Chris and Jody delve into the idea of drum programming vs live drums. What styles are prone to each. When is it ideal to record with live drums. Things to watch out for when programming drums. Why might you want to program drums. And finally enhancing live drums with programmed drums or samples. Don’t forget our Friday Finds for this week and… It’s also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.
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Best Percussion Techniques for Building Groove in Your Tracks
Cracking the Code of Percussion in Music Production
Whether it’s a conga, a cabasa, or a cleverly chopped loop, percussion adds the magic between the beats—and this week, Chris & Jody are riding the rhythm rails straight into its world.
In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, the duo explores how percussion fits into music productions—from live shakers and ethnic textures to sampled loops and one-shot FX. You’ll get practical insight on how to choose the right tools, where to place them in a mix, and what not to overdo (spoiler: it’s the cowbell).
Learn how smart percussion use can build tension, widen grooves, and subtly transform a track—plus tips on layering, panning, and where percussion can accidentally clash with your core rhythm section. Whether you’re a hands-on bongo slapper or a MIDI grid magician, there’s something in here for you.
Oh, and naturally, there’s a healthy serving of Chris & Jody-style nonsense too—because learning shouldn’t be dry.
Stick around for this week’s Friday Finds, where the guys share fresh gear and tools worth hitting play on.
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Gear we used:
Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA Studer A800
Jody’s Channel Strip: iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Chris’ Mic & Voice Chain: Slate ML1 – Apollo – UA – Slate VMR (FG12, FG73, API Eq, SSL 4kE) – iZotope RX Voice – DeNoise
Chris’ Channel Strip: Eventide Precision Time Align – iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2 – iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.
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If you want to collaborate, sponsor a podcast, donate, or want us to review your product – contact us at: collaborate@insidetherecordingstudio.com