For a sparse JB production, try "Love Yourself".
It starts with one Vox and one e-guitar, played clean with no top boost and no harmonics from distortion.
 
That's it. The barest touch of reverb. Later some harmony vox comes in.
 
And yet it is right there in front of your nose.

Kamikaze

dwardzala

bitman
As for air, try either the Maag EQ (vst or hardware) and boost the 40khz.
If on a serious budget like me, you can use the Maag wannabe, Luftikus at http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Luftikus&id=1500.
 

Boost 40kHz? - I assume this is a typo and you meant either 4kHz or 10kHz?

Bottom right hand corner.

Is that a joke?
 
Seriously, what exactly is that high boost doing, because if its altering the sound, its not just boosting 40kHz frequencies?

jpetersen
For a sparse JB production, try "Love Yourself".
It starts with one Vox and one e-guitar, played clean with no top boost and no harmonics from distortion.
 
That's it. The barest touch of reverb. Later some harmony vox comes in.
 
And yet it is right there in front of your nose.

I heard that on the radio recently, didn't know who it was, or who wrote it (Ed Sheeran) until the DJ back-announced it. I was really impressed at how it leapt out of the radio.

This will make you appreciate the hard work of Mr. Bieber's engineering team...
 

bitflipperThis will make you appreciate the hard work of Mr. Bieber's engineering team...
 

Still...you must admit what a nice sheen there is to his vocal....lol
 

Charlie Sheen could likely sing better.

caminitic

bitflipperThis will make you appreciate the hard work of Mr. Bieber's engineering team...
 

Still...you must admit what a nice sheen there is to his vocal....lol
 

DOES NOT MAKE ME WANT TO HEAR IT.
UGH.
 

I hope the humor of his post and my reply didn't escape you...

I'm glad I'm not the only one here who thinks the work on these Pop records is incredible. I'm a huge fan of Max Martin and Dr. Luke. I've studied what they do and so much of it comes from the sounds they use and the arrangements. Focus on those and it will get you a lot of the way there.

samson7842
I'm a huge fan of Max Martin...

What I don't like is that all top pop songs sound pretty much the same, because they're all done by the same guy.  To my ears Taylor Swift stands above the rest, probably because she has a fair amount of input into the process.  It's just as artificial as the rest, and similar, but it's better.  I wonder where things can go from here.  Will it be possible to produce to a degree even more extreme than is now achieved ?