The Mamas & the Papas · If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, 1965
California Dreamin'
11 sourced items across 4 sectionsVerified2Reported6Inferred3
What the sources do and do not say
One Mix Classic Tracks article by Dan Daley, with Dayton 'Bones' Howe as engineer. The backing track was recorded for a Barry McGuire session before the group's vocals were added, so some gear may relate to that earlier recording. The article spells the RCA microphone DX-77; the catalogue name is 77-DX. Mic choices for drums and guitars are Howe's general habits for the era; the 1176 identification is hedged and the unit is a prototype.
Group vocals
4 items
The Mamas & the Papas
Microphone
The real chain
RCA 77-DX
Verified
One of two microphones for the vocals, one for the men and one for the women, as the group stood facing each other.
- Position
- Singers facing each other close in, with the dead sides of the two microphones facing each other
- Settings
- Cardioid pattern
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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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
The real chain
Ampex 300
Reported
Four-track recorder onto which the group's vocals were added over the existing backing track.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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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 1
- Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models a Studer A800, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape)
Mix effects
The real chain
EMT Plate reverb (model not stated)
Reported
Plate reverb recorded onto the vocal tracks as they were laid down.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Universal Audio EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator
reverb
The 140 is the EMT plate most studios have; the source does not name the model.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves Abbey Road Reverb Plates (Models the EMT 140 plates at Abbey Road)
The real chain
Unidentified Echo chamber (Studio 3, model not stated)
Reported
The studio's live chamber supplied reverb that was recorded onto the vocal tracks.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
Universal Audio Capitol Chambers
reverb
A real echo chamber, the same method as the one on the record: a loudspeaker and microphones in a hard, empty room. It is not a model of this chamber, so set the decay by ear.
Guitars
1 item
Microphone
The real chain
Shure 546
InferredUsual practice
Howe's usual choice of microphone on guitars in that period.
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
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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.
Drums
2 items
Microphone
The real chain
Shure 546
InferredUsual practice
Howe's usual choice of microphone on the kick drum and hi-hat in that period.
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
Get the sound · our suggestion
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.
The real chain
Sony Condenser microphone (model not stated)
InferredUsual practice
Howe's usual choice of microphone on the snare drum in that period.
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
Get the sound · our suggestion
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.
Flute solo, console and mix
4 items
Bud Schank
Microphone
The real chain
RCA 77-DX
Verified
Microphone the flautist was placed on for the flute solo.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
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
The real chain
Ampex 300
Reported
Second deck used to bounce the music bed tracks together before the vocals were doubled.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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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 1
- Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models a Studer A800, not this recorder. It gives the general behaviour of analogue multitrack tape)
The real chain
Unidentified Console (model not stated)
Reported
Custom console designed by the studio owner Bill Putnam, used for the session.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.
Mix effects
The real chain
Unidentified Compressor/limiter (model not stated)
Reported
Howe believes it was a prototype of the 1176 and that it supplied the compression.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.
Sources
- Classic Tracks: The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'", Mix, 2004-07-01. 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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