Shawn Mendes · Illuminate, 2016
Treat You Better
21 sourced items across 5 sectionsVerified20Reported1
What the sources do and do not say
Sound On Sound Secrets Of The Mix Engineers interview with mixer George Seara, covering his mix of this song on an SSL console at Noble Street Studios. It covers the mix chain only; tracking microphones, amps and instruments are not described. Where Seara lists several plug-ins on one track, only the ones he describes with a function are included.
Lead vocal
7 items
Shawn Mendes
Mix effects
The real chain
Solid State Logic SSL E-series console
Verified
Desk EQ on the lead vocal channels, cutting low end and adding a little presence.
- Settings
- Low cut at 70Hz; mild boosts at 150Hz and above 15kHz; desk compression at 2:1
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Waves SSL E-Channel
channel strip
Made with SSL as a model of the 4000 E channel strip.
Also worth a look 1
- Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (SSL's own channel-strip plugin, based on a later desk)
The real chain
Avalon AD2055
Verified
Stereo EQ at the start of the lead vocal outboard chain, giving a mild lift in the top end.
- Settings
- Mild presence boost above 15kHz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Universal Audio Avalon VT-737 Tube Channel Strip
channel strip
Models the same maker's VT-737 channel strip, whose equaliser section is a sibling of this one; it is not a model of the AD2055 itself.
The real chain
Empirical Labs Distressor
Verified
Matched stereo pair of compressors following the Avalon EQ on the lead vocal.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look 1
- Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit)
The real chain
Retro Instruments 176
Verified
Matched, linked stereo pair of compressors on the lead vocal, which Seara says he loves for vocals.
- Settings
- 4:1 ratio, medium attack, fast release, no inter-stage transformer, side-chain filtered at around 70Hz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Universal Audio UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection
compressor
Models the original Universal Audio 176 valve limiter that the Retro unit recreates and extends.
The real chain
TC Electronic System 6000
Verified
Hardware reverb and effects unit supplying Stage+Hall reverb and an AMS-style widening effect on the lead vocal.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
Valhalla DSP ValhallaVintageVerb
reverb
A digital algorithmic reverb with hall and stage-style spaces, the job this unit did on the record; it is not a model of this unit.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD AKG BX20
Verified
Plug-in spring reverb emulation used lightly on the lead vocal.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD Blue Stripe 1176A
Verified
One of the insert plug-ins on the main lead vocal track, named among the most important ones.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
The plugin named in the source.
Guitars
3 items
Mix effects
The real chain
Manley Massive Passive
Verified
Outboard EQ on the guitars, giving a small boost, feeding the Avalon 2044.
- Settings
- Small boost at 200Hz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Manley Massive Passive EQ
equaliser
Made with Manley as a model of the Massive Passive.
The real chain
Avalon AD2044
Verified
Opto compressor used gently on the guitars to take a little edge off the digital recordings.
- Settings
- 4:1 ratio, slow attack, fast release, a couple of dB of compression
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Universal Audio Avalon VT-737 Tube Channel Strip
channel strip
Models the same maker's VT-737sp, whose compressor section is also an optical design, so it is a sibling rather than this unit.
The real chain
Soundtoys Echoboy
Verified
Delay plug-in on the main palm-muted guitar at the start, set to an Echoplex mode and tucked back in the mix.
- Settings
- Echoplex setting, eighth-note delay, time tweaked slightly, saturation around three o’clock, low and high cut in the plug-in
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys EchoBoy
delay
The plugin named in the source.
Bass
2 items
Mix effects
The real chain
Focusrite ISA 110
Verified
Pair of vintage Blue ISA 110 EQs on the bass inserts, after the SSL EQ.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Plugin Alliance bx_console Focusrite SC
channel strip
Models the Focusrite Studio Console channel, which is built around the ISA 110 and ISA 130.
The real chain
Airfield Liminator 2
Verified
Compressor on the bass for unobtrusive compression, set to its transformer-style mode.
- Settings
- About 2-4 dB of compression; transformer-emulation mode
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
Waves CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter
compressor
An optical compressor like the original, so it levels in the same smooth way; it is not a model of this unit.
Drums and percussion
5 items
Mix effects
The real chain
Empirical Labs Distressor
Verified
Compressor fed from small desk faders as a parallel compressor on drums and percussion.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look 1
- Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit)
The real chain
API 2500
Verified
Compressor fed in parallel from the desk for drums and percussion, to help the bottom end hit hard.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Waves API 2500
compressor
Model of the API 2500 bus compressor, made with API.
The real chain
Elysia Mpressor
Verified
Compressor fed in parallel from the desk for drums and percussion.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Plugin Alliance elysia mpressor
compressor
Made with elysia as a model of the mpressor.
The real chain
ADR F760X
Verified
Vintage compressor used as an insert on the cymbals and miscellaneous percussion.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Kiive Audio Complexx
compressor
A plugin model of the ADR Compex F760X stereo compressor-limiter.
The real chain
Soundtoys Decapitator
Verified
Distortion plug-in used on the Kick2 track in the break before the final chorus for a more aggressive sound.
- Settings
- Drive up pretty high, output pulled back to level match
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
Stereo mix bus
4 items
Mix effects
The real chain
Solid State Logic SSL E-series console
Reported
Console the song was mixed on.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Waves SSL E-Channel
channel strip
Made with SSL as a model of the 4000 E channel strip.
Also worth a look 1
- Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (SSL's own channel-strip plugin, based on a later desk)
The real chain
Millennia NSEQ2
Verified
Modified EQ on the desk master bus, with a very small low boost and a gentle top-end lift.
- Settings
- Very small boost at 50Hz; gentle presence boost above 15kHz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Plugin Alliance Millennia NSEQ-2
equaliser
Made with Millennia as a model of the NSEQ-2.
The real chain
Rupert Neve Designs Master Buss Processor
Verified
Bus processor after the Millennia EQ on the master bus.
- Settings
- Feedback/RMS mode, slow attack, fast release, 2:1 ratio, no limiting, a touch of red silk
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Buss Processor
compressor
Rupert Neve Designs' own plugin model of the Portico II Master Buss Processor.
The real chain
Burl B2 Bomber
Verified
Analogue-to-digital converter used to print the stereo mix back into the session.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. A converter between analogue and digital. Your audio interface does this job, so no plugin is needed.
Sources
- Inside Track: Shawn Mendes 'Treat You Better', Sound On Sound, 2016-12. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
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