Tom Elmhirst breaks down his mix of 'Rolling in the Deep' by Adele

[@mixwiththemasters]

Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/te-adele

[@gymshoe23]

Her dry vocals are amazing

[@JulianDavidMusic]

Yes, and that’s what turned the track into a hit record. Not the vocal effects.

[@tiffanysmith1465]

Those aren't his dry vocals. Tom didn't engineer the song he only mixed it.

[@tiffanysmith1465]

@@JulianDavidMusic really? How tf is that when you don't EVER hear the dry vocal in the final mix? The effects absolutely make the song a hit. Take the delays off and see how it sounds 😏

[@JulianDavidMusic]

@@tiffanysmith1465 I never said that the effects are irrelevant. But it's the performance that separates an ok record from a hit. Great effects and mixing won't turn a crappy performance into a fantastic one. Like, ever.

[@STEVEFINNERTY]

@@tiffanysmith1465 relax

[@NVtheEngineer]

"When the production is right my job is just to not fuck up" - Every engineer's fear.

[@almur88]

if he is the one behind today's Easy On Me then he f*cked up big time. we get limiters and sibilants up in our face instead of Adel's vocals with zero crest factor whatsoever.

[@nicklaskragbe1075]

@@almur88 In the end It's all subjective if it was validated then that's what was wanted.

[@levondarratt787]

correct. Except Chris Lord Alge....

[@almur88]

@@levondarratt787 wha? He's behind this record?

[@musikamusika1736]

And boy is it easy to fuck it all up. All too common.

[@lorenawieshamm46]

I would even pay to get a record of Adele's dry voice, no effects, no mixing, no engineering, no production required...her voice is everything!🔥😱

[@danerraz]

Have you ever seen her singing "To Be Loved"? There's a video in her youtube page... just Adele and a piano (Spoiler alert: the computer couldn't capture all of her talent, but still..)

[@whyage3473]

What a world we live in to see and most importantly hear a mastering engineer breaking down hit songs... wow.

[@marcroube313]

mix not master

[@jaguarprovo]

this was an amazing breakdown. the song is legendary

[@EtuBeatsTV]

Wow, I learn a lot on this technique of applying delays to add that atmospheric feel

[@MrHamit64]

yeah those I'd send to the Atmos speakers. Man it would be freeking awesome to hear this song in full Dolby Atmos. How ever many of the 32 or 48 channals of Atmos it takes up.

[@phillyblunt138]

Cool isn't how when solo'd they really clash and walk all over each other, but in the mix it works so well

[@hamitcampos4989]

@@phillyblunt138 Agreed. But this also shows 1 of the things the producers will have to figure out for 12 channal Atmos. How to get that well balanced mix but if you listen to only your Atmos speakers you would hear the bouncy echo stuff you heard when he soloed them. If I were a producer lots of that anbinence stuff goes to the hight speakers and the sides and backs. along with chorus stuff in the fronts and so on. Of course the main lead vocal goes to the center channal. Man I'd love to hear this tune in 12 channal surround sound.

[@AndyKingCo]

This are the big leagues of mixing 🔥

[@analogrich]

simple but very rich sounding. Adel's voice is just amazing.. she's talented, just as you are.

[@AragornSonOfArathorn12345]

absolutely. But you could record me taking a shit and put Adele's vocals on top and would be a masterpiece

[@OS-yg9fr]

@@AragornSonOfArathorn12345 let me smell it first

[@sevchyk]

If you think it is simple, can you tell me if the send on the second delay is sent to the canyon completely or only to some degree with retaining a dry sound?

[@jonathanbyrdmusic]

What a breathtaking voice.

[@vranco]

Wow. What A sound engineer!

[@shorerocks]

Good god. These vocals are so killer.

[@LJ1SPRODUCTIONS]

Great breakdown! I love how detailed this one is.

[@percyjackson4455]

I almost didn't understand anything he said but yeah, right. All I learned from this is that there are literally indefinitely many options how to mix a record and that's enough for me already :D

[@broheme8922]

Pretty much my reaction.

[@guprovasi]

What a voice 😍

[@nguqobo2261]

4:58 We couldve had it alllll o'n in the deep. Vocalists are so amazing they can sing something without singing it.

