Lead vocal
Taylor Swift
Microphone
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Chapman's microphone for Swift's vocals, as used on the demos that became the record's vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Input chain
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Microphone preamp that the Avantone fed when Chapman recorded Swift's voice.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Compressor after the preamp in Chapman's vocal recording chain.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Emulation of this unit
Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II
compressor
Made with Tube-Tech as a model of the CL 1B.
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Tape machine to which Chapman says the lead vocals were recorded, synchronised with the DAW through a CLASP system.
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).
Mix effects
Waves Renaissance Vox
ReportedNiebank says moderate compression on the main lead vocal was more often than not this plug-in, and that this was the case on Mine's lead vocal. (recalled with uncertainty)
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Waves DeEsser
VerifiedFollowed the moderate compression on the lead vocal track in Niebank's account of Mine.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Waves DeEsser
de-esser
The plugin used on the record.
Universal Audio UAD 1176
VerifiedCompressor on a split-off copy of the lead vocal with more aggressive compression and EQ.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
The plugin named in the source.
Soundtoys Echoboy
VerifiedOne of several delays Niebank added to the lead vocal.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys EchoBoy
delay
The plugin named in the source.
Backing vocals
Taylor Swift
Microphone
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Microphone Chapman used for his own harmony vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Mix effects
Waves Renaissance Vox
VerifiedUsed on most of the backing vocals in Mine, which Niebank describes as traditional harmony vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Universal Audio UAD 1176
VerifiedAlso used on Mine's backing vocals, alongside the Bomb Factory 1176.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
The plugin named in the source.
Bomb Factory 1176
VerifiedAlso used on Mine's backing vocals, alongside the UAD 1176.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Channel strip on the subgroup that the backing vocals were eventually sent to.
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.
Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).
Guitars
Nathan Chapman
Amplifier
Plug-in amp used for about 60 percent of Chapman's electric guitar parts on the album, with real amps on the rest.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Microphone
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Chapman's microphone for acoustic guitar.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Input chain
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Preamp after the KM54 on acoustic guitar, and also used for his harmony vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Close match
Universal Audio API Vision Channel Strip Collection
channel strip
Models the channel strip of API's Vision console, whose preamp comes from the same family.
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Compressor after the API 512 in Chapman's acoustic guitar chain, and on harmony vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look: Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit).
Mix effects
Channel strip used on many of the guitar tracks in the Mine mix.
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.
Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).
Bass
Amos Heller
Input chain
Direct preamp Chapman says he used for bass on the album; a few demo bass parts survived to the record.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Avalon VT-737 Tube Channel Strip
channel strip
Made with Avalon as a model of the VT-737sp channel strip.
Universal Audio 2108
VerifiedMicrophone preamp that Niebank says the bass on Mine was recorded through.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Empirical Labs Distressor
VerifiedCompressor the Mine bass went through after the preamp.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look: Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit).
Mix effects
Added only mild compression to the bass at the mix.
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.
Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).
Drums
Shannon Forrest
Mix effects
Main processing on the drums in Mine, along with EQ.
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.
Also worth a look: Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used).
Digidesign Smack!
VerifiedCompressor on a drum subgroup used for crushing.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
The plugin used on the record
Avid Pro Tools
DAW
Smack! is still included with Pro Tools.
Compressor on another drum subgroup.
Source: Sound On Sound, 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.
Also worth a look: Waves PuigChild 660 & 670 (Models the Fairchild 660 and 670 owned by Jack Joseph Puig).
Mix bus and mastering chain
Mix effects
Analogue summing unit used for the album's mixes because Chapman and Niebank wanted analogue summing.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Album sessions, not stated for this song: Used with an API compressor over the two-mix.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Close match
Plugin Alliance Maag Audio EQ4
equaliser
Models the Maag EQ4, the same designer's later equaliser built around the same Air Band; it is not a model of the EQ3D.
Credited in the article's caption as used across the final mix of Mine.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Sources
- Inside Track: Taylor Swift Speak Now, Sound On Sound, 2011-02. 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.