Nirvana recorded Nevermind in May and June 1991 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, and Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. The album was produced by Butch Vig and mastered in August 1991 at the Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California.
Here's a breakdown of the recording process:
- Pre-Production: Nirvana worked with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, to prepare for the album. They refined arrangements and captured demos of the songs.
- Main Recording Sessions: The primary recording took place at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. The band tracked drums, bass, and guitars live to capture the energy of their performances. Kurt Cobain then overdubbed his vocals.
- Producer: Butch Vig played a significant role in shaping the sound of Nevermind, bringing a more polished and radio-friendly production style compared to Nirvana's earlier work.
- Sound and Techniques: Vig employed various recording techniques to achieve the desired sound, including layering guitars, using compression, and experimenting with microphone placement. This contributed to the album's iconic sound.
- Mastering: After recording and mixing, the album was mastered at The Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California, to optimize the sound for different playback systems.
- Key Personnel:
- Kurt Cobain: Vocals, guitar
- Krist Novoselic: Bass
- Dave Grohl: Drums
- Butch Vig: Producer
The goal of the Nevermind sessions was to capture the band's raw energy while creating a polished and accessible sound. Butch Vig helped Nirvana achieve this balance, resulting in a commercially successful and critically acclaimed album.
