Perfect by Ed Sheeran: studio, gear and credits

• Song: Perfect
• Artist: Ed Sheeran
• Genre / Style: Pop / Acoustic Ballad / Contemporary R&B
• Date(s) Recorded: 2016–2017
• Original Record Company & Catalog #: Asylum Records / Atlantic, Catalog # 0190295859039
• Release Date: March 3, 2017
• YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

• Producer(s): Will Hicks, Ed Sheeran, benny blanco (additional)
• Chief Recording Engineer(s): Joe Rubel, Chris Sclafani
• Assistant Engineer(s): Jack Fairbrother, Matt Jones, George Oulton, Paul Pritchard, Jonny Solway, Andy Wells
• Mixing Engineer(s): Mark “Spike” Stent; Geoff Swan (assistant), Michael Freeman (assistant)
• Mastering Engineer(s): Stuart Hawkes
• Musicians & Session Performers:
• Ed Sheeran - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
• Will Hicks - Electric Guitar, Percussion, Programming
• Pino Palladino - Bass
• John Tilley - Piano, Hammond Organ
• Jay Lewis - Drums
• Matt Sheeran - String Arrangement
• Peter Gregson - Conductor
• Hilary Skewes - Orchestral Contractor / Fixer
• Nick Cartledge - Flute, Piccolo Flute
• Charys Green - Clarinet
• Jan Regulski - Violin [I]
• Magnus Johnston - Violin [I]
• Mandhira De Saram - Violin [I]
• Marije Johnston - Violin [I]
• Martyn Jackson - Violin [I]
• Matthew Denton - Violin [I]
• Patrick Kiernan - Violin [I]
• Simon Hewitt Jones - Violin [I]
• Alison Dods - Violin [II]
• Debbie Widdup - Violin [II]
• Fenella Barton - Violin [II]
• James Dickenson - Violin [II]
• Jeremy Morris - Violin [II]
• Kirsty Mangan - Violin [II]
• Kotono Sato - Viola
• Laurie Anderson - Viola
• Meghan Cassidy - Viola
• Rachel Roberts - Viola
• Katherine Jenkinson - Cello
• Nick Cooper - Cello
• Tim Lowe - Cello
• Ben Russell - Double Bass
• Leon Bosch - Double Bass

• Tracking Studio & Room: Abbey Road Studios (Studio Two), London; Gingerbread Man Studios, Suffolk; Decoy Studios, Studio City
• Mixing / Overdub Studio: The Mix Suite, London / The Mixsuite, Los Angeles
• Mixing Console / Desk: SSL 4000 G-Series / Avid Pro Tools HD Hybrid Console
• Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Avid Pro Tools HD (32-bit Float / 96 kHz)
• Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:
• AMS Neve 1073 (Discrete Class-A Preamp & EQ): Utilized for primary microphone preamplification across vocal, acoustic, and rhythm tracking passes
• Tube-Tech CL1B (Opto Tube Compressor): Applied for transparent dynamic smoothing on Ed Sheeran's lead vocal capture
• Teletronix LA-2A (Electro-Optical Compressor): Deployed for analog leveling and sustain enhancement on electric bass and vocal harmony passes
• vintage Neve 1073s (Outboard): Documented in published sources for this session / era.
• Synthesizers, Drum Machines & Electronic Instruments:
• Akai MPC Renaissance (Digital Hardware Sampler / Controller): Triggered programmed percussion, sub-bass drops, and auxiliary rhythmic transients

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar (Ed Sheeran), Electric Guitar (Will Hicks), Electric Guitar (Ed Sheeran), Bass (Pino Palladino), Drums (Jay Lewis), Percussion & Programming (Will Hicks), Piano (John Tilley), Hammond Organ (John Tilley), Orchestral Strings (Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses), Orchestral Woodwinds (Nick Cartledge, Charys Green).