Episode 2
Initially released in 2015, Chris Stapleton's version of "Tennessee Whiskey" has since gone on to become the most requested song in Jukeboxes across America. After an industry-shaking performance of the song with Justin Timberlake at the Country Music Awards the year it was released, the song went straight to the top of the charts and has since been certified 6x Platinum.
In this pureMix.net Exclusive, legendary Nashville producer and engineer, Vance Powell, opens the original Pro Tools session to share his stories from the tracking at RCA Studio A, watching the song rocket to fame, and re-mix the song on camera.
See how Vance Powell:
- Discusses the room sound at RCA Studio A, where he tracked the song
- Breaks down his vocal bus technique
- Shows some of the edits they did to comp the final take
- Discusses how his console is his "Mix Template"
- Adds the Looptrotter Monster on Chris Stapleton's electric guitar
- Adds a Manley Massive Passive to Dave Cobb's acoustic guitar
- Dials in Distressors on Kick and Snare
- Shapes the blend between the Bass DI and Bass Amp and compresses using a STA-Level
- Removes low end from the acoustic using a Pultec EQ
- Sets his API 2500 2-bus compressor
- Automates the mix on his SSL console
- Talks about career trajectory and the impact a record can have on your career
Watch Vance Powell, mix "Tennessee Whiskey" from Chris Stapleton. Only on pureMix.net
Hardware
- API 2500
- API 550B
- Bricasti M7 Reverb
- Empirical Labs Distressor
- Empirical Labs Fatso
- GML 8900
- Manley Massive Passive
- Manley Stereo Variable MU Limiter Compressor
- Neve 33609
- LoopTrotter Audio Monster Compressor 2
- Retro Instruments Sta-Level Tube Compressor
- Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo
Software
- Dyn3 Compressor Limiter
- EQ3 1 Band
- L2
- Little Labs IBP
- UAD 1176 Rev A
- UAD 1176 LN E
- UAD Neve 1073
- UAD Pultec EQP-1A
- UAD Teletronix LA2A Gray
Christopher Alvin Stapleton (born April 15, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and grew up in Staffordsville, Kentucky. In 2001, Stapleton moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University but dropped out to pursue his career in music. Subsequently, Stapleton signed a contract with Sea Gayle Music to write and publish his music.