How It Was Recorded

Suzanne Vega · Solitude Standing, 1987

Luka

Lead vocalBacking vocalsBassBasic tracking and stereo busVerified2Reported7Inferred1

What the sources do and do not say

One Mix Classic Tracks article with Steve Addabbo, covering basic tracking at Bearsville, vocals at RPM and the A&M mix with Shelly Yakus. Several mix-chain items are recalled with 'probably' or 'supposedly' and are marked hedged. Two other candidate Mix pages (2002 Songs in Red and Gray profile, 2012 wax cylinder event) do not discuss this recording and were not used.

Lead vocal

Suzanne Vega

Microphone

Sanken CU41

Verified

Microphone for Vega's final lead vocal, recorded at RPM Studios in New York; Addabbo found it suited her voice.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Mix effects

Pultec EQP-1A (handpicked)

Reported

Addabbo recalls the mix vocal chain probably running from the Studer into a handpicked Pultec EQP-1A.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection

equaliser

Models the Pultec EQP-1A, MEQ-5 and HLF-3C.

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Also worth a look: Waves PuigTec EQs (EQP-1A and MEQ-5) (Models Jack Joseph Puig's Pultec EQP-1A and MEQ-5).

Fairchild Compressor/limiter (model not stated)

Reported

Addabbo recalls a Fairchild 670 compressor following the equaliser in the mix vocal chain.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection

compressor

Models the Fairchild 660 and 670. The source does not say which model was used.

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Also worth a look: Waves PuigChild 660 & 670 (Models the Fairchild 660 and 670 owned by Jack Joseph Puig).

Solid State Logic Channel compressor/de-esser (model not stated)

Reported

Addabbo recalls a small amount of SSL channel compressor and de-essing being added to the mix vocal.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2

channel strip

SSL's own channel-strip plugin, with the VCA channel compressor found on its desks. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

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Backing vocals

Shawn Colvin

Microphone

Neumann U 47

Reported

Addabbo thinks he probably used a U47 for Shawn Colvin's backing vocals, recorded at RPM.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Input chain

UREI 1176

Reported

Addabbo thinks the backing-vocal microphone probably went through a UA 1176.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

compressor

Models several revisions of the 1176, including the blackface units.

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Also worth a look: Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (Models two 1176 revisions (blacky and bluey)).

Bass

Michael Visceglia

Mix effects

Unidentified Rockman

InferredUsual practice

Usual practice, not stated for this record: Addabbo remembers that mix engineer Shelly Yakus liked running the bass through a Rockman. (recalled with uncertainty)

A suggestion, not a documented fact: The source describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Basic tracking and stereo bus

Input chain

Studer A800

Reported

2-inch multitrack machine, without noise reduction, at Bearsville where the basics were cut live.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder

tape

Made with Studer as a model of the A800 multitrack.

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Neve Console (model not stated)

Verified

Board at Bearsville whose preamps Addabbo rated highly; compressors were added here and there.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

console emulation

Adds the summing character of three desks, one of them a Neve. The source does not name the console model, so this is only a family resemblance.

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Mix effects

Neve 2262

Reported

Small Neve console compressor said to have been used by Yakus on the stereo bus, supposedly close to a 2264. (recalled with uncertainty)

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio Neve Dynamics Collection (33609)

compressor

Models the Neve 2254 diode-bridge limiter/compressor from which the 2262 was derived.

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Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Suzanne Vega's "Luka", Mix, 2025-04-10. 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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