Faith No More · Album, 1989
The Real Thing
22 sourced items across 6 sectionsVerified7Reported15
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: Epic. We found nothing specific to this song, so this album record is the closest account we have.
What the sources do and do not say
One Mix Classic Tracks piece with Matt Wallace describing the sessions for The Real Thing at Studio D, Sausalito. Almost all the gear is described for the album as a whole; only the piano outro rows are tied to Epic itself. Several rows are the journalist's narrative, so they are marked reported.
Lead vocal
3 items
Mike Patton
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann U 47 fet
Reported
Vocal microphone for Mike Patton, chosen over a tube mic because of the sonic pressure from his aggressive verses.
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
dbx 166
Verified
Compressed Patton's vocal on the way to tape, using one side as a compressor and feeding it back through the other side as a limiter.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Approximate
Universal Audio dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter
compressor
Models the dbx 160, an earlier relative. It gives the dbx style of compression, not this unit.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter (Models the dbx 160, an earlier relative. It gives the dbx style of compression, not this unit)
Mix effects
The real chain
dbx 166
Verified
Used again on Patton's vocal during mixing.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Universal Audio dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter
compressor
Models the dbx 160, an earlier relative. It gives the dbx style of compression, not this unit.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter (Models the dbx 160, an earlier relative. It gives the dbx style of compression, not this unit)
Guitar
4 items
Jim Martin
Instrument
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. A guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.
Amplifier
The real chain
Marshall Half-stack (model not stated)
Reported
Martin's guitar amplifier.
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)
Microphone
The real chain
Shure SM57
Reported
One of the guitar miking set-ups, placed off the edge of the speaker.
- Position
- Off the speaker's edge
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 SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.
The real chain
Sennheiser MD 421
Reported
Guitar microphone on the back of the cabinet, flipped out of phase for a low thud.
- Position
- On the back, polarity flipped
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 MD 421 is still made.
Bass
5 items
Billy Gould
Instrument
The real chain
Gibson Grabber
Reported
Bass guitar used by Billy Gould.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. A bass guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.
Amplifier
The real chain
Peavey Guitar head (model not stated)
Reported
Solid-state head the bass was played through, overdriven.
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
Sennheiser MD 421
Reported
Microphone close to the bass cabinet.
- Position
- Tight to the cabinet
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 MD 421 is still made.
The real chain
Unidentified Condenser microphone (model not stated)
Reported
Condenser microphone in the hallway where the bass speakers stood.
- Position
- In the hallway
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.
Input chain
The real chain
Countryman Direct box (model not stated)
Reported
Direct-box channel recorded alongside the miked bass cabinet.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. A DI box passes the signal on cleanly. Plug the instrument straight into your interface's instrument input.
Drums
7 items
Mike Bordin
Instrument
The real chain
Slingerland Radio King snare drum
Reported
Snare drum Wallace brought to the sessions.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Approximate
Toontrack Superior Drummer 3
drum instrument
A sampled drum instrument. It does not claim to be this kit or drum.
Microphone
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
AKG C451
Reported
Microphone under the snare; Wallace gives either a C 451 or a 452. (recalled with uncertainty)
- Position
- Under the snare
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.
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.
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 MD 421 is still made.
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 real chain
AKG C24
Verified
Microphone placed some distance from the kit.
- Position
- About six feet from the drums
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.
Keyboards and piano
1 item
Roddy Bottom, Billy Gould
Instrument
The real chain
Unidentified Piano (model not stated)
ReportedOne song
Studio piano, miked up and played by Bottom for the melodic top end of the Epic outro.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.
Recording chain
2 items
Input chain
The real chain
Studer A800
Reported
24-track tape machine the album was recorded to.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder
tape
Made with Studer as a model of the A800 multitrack.
The real chain
Trident A-Range
Reported
Console the album was recorded through.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Softube Trident A-Range
equaliser
Models a channel of the Trident A-Range desk: its equaliser and filters.
Also worth a look 1
- Universal Audio Trident A-Range Classic Console EQ (Models the equaliser of the Trident A-Range desk)
Sources
- Classic Track: “Epic,” Faith No More, Mix, 2015-07-02. 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.
Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.