Recreating the Billie Eilish Sound with UAD Plug-Ins

Billie Eilish’s "Birds of a Feather" took the world by storm in 2024 with its airy vocals and textured drums. Here, we break down the mix and show you how to get the same results using the plug-ins in our UAD Spark subscription.

You’ll learn to add impact to any pop or songwriter track with the same tools and techniques used by the world’s biggest producers. Follow us on social, and watch the tutorial here!

 

Drums

Goal: Punch and Crunch

Starting with the drum track, focus on adding character and punch.

Vibe Analog Machines: On the drum buss, add some gentle saturation and drive with Vibe Analog Machines to bring in rich, analog warmth and subtle grit. This gives the drums immediate character and creates a solid foundation in the mix.

Fairchild 670 Stereo Compressor: To help the kick drum hit harder, bring in the iconic Fairchild 670 for light compression. This classic compressor helps control transients and adds a powerful, weighted thump that cuts through with authority.

 

Vibe Analog Machines set to "Sweeten" mode adds tape-style saturation to the drum bus. The Fairchild 670 provides classic tube compression to give the kick its weighted punch.

 

Bass

Goal: Definition and Grit

Use a simple channel strip to give the bass guitar presence and texture.

Century Tube Channel Strip: Use the Century Tube Channel Strip to compress, boost output, and add a touch of grit with EQ. This plugin helps tightly control dynamics while introducing subtle distortion and harmonic richness, so the bass sits perfectly in the track.

 

The Century Tube Channel Strip combines preamp gain, three-band EQ, and opto leveling in one unit. It's everything you need to give bass guitar definition and grit without cluttering your signal chain.

 

Synths and Keys

Goal: Atmospheric Moments

For melodic and atmospheric parts, combine synths with spatial effects.

Electra 88 Vintage Keyboard Studio: Try layering evolving pad sounds with Electra 88 to create a lush, ambient backdrop.

Opal Morphing Synthesizer: For that high bell sound in the track, program Opal with a bright, ethereal patch. You can also craft a lead line in octaves using a different sound in Opal for a distinct, layered presence.

Waterfall Rotary Speaker: Place Waterfall Rotary on a bus to add movement and width, using its classic swirling modulation to make these elements feel expansive and dynamic.

 

Three plug-ins build the atmospheric keyboard layer: Electra 88 for vintage electric piano body, Opal for bright, morphing synth patches, and Waterfall Rotary to add swirling movement and stereo width.

 

Acoustic Guitar

Goal: Shimmer and Space 

The acoustic guitar plays a key role in pop productions, so try to give it clarity and depth.

UA 1176 Limiter: For crispness and articulation, apply compression with the 1176 to control transients and bring out the nuance in each strum or pluck.

Capitol Chambers Reverb: Add a sense of space and realism with Capitol Chambers Reverb, immersing the acoustic in the rich acoustics of these legendary studios.

Galaxy Tape Echo: For a touch of vintage character and rhythmic delay, introduce Galaxy Tape Echo to impart classic analog warmth and movement.

 

The acoustic guitar chain moves from control to space: the 1176 tightens transients, Capitol Chambers adds depth, and Galaxy Tape Echo introduces subtle rhythmic warmth.

 

Vocals

Goal: The "Whisper" Effect 

The following chain brings modern, pop-ready sheen to the vocals.

Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor: Start with light compression to manage dynamics, ensuring a consistent and present vocal performance throughout the track.

Pultec EQP-1A Equlizer: Shape the tone by cutting low-end mud and boosting the high frequencies for that signature pop “air” and sparkle.

Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb: To add spaciousness without losing clarity, use Lexicon 224 with pre-delay. This allows the dry vocal to stay upfront while the reverb tail blooms naturally behind it.

 

This lead vocal chain starts with the EL8 Distressor for consistent dynamics, the Pultec EQP-1A to shape tone and add air, and the Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb to create spaciousness without pushing the vocal back in the mix.

 

Background Vocals

Goal: Perfect Ambiance

Thicken and blend background vocals for a cohesive sound.

Topline Vocal Suite:

• Start with Formant to adjust the size and density of the backgrounds, helping them sound fuller.
• Apply compression and EQ within the suite to control dynamics and bring out harmonic detail.
• Add subtle Flat Saturation to glue the layers together and introduce warmth.
  
• Add rhythmic echoes for depth, keeping the delay subtle so it complements rather than overpowers.

Blend in just enough ambience to give the vocals a sense of space while keeping them intimately connected to the listener.

 

Topline Vocal Suite handles the full background vocal treatment in one plug-in. You can use modulation for thickness, tape delay for depth, and room reverb to blend the layers together.

 

By combining these UAD Spark plug-ins, you can recreate the textured, cinematic vibe of “Birds of a Feather” while also picking up valuable mix tips to inspire your own productions. Explore, tweak, and make it your own; the tools are here to help you craft mixes with depth, emotion, and clarity.

— Brittany Rogers

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get Billie Eilish's vocal sound?

The intimate, breathy vocal texture comes from a specific signal chain rather than a single trick. The key is restraint — especially with your reverb. Too much and the whisper effect disappears into the wash. Here's a good starting point: 

• Start with light compression to keep dynamics controlled without squashing the natural breath of the performance.
• Use an EQ to cut soem low-mid and gently lift the top end, to add "air" without making the vocal harsh.
• Finish with a digital reverb with pre-delay to keep the vocal sitting up front while the reverb tail blooms naturally behind it.
  

 

What compression settings should I use for pop drums? 

For the punchy, weighted drum sound on tracks like "Birds of a Feather" by Billie Eilish, the goal is character over control:

• On the drum buss, use a gentle drive plug-in to add grit and color.
• On the kick, a tube compressor with a slower attack lets the initial transient through, then catch the body.
• Keep compression subtle — modern pop drums tends to sound more dynamic than overcompressed '90s records. 

 

What's the best way to mix acoustic guitar in a pop mix? 

The sequence matters most: compress first, then add space. Compressing after reverb can pump the tail in a way that sounds unnatural.

In our breakdown above, the acoustic guitar gets a three-stage spatial treatment:

• UA 1176 Limiter — compression controls transients and brings out the nuance of each strum before any spatial processing is applied.
• Capitol Chambers Reverb — adds real-room space with the character of the Capitol Studios chambers, ideal for acoustic instruments that need to sound like they belong in a physical space.
• Galaxy Tape Echo — adds subtle rhythmic movement and vintage warmth — not a distinct slap-back, just enough to give the guitar a sense of being recorded somewhere interesting.