How It Was Recorded

Pulp · Different Class, 1995

Common People

Lead vocalGuitarsBassDrum kitKeyboardsStudio and consoleVerified8Reported6Inferred2

What the sources do and do not say

Single source: SOS Classic Tracks (May 2013) with engineer David Nicholas, covering the Townhouse sessions. The vocal microphone and compressor are stated as his normal practice with hedging, so they are general-practice. Valve DIs for bass are mentioned only as his habit and are omitted; the kick replacement and edit work are described without gear.

Lead vocal

Jarvis Cocker

Microphone

Neumann U 67

InferredUsual practice

Engineer recalls that the lead vocal usually went to a best-available valve microphone such as a U67, the same one used on Cocker's acoustic guitar.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Stated as his normal practice ("normally... such as"), not tied to this song.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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

UREI 1176

InferredUsual practice

Compressor the vocal (and Cocker's acoustic guitar) ran through on the way to tape, as Nicholas usually did. (recalled with uncertainty)

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Stated as his normal practice, not tied to this song.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

compressor

Models several revisions of the 1176, including the blackface units.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (Models two 1176 revisions (blacky and bluey)).

Guitars

Jarvis Cocker and Russell Senior

Instrument

Fender Jazzmaster

Reported

Senior played this in a booth during the live rhythm take.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Sigma Acoustic guitar (model not stated)

Verified

Cocker's acoustic part, nailed in one take, recorded in mono in the centre; it made the tempo changes sound convincing.

Position
Mono, centre of the mix.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Bass

Steve Mackey

Instrument

Music Man Sabre bass (as written "Musicman Sabre")

Reported

Mackey played this bass live from the control room on the rhythm track.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A bass guitar is the source of the sound, not a process applied to it. No plugin stands in for it.

Drum kit

Nick Banks

Instrument

Yamaha Drum kit (model not stated)

Reported

Banks played his Yamaha kit live in the big room for the band rhythm track.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

drum instrument

A sampled drum instrument. It does not claim to be this kit or drum.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Microphone

Sennheiser MD 421

Verified

Close microphones on the toms and kick drum.

Position
On the toms and the kick drum.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

AKG C414

Verified

Stereo overhead pair.

Position
X-Y stereo, overhead.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Shure SM57

Verified

Snare microphones, one above and one below.

Position
Top and bottom of the snare.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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 SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.

AKG C451

Verified

Hi-hat microphone with the pad engaged.

Settings
20dB pad in.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Neumann 67 (exact model as written)

Verified

A pair of room microphones placed up against the wall, alongside a mono ribbon.

Position
Up against the wall, as room microphones.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Unidentified Ribbon microphone (model not stated)

Verified

Crusty mono ribbon used as a room microphone, with the Neumann pair.

Position
Room microphone.

Source: Sound On Sound, 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.

Keyboards

Candida Doyle and Jarvis Cocker

Instrument

Farfisa Compact Professional II

Reported

Nicholas remembers Doyle playing a basic part on the Farfisa that gave her signature sound, though much of it was redone. (recalled with uncertainty)

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

Arturia Farfisa V

instrument

An emulation of a Farfisa Compact organ. It may not be this exact model.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Moog Micromoog

Verified

Cocker had a keyboard part run through his Micromoog, altered it, and it was then put back down on tape.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Arturia Mini V

instrument

A Minimoog emulation. It has the Moog filter and character, but this is a different Moog.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Studio and console

Input chain

SSL G+ console

Reported

72-channel console in Townhouse Studio 2 at the time of the sessions.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Waves SSL G-Channel

channel strip

Made with SSL as a model of the 4000 G channel strip.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (SSL's own channel-strip plugin, based on a later desk).

Sony PCM3348

Reported

Two digital multitracks: one as master, one used for editing the tempo-stitched takes.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. A digital recorder. Your DAW does this job, so no plugin is needed to stand in for it.

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Pulp ‘Common People’, Sound On Sound, 2013-05. 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.