Use Ear Candy To Create Special Moments In Your Songs! | Make Pop Music

Adding special moments throughout a song, production, or arrangement can be a great way to keep listeners' attention. Try these ear candy techniques to create special moments such as building and releasing tension, queuing transitions, adding special sound effects to emphasize phrases, and more!

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My Gear:
DAW: Cubase 11 Pro
Desk: AZ Studio Workstations
Main Microphone: Lewitt LCT1040
Monitors: Focal Shape 65s with Focal Sub6
Interface: UAD Apollo Twin USB
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
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: Panasonic G7
Lens: Rokinon 12mm f2
Camera Lights: Neewer LED Light Panels

Timestamps:
Preview 0:00
Intro 0:22
Creating Tension With Risers 1:51
Emphasizing Impact With Hits 4:56
Using Silence To Draw Attention 7:52
Adding Dynamics With Processing 10:52
Utilizing Sound Effects To Elude To Lyrics 12:49
Writing Automation To Lead The Listener's Attention 15:18
Other Ear Candy Ideas 17:53
Outro 19:19

[alesdi]

Always love earcandy videos! Keep ‘em coming!!

[gdmusicgroup]

Nothing But Gems 💎💎💎 Being Dropped. Definitely Leveled Up My Productions After This Video

[JustinGamana]

You inspire me so much, Austin! When I feel uninspired, your videos revive my creativity!

[michaelgaudreau]

Been listening to this song a lot recently after watching your other vid featuring this song. Hearing it without the ear candy is actually jarring lol. It adds SOOOO much to a song. Love the content man, thanks for putting these videos out!

[producerdanieldennis]

One of your best and most important videos, makes such a difference!

[heinrichsmit]

I love how clean this production sounds 👌

[ilyjesusable]

Would love to see a video where you’re doing the nitty-gritty sound design for special ear candy moments

[rafaelaboth]

i would really like a video with alternative ear candy effects! these are nice but sometimes i feel like they could be more subtle

[bentaganile]

Wow! So much gold. Thank you for taking the time to create these detailed videos. Your channel is the reason I enjoy making music again.

[cherisecarvermusic]

Brilliant as always! Thanks so much, Austin!

[guitarwalljams]

Love this video! So much value. Thanks you bro 🔥

[ccfeelsaboutyou]

my productions have soooo much ear candy and still, i never really paid attention to bring it to my consciousness about how important it actually is.. Great vid as always!!!!

[jigawatt]

Yes, please do more like this where we highlight what we already have and keep it interesting. Thanks again, much love!

[ferienambalkon]

Unbelievable! This is the 4th video in a row which revolves around a topic that is vital to me and my production work! Thank you so much!!

[SimonCarranza]

Do more like this please!!! Great video like always ✨

[jarjar]

Great video. Definitely would like more videos like this, a deeper dive on this ear candy stuff.

[dereksimke]

I’d love to see more videos like this, you’re the man Austin!

[Spicyboi]

Ear candy is so important to an interesting production and it’s something I’ve just started exploring more in my productions and as soon as I do you release a brand new video answering all of my questions and show me the techniques I was confused about creating. Awesome video! Thank you so much for making these and keep up the great work! I would always love to see more videos about ear candy on the channel, I always find it super interesting and helpful for improving my productions.

[GuillermoParedes]

This video, this song specifically has the synths I'm looking for, something that keeps on lingering on the back very melodic. I've been searching the web since I know those are synths, but most of the videos I find talk about EDM very electronic, not soft at all. Would you happen to have a video on how to do those synths specifically? they sound like pads but they are not sustained notes but like three-note plucks very paddy. Love this!

[purplejavs]

Love your videos man!
I would deeply appreciate a video on drum fills before hooks.
I think you are very good at it. Much respect!👏