Bob Clearmountain: Mix Engineer Behind Springsteen, Rolling Stones & Bon Jovi's Biggest Hits

Bob Clearmountain has mixed some of the most successful albums in rock and pop history. Over four decades, he’s worked with Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and dozens of other major artists. His mixes have a clarity and punch that became the gold standard for commercial rock in the 1980s and beyond.

Discography highlights

Clearmountain’s credits span rock, pop, jazz, and R&B:

• Bruce Springsteen - “Born in the U.S.A.”
• The Rolling Stones - “Tattoo You”
• Bon Jovi - “Slippery When Wet”
• Chic - “C’est Chic”
• Bryan Adams - “Reckless”
• Paul McCartney - “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard”
• Hall & Oates - “Private Eyes”

Mixing philosophy

Clearmountain sees mixing as both technical craft and artistic interpretation. He focuses on serving the song rather than imposing a signature sound, though his mixes tend to have a characteristic clarity and space.

“Mixing is a combination of art and science,” he said in a 2010 interview. “You have to understand the technical side, but you also have to have a feel for the music and the emotions it conveys.”

He approaches each project differently, listening for what the recording needs rather than following a template. The goal is to make every element audible and impactful without creating clutter.

Studio gear

Clearmountain’s studio setup includes:

• SSL 9000 J Series Console
• Avid Pro Tools HDX System
• Burl Audio B2 Bomber ADC/DAC
• Genelec 1032A Monitors
• Tube-Tech CL 1B Compressor
• Neve 1073 Preamps
• Empirical Labs Distressors

The SSL console gives him the surgical EQ control he’s known for, while the Neve preamps add warmth to tracking. The Empirical Labs Distressors are workhorses on drums and bass.

Plugins

Despite his analog background, Clearmountain uses plugins extensively. His most-used digital tools include:

• UAD Plugins (particularly the 1176 and LA-2A emulations)
• Waves Renaissance Compressor
• Sonnox Oxford Inflator
• Avid Channel Strip
• Soundtoys Decapitator

The UAD 1176 emulation gets heavy use on vocals and guitars. He’s mentioned that the Renaissance Compressor is his go-to for gentle bus compression that doesn’t call attention to itself.

Signature techniques

The “summing trick”

Clearmountain developed a technique where he prints individual tracks to a stereo mix, then brings that stereo mix back into the session as a new element. This adds depth and cohesion—the resampled stereo track acts as “glue” that ties disparate elements together.

Parallel compression

He blends a heavily compressed version of a track with the original uncompressed version. This adds punch and sustain while keeping the natural dynamics intact. He’s particularly known for using this on drum busses.

Drum sample reinforcement

Clearmountain often reinforces live drum tracks with carefully selected samples. This technique, which he pioneered in the 1980s, adds weight and clarity to drums without sacrificing the feel of the live performance. The samples fill in frequencies that microphones miss or that get lost in the mix.

Surgical EQ and detailed automation

His EQ work is precise. He’ll carve out narrow frequency ranges to make space for competing elements, then use automation to adjust those EQ moves throughout the song as arrangement changes. This level of detail—writing automation for EQ parameters, not just volume—was uncommon before Clearmountain popularized it.

Awards

• 2 Grammy Awards
• 6 TEC Awards (Technical Excellence & Creativity)
• TEC Awards Hall of Fame inductee (2017)
• Les Paul Award from the Les Paul Foundation (2019)

Lasting influence

Clearmountain’s mixes from the 1980s and 1990s defined what commercial rock was supposed to sound like. His techniques—parallel compression, drum sample reinforcement, detailed automation—are now standard practice. Engineers still reference his work on “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Slippery When Wet” when they want that punchy, clear, radio-ready sound.

His approach combines technical precision with musical sensibility. That balance is what keeps his mixes sounding fresh decades later.

For the contrast — what aggressive, high-compression mixing sounds like in practice — Chris Lord-Alge is the reference point. Seven Grammys, same era, completely different philosophy. Studying both tells you more about mix philosophy than either does alone.