Jody Whitesides Music

Tag: utopia parkway

Making A Hit Song

What goes into the making of a hit song? This is a curious question. If there was one true answer, everyone would be doing it, and nothing would actually end up being a hit. Right? Conspiracy theorists like to believe that the major labels have some sort of computer algorithm that can predict if a song is a hit or not. As the British say: Bullocks. They don’t know any better than any one else, the different is, they’re in a position of power to sell something.

While recording Till We Meet Again, George, Jesse, and I get into a quick discussion about things that can help make a song a hit song. In this case, we’re talking about a little trick that Jesse and I did with a particular transition of a song from one part to another. We changed something about the song structure in such a way that it makes people take notice. Watch the video about making a hit song and find out what we did.

Making A Hit Song

Did you catch what we were talking about? Think you can go write a hit song now?

2014-08-26
Universal Audio Apollo Mic Pre

Come with me as we give the Universal Audio Apollo a shootout at Utopia Parkway studio. My Avalon 737 was at the factory so we decided to give George’s Apollo a shot at being the mic pre of choice. We set up a couple of different channel strips to see which input path would give us the best signal for my Telefunken C-12 and my voice on my song “Thump Thump Thump”. It was down to a Neve with an LA2A and a 610 with an 1176.

[sarcasm]It’s riveting. So riveting. Especially if you’ve never been in a recording studio.[/sarcasm] Recording isn’t always the fun and games that people think it is. We do actually spend time figuring out exactly what the best course of recording a sound is. Time consuming comes to mind. Office managers determining a project’s work path is probably the best analogy. After that the real work begins. Laying down the musical parts.

Universal Audio Apollo Mic Pre

Thump Thump Thump recording

Testing mic pre’s.

Testing the Apollo mic pre. Okay Universal Audio.

I lie awake in the middle of the night.

Channel strip two. Well it’s actually one, but I flipped them around.

Well… we’re. It’s the second take on the channel strip on the Apollo.

There’s a push and a pull.

I lie awake in the middle of the night

There’s a push and a pull. As the gears begin to grind.

You know what? That, the 610 sounds more… rock-and-roll. If I was to put a… it has more “ah! to it” more ah.

There’s more meat to it.

That how, that’s how I would describe it.

It’s got more protein, more girth to it. Okay whereas the neve LA2A has a bit more of a refined thin thing.

Yes it’s interesting, I guess there’s a difference in the models. Cause it’s basically the same mic going through 2 different model emulations and they do sound different. Yeah. They are so hard core. I mean really truly. More hard core than most companies are. They want their stuff to be right. and they just really won’t stop until they are.

It’s the 610 76 that wins.

Okay, to give us the meat.

To get the song to ether.

2014-06-10
Road Trip To LA For Recording Touch

A couple of months ago I forged ahead with getting a slew of new music recorded. Instead of doing it all at once in an album format, I’ve shifted gears and opted to go single by single. This way I’m able to concentrate on a steady stream of new music, plus do videos for each one.

Join me in this video as I hop in the car and head to Los Angeles through Utah, Arizona, Nevada and finally California.

Getting To LA For Recording Touch

http://youtu.be/lGXF6q1FS2k

Transcript:

“I am in the process of finishing up a first single called Touch. Today, I am on my way to Los Angeles to work with George Leger my co-producer to finish up that song. So it’s road trip time people. See ya in LA.

So I’m winding down one of the major arteries of America, interstate 15, about to pass Nephi Utah. Eighty mile an hour speed limit, gotta love it.

Off goes the trucker. Probably going to the flying J right there. I used to drive my bus there. There’s Nephi one direction. Nephi the other direction.

Taste Beaver. Lovely.

One thing that a traveler must have, as they’re traveling in their car, Juanita chips. These are the best corn chips in the world. Bar none. In addition to that, you also need to have fresh homemade guacamole. Chips and guacamole in the car and some awesome lemonade. You’ve got a good road trip way ahead.

And the most odd thing I think I’ve ever seen in my life, is that the driver in front of me is from California and driving really slow.

I’m about to cross over into Nevada and that point I’m going to make a rest stop. Stay with my father. Play some golf tomorrow and go on to LA the next day. Have a good one!

Zzyzx road right there, exit 239. Right off I-15. Heading in to LA, almost there.

This is your captain Jody Whitesides speaking. We’ve just made it across the high desert and we are now about to descend into the Los Angeles valley. LA, here we come.

Dropping down into the Los Angeles valley on the long descent down. Big windy road. One of my favorite places. Easy to coast. Just got to watch the downhill speed with the brakes.

Just landed right down in the Los Angeles valley and wholly cow look at the traffic heading out of town. It looks like they’re doing a bunch of construction to widen the freeway.

Excited to be back! Ready to record baby! Ready to record.

Two helicopters chasing people down the street next to the party I’m at in Hollywood!”

2014-01-21

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