Thomas Dolby · The Golden Age of Wireless, 1982
She Blinded Me with Science
11 sourced items across 4 sectionsVerified1Reported10
What the sources do and do not say
Single Mix Classic Tracks article by Tim Morse, read in full; mostly narrative, so most rows are reported with Dolby quoted only for the phone part. Not turned into rows because no function or stage is stated: the Mayfair Studios MCI desk and 24-track, the Eventide Harmonizer (used for the rising and falling pitch at the end) and the Revox tape delay used while mixing. The Tape Op interview is paywalled after the intro and was unusable.
Lead vocal
1 item
Thomas Dolby
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann U 87
Reported
Microphone used to record Dolby's theatrical lead vocal.
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.
Synth bass
2 items
Matthew Seligman
Instrument
The real chain
Moog Source
Reported
Played by Seligman to produce the prominent bass lines.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Approximate
Arturia Mini V
instrument
A Minimoog emulation. It has the Moog filter and character, but this is a different Moog.
Amplifier
The real chain
Unidentified Bass amplifier (model not stated)
Reported
The synthesised bass was sent out to Seligman's miked bass amp in the studio to thicken it, rather than going direct.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
Drum programming
3 items
Thomas Dolby
Instrument
The real chain
PPG Drum machine (model not stated)
Reported
Drove the Simmons drums; its playback rate was detuned for a cracky snare, and it produced the offbeat cowbell.
- Settings
- Snare detuned three or four octaves
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.
The real chain
Simmons Drums (model not stated)
Reported
Supplied the kick and snare sounds.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Approximate
Toontrack Superior Drummer 3
drum instrument
A sampled drum instrument. It does not claim to be this kit or drum.
Amplifier
The real chain
Unidentified Bass amplifier (model not stated)
Reported
The tom-toms from the Simmons module were fed through the bass amp.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
Synth keyboards
5 items
Thomas Dolby
Instrument
The real chain
Roland JP-4
Reported
Most of the keyboard parts were played on it.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Roland Roland Cloud
instrument
Includes Roland's own circuit-level model of the Jupiter-4.
Also worth a look 1
- Cherry Audio Mercury-4 (A dedicated emulation of the Jupiter-4)
The real chain
Roland JP-4
Reported
Made the ominous strings, using four tracks two octaves apart, panned left and right.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Roland Roland Cloud
instrument
Includes Roland's own circuit-level model of the Jupiter-4.
Also worth a look 1
- Cherry Audio Mercury-4 (A dedicated emulation of the Jupiter-4)
The real chain
Moog Source
Reported
Its sample-and-hold feature produced the tinkling bell sounds at the start of the song.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Arturia Mini V
instrument
A Minimoog emulation. It has the Moog filter and character, but this is a different Moog.
The real chain
Moog Source
Verified
Made the descending phone part after the chorus, by playing only the filter resonance with the oscillators off.
- Settings
- Filter resonance all the way up, oscillators turned off
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Arturia Mini V
instrument
A Minimoog emulation. It has the Moog filter and character, but this is a different Moog.
The real chain
Moog Source
Reported
Played a piccolo trumpet line, which Dolby believes adds some air by sitting higher than the rest.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Arturia Mini V
instrument
A Minimoog emulation. It has the Moog filter and character, but this is a different Moog.
Sources
- Classic Tracks: Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science", Mix, 2000-01-01. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
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Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
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