[@neve2254e]

Got to love that Neve VR.

[@sevchyk]

Which VR number is that?

[@sodiumlights]

It really is a superb production.

[@luciasouilla5755]

Lovely! I like this last version

[@gonzomuse]

I've always loved this mix. Great to hear it all broken down.

[@JonAnderhub]

Hey thanks for the more than usual, in-depth look, at this mix. Nice job!

[@ajja]

Great mix, Tom.

[@theonlinereviewer6139]

I’ve never seen a session this organized

[@PrinceWesterburg]

I always thought there was either a faded out second vocal or tape print through but its just a tape delay as unruly as the producer's hair! Great video, nice to hear inside the track and man the distortion on that reverb!

[@sevchyk]

The question is what specific delay plugin is that.

[@citizenworld8094]

Thank you. Sincere man too.

[@user-ht9fr6eh9u]

All that work, talent, years of experience, training and sufferance and a singer gets given the words, given the music, given the production, given the promotion and gets to get all the credit and money

[@oldmanspidey]

if you think the singer gets all the money from the sale or stream of a song then you know very little about the music industry. other songwriters and producers are also credited where need be, and that info can easily be found online. as an additional note, Adele writes/participates in the writing of pretty much all of her songs, and then collaborates with other songwriters, producers, etc. even if she didnt participate in the writing process, she would still be a valuable collaborator in the making of her songs. singing and performing to the near-perfect degree that adele has proven she is able to do is extremely, extremely hard. its not something everyone is capable of. and thats the point, making music is a collaborate process, and finding the right vocalist/performer for a song is important.

[@user-ht9fr6eh9u]

Fanboy or relative? Look a singer is gifted from birth and genetics most of their ability the other helpers have spent years and years crafting honing sitting in dark rooms and getting little in comparison fiscal or fame.

[@nemesi8800]

@@user-ht9fr6eh9u "Look a singer is gifted from birth" I had to stop reading there, it's apparent and clear you have no idea what you are talking about.

[@federicafurlotti]

@@user-ht9fr6eh9u you know that producers and mixers at that level won’t only be paid a few to produce and mix but also have points on the master? Meaning they get royalties from the sales so yeah they pretty much make money from every sale of the record on the master side.

[@federicafurlotti]

Meant fee

[@fogwalker4803]

Thank you ...So much Tom for all this great knowledge you have imparted about this pop masterpiece... in just 5 min no less.... Ya really gave it a shot of audio adrenaline !!...But.. You could make a great demo with even an old Fostex 4tr cassette recorder if Adele was singing the track. HAHA.. Just leave..LOTS OF SPACE!!!

[@RoadRamos]

Tom, lo que te quiero no tiene nombre.

[@christopantz]

adele is a fucking once in a generation talent

[@josh44026]

She didn't make the instrumental

[@mikolajgrzywacz]

impossible to unlike that masterpiece

[@DocFUNKist]

Extremely possible. It's pig pile of s... overated just like the beatles were. Zero talent

[@thatrainyboy1670]

@@DocFUNKist who hurt u today 🤨

[@BukanIbuMu]

@@DocFUNKist lol you looked like the most bullied and beaten kid in high school

[@RangeWilson]

"Dude, *I* mixed that track? Really? That was, like, seven years ago! OK, if you say so... let me figure out what I did..."

[@JesseWilsonMusic]

flip so good!!!

[@januardmosia3949]

Adele sounds beautiful

[@DeuceGenius]

that shit was a modern day masterpiece

[@tasteapiana]

Tom looks like he was just rescued from a failed attempt to summit Everest 30 minutes before this was filmed after he spent 2 weeks clinging to a rucksack with another climber in it (who didn't make it) 1,000ft down the north face from the peak, they wanted to evac him directly to hospital but he was like ''NO! I have a Mix with the Masters session to film! GET ME TO MY STUDIO NOW!''.

