NEVERMIND MIX ANALYSIS | 1991 (Andy Wallace) VS 2011 (Butch Vig) 

Which one is better? Leave a comment and the reason why!

It's all about that intro, Wallace mix is genius removing wideness from the guitar to make dynamics from the drums stand out

Andy Wallace mixes feel raw, I would say almost unmixed, but at the same time powerful and clear. Absolute genius

First mix i ever heard by Andy was The Front which I still play to this day. Been a fan ever since.

AW mix just grabs you and takes you places. It's the mix I heard in 1992 after buying the vinyl and for me it's the only I can listen too.

thanks for this!

Andy's mix is way brighter and polished. I love Butch, but Andy can't be beated in this record

Butch is more the Recording Engineer and Wallace the Mixing Egineer.......both did a great job on this Record

Andy Wallace said in a recent interview there’s no trigger on the drums. Is just Dave Grohl. 🤘🏼

butch vig version sounds like in utero

Andy always, every mix, every album, the best ever!

I'm against making something lower quality for some abstract concept of 'cred.' I always prefered Nevermind's production over In Utero, even though I'll admit In Utero is the superior record.

Really cool analysis! Wallace's mix is definitely the stronger of the two in my opinion. Much better separation in terms of the instruments and nothing seems to be fighting for space, whereas Vig's mix feels very crowded and thick despite the wide separation on the guitar tracks. I do feel that Wallace's mix in "CAYA" loses some nuance; the ghost notes on Dave's snare during the verses are barely audible in the Wallace mix but you very clearly hear them in the Vig mix. That said, in Vig's "SLTS" mix, the kick drum gets buried amidst the din, and the extremely gated snare is the antithesis of nuance. When I listen to Vig's Devonshire mix, I enjoy it but feel fatigued afterwards; Wallace's mix is definitely the one to ingest if you don't want to feel like taking an antacid and a nap afterward.

Apparently there is a Teen Spirit Butch Vig mix and another one called 'The Devonshire mix' . Are both the same? Because when I hear both versions, there are still some differences between them.

I like the Butch Vig mix more. It feels more like Killing Joke almost, something more old school, darker, his voice is more present, the energy is just harder. Butch Vig wins IMO. I think some, not all, but some of peoples opinion on this has to do with just plain nostalgia and the fact that so much music evolved around this one record…

You definitely said smells like TEAM spirit! 😂 0:26

Butch Vigs mix is absolutely 100% better, it sounds more like a live band, im pretty sure Kurt wanted Butch Vigs mix anyway,

The bass not being muddied out is what makes Andy a clear winner for me, Krist is the glue for Nirvana especially in songs like On A Plain and Lounge Act

Andy is the GOAT

Its basically the same! Its not like they made "endless nameless" sound like "polly"! Also the first time you said it, you said "smells like TEAM spirit"! 🤣 Im gonna use that as a title for a song!

Butch Vig´s mix sounds more modern. I like AW version

But some of those difference could also come from the mastering afterwards, unless you tell me both versions went through the exact same mastering gear and settings

Jesus let it play for more than 2 seconds so we can get a feel good the differences. That's so frustrating couldn't finish the video.

Andy’s version

smells like team spirit lol

I agree that Butch Vig 's drums don't sound as good. Which is very annoying as I thought, with him being a drummer, that his would have been better. That drum fill you pointed out for having a lack of dynamics sounded like stuff I've done with MY Power Drum Kit in the past. LOL.

This is pointless UNLESS you are comparing the UNMASTERED Versions. Love Sound Designer / Pro Tools, nonetheless.

it's not a sample! lol

I prefer the AW mix, more contrast (mono/dry intro -> stereo fatter chorus), the sounds are both cool but andy has more range to give more emotions to the listeners

Whats up with that insane twang on the guitars in the intro of the vig version. Just artificial.