Jody Whitesides

Author: Jody Whitesides

Drum Fill Love

It’s not often where you’re in a studio talking about a drum fill. At least not often where you’re proclaiming you love it. This is precisely what happened during a moment in the recording process of Till We Meet Again, a song written by myself and the awesome Jesse Stern. We’re in the studio doing vocals with George Leger III when George blurts out something entirely unusual for an engineer / co-producer.

Talk about getting caught off guard, especially when drumming is like ESL. I remember wanting to be a drummer when I first wanted to learn an instrument. However that got nixed by my mom due to saying it would be too noisy. Instead I got a guitar and an amp. How much noise did that make? A whole lot more.

Imagine my surprise when a drum fill part I created elicits a response like what I get in the video. Of course the most polite response is what I gave, but seriously, in my head I was like – hey! I did that. Maybe I should have been a drummer first. What a different world I’d be in if that had been the case. I might not be the songwriter I turned out to be. Who knows, I could have become an on call studio or touring drummer. Ah, who am I kidding – I love the musician I am, but there are times. Times when I do wish I were a better drummer.

Drum Fill Love

Transcript:

I said I love that drum fill!

Thank you.

Fuckin’ love it.

It’s a cool drum fill.

It’s totally cool.

I done did that.

Totally fuckin’ cool.

yeah.

I have to make that a Phil Collins thing somehow.

Get it to sound like it’s in a fuckin’ glass room or something bizarre.

Oh lord.

Aw, c’mon man.

Have you subscribed to my YouTube Channel yet?

2014-05-27
In Love With My Car by Queen

In Love With My Car is probably my favorite tune about cars. I imagine it’s probably the favorite tune for many people that really like their cars. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s a cool rock song from one of the biggest bands in music history, Queen. I suppose I’m feeling a bit ready for this song today because I’m going through a period of needing to fix things in my car. I drive an Audi A4 Quattro. Little things are starting to fall apart, but I have a hard time parting with the car because it drives so well.

Yesterday the A/C decided it didn’t want to kick on. At least that’s what I thought it was. Instead in sussing out the situation, I discovered that the servo that controls the temperature wasn’t moving to change the temperature. Now it comes down to figuring out if it’s an issue with the control unit, or if there’s an electrical short. Mostly because I’ve been able to get the servo to move – thus it’s not bad. Ah the joys of cars. I’m gonna put another hour into it today, then I’ve got to get to making some music. Thank you Roger for an awesome tune.

In Love With My Car

The machine of a dream, such a clean machine,
With the pistons a pumpin’, and the hubcaps all gleam.
When I’m holding your wheel,
All I hear is your gear,
When my hand’s on your grease gun,
Oh it’s like a disease son,
I’m in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile,
Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar,
Such a thrill when your radials squeal.

Told my girl I just had to forget her,
Rather buy me a new cartburettor,
So she made tracks sayin’ ths is the end now,
Cars don’t talk back they’re just four wheeled friends now,

When I’m holding your wheel,
All I hear is your gear,
When I’m cruisin’ in overdrive,
Don’t have to listen to no run of the mill talk jive,

I’m in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile,
I’m in love with my car, string back gloves in my automolove!

Enjoy your car today!

2014-05-15
Till We Meet Again K4 Setup

Come with me inside RA Audio studios as we set up a Taylor Guitar’s K4 EQ. Here’s an outtake from the recording of my upcoming single called “Till We Meet Again” as Robert Navarro and I go through the pre-production of my Taylor 615ce. The amazing thing is that it didn’t take a very long time to plug in the guitar, plug in the K4, wire it to the pre-amp. Of course Robert and I spent a bit of time listening to several settings then proceeded to make a few minor tweaks. Then it was off the race, or rather off to the recording track.

Watch the video and find out what setting we used on my K4 EQ to get one extremely awesome sound for the acoustic guitars on “Till We Meet Again”. Yes, in the final mix down of the song I did use a combination of the K4 direct sound mixed with the KM184 Sennheiser microphones. Definitely a very awesome addition to the sound of great acoustic guitar recording.

Till We Meet Again K4 Setup

Transcript:

The whole concept of, what did I use for this recording? For Taylor Guitars website.

Right now we’re about to set up the sound for the direct sound coming out of the 615 that I’m going to record for “Till We Meet Again” into the infamous Taylor Guitars K4 equalizer.

And Robert and I, who is currently the owner of RA Audio, are about to set all of this up. He’s waving at you. And, get the sound happening. And then we’re recording through a couple of nice Sennheiser KM184’s that… [you’re welcome]

Thank you.

That I got for Robert. Uhm. So yeah, we’re about to do some pre-production on getting the right sound. Then we’re gonna do a track.

So let’s get started.

One second he says.

Wish I had a remote. Tink. Tink.

Ok, should I bring some treble down and the bass up?

That’s sorta nice? Well, I don’t want sorta. I want bad ass nice.

Back off a little on the bass. Ok, this is half of what the bass was when I raised it. So that’s a nice direct tone? Wow! No mid or anything huh?

Interesting.

So for all those out there in Taylor land who want to know the K4 setting that I just used. We’re probably talking 12:30 on the bass, on the low end. We’re looking at about 11 o’clock on the high. And the mids? Nada. Zero. Center all the way. The volume is set at medium, like right at whatever 12 o’clock is.

So the K4 is set, for the 615ce.

2014-05-13

© 1997-2025 ON RECORDS