[@neivmusic]

LOL adele mashup kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3LGc5ucnpyZa5I

[@J77199]

You thought of all that just then huh

[@MelomanTheNerd]

Don't worry, he has that same look while slamming a slice of gross LA pizza

[@user-ht9fr6eh9u]

yeah or he was just tired

[@matthewcullen3034]

@@user-ht9fr6eh9u "tired" cocaine is a hell / lovely drug

[@TOBU__]

impressive asf

[@ABlueDahlia]

Fascinating

[@blashuvec]

This quality looks and sounds better than the MWTM version itself! Maybe reupload all vids new and old w this kind of quality on the website pls??

[@AboveEmAllProduction]

This is the mwtm version you're on their channel....

[@blashuvec]

@@AboveEmAllProduction they have a website w the full version and I was a member. im saying the quality on this youtube clip is better than the full version.

[@AboveEmAllProduction]

@@blashuvec aha the Full version, ok.

[@blashuvec]

@@AboveEmAllProduction yep go check it out and be a pro member so you'd know what im talking about

[@AboveEmAllProduction]

@@blashuvec no thanks

[@bhargavdobhal5327]

Thank You 🙌🙌Very Helpful Video🔥🔥.

[@JeffDaytonMusic]

So cool. All brilliant, no hype.

[@InZainUK]

Can we get Jamie’s version next pls

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

I love it!!

[@jong-jongspeaks4224]

1:59 Still Dre

[@9biel]

Thank you for this video. :D

[@mrfleamino9350]

Great , thank you for all this information

[@MountainViewStudio]

Tasty elements for fx Vox

[@matthammond1737]

Interesting and inspiring

[@ezramcclain1913]

First you’re gonna need a classic performance from all the musicians 😂bro didn’t have to even mix that much

[@kruppelfield]

God damn the SSL console has motorized faders???

[@dirkchurlish4074]

Elmhirst mixes on a Neve VR, and yes, it (as well as SSLs) has motorized faders (automation)! Much cooler than seeing faders move on a screen, isn't it? :) :

[@jaketanner109]

motorized faders have been around for about 30 years.

[@harrytuttle5810]

Isnt this a CADAC?

[@jtsotherone]

@@harrytuttle5810 no, definitely a Neve VR

[@sevchyk]

@@dirkchurlish4074Which VR is that?

[@khalillahbichi4943]

Sounds amazing ! Can someone tell me what those reverbs in the lead vocal ? thanks

[@jzg7890]

that's the dry vocals!? insane

[@3star2nr]

Bro its adele... What did u expect. Lol

[@RaffaeleSansone]

I think he meant dry in the sense of no reverb or delay, there is a fair amount of other processing though. But she has insane vocals I agree

[@luciasouilla5755]

marvellous

[@beerund3508]

Imagine having a studer a800 and just jusing it as a table

[@OliverZhang]

So much valuable knowledge in this video! Great content

[@SimienHill]

Simple mixes are still undefeated

[@lexiderch123yo6]

2:00 why did i have to think of still dre 😂

[@duleswim]

Can someone tell me what model is this board from Neve? Thank you Great video by the way

[@TheQuantixXx]

straigh straiiight

[@ReneSerna1021]

wow!

[@DevinDeVore]

Fabulous

[@udopiarecords]

He didn't show the most important part: the compression on that lead vocal. :[ I wanted to see how much compression was used cause it sounds amazing, it sounds so controlled but still carries so much emotion and weight, I rly wish he woulda broken that down... especially in the HOOK!

[@sevchyk]

The compression is the plugin UAD 1176 SE, 8:1 ratio, attack and release both at twelve o’clock. You can check another video with Epworth on youtube, where it is showed. I’m interested more in delay and reverbs used.

[@edwardmukiibi]

1:36 Guy killed it.

[@langadubazana]

OMG I freaking love this recording! So cool to see this.

[@hselburn1]

Did you punch in the delays on the chorus or was automation used in any way?

[@oneman49instruments]

Thanks for sharing! Awesome drum sound!

[@NealJohnson]

Hi, where can I download these stems? lol

[@yanukadeneth99]

I got goosebumps when I just heard the vocals.. oof.

[@andremansa1]

Damn who knew mixing could be so sexy?

[@sevchyk]

How did he offset the two eighth note delays that kicked in the chorus?

