How To Make 2000s Pop (*NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, Max Martin)

In this video, Austin shows you how to make a pop song in the style of late 90s and early 2000s pop. We dive into producing a song like *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, Britney Spears, O Town, and more!

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Affiliate Links To My Favorite Gear and Plugins!

DAW / Program I Use:

Vocal Chain:
Mic - Lauten Audio LT-386 Eden
Preamp +Heritage EQ - Audio HA81A
Compressor - AudioScape 76D
I/O - RME UFX ii

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My Gear:
DAW: Cubase 12 Pro
Desk: AZ Studio Workstations
Main Microphone: Lauten Audio LT-386 Eden, Lewitt LCT1040
Voiceover Mic: Lauten LS-208
Monitors: Focal Shape 65s with Focal Sub6
Interface: RME UFX ii
Compressor: AudioScape 76D
MIDI Keyboard: M-Audio Code 61
Keyboards: Roland Juno DS88, Roland Juno 106, Arturia PolyBrute
Guitars: Fender American Professional Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Taylor 214 CE Plus
Preamps: Heritage Audio HA81A & Audient ASP800
Extra Microphones: Advanced Audio 251, Slate ML-1, Shure SM7B, JZ BH-1, JZ V67, Lauten Audio LA-320, Lauten Audio LA-220, Lauten Audio LA-120, AKG P170, Sterling ST59
Camera: Sony A7iv
Lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.4
Camera Lights: Aperture Amaran 100Xs

Timestamps:
Intro 0:00
Announcement 0:45
Laying Out The Drums 1:42
Synths and Orc Hits 2:42
Creating An Intro 4:35
Background Drums 5:45
Verse Drums 6:19
Verse Bass 7:33
Verse Keys and Synths 7:57
Structuring A Pre-Chorus 9:37
Chorus Drums 11:48
Chorus Bass 12:30
Chorus Keys and Synths 12:56
Chorus FX and Hits 14:55
Producing The Post-Chorus 15:55
Verse Vocals 16:46
Answer Vocal Effect 17:47
Verse Vocal Layers 18:13
Pre-Chorus Vocal Arrangement 18:40
Chorus Vocal Production 19:45
Post-Chorus Vocal 22:20
Listen To The Final Track 23:00
Outro 24:57

[LLusion]

this was great to see. always thought the production was ironically complex for being “generic bubble gum pop music” back in the day. would love to see your spin on “neptunes” type of production back in the day

[Intryx]

The “Will Smith” bass had me chuckling 💀 7:33

[missepicmandy]

That 90s pop is timeless. I have seen max Martin actually once hehe 😊

[missepicmandy]

What i noticed about 2000s style is how much acoustic guitars were used and strings. This sample pack is gold my man. I have some synths in my studio alot sounds from the roland jv 2080.

[Vrainy]

I really love the vibe of the late 90s to 2000s music. It's something I really want to incorporate on my music and I'm giving you a lot of thanks because of tutorials like these that are super worthwhile to take time and absorb

[rai_Blogz]

2:59 THIS WAS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!

[chickenlurkinyungchihuahua]

It’s like a mix of everybody - bsb and tearin’ up my heart - nsync. Awesome work.

[forgetmyhead]

dude seriously props to you for all the work you put into these packs

[DodaGarcia]

I'm calling it now, Austin will be the next Max Martin.

[JamshidBahodirov]

That’s a genius job man. Music of 00s really adorable🤯

[EngeniusBeatz]

Slap bass preset called "Will Smith" 😂😂😂😂 great video Austin

[lilabby]

I'm years late to this channel but I literally feel like a child in a candy store going through the video library. So So So So So good. Thank you for this content. God bless you <3

[shravansridharviolin]

Okay I find myself saying this EVERY single time you drop a vid, but I think is probably my aaabsolute fav "How to" YET! 💙

[dancebnine]

Ok personally I am not a pop music fan but I love your music production work. It’s very good stuff and I’m impressed by the sound of this one. Great job

[aneeshthesia]

Bhai!
A big thank you for creating this fantastic video on making 2000s pop music. Although I was introduced to Western music a bit later around 2007, I must admit that many of my all-time favorite songs come from that iconic Timbaland and Max Martin era. Your video has not only brought back some incredible memories but also given me a deeper appreciation for the artistry and production techniques behind those nostalgic hits. Keep up the great work, and please continue sharing your insights and tutorials. Looking forward to more musical journeys down memory lane!

[isaacyoung]

This is awesome! I bought the Y2K pack and am looking forward to using it a lot. There's a shortage of videos on Youtube about this style of production. I'd love to see a video of you making a guitar-style Backstreet Boys song, like I Want It That Way or Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely. Keep up the great work!

[vadimmartynyuk]

In those days in those productions they mostly used Korg Trinity, and Roland and E-mu sound modules

[cannibalking]

definitely hearing that backstreet boys melody from the song, everybody

[KidAstronaut]

Have to shout out the originators of this sound - Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who invented New Jack Swing. Those drums and Orchestra hits are key elements of their sound that Max Martin was "Inspired" by.

[amothershed]

I feel so much nostalgia for 90's and 00's boy bands and this was great!! I would love to see/hear your take on a boy band type ballad/love song. And for those that say that boy bands don't make 'real music' clearly haven't seen this video because a lot of work goes into it!! Well done!