Acclaimed Producer Outfits His Capitol Office and Home Studio with MM12s
Pictured in his Capitol Records Tower studio with the Barefoot MM12 monitors is producer Rodney Jerkins. Photo by David Goggin.
Prolific producer Rodney Jerkins has outfitted his studio in the Capitol Records Tower and in his private home studio with Barefoot Sound’s flagship monitors, the MiniMain12.
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith, has been nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in the 57th annual Grammy’s. Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins’s version utilized Barefoot Sound MM12 monitors through all production phases of the recording.
Jerkins also recently garnered international recognition for his production of Michael Jackson’s posthumous #1 hit, “Xscape.” “I worked with Michael back in the 90s and started on that song in 1999, believe it or not,” Jerkins recalled. “It’s one of those treasures that sat in the vault and I felt like it was time. Fifteen years passed by, and the world needed to hear it. His fans needed to hear it. On the album, you get both versions. You get the original, and you get the new version that I re-produced and remixed to bring it up-to-date. It was a lot of fun and I did that track using my big MiniMain12 Barefoot monitors.”
Acclaimed record producer, songwriter and musician Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins is regarded as one of the most commercially successful producers in the history of music. He is responsible for over 160 million record sales worldwide and the winner of four Grammy Awards.
“I was looking for the perfect monitor,” Jerkins explained. “A number of monitor manufacturers came to my studio and did showcases of their new speakers. Then Barefoot came and I was immediately sold. I’m on my second pair of Barefoots now. I’ve got them in my home studio and I’ve got them here in my office in the Capitol Records Tower. I’ve got the big ones, the MM12s, and I plan on getting a third pair for another studio I’m building right now.”
The very busy Rodney Jerkins has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists, including Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Destiny’s Child, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, among others.
“I find that the Barefoots are the truest for me,” he continues. “You hear the detail and the true definition of every sound. With Barefoot, it’s smooth top-in, perfectly clean. I like to listen to music loud, but these Barefoots don’t hurt. It’s loud but it’s not overpowering. Everything is tuned so perfectly.”
Among Jerkins’ most notable productions are “You Rock My World” for Michael Jackson, “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” for Whitney Houston, “Say My Name” for Destiny’s Child, “If You Had My Love” for Jennifer Lopez, “Déjà Vu” for Beyoncé, “He Wasn’t Man Enough” for Toni Braxton and “Telephone” for Lady Gaga.
“Yes, I have the big boys, the MM12s,” concluded Jerkins. “I love them — they’re my best friends. How you hear music, and how you make music and listen to music is the most important part of this whole experience. For me, there is no other way now. You should have an experience with the sound and know that each part of song is being expressed correctly. The right speaker is what gives you that. That’s what Barefoot is.”
Barefoot Sound’s MiniMain12 is a 4-way active system with 7 drive units housed in sealed enclosures spanning 20Hz to 40kHz with vanishingly low distortion, full dynamic range and ultra-fast transient response.
Read the entire Rodney Jerkins interview here:
http://barefootsound.com/audio/a-conversation-with-rodney-darkchild-jerkins/
ABOUT BAREFOOT SOUND
Barefoot Sound was founded by Thomas Barefoot with the goal of creating a new breed of studio monitor. While project studios were sprouting up all over the world, filled with outstanding gear, yet with limited space, Thomas Barefoot recognized the need for a speaker that could transcend the traditional distinctions between nearfield, main and mastering monitors. Translating effortlessly and never requiring second-guessing, Barefoot Sound monitors are recognized throughout the music industry as multifunctional masterpieces. By creating one studio monitor that fits into a small physical space with leading edge technology and astounding clarity, Barefoot has set a new standard. Handcrafted in the USA.
For more info visit: http://www.barefootsound.com tel: 503. 894. 8602
