Avril Lavigne · Album, 2007
The Best Damn Thing
18 sourced items across 3 sectionsReported18
This is an album-level record: the sources describe how the album as a whole was recorded, not one song. Where a detail belongs to a single song, the row says so.
Songs this record stands for: Girlfriend, Hot, The Best Damn Thing. We found nothing specific to these songs, so this album record is the closest account we have.
What the sources do and do not say
Mix (July 2007) covers the album sessions with Butch Walker and engineer Karl Egsieker, plus one Rob Cavallo track (Innocence). Girlfriend was produced by Dr. Luke, who is not covered; the gear listed here is for the Walker-produced tracks and is album-level, so no row is tied to Girlfriend. Cavallo's Innocence vocal chain (Sony C-800, Neve 1073, UA 1176) was left out because it is specific to another song. Rows are reported narrative; no gear settings or positions are stated.
Lead vocal (Walker sessions)
5 items
Avril Lavigne
Microphone
The real chain
AKG C 12
Reported
Main lead vocal microphone for Lavigne in the Butch Walker sessions.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
API 512
Reported
Mic preamp on the lead vocal in the Walker sessions.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Universal Audio API Vision Channel Strip Collection
channel strip
Models the channel strip of API's Vision console, whose preamp comes from the same family.
The real chain
Empirical Labs Distressor
Reported
Compressor after the preamp on the lead vocal in the Walker sessions.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look 1
- Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit)
The real chain
API 550
Reported
EQ used in the vocal chain alongside the Distressor, after the mic preamp.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Waves API 550
equaliser
Made with API as models of the 550A and 550B equalisers.
The real chain
Fairchild Compressor/limiter (model not stated)
Reported
Tube compressor used on the monitor side for the vocal in the Walker sessions.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection
compressor
Models the Fairchild 660 and 670. The source does not say which model was used.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves PuigChild 660 & 670 (Models the Fairchild 660 and 670 owned by Jack Joseph Puig)
Guitars (Walker sessions)
11 items
Butch Walker
Amplifier
The real chain
Bogner Amplifier (model not stated)
Reported
One of the amps Walker played his guitars through, alone or combined with others.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
The real chain
Marshall Amplifier (model not stated)
Reported
One of the amps Walker played his guitars through, alone or combined with others.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
The real chain
Fender Amplifier (model not stated)
Reported
One of the amps Walker played his guitars through, alone or combined with others.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
Microphone
The real chain
Royer R-122
Reported
Ribbon microphone on the guitar amps, blended with an SM57 in varying combinations.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Shure SM57
Reported
Dynamic microphone on the guitar amps, blended with the R-122 in varying combinations.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.
The real chain
Audio-Technica AT4047
Reported
Used either as a room microphone or placed close to the guitar amp.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
Chandler Limited TG2
Reported
Typical mic preamp on the guitars, from Walker's own rig.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Waves EMI TG12345 Channel Strip
channel strip
The Chandler unit recreates the preamp of EMI's TG12345 desk. This models a channel of that desk.
The real chain
API 550
Reported
Typical EQ on the guitars, from Walker's own rig.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Waves API 550
equaliser
Made with API as models of the 550A and 550B equalisers.
The real chain
Empirical Labs Distressor
Reported
Compressor used on guitars among nearly everything else in the sessions.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look 1
- Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit)
The real chain
Neve 1073
Reported
Occasionally used on guitars for a slightly different flavour.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection
preamp and EQ
Made with AMS Neve as a model of the 1073 preamp and equaliser.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves Scheps 73 (Models the 1073's preamp and equaliser, made with Andrew Scheps)
The real chain
UREI 1176
Reported
Occasionally used on guitars as an alternative to the Neve 1073.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
Models several revisions of the 1176, including the blackface units.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (Models two 1176 revisions (blacky and bluey))
Drums (Walker sessions)
2 items
Kenny Aronoff and Josh Freese
Input chain
The real chain
API 512, 550 or 560
Reported
Processing on the drums, with the model chosen according to each song's needs.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. The source is not sure which module this was, so no specific plugin can be suggested.
The real chain
Empirical Labs Distressor
Reported
Compressor used on the drums as well as guitars and vocals.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look 1
- Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit)
Sources
- Avril Lavigne: "Complicated" Singer Defeats Pop Princess Label, Mix, 2007-07. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
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