[Mix With The Masters] Inside The Track 97 Tom Elmhirst Travis Scott

Watch as a Grammy Award-winning engineer reconstructs the mix of one of the biggest records of the year. In this episode, Tom debuts his out-of-the-box workflow – an approach he perfected while working on the album at Rue Boyer Studios. The lines between engineering, sound design and arrangement begin to dissolve as he delves into the art of mixing in the modern era.

Tom begins with an overview of his custom-built ProTools template. He introduces his unusual drag-and-drop effects workflow, a unique approach that pays homage to the iconic dub producers of the late 60s and 70s. With a range of complex effects at his fingertips, he is able to create a sense of freedom and unpredictability that is difficult to achieve in the digital realm.

Tom uses these effects to create a huge amount of depth, color, and tone in the mix. From Travis Scott’s signature autocrowning to 21’s textured verses and James Blake’s ghostly vocal hooks, you’ll learn how he sets the stage for each of these superstar performers and creates individual vocal chains for each moment of the track.

As he works on the arrangement, he zooms in on each of the song’s signature transitions. He breaks down their construction and shows how he turned each one into a standout moment. This attention to detail is a hallmark of Tom’s work, and by showing you the inner workings of his process, you’ll learn that mixing and arranging are two sides of the same coin.