Tracking Session 360: Recording Method & Approach

Award-winning producer Thom McKay leads a workshop on the craft of in-studio collaboration, where communication and technique shape the sound.
Thom McKay is an internationally acclaimed producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with platinum awards, Juno nominations, and multiple hit singles across Canada, the U.S., and the UK. He brings decades of experience to this session to offer emerging producers and musicians a rare opportunity to master the art and practice of studio collaboration. Blending technical expertise with creative collaboration, McKay explores the essentials of in-studio communication, expectation-setting, and mutual respect, skills as vital as rhythm, melody, and harmony.  
Participants will gain practical tools for structuring timelines, balancing originality with commercial appeal, and managing publishing fairly. The session also delves into rhythm section construction, instrument register choices, chord voicings, tracking order, and vocal recording methodologies—all aimed at achieving clarity and cohesion in the final mix. McKay further shares insights on recognising when a song is ready for mixing and mastering, drawing from years of collaboration with global artists such as David Bowie’s producer Mark Plati, as well as his experience on a production team that tracked live performances by incredible talents including Ellie Goulding, Janelle Monáe, and Eminem.
More than a technical masterclass, this workshop redefines music-making as a space built on respect, humility, and connection, values that enrich both the creative process and the final sound.  

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