Believer by Imagine Dragons: studio, gear and credits

Believer by Imagine Dragons: produced by Mattman & Robin, Alex Da Kid (Executive Producer), engineered by Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson. See the credits and gear, then recreate the sound in your DAW.

Details

Song: Believer
Artist: Imagine Dragons
Genre / Style: Electropop / Alternative Pop / Arena Rock
Date(s) Recorded: Late 2016 – January 2017
Original Record Company & Catalog #: KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records (0602557671842)
Release Date: February 1, 2017
YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

Personnel and session credits

Producer(s): Mattman & Robin, Alex Da Kid (Executive Producer)
Chief Recording Engineer(s): Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson
Assistant Engineer(s): John Hanes (Engineer [For Mix])
Mixing Engineer(s): Serban Ghenea
Mastering Engineer(s): Tom Coyne
Musicians & Session Performers:

Dan Reynolds - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Wayne Sermon - Electric Guitar (Bilt Relevator)
Ben McKee - Electric Bass (Fender Precision Bass)
Daniel Platzman - Acoustic Drums (Ludwig Classic Maple)
Mattias Larsson (Mattman) - Drum Programming, Synthesizers
Robin Fredriksson (Robin) - Keyboards, Bass Programming

Studio and recording technology

Studio details for this recording are still being verified.

Reported gear and setup (not independently verified)

Tracking Studio & Room: Wolf Cousins Studios, Stockholm, Sweden & Ragged Insomnia Studio, Las Vegas, NV
Mixing / Overdub Studio: MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA
Mixing Console / Desk: Avid Pro Tools HDX (In-The-Box) / Avid ICON D-Control Console Surface
Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Digital Audio Workstation (Avid Pro Tools HDX @ 24-bit / 96 kHz)
Studio Monitors: ProAc Studio 100
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

Tube-Tech CL 1B (Optical Compressor): Tames vocal transient dynamics smoothly during tracking passes
Neve 1073 (Discrete Solid-State Preamp): Primary analog preamplification for vocal and guitar front-end capture
Avalon U5 (Class-A Active DI Preamplifier): Clean instrument DI preamplification for bass guitar tracking
FabFilter Pro-Q 2 (Digital Parametric Equalizer): Surgical subtractive frequency carving and high-frequency presence shaping on stems

Synthesizers, Drum Machines & Electronic Instruments:

Native Instruments Massive (Software Synthesizer): Produces the distorted sub-bass rumble and aggressive mid-frequency synth pulses
Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2 (Digital Hybrid Synthesizer): Generates transitional atmospheric risers, background drones, and layered synth elements

Signal chains covered in the full track sheet

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Acoustic Kick Drum, Acoustic Snare Drum, Drum Overheads, Electronic Percussion & Snaps, Sub-Bass Synthesizer, Layered Keyboards & FX.

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