How It Was Recorded

Steve Lacy · Gemini Rights, 2022

Bad Habit

Lead vocalMain guitarBassSynthsVerified12Reported1

What the sources do and do not say

Single Sound On Sound mix interview with Neal Pogue, read in full. It covers only the mix, all done in the box with plug-ins; it says nothing about tracking, microphones or amps. The Waves EV2 and Ozone/L2 master bus are omitted (EV2 has no maker-stated model detail; master bus is described as his habit).

Lead vocal

Steve Lacy

Mix effects

Universal Audio UAD Fairchild 670

Verified

Used on the lead vocal to give it an analogue, vintage-style compression sound that suits the lo-fi character of the song.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves API 550A

Verified

Equaliser on the lead vocal after the Fairchild.

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.

Waves SSL Channel (E or G version not stated)

Verified

Channel strip on the vocals used to filter out some highs that were a little too bright.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Waves SSL E-Channel

channel strip

Kinelski names only the Waves SSL channel strip. Waves sells an E-Channel and a G-Channel; the source does not say which he used.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).

Soundtoys MicroShift

Verified

Last in the vocal chain, used to widen the vocal a little.

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

Main guitar

Steve Lacy

Mix effects

Waves Infected Mushroom

Verified

Plug-in on the main driving guitar, used to give it extra edge, with its compressor adding punch and its Push button a little crunch.

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.

Waves Scheps 73 EQ

Verified

Equaliser after the first guitar plug-in, adding some high end without going too far.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Scheps 73

preamp and EQ

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Kilohearts Chorus

Verified

Chorus placed in the main guitar chain after the EQ.

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 UAD API 550A

Verified

Equaliser on the guitar aux track, adding low end to the verse and chorus guitars.

Settings
adds low end at 200Hz

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 Decapitator

Verified

Saturation plug-in on the guitar aux track alongside the API EQ.

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.

Bass

Mix effects

Universal Audio UAD Fairchild

Verified

Compressor inserted on the bass to keep it sounding round.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves SSL EQ

Verified

Equaliser following the Fairchild on the bass.

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.

McDSP CB101

Reported

Compressor placed after the new Waves SSL plug-in on the bass; Pogue is unsure why, guessing something needed controlling. (recalled with uncertainty)

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.

Synths

Mix effects

Waves Infected Mushroom

Verified

Plug-in, with an API unit, on each of three or four synths playing small parts.

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: Steve Lacy 'Bad Habit', Sound On Sound, 2022-12. 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.