We have decided to post up the radio mix of Mikkels most excellent track, Hmm for free download on our site in the promo track section:

http://d4dirtyrecords.com/Promo-Tracks/ 

We invite you to have a listen, download and if you like share it with anyone and everyone!

Most of my time is spent thinking up new ideas to help promote my labels tracks in this ever changing environment.

Dance music was the forefront of technology but it seems to have been left out in the cold. Why is it that the only way to promote a release is to print of a few hundred CD's and get them in the hands of some well known DJ's? I have been avoiding that method of promotion since I started this label not only because to print of a CD and send it out costs a lot of money (and time) but also because I want to this label to focus on using new technology to reach a solid fan base over time.
There are a few tools out there that when used correctly can really help you promote your tracks. Sites like twitter, facebook, last.fm are great examples. The latest site that really has me impressed is soundclick. It is so simple but so very useful.

For Producers: What if there was one site where you could upload your tracks just once and promote it, send it to labels, post it on myspace or facebook or any other social network site?

For labels: what if you got demo's from only one site, and never had to download another demo again? What if you could listen to a few seconds of each demo and very easily reply or comment not just on the track but at specific times of the track? What if you could promote, and build fans who are dance music lovers all on the one site?

This site is a mixture of bleep.fm and twitter and facebook. It has been flawlessly executed, and beautiful to look at it and works just like it promises. Yet another social site that's going to suck even more time out of my week, however this is one of those sites a professional musician needs to be part of.

http://soundcloud.com/d4dirty-records

 

I just got off the phone with Mikkel and I have asked him a few questions:

When did you start producing, what is your current setup?
I started producing about 2001, on a hardware setup, and over the years it slowly transformed into a purely software setup. Today, I am producing on PC with Cubase 4 and a bunch of plug-ins. Favorite soft-synths, are Sylenth1, Albino3, Arturia Moog, Microtoniq.

How would you describe your success in global deejays?

The success of the Global Deejays was truly global! The first signs that the project was going to explode were evident with how quickly "San Francisco" rose to the number one spots in Austria, Germany and Poland, within weeks of release. After that it simply spread like wildfire around the globe, reaching the number one spot in over 19 countries. In Russia, the GDjs were almost considered superstars, and played at the Eska Awards for over 120,000 people.

 

 

What made you want to produce on your own?

I decided in the end of 2006 that I needed a change from the hectic work schedule and gigging, by moving to Mallorca to set up some small business and start a more relaxed lifestyle. However within months, the itch to start producing again slowly came back, so I started a new project with a friend of mine, which we called Elektrofly, with minimal success. Now I am producing on my own again, and able to make the music which represents my style perfectly.

How would you describe your music, and who are your influences?
What lessons have you learnt along the way after working so closely in Global Deejays?

I am from the old school days of hard house and melodic trance. I am still heavily influenced by some of the pioneer producers from the mid 90's, such as Underworld, Leftfield, and Orbital. Today I would say that music production has definitely stepped up a level, and some of the guys around today that I am highly impressed with are, Trentemoller, Rene Amesz, Darren Mase, and Sebastien Leger.

I have learned loads over the years with the Global Deejays. Firstly I realized that the music business is a hard business to get your way in. Once success takes over, you decisions with gigs, or music direction. Everything is dictated to you at this point, and that was one of the main reasons for leaving too. I enjoy working without pressure and making music for myself and for like-minded people.

 

 

Why did you choose D4Dirty Records as your comeback label?

I was surfing the web one night and somehow stumbled across D4Dirty's website, and had a listen to some of the tracks on it. I was immediately impressed with the artists productions. I no longer am making music in order to make a living, so for me to join the ranks of new up and coming producers is perfect, because then it is all about the music again. And honestly old heads like me can definitely learn a thing or two from the new kids on the block!

You Can hear Mikkels First two releases on D4D Records on our up and coming release, Downunder Underground (releasing on Jan 21st) :

 

 

 

It's been a little while since my last post and I just wanted to let everyone know what's been happening behind the scene here at D4Dirty Records.

You may have noticed we haven't had a release in a few months now, this has been entirely intentional! No we have not run out of talent, in fact we almost have too much talent to release.

We are a small label, but we are a proud label and our individual releases just were not generating enough impact.  So with that in mind we had a think about how best to promote some of the sickest tracks we have ever heard with the limited budget of a small underground label and we came up with something new.

Our next release will be called the D4Dirty Downunder Underground Summer Sampler and it will feature Deluna, Marcus Boogie, D4Dirty (if I can get mine in on time!!!) and most importantly two smashing releases from Mikkel Christiansen. Mikkels track, Hmmm will feature a video clip which is currently in production which we will releases virally and for free. I have seem the first 60 seconds of it and this video it HOT.

