Disturbia by Rihanna: studio, gear and credits

Disturbia by Rihanna: recorded at Record Plant Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA (Studio A/B) & Metropolis Studios, London, UK (Vocal Overdubs) (Documented studio per Discogs (release-wide): Rocky Mountain Recorders)), produced by Brian Kennedy (Track Producer); Makeba Riddick (Vocal Producer). See

Details

Song: Disturbia
Artist: Rihanna
Genre / Style: Dance-Pop / Synth-Pop / Electro-Pop
Date(s) Recorded: March – April 2008
Original Record Company & Catalog #: Def Jam Recordings / SRP Records (Catalog #: 001150102)
Release Date: June 17, 2008 (US Radio Release) / June 2, 2008 (Included on *Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded*)
YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

Personnel and session credits

Producer(s): Brian Kennedy (Track Producer); Makeba Riddick (Vocal Producer)
Mixing Engineer(s): Phil Tan; Josh Houghkirk (Assistant Mix Engineer)
Musicians & Session Performers:

Brian Kennedy – Keyboards, Synthesizers, Drum Programming, Sequenced Instrumentation
Chris Brown – Uncredited Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement Consultation, Songwriter
Makeba Riddick – Vocal Backing Layers & Vocal Arrangement

Studio and recording technology

Tracking Studio & Room: Record Plant Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA (Studio A/B) & Metropolis Studios, London, UK (Vocal Overdubs) (Documented studio per Discogs (release-wide): Rocky Mountain Recorders))

Reported gear and setup (not independently verified)

Mixing / Overdub Studio: Soapbox Studios, Atlanta, GA
Mixing Console / Desk: Solid State Logic (SSL) 4000 G+ (48-channel architecture with Total Recall)
Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Digidesign Pro Tools HD3 Accel System operating at 24-bit / 44.1 kHz
Studio Monitors: Genelec 1038B Main Monitors, Yamaha NS-10M Studio (powered by Bryston 4B amplifier), Auratone 5C Sound Cube
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

SSL G-Series Stereo Bus Compressor, Avalon VT-737sp Vacuum Tube Channel Strip, Tube-Tech CL 1B Compressor, Eventide H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer, Lexicon 480L Digital Effects System, TC Electronic System 6000

Signal chains covered in the full track sheet

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals (Rihanna), Backing Vocals & Vocal Hooks ("Bum-bum-be-dum"), Synthesizers & Bass Synth (Brian Kennedy Rig), Kick Drum & Percussion Stems.

Want to sound like Disturbia?
Get the full signal chains and a step-by-step plugin recreation for Logic Pro, Ableton, Pro Tools and more.
Open the full track sheet

More from the archive