How It Was Recorded

Pearl Jam · Album, 1991

Ten

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: Alive, Even Flow, Jeremy, Oceans. We found nothing specific to these songs, so this album record is the closest account we have.

Lead vocalGuitar overdubsDrum supportTracking and mix chainVerified9Reported5

What the sources do and do not say

Single Mix Classic Track article about "Even Flow" with interview material from engineer Dave Hillis and mixer Tim Palmer about the Ten sessions generally. Nothing ties any gear to "Alive" specifically, so this is an album record and all rows are album-level. Settings are not stated; positions only where given.

Lead vocal

Eddie Vedder

Microphone

Neumann U 87

Reported

Microphone Vedder sang into while the band tracked Ten.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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

Neve 1081

Reported

Preamp the vocal microphone went through during the Ten sessions.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Neve 1081 Channel EQ

equaliser

Model of the 1081 channel EQ, made with AMS Neve.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves V-EQ4 (Waves' model of the 1081 EQ).

UREI 1178 Silver Face

Reported

Compressor in Vedder's vocal chain on the album sessions.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

compressor

The 1178 is the stereo version of the 1176. This models the 1176.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (The 1178 is the stereo version of the 1176. This models the 1176).

ADR Vocal Stressor

Reported

Named as part of Vedder's vocal chain on the Ten sessions.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Kiive Audio Complexx

compressor

Models the ADR Compex, the dynamics section inside the Vocal Stresser, but without its equaliser.

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Guitar overdubs

Mike McCready

Amplifier

Marshall Amplifier (model not stated)

Verified

Amp McCready used for guitar overdubs across the album.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: 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).

Fender 1959 Bassman

Verified

Amp obtained by the producer specifically for McCready, run alongside the Marshall.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: 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

Sennheiser MD 421

Verified

Microphone on McCready's Marshall amp for guitar overdubs across the album.

Position
On the Marshall amp

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Drum support

Mix effects

AMS Harmonizer (model not stated)

Verified

Palmer says he triggered some drum samples live through an AMS Harmonizer to back up the snare, not to replace any sounds.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. The source does not name the model, so no specific plugin can be suggested.

Tracking and mix chain

Input chain

Studer A800

Reported

Tape machine the sessions were tracked to.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder

tape

Made with Studer as a model of the A800 multitrack.

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Neve Console (model not stated)

Verified

Hillis says nearly everything passed through the Neve during the sessions.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

console emulation

Adds the summing character of three desks, one of them a Neve. The source does not name the console model, so this is only a family resemblance.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Mix effects

Lexicon PCM (model not stated)

Verified

Two mono units used in stereo, with an H3000, as a reverb that could be faded in and out on bus faders.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Covers this kind of unit

Valhalla DSP ValhallaVintageVerb

reverb

A reverb built on the methods of 1980s digital units such as Lexicon's PCM range. The source does not name the model, so this stands for the maker's family of units: it is not a model of the one on the record.

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Eventide H3000

Verified

Used with the two Lexicon PCMs as a reverb brought in and out on the bus faders.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Eventide H3000 Factory Mk II

multi-effect

Eventide's own plugin version of the H3000.

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EMT Plate reverb (model not stated)

Verified

Plate reverbs used for depth on Ten, per the mixer.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Universal Audio EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator

reverb

The 140 is the EMT plate most studios have; the source does not name the model.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves Abbey Road Reverb Plates (Models the EMT 140 plates at Abbey Road).

Lexicon 224

Verified

Digital reverb used for depth on Ten, per the mixer.

Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb

reverb

Made with Lexicon as a model of the 224.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Sources

  1. Classic Track: Pearl Jam's "Even Flow", Mix, 2013-09-01. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
Verified

Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.

Reported

Stated by a reputable secondary source.

Inferred

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.