I'm trying to figure out the magic behind tracks like these - you mean, pretty much all modern pop music - they sound so full, no obvious compression effects, nothing is fighting against anything - the bass is so crisp and clear. Yet I put in a compressor and I've barely touched that thing before things sound squashed.
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
ALL pop music I've heard is 'perfect' if you know what I mean. Specifically, how do they achieve this:
1). Nothing sounds harsh - you can crank up the volume and it still sounds great
2). Everything is heard - nothing is hidden. You can clearly hear every element of the track and yet the focus is strongly on the vocals.
3). Plays well everywhere in all volumes - loud/soft/iphone earbuds/big speakers - you name it - its just perfect
4). Everything sounds massive - the singer's voice sounds so f*kin bland raw - if you watched the AMA awards it was pretty obvious that the 'sound' is from the studio, not the singer.
5). No distractions - the focus is entirely on vocals though there are some crazy sounds underneath.
It's as if they all go to one producer/mixing guru and he fixes them up (like Max Martin). Yet every song I look at the production creds and they're by these random norwegian/swedish dudes I've never heard of. It's as if everyone from Sweden has one sound and its just the perfect 'NSYNC/backstreet boys' pop sound. Explain that.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)