Our aim is to give you guys back something that blows your mind, something you can pass onto your friends, put on your myspace, your ipod, your TV, the VJ at a club. If you like it remember to help us out by sharing it with your friends!

 

 

Hey Guys!

I can now happily say that D4Dirty Radio has succesfuly launched yesterday on the 28th of April, 2009!

I personaly will be on the look out for fresh talent to add to the 'D4Dirty Radio Family', so if you are an artist signed to 'D4Dirty Records' you automaticaly become a part of the family!
So, why not make the best of it? Send us in your tracks and we will add them to our playlist!

If you are an 'unsigned' electro house, progressive or tech house producer, dont let that keep you down! Send us in one of your tracks and we will play them on our 'Up and Coming Talents Show'; This is the chance for your tracks to be heard all over the world!

So guys, what are you waiting for? Tune in and get grooving to the best electro house on the net!

Regards,

Max P.

There has been so much happening with D4Dirty Records over the past few weeks that it's been hard to keep up! We have had some incredible new artists sign up, and one of our tracks is to be featured on a Japanese dance compilation for Sony, so we thought it was time to get new kick ass website! If you like it, don't feel shy, let us know!
This new site is just a glimpse of everything to come for this label, and slowly we will be adding functions to replace a lot of the manual tasks we had to do in order to get releases out. What does that mean? It means more great music coming out in a much faster pace and it also means we are going to need a lot more artists!

I can now confirm that we do in fact have a new exceptional artist to add to our ranks! Mikkel Christensen from the world famous Global Deejays has signed his next two tracks with D4Dirty Records!
We will soon be launching a MASSIVE remix competition for one of his tracks.

Stay tuned, previews of his tracks will be up soon! Welcome Mikkel!

Tweak your XP for music

Are you getting sick of your machine crashing on you when you just had a killer idea? Or your at a crucial moment between a mix and your machine crashes back to desktop for no reason? Or you have a absolute bitchen system that should handle so much more

This guide will have your laptop running how you always wished it would!

This is a list of tweaks I have taken from several sources (all listed below) that I thought should really be known by all. These are tweaks that actually make a huge noticeable difference to you're the all round speed and stability of your XP audio platform.

What we are going to do is apply a bunch of tweaks that will work on one of three ways:

System Tweaks

Rather then having your XP geared for Microsoft word, Outlook and those girly games your girlfriend likes to play, these tweaks are going to make XP perform better with audio applications in the standard way we use them.

Interface Tweaks

How your XP looks actually has is a big bottle neck on system resources. All those nice buttons and start menu effects are draining your power! Seriously! After were done it might look a little bland, but that's where your favourite DJ software comes in, I mean your not even looking at your start menu are you?

Background Services

This is where the magic happens. Why do you need windows to check to see if you have an internet connection while you are beat matching the next track? You don't, but windows still is and it is costing you speed! Where going to strip windows down to its bare minimum here.

Let's get started:

Add New User

Ok, first thing we want to do is add a new user to your machine. This means you can keep your slick eye candy interface when your not DJ-ing, and when you are you can simply log out of your regular user and log in as your DJ user.

You must have a computer administrator account to add a new user to the computer.

So lets get on with it...

* Open User Accounts in Control Panel
*

Under Pick a task, click Create a new account
*

Type a name for the new user account, and click Next
*

Click either Computer administrator or Limited, depending on the type of account you want to assign to the new user, and then click Create Account

If you see an account named Owner, rename that account with a user's name. The Owner account, with computer administrator privileges, is created during installation if no user accounts are set up at that time.
Restore Point

A System Restore point is a way of telling XP that were about to make some serious changes and we want it to set a point where it can come back to if one of these changes as an undesired affect. If you make a mistake, or something else goes wrong you can log back in and restore your computer to the exact state you are in right at this second if you set the restore point here.

OK, So Here's how...

* 1. Press your Start button and click on Help and Support.
* 2. In the Help and Support Centre, click 'Performance and Maintenance'.
* 3. Click 'Using System Restore to undo system changes' and then click 'Run the System Restore Wizard' under the 'Pick a Task' heading.
* 4. In the System Restore Wizard, click Create a Restore Point and follow the prompts to save your system state in a new restore point.
* 5. At any time, if you wish to return your computer to the state it was in when you created the Restore Point, follow steps 1-3 above to get to the System Restore Wizard. Then click 'Restore my computer to an earlier time', and select the date on which you created the restore point you wish to return to.

Ok, now log out of your current user and log back on as your new user for the rest of the tweaks.

System Tweaks

Disable automatic update

Periodically XP will connect to the internet to find updates automatically for you. This is completely unnecessary and annoying do this on your own time not while your playing. You can ditch it by going to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Automatic Updates and select "Turn off automatic updates".

