Phantogram - "Mister Impossible"

In this first mixing episode of Inside the Mix: Phantogram “Mister Impossible,” Grammy-winning engineer Andrew Dawson opens his Pro Tools session to reveal how he transforms raw production into a mix that hits hard and stays musical.

Andrew explains his mindset when approaching a dense, aggressive track like this one aiming for impact, energy, and emotion rather than smooth perfection. Watch as he focuses on the core elements of the mix: drums, bass, and synths. He walks through each layer, showing how sound selection, level balance, and creative tone shaping all work together to create Phantogram’s cinematic intensity.

You’ll learn how he:

Shapes drums to punch through the mix using sample layering, EQ, and saturation.

Adds character and tone to 808s with distortion and harmonics instead of EQ boosts.

Enhances synth basses and pads with tremolo, sidechain movement, and midrange clarity.

Uses creative sound design plugins like Decapitator, Little AlterBoy, and Crystallizer to build emotion and depth.

Maintains a cohesive low end by defining space between bass, drums, and synths.

Andrew also demonstrates advanced mix philosophy: when to leave sounds untouched, how to make bold EQ choices, and why imperfection can make a mix feel more alive.