Hey guys, I'm going to film some content in the next couple of weeks based on the comments to this thread... What's your biggest question right now? I'll film a short video and answer with demos inside the DAW. May not be able to get to all questions. Thanks!

With this, we were asked to do 3 reference analyses and share what we've learned. Well, what I've learned is that it's way harder than I thought, so I kept procrastinating on this one. Maybe because I never was sure about what each part of a song means (shame on me), and the Song Structure Glossary was really handy for this In the end, I did two analyses and got a bit more comfortable with it, and for the first time, I used Markers I share these two here. If you have the time, take a listen to these two songs and let me know what you think Second Chance - 38 Special - Intro: - GTR arp - Snare Rim - Verse 1: - Lead Vocal - LNG Reverb and Slap Delay - GTR Arp continues - GTR Rocker counter - Snare Rim continues - Chorus 1: - Lead Vocal - More Energy - Verse 2: - Lead Vocal up energy - LNG Reverb and Slap Delay - GTR Arp continues - GTR Rocker counter - Snare Rim continues - Chorus 2: - Repeat - Up - Bridge - - Energy - Bridge/Chorus 2A: - Lead - Instrumental builds tension - Chorus 2 B: - Lead Scream - GTR up - Drop 1st - Lead plain and alone - No drums - Lead GTR Alone - Drop 2nd - Lead plain and alone - Drums Back - Lead GTR Alone - Strings Riser - Chorus 3 + Harmonies - Full instrumental - Harmony High 3 - Harmony Low 3 - Lead + counter - Chorus 4 + Harmonies - Full Modulation Up - Harmony High 3 - Harmony Low 3 - Lead + counter - Outro - Full Fade out - Harmony High 3 - Harmony Low 3 - Lead + counter + ad-libs Dream On - Nazareth - Chorus/Intro 1st: - Lead vx 4 bars a ccapella - Large Reverb, chamber-like - Chorus/Intro 2st: - Lead vx 4 bars a ccapella - Large Reverb, chamber like - ADD arpeggiated keys and guitar - FILL - BIG toms fill with echo - Verse 1: - ADD Full Band - Cymbals Raiser - Chorus 1: - Lead Vocal - More Energy - Break - Instrumental - Bridge: - Lead Vocal up energy - Breakdown - Lead Guitar - Verse 2: - Repeat Verse 1 - Lead Vx Up Energy - Chorus 2: - Lead FULL energy - Keys more presence - Chorus/Outro - Instrumental stops with echo and fade - Lead Vx a ccapella

Here's my Sample Pack Project

I've learned that Critical Listening is a great way to go deep into any track, reference, or your own ones to discover details and areas of improvement, and build up this guide to help you review and improve your projects

I did some experimentation with my last project, adding some Timeless 3 automation for Throw Delay and also playing with Soundtoys' SpaceBlender on some keyboard chords in the Bridge This time I worked on Ableton Live since it was mainly samples, loops, and midi clips, and I feel more comfortable in this DAW for this kind of project Let me know what you think, and I'm also curious to know how much Sound Design you usually put into your projects.