What drums did Stevie Wonder use on Signed Sealed Delivered?

The recording used Rogers drums at Hitsville U.S.A. Rogers kits were commonly used at Motown during this era and provided the tight, punchy sound characteristic of the label's recordings.

Who engineered Stevie Wonder's Signed Sealed Delivered drums?

The track was engineered by Bob Olhsson at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit. Olhsson was one of Motown's key engineers and helped create many of the label's signature sounds.

How to get Motown drum sound like Signed Sealed Delivered?

Focus on tight, controlled room ambience with careful mic placement using dynamic mics like SM57s and a kick mic like the AKG D12. Use compression and EQ to emphasize mid-range punch while controlling dynamics.

What microphones were used on Signed Sealed Delivered drums?

The drums were recorded using a combination of AKG D12, Shure SM57, and Neumann U67 microphones. This combination captured both the punch and warmth that defined the Motown drum sound.

Where was Signed Sealed Delivered recorded?

The track was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A., Motown's famous studio in Detroit. The studio's unique acoustics and recording approach were crucial to achieving the characteristic Motown sound.

drums from "signed, sealed, delivered (i'm yours)" by stevie wonder

signed, sealed, delivered (i'm yours)

stevie wonder

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Tone Profile

The drums have a tight, punchy, and slightly dry sound with a focused mid-range, characteristic of Motown recordings. The overall vibe is energetic and supports the song's upbeat tempo and feel.

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Rogers Drums(instrument)
AKG D12(microphone)
Shure SM57(mic)
Neumann U67(mic)

The Story

This drum sound was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Studios) in Detroit, engineered by Bob Olhsson. The drums were recorded using a combination of microphones including AKG D12, Shure SM57, and Neumann U67, capturing the tight, punchy sound characteristic of Motown's recording approach. The controlled room ambience and mid-range focus were achieved through careful microphone placement and the studio's signature recording techniques.

Production Credits

Producer: Stevie Wonder

Engineer: Bob Olhsson

Recorded at: Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit, MI

Signal Chain

Instrument: Rogers DrumsShop on Reverb

Microphone: AKG D12Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use a vintage Rogers or similar drum kit with coated heads.
Focus on a tight, controlled room sound; consider using dampening techniques on the drums.
Experiment with microphone placement to capture the drum's natural tone without excessive room ambience.
Use EQ to focus on the mid-range frequencies, adding punch and clarity.
Apply compression to control the dynamics and enhance the overall tightness of the sound.
Consider using a tape emulation plugin to add warmth and saturation, replicating the analog recording process.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

AKG D112 MKIIShop on Reverb$200-250

Alternative to: AKG D12 dynamic microphone

Modern evolution of the classic D12, maintains similar frequency response for punchy kick drum capture with tight low-end control

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-130

Alternative to: Shure SM57 dynamic microphone

Still manufactured unchanged - the same mic used on the original recording, perfect for snare and tom placement

Warm Audio WA-67Shop on Reverb$900-1000

Alternative to: Neumann U67 tube condenser

Affordable recreation of the U67's tube warmth and midrange character, ideal for drum overheads or room mics

UAD Motown Anthology Plugin BundlePlugin Boutique$300-400

Alternative to: Motown console EQ and compression

Includes authentic models of Hitsville's console EQ, compressors and tape machines for the complete Motown drum processing chain

DW Collector's Series MapleShop on Reverb$3000-5000

Alternative to: Rogers drum kit

Maple shells provide similar tight, punchy tone to vintage Rogers with modern reliability and tuning stability

Slate Digital VTM Virtual Tape MachinesPlugin Boutique$150-200

Alternative to: Analog tape saturation

Recreates the subtle compression and harmonic saturation of the multitrack tape machines used at Hitsville

Sources

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drums from “signed, sealed, delivered (i'm yours)” by stevie wonder | ToneDB