Disable Error Reporting

You can use Error Reporting for troubleshooting, but we shouldn't be bloody trouble shooting while were dropping that monster floor filler should we? Go to "Control Panel" > "System" > "Advanced" and choose "Disable" to disable error reporting.

Disable Power Management

Power Management can be the worst thing that can possibly happen to you on stage. If you leave your keyboard for a while and the hard disk turns off there goes your set! You can disable it by going Start > Settings > Control Panel > Power Management. Set the Power Scheme to "Always On" and set "System Standby", "Turn off hard disks" and "Turn off monitor" to "Never".

Processor Scheduling

Processor Scheduling for audio should be set to "background services" and not "programs". Since we won't have many services running this will help a lot. Change it by going to Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced Tab > Background Services.

Activate DMA on Hard Discs/CD ROMS

DMA will decrease the access times on your disks (A good thing!). Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.

Then Right-click Primary IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel > Properties > Advanced Settings Tab > Transfer Mode to "DMA if available" for both devices.

Disable Remote Assistance

Unless you really can't use a computer you really don't need this, and will never use it anyway. So if you haven't already, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > Remote > Un-tick Allow remote assistance invitations to be sent from this computer.

Disable Remote Desktop

This is another case of won't use it. This feature is mostly used to remote connect into servers, and since your DJ ain't no server, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Remote
Un-tick "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer"

Disable Disc Indexing Service

This was Microsoft's answer to their useless search feature in windows. It's meant to make searches faster. I don't see a different, and you won't ever be using Microsoft's built in search while DJ-ing or producing so, Right Click Start > Explorer > Right Click Each Disc > Properties
Un-tick "Allow Indexing Service to index this disc for fast file searching" - this will lead to a message if the option should be applied to all directories. Choose "yes" and wait, until procedure is finished.

Do Not Map Through Soundcard

Mapping through the soundcard you want to use in your DJ-ing or production can sometimes cause unknown conflicts, so why risk it? Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices

PSP Vintage Warmer Review

Did you ever wonder how your favourite producers get such a clean, clear and absolutely cranking sound out of just software? Well this Mac and PC compatible VST is one of our dirty little secrets.. Read on for my review of this awesome product.

What is the PSP Vintage Warmer?
Here's the scoop from PSP:

PSP Vintage Warmer is a high-quality digital simulation of an analogue-style, a single or multi band compressor/limiter. It combines warm analogue sound with a straightforward user interface, and comes with a rich library of presets. The plug-in processor is highly flexible and can be used for both single and multi-band compression, as well as brick-wall limiting. This makes it an essential tool for mixing and mastering engineers.

Careful attention has been paid to PSP Vintage Warmer's overload characteristics with the processor being capable of generating saturation effects typical of analogue tape recorders. PSP Vintage Warmer also incorporates professional VU and PPM metering together with accurate overload indicators thereby assuring professional quality results.

 
Here's what I think it is:

I work only with digital music, using Ableton Live and plenty of VST's. When I work in the Studio with my trusted engineer it is always a pleaser to run my tunes and recordings through a few of he's many vintage hardware units. I don't care what other producers say, but it is rare that a VST can sound as good as a hardware unit. A lot of them come close, but very few ever satisfy me.

That is where PSP Vintage Warmer is different. It looks like an old great sounding analogue compressor, and feels like one and most importantly it sounds like one! This plug in is not a nice to have compressor, I think it is absolutely essential.

The Interface

PSP Vintage Warmer features a brushed aluminum and wood interface with analog VU meters and several knobs and toggle switches. There is also a numeric display that shows the precise setting for each individual knob as you hold the mouse cursor over the knob.

Clicking on the PSP Vintage Warmer name displays the plug-in's "back panel", which lets you fine-tune the behavior of most controls. For example, you can adjust the ballistics of the VU meters or set the saturation ratios for the three frequency bands of the multi-band mode.

The largest knob on the front panel is the Drive knob, which controls the overall input level. When used in combination with the compressor section, you can achieve effects from slight tape saturation to full blown distortion. Add too much gain and you'll get harsh distortion, but adding a little can give a guitar track some extra bite.

The compressor/limiter section features controls that vary from the standard threshold/ratio/attack/release controls found on most modern compressors. Instead PSP Vintage Warmer has four controls named: knee, speed, release, and ceiling. Knee let you adjust the compression from hard knee (suitable for limiting) to soft knee (for more musical sounding compression.) It can also be used to simulate analog tape effects. The Speed knob is based on tape speed, and a slow setting represents a slow tape speed or a slow attack time in the compressor section. Fast settings do the opposite and give higher fidelity just as faster tape speed would. The Release knob adjusts the release setting for the compressor based on the Speed setting. The Ceiling knob functions like a Threshold control on a typical compressor.