[@dirkchurlish4074]

Nice video! Nice Magic Death Eye back there. What's the parallel drum compressor he's using, 33609? And what are those illuminated VU meters to the left of the console at 3:53? They look like maybe some RCA compressor

[@MegaVictorGamer]

The parallel comp is a Chandler TG1… don’t know about those meters though

[@sevchyk]

Where did you see magic death eye, time code?

[@Themosaicsound]

That console.

[@VoeViking]

IMHO that reverb takes away more than it adds.

[@mediumdobbers]

My job is not to fuck up THATS MY LIFE MANTRA ☠️🤣

[@HenriqueBoneGuimaraes]

yep

[@cocojumbo1560]

that is crazy setting for vocal, anyway it just beautiful voice

[@keparadio4689]

what is this console? wow! it reads automation from daw?

[@Bluelagoonstudios]

When she told, Tim Pierce, I'm not in to wah wah, hehe still see that in front of me :)

[@enoughkgolane273]

Me I'm just looking at the mixing table only 😭

[@Marcel1979K]

This looks like loudness war advertisment :-D

[@keithmoran8004]

Shame the mastering compression on all of her albums is over the top. #loudnesswars

[@jaketanner109]

it's horrid even in the mix and tracking...

[@3star2nr]

Bro... What loudness wars its not the 90s anymore Lmao.. Y'all heard one phrase from 20 years ago and now everybody comes on a video of a grammy winning engineer talking about "loudness wars" to make themself feel smart... Where are your mixes lets hear them... Where are your grammys

[@3star2nr]

@@jaketanner109 lets hear your mixes... Lets see your grammys Oh right...

[@jaketanner109]

@@3star2nr I actually have two Grammys. That is besides that point. You don't need but your ears to hear it's terrible.

[@jaketanner109]

@@3star2nr Also, Grammys don't mean shit...FYI.

[@vspatmx7458]

That guy has access to more knobs and switches than all the knobs and switches in my -city- -country- planet

[@CFXThoomZ]

Those old vintage apple keyboard and mouse. Rules in the studio be like “if it works it works” I think

[@francampa4170]

1:06 uffff

[@warnutztheloser]

u threw dat red pen everywhere...anyways great mix. can believe this songs almost 10yrs old

[@levondarratt787]

HE said 7. So that's closer to 5. About 1/2 of 10, LMAO! Not long ago.

[@AustinWaring]

@@levondarratt787 Rolling in the Deep was released in November 2010

[@brandonfrancacamposmenegon9182]

Salve, sou daqui do Brasil e amo o conteúdo do Canal.

[@marctremblay3071]

his hair always get up!

[@7Heaven69]

anyone know which series of neve consoles

[@channeloram]

He said 7 years, but actually it's 10 years

[@caneandabel]

I’m still on ‘bass and treble’ 😂

[@CameronEarlyMusic]

wow

[@joncurtis19]

Phenomonal. No wonder no one sounds as good live!

[@ddt3588]

Well apart from Adele. She literally sounds exactly the same live as she does on record.

[@jingleskhanaudioproductions]

and he mixed it on pair of KRK's. Lo and Behold!

[@snapascrew]

They aren’t the shitty KRKs people think of today when they hear that brand. KRK makes great monitors but when people hear “KRK” they think “Rokkit” which is not the case. He had 9000b’s but even today KRK makes some great monitors.

[@weeler_3197]

how can he remember what all does buttons do?

[@jensbondarenko9195]

Now we all know why MP3 is the wrong way to hear music. A lot of the reverb and delay things will be lost after lossy compressing with this then 20 year old technology.

[@DOGOID]

Plus people listening on their iPhone speakers

[@MrHamit64]

Wow Wow it would be cool to hear all this in Dolby Atmos. Full 32 channals of Atmos. Do you guys happen to know what the song was sampled at? Is it 44.1 16 or 48 24 like a Blu Ray disk?

[@r3stless508]

Anyone here doing "producer" homework, like me?

[@FranklinBurrus]

just in time for my seasonal depression

[@ikigai47]

Learned almost nothing. Amazing studio

[@TheMcPozitiv]

Hoooold up he mixed it on some KRK's ???????

[@AdamRandomCollections]

DJ Khaled has left the room!!! LOL