Blinding Lights by The Weeknd: studio, gear and credits

Blinding Lights by The Weeknd: produced by Max Martin, Oscar Holter, The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), through a Digidesign / Avid D-Control Worksurface (In-The-Box Pro Tools HDX System). See the credits and gear, then recreate the sound in your DAW.

Details

Song: Blinding Lights
Artist: The Weeknd
Genre / Style: Synth-pop / Synthwave / Electropop
Date(s) Recorded: Mid-to-Late 2019
Original Record Company & Catalog #: XO / Republic Records (Catalog: 00602508687900)
Release Date: November 29, 2019
YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

Personnel and session credits

Producer(s): Max Martin, Oscar Holter, The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye)
Assistant Engineer(s): Cory Bice, Jeremy Lertola, Sean Klein
Mixing Engineer(s): Serban Ghenea (Mix Engineer), John Hanes (Engineer for Mix)
Mastering Engineer(s): Dave Kutch, Kevin Peterson (Mastering Assistant)
Musicians & Session Performers:

Abel Tesfaye - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Max Martin - Roland Juno-60 Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Percussion
Oscar Holter - Roland Jupiter-8 Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Drum Programming
Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville - Additional Keyboards, Software Programming

Studio and recording technology

Mixing Console / Desk: Digidesign / Avid D-Control Worksurface (In-The-Box Pro Tools HDX System)
Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Avid Pro Tools HDX (32-bit floating point, 24-bit / 44.1 kHz Digital Audio Engine)

Reported gear and setup (not independently verified)

Tracking Studio & Room: MXM Studios (Los Angeles, CA & Stockholm, Sweden), Conway Recording Studios (Los Angeles, CA, Studio C) (Inferred: no studio documented in Discogs/MusicBrainz)
Mixing / Overdub Studio: MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, VA)
Studio Monitors: KRK Exposé E8B (MixStar Studios), ProAc Studio 100, Yamaha NS-10M (MXM Studios)
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

AMS RMX16 (Digital Reverberation Processor): Hardware digital processor used on aux send for eighties non-linear gated snare ambience.
Tube-Tech CL 1B (Optical Compressor): Hardware optical tube compressor tracking lead vocal dynamics with transparent peak leveling.
Bricasti Design M7 (Algorithmic Digital Reverb): Hardware stereo reverb unit providing dense modulated hall space across auxiliary synth stems.
Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Buss Processor (VCA Compressor/Limiter): Hardware stereo analog dynamics unit deployed during analog mastering loop.
Manley Massive Passive (Stereo Tube EQ): High-voltage analog mastering equalizer shaping final high-frequency sheen and low-end contour.

Synthesizers, Drum Machines & Electronic Instruments:

Roland Juno-60 (Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer): Primary lead hook, utilizing on-board bucket-brigade Chorus II circuit patched via active DI.
Roland Jupiter-8 (Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer): Secondary chord pads and counter-melodies, tracking dual-oscillator brass-saw patches.
Linn Electronics LinnDrum (Digital Drum Machine): EPROM-based sample engine delivering the punchy 8-bit kick and snare backbone.
Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer (Analog Drum Machine): Analog trigger module providing sub-frequency kick reinforcement and driving sixteenth-note closed hi-hats.

Signal chains covered in the full track sheet

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals (The Weeknd), Backing Vocals (The Weeknd), Main Synthesizer Lead Hook (Oscar Holter / Max Martin), Polyphonic Synthesizer Chords & Pads (Max Martin), Synthesizer Bassline (Oscar Holter / Max Martin), LinnDrum Percussion & Snare (Max Martin / Oscar Holter), Roland TR-808 Sub-Bass & Hi-Hats (Max Martin / Oscar Holter).

Want to sound like Blinding Lights?
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