Tom Petty's "Wildflowers"

Irk · #1 05-26-2004

Can anyone tell a guy how any of the "wildflowers" record by Tom Petty was recorded? That album is the most natural sounding records ever recorded. I do know that Rick Rubin prefers the band to be able to play the songs inside and out.

TexRoadkill · #2 05-26-2004

That is a great album. I don't know if I agree that it's natural sounding. A lot of the tracks are super compressed which is Rubin's signature sound but great nonetheless.

I've never had much luck finding any technical info on Rubin's productions. He's not much of a technical guy and the interviews are always about the creative side of producing.

c7sus · #3 05-26-2004

If you check out Johnny Cash' "Unchained", I think a lot of that was recorded live in the studio. About half of TP's band is on that record, along with Flea and some other great players.

I know TP has a studio in his home, and does a lot of work there. TP himself doesn't seem to talk much about producing records either. Or maybe I just haven't seen it.

That's a very tight band that has been together nearly 30 years with minimal lineup changes. I think that has a lot to do with their sound today.

Irk · #4 05-27-2004

Thank ya!!

Warhead · #5 05-27-2004

The drummer (Steve Ferrone) is what makes that album great in my opinion. That dude is one of the best around in my opinion!

War

dejacky · #6 05-29-2004

Warhead,
I disagree about Steve Ferrone. It's not a matter of opinion. He's simply one of THE BEST

. He's a prime example of a good drummer making a "good sounding band" a "GREAT sounding band."

Irk · #7 05-31-2004

Dear Texas Road Kill Massacre,
Can you explain to me where some of this compression occurs? I only record with microphones and a little eq if needed, but I've never used compression. I need to learn what it is without the science and dry language. Can you explain it to me using this album or any other of Rick Rubin's dealings? P.S. Please?

TexRoadkill · #8 06-01-2004

Compressors even out the volume of a track. Heavy compression done right means you can hear every little nuance of the source with very little dynamic change.

Rubin usually compresses the vocals and drums very heavily. If you listen to Wildflowers or his stuff with Johnny Cash or Cheryl Crow you can usually hear every little breath in their singing. The drums are very dry and up front with little change in the dynamics.

The best way to learn about compressors is to just start messing around with one.

c7sus · #9 06-02-2004

Stan Lynch was the BEST!

And a shame about Howie. TP once called him "our secret weapon."

dvincent · #10 06-04-2004

I dont remember all the specifics but the engineers (or one of the guys) won a grammy for TP's Wildflowers pristine recording. I personally rate that one as a real great engineering, mixing and mastering job! Also Steely Dan "Two Vs. nature" album. Pristine. Album of the year.

Irk · #11 06-05-2004

tahnk ya to all. Keep 'em comin'!

kilowatt · #12 07-16-2004

Most of Wildflowers was recorded in Mike Campbell's home studio on a Soundcraft 1600 that had a 12 channel Neve 1072 sidecar. Tom and Mike recorded most of it themselves, then Rick and an engineer (either Richard Dodd, or Jim Scott, I can't remember) was brought in for overdubs and mixing. Lots of what you hear was originally intended to be a 'scratch track', but the initial recordings were so good, and so full of energy, they were kept in the final mix. Some vocals on this album, recorded as scratch tracks, are actually an SM-57. Others are neuman mics, and it sounds to me, like a Philips C12, but I know its likely a vintage neuman.

Tom Petty usually records to Ampex 456 2" tape.

As for the drums, they probably spent a good week or two just picking out a set at one of LA's drum houses.

You can see on some petty tracks something called "multiband compression". Compression, as has been already stated, takes loud sounds, and makes them quieter, and quiet sounds, and makes them louder, for an overall more consistent volume level.

While there is certainly compression on various tracks of in the mix, multiband compression is typically used on the entire mix - that is, the stereo two-track mix, right before it hits the CD. (Sometimes the mix engineer does this, sometimes the mastering engineer does it.)

A multiband compressor is essentially a three or four band crossover (takes audio in, separates it into 'low', 'mid' and 'high' bands - most speaker systems use these to separate audio to various speakers), connected to three or four compressors. This way, if there's a loud bass 'thud', the vocal (midrange) doesn't get pulled down.

Good multiband compression can make nearly anything sound great - well, compressed.

I listen to a lot of music in iTunes, and on the analyzer, I can see the multiband compression. Just look for two or three distinctive groups of side-by-side bands that keep rising and falling in sync with eachother. There's usually one from about 750hz to 8khz.

Many engineers and producers criticize the use of compression, and especially multiband compression, sighting lower dynamic range, and the belief that the mix engineer is allowing a piece of equipment too much creative input. In fact, I believe that Wildflowers is the most natural sounding, compressed album ever. The creative use of compression is great, and this is a great example of it. Not too much, but just enough.

Tom Petty's sound also comes from good technique, and great musicians skill.

Irk · #13 07-16-2004

Kilowatt, You're the greatest!