 The mixing sessions of the album began in Robert Lang Studios ( which were used on the 100 tapes Grohl gave away ) but eventually those mixes were discarded and the sessions moved to Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock 's " The Shop " studio in Arcata , California . Mixes were done on a 32 channel API DeMedio console , custom built by Frank DeMedio in 1972 for Wally Heider Recording 's ' Studio 4 ' . A Stephen 's 24 track 2 " tape machine was used for playback . Processors used in the mixes included an Eventide Omnipressor compressor for vocals and guitar solos , an Alan Smart stereo compressor for " squashing " the drums and mixing them back in as well as being used over the entire mix . Other processors included UREI 1176 and LA3A compressors as well as an Echoplex for delays and a " crappy digital reverb " . Mixes were " nothing that crazy " Rob described , adding that he " mixed Big Me in 20 minutes " . 
