Starboy by The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk: studio, gear and credits

Starboy by The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk: produced by Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter & Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo), Abel Tesfaye (Co-producer), DJ Cirkut (Co-producer), Doc McKinney (Co-producer), engineered by Florian Lagatta (Studio Gang), Josh Smith (Conway Recording Studios), DJ Cirkut, Doc McKinney.

Details

Song: Starboy
Artist: The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk
Genre / Style: Electropop / R&B / Synthwave
Date(s) Recorded: Circa July–August 2016
Original Record Company & Catalog #: XO / Republic Records (00602557261771)
Release Date: September 21, 2016
YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

Personnel and session credits

Producer(s): Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter & Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo), Abel Tesfaye (Co-producer), DJ Cirkut (Co-producer), Doc McKinney (Co-producer)
Chief Recording Engineer(s): Florian Lagatta (Studio Gang), Josh Smith (Conway Recording Studios), DJ Cirkut, Doc McKinney
Mixing Engineer(s): Serban Ghenea, John Hanes (Engineered for Mix)
Mastering Engineer(s): Tom Coyne, Aya Merrill
Musicians & Session Performers:

Abel Tesfaye - Lead Vocals
Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) - Vocoder Vocals, Synthesizers, Drum Programming
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (Daft Punk) - Synthesizers, Drum Programming
Doc McKinney - Synthesizer Bass, Percussion Programming
DJ Cirkut - Keyboards, Percussion Programming

Studio and recording technology

Mixing / Overdub Studio: MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA
Synthesizers, Drum Machines & Electronic Instruments:

Roland TR-808 (Analog Drum Machine / Bass Synthesizer): Generates the sustained sub-bass boom and fundamental low-end punch underpinning the rhythm track
Apple iPhone (Audio Recorder / Source): Mobile voice memo capture of spontaneous drum groove re-imported directly into the Pro Tools session

Reported gear and setup (not independently verified)

Tracking Studio & Room: Studio Gang, Paris, France / Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Mixing Console / Desk: Avid Pro Tools HDX (In-The-Box) / Avid D-Control Console Surface
Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Digital Audio Workstation (Avid Pro Tools HDX @ 24-bit / 96 kHz)
Studio Monitors: ProAc Studio 100 (powered by Bryston 4B SST amplifier)
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

Tube-Tech CL 1B (Optical Compressor): Primary tracking vocal leveling delivering smooth optical gain control on lead vocals into the DAW
Neve 1073 (Discrete Mic Preamp / Inductor EQ): Discrete solid-state preamplification and low-end sculpting applied across external tracking hardware
Roland SVC-350 (Analog Vocoder): Dedicated rackmount vocoder processor modulating robotic backing vocal harmonies

Synthesizers, Drum Machines & Electronic Instruments:

Roland Juno-106 (Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer): Staccato minor-key chords and shimmering stereo background pads programmed with built-in chorus circuit

Signal chains covered in the full track sheet

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals (Abel Tesfaye), Featured Vocoder Vocals (Daft Punk), Foundation Drums (iPhone Room Capture), Electronic Drums & Kick, Sub-Bass (Roland TR-808), Polyphonic Synthesizer (Roland Juno-106).

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