Cooking Up What It Is with Qu1tter (Future, Wale, London on Da Track)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Qu1tter
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Topics discussed
Host note
Qu1tter graduated high school in Cleveland in 2022 and moved directly to LA, within two years he was working with Future and Wale. The story of how he did it is partly skill, partly timing, and partly his willingness to track records in basements before he had a studio.
We get into his Pro Tools preference (strong opinions, specific reasons), the pace of hip-hop sessions vs. everything else ("if it's not done by five, it's not good"), how he approaches Afrobeats differently than alt-rock, and why he still starts with guitar and bass loops before building anything else.
Selected moments
- Intro to Qu1tter's journey 2:05 Qu1tter discusses his early experiences in music and how he got into the LA studio scene.
- Working with Afro beats 3:22 Qu1tter shares his current projects, including his work with Nigerian artist Tenny.
- The balance of roles in production 4:45 Balancing roles as an engineer and a producer, and how session needs dictate which hat to wear.
- Techniques in Pro Tools 8:47 Qu1tter explains his preference for Pro Tools and its significance in his workflow.
- Unique recording experiences 10:05 A funny story about working with artists while multitasking in the studio.
- The importance of collaboration 15:49 The collaborative nature of modern music production.
- Tips for aspiring engineers 24:11 Qu1tter offers advice on plugins and techniques for mixing.
- Why he loves music 55:20 What keeps Qu1tter going, the 15-second artist acknowledgment that makes every session worth it.
Selected excerpts
"It's tough because in the hip-hop world, you have to be super fast—it’s like if it’s not done by five, it’s not good."
"I always start with loops; I’ll just sit around making guitar loops and bass loops first."
"That feeling of artists acknowledging my work is what keeps me going, even when the sessions don't go as planned."
"It's just a moment, it's a 15-second moment that makes everything worthwhile."
"Pro Tools is my thing. It’s just the software that I feel most comfortable with now."
FAQ
What is Qu1tter's background in music production?
Qu1tter began his journey in music with an indie band in Cleveland, OH. He moved to LA after high school and started working with various artists in different genres.
What techniques does Qu1tter use in his music production?
Qu1tter focuses on starting with loops, utilizing Pro Tools for recording and mixing, and employing specific plugins like Soothe and Track Spacer for mixing nuances.
How does Qu1tter balance his roles as a recording engineer and a producer?
He juggles multiple roles by being adaptable in the studio, often switching between tasks based on session needs and artist demands.
Curated notes only — no public transcript. Listen on the links above.