Usage

Since PSP Vintage Warmer is a hybrid, it's controls are a little non-standard. Fortunately, it comes with a number of presets that cover a wide range of applications from individual tracks to whole mixes. It seems like a lot of care went into the presets as nearly all of them are useful, a lot of the time I am able to get the sound I am after without changing the presets around too much.

There are several mix and mastering presets. The generic "Mastering First Aid" setting can serve as a good starting point for most mixes. Especially helpful are four "Mix First Aid" settings, each of which concentrates on different frequencies, that can really help bring out certain elements of a mix. In addition, there are a number of presets for instruments like guitar, bass, and drums. There are also a number of multi-band compressor settings, and tape speed and saturation simulations. Using the presets is a great way to get a feel for how PSP Vintage Warmer works.

Sound Quality

I have used Vintage Warmer on a lot of my tracks. I find it most useful for getting some shattering kicks to come out of the mix without distorting or destroying the mix.

Basses, synths and vocals all sound amazing using this VST. It really is surprising how much vintage warmer can bring your elements out of you mix, and warm them up without distorting or noticeably changing them.

Overall

Overall, like I mentioned earlier this plug in is essential. I have never heard a VST plug in sound this good and I am looking forward to new PSP software in the future.

Unfortunately it is CPU hungry and that is the only reason I marked it down. It makes like a little hard to have to freeze tracks as soon as stick this beast on, but it is workable because it is more like a final touch anyway.

 

9.5/10

LennarDigital Sylenth1 VST Review

If you have been reading my reviews you would notice that all of the scores I have been giving out are rather high. There is a good reason for this! I really don't have time to sit here and write reviews for software or hardware that I don't think it, so everything that I review is software that I love and use everyday. Sylenth 1 no different! It is a VST still in it's infancy, but trust me, this is one synth that you really want to get on the bandwagon for and stop wasting your time! Read on to find out why...

What is Sylenth 1?
Here's what LennarDigital have to tell us

Sylenth1 is a polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer.

It has four unison oscillators which use an "innovate" synthesis technique that allows the generation of many simultaneous high-quality waveforms in real-time, using only minimal amounts of CPU resources. It also features two "analog sounding" filter sections, which can be taken way past the point of self-oscillation. These filters incorporate several non-linear saturation stages to produce harmonically rich sounds. Sylenth1's extensive modulation options offer possibilities to sculpture the sound, and it has a set of six built-in mastering sound-effects.

So what do I think it is?

I own a lot of synths, and I have tried nearly all of them at one stage or another. The synths I keep coming back to are Z3ta+, Vanguard, Massive, Pro 53 and Albino. While I do love all these synths as if they were real keyboards sitting in my studio, I realise that I love them all and not just one because they each have their own flaws.

Z3ta+ has great oscillators, but I find the filters annoying. Vanguard has a great soft electronic sound, but its low end just gets messy. Massive has some great features but has a constant digital sound.

Sylenth 1 is still in it's infancy and still have a lot of development happening so it lacks some of the nice to have features of the other big synths I have mentioned. However, even though it is still so young I have never heard the type of sound quality that Sylenth delivers in any other VST. Ever.

Sylenth rivals it's hardware brothers like the Virus or even the new Moogs. It sounds warm and analogue just as they promise and it is a synth not to be missed!

The Interface

Some may love it, but no one will hate it. I think it is quite nice, and it adds to the character of the Synth. When I was playing this instrument through my MIDI controller I felt like I was actually playing a real synth, which tells me that the interface is successful.

I think your going to see the interface improved quite a bit. It is quite big and I think they could hide a few areas with expandable buttons like on the Moog emulating VST.

Sound Quality

Sylenth is simply best analogue sound I've ever heard from a VST. I realise how a VST sounds is always going to be a subjective and contentious issue but I say this after comparing it with the best of today's analogue based VST's.

It doesn't have a huge amount of basic waveforms, and it doesn't have a huge amount of filters, envelopes or LFOs. It doesn't have a huge amount of modulation destinations. But - it has a huge, huge, huge amount of what you really want which is sound quality.

Take a look at some of the most successful hardware synths and you will see that it is not the complexity that make them great, it is their sound and how you can manipulate and sculpt that sound.

Filters are one of the main make or break features of any synth, and Sylenth's filters are just gorgeous sounding and overdriving beautifully. I've never found myself coming up against any frustrating limitations I have felt with other VST's. Sylenth, with it's simple and well laid out interface just invites you in to make fast and intuitive changes.

Overall

A newcomer to the market, and already is a top contender. If you buy one synth this year, make it Sylenth. If you only have one synth, make it Sylenth. If you can't afford a virus, buy Sylenth. You will not be disappointed at my new favourite synth.

 

8.5/10