Nigel Godrich

Nigel Godrich uses a Focusrite ISA 215 dual mic preamp/equalizer, as evidenced by a photo showing it in the upper rack alongside Neve modules, a Lisson Grove R124, and a GML 8200 equalizer. The image, which serves as proof, can be found on Equipboard.

The Omnipressor can be seen at the top of this photo of a part of Nigel’s “mobile setup” in June 2017.

The SpectraSonics 610 can be seen in the center of this photo of a part of Nigel’s “mobile setup” in June 2017.

A screenshot from a video on Nigel Godrich's Twitter confirms the use of the AKG C12 microphone.

The pair of C12A mics can in this photo of Thom in the Green Room at Tottenham house in September or October 2006, during the recording of In Rainbows. The vocal mic is a Neumann U47, which you can read more about below.

In this screenshot from Radiohead’s From The Basement performance of Weird Fishes on April 2, 2008, one can see a tube Neumann U47 or U48 as an overhead, a black AKG 414 (EB or B-ULS) on the tom, and Coles 4038 mics on the cymbals.

A screenshot of Phil during Radiohead’s From The Basement performance of Weird Fishes on April 2, 2008. One can see a tube Neumann U47 or U48 as an overhead, a black AKG 414 (EB or B-ULS) on the tom, and Coles 4038 mics on the cymbals.

A screenshot of Phil during Radiohead’s From The Basement performance of Weird Fishes on April 2, 2008. One can see a tube Neumann U47 or U48 as an overhead, a black AKG 414 (EB or B-ULS) on the tom, and Coles 4038 mics on the cymbals.

A photo of Thom with the Electrovoice RE20 in the Banquetting Hall at Halswell in October or November 2006, from during the recording of In Rainbows.

During Radiohead’s "From The Basement" performance of "Weird Fishes" on April 2, 2008, a screenshot reveals that music producer Nigel Godrich utilized a Neumann U48 as an overhead microphone.

One can see a U47 FET on Colin’s Ampeg SVT 8x10 bass cabinet in this screenshot from Radiohead’s From The Basement performance of Bodysnatchers on April 2, 2008.

Nigel Godrich is confirmed to use a Neumann U67 microphone, identifiable by its Tuchel connector, as seen miking Ed O'Brien’s Vox AC30 in a screenshot from Radiohead’s "From The Basement" performance of "Bodysnatchers" on April 2, 2008.

In a screenshot from Radiohead's "From The Basement" performance of "Bodysnatchers" on April 2, 2008, Nigel Godrich can be seen using a Neumann U87 microphone, identifiable by its shock mount, to mic Jonny Greenwood’s Vox AC30. The microphone on Jonny’s smaller solid-state Fender Eighty-Five is likely his Audix OM3.

Nigel used at least three black Neumann U87 microphones for the recording of Junun. The mics look very clean in footage from Paul Thomas Anderson’s Junun documentary, so it seems likely that Nigel purchased reissue U87 mics to avoid any risk of his vintage mics getting damaged in the shipping to and from India.

Thom at the piano in the “Banquetting Hall” at Halswell House in October or November 2006, during the recording of In Rainbows (deadairspace). One can see Nigel’s Neumann/Gefell CMV-563, a head-shaped binaural microphone, and a Neumann U47.

Nigel is confirmed to have used Shure SM57 mics with Radiohead, and he’s doubtless used SM57 mics with all of the acts that he’s produced. During the recording of Radiohead’s OK Computer, this was Nigel’s prefered microphone for guitar amps.

“It’s just really, really basic. I’m not particularly anal about miking up guitars and stuff, as far as I’m concerned you stick an SM-57 in front of the amp and it is what it is. If the sound is good out of the amp then it’ll sound good. And more importantly, you just want to get everything set up so everybody can play! My engineering may not be the most refined of anybody’s, but I have learned that that’s not what it’s about. It’s not about getting the most hi-fi sounding thing, what makes a good record good is the vibe, and how everything just falls together” (The Mix. August 1997).

During a Q&A on the Ultraísta instagram page in January 2020, they posted a photo of an SM57 in response to the question “Favorite Mic for voice? (Studio)”, and said “IF IT DOESN’T SOUND GOOD WITH THIS IT’S NO GOOD.”

A photo from Soyuz’s instagram of of Nigel holding a SU-017 prototype in 2014.