verse SG' aux group
- Settings
- Virtual Channel set to the US A console, with a bit of drive
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack
channel strip
The plugin used on the record.
Softube Tube-Tech PE 1C
VerifiedPushed some high frequencies on the lead vocal group and on the backing vocal group.
- Position
- On the 'Vocal Group' and 'Backing Vocal Group' auxes
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Softube Tube-Tech Equalizers Mk II
equaliser
The PE 1C is one of the equalisers in this Softube collection.
SoundToys Crystallizer
VerifiedGave the vocals a doubling effect that added some slapback and width, in the producer's rough mix.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys Crystallizer
delay
The plugin named in the source.
Drums
Mix effects
Universal Audio A800
ReportedTape simulator on the Live Drums aux that adds some width; Maserati thinks this is because it imitates wow and flutter.
- Position
- On the 'Live Drums' aux, after the Waves NS1
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.
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).
Ampex ATR-102
VerifiedUsed as an effect on the 'Drum Slap' aux that Sir Nolan set up.
- Position
- On the 'Drum Slap' aux
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder
tape
Model of the ATR-102 mastering deck, made with Ampex.
SoundToys Radiator
VerifiedAdded a bit of room noise to the Live Drums aux.
- Position
- On the 'Live Drums' aux
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys Radiator
saturation
The plugin named in the source.
Waves L1
VerifiedLimiter on the 'Drums Group' aux that catches peaks so nothing overloads.
- Position
- On the 'Drums Group' aux, which receives all drums and drum effects
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Waves L1 Ultramaximizer
limiter
The plugin named in the source.
Mellotron and synths
Sir Nolan
Instrument
Unidentified Mellotron
VerifiedIts sampled guitar sound became the main bass of the song, and with the pitch knob it also made a part that sounds like slide guitar.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Moog Model 15 app
VerifiedPhone synth app used by co-producer Simon Says for the bridge synth sounds.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Mix effects
Waves Doubler
ReportedPlug-in on a Mellotron organ track, the only plug-in on the piano, keys, strings and horns tracks in the mix session.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Waves Doubler
modulation
The plugin named in the source.
Mix bus
Mix effects
Pendulum ES8
VerifiedMaserati's hardware tube limiter, used on the main mix bus.
- Position
- Inserts 3 and 4 on the 'Mix Buss' track
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Covers this kind of unit
Waves PuigChild 660 & 670
compressor
A variable-mu valve limiter in the Fairchild tradition this unit borrows from; it is not a model of this unit.
Chandler RS124
VerifiedA pair of hardware compressors fed from the parallel mix bus.
- Position
- Fed from inserts 7 and 8 on the 'Parallel Mix Buss'
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Close match
Waves Abbey Road RS124 Compressor
compressor
Models Abbey Road's original RS124 compressors, which the Chandler unit recreates.
Equaliser on the mix bus adding a push at the top and some low end.
- Position
- On the 'Mix Buss' track
- Settings
- Push at 10 kHz and some 50 Hz added
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio Chandler Limited Curve Bender Mastering EQ
equaliser
The plugin named in the source.
Sources
- Inside Track: Selena Gomez 'Rare' (page 2), Sound On Sound, 2020-04. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
- Inside Track: Selena Gomez 'Rare', Sound On Sound, 2020-04. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
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.