First Time Dirty Dutch

[sjlowy]

Hey guys,

This is the first thing I've made using Live. I love the dirty dutch genre and tried to do something like that. This is my first draft. I'm working on another draft right now, but I wanted to get some feedback and tips/tricks and stuff.

Any and every piece of advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!http://soundcloud.com/samwize-2/phurst-dutch

[mescalinebanana]

Well I absolutely despise Dirty Dutch, but I can give some pointers on production.

Firstly, your lower end is barely represented. You need a bass line. Nothing too fancy or in-your-face, because you want that dirty synth line to be the main focal point. The bass's job would be to support that lead.

Your beat could be tightened up a bit. The kick has no oomph - sample selection, compression and sidechain compression are key.

Try putting some reverb on your main synth line. Nothing too major, since you're not going for Trance here, just enough to give it some space and round it out. If you listen carefully to Dirty Dutch tracks you'll notice that the reverb on the synth line is crucial for creating that big, epic feel. Also, that synth line will have way more impact if it isn't going for the entire track. Maybe start with just a beat/bass/other stuff and do a big build into the Dirty Dutchness.

And as always, make sure all frequencies are represented but not competing, manage your dynamics, put the sounds in a 3D space, and have fun.

[sjlowy]

Well I absolutely despise Dirty Dutch, but I can give some pointers on production.

Firstly, your lower end is barely represented. You need a bass line. Nothing too fancy or in-your-face, because you want that dirty synth line to be the main focal point. The bass's job would be to support that lead.

Your beat could be tightened up a bit. The kick has no oomph - sample selection, compression and sidechain compression are key.

Try putting some reverb on your main synth line. Nothing too major, since you're not going for Trance here, just enough to give it some space and round it out. If you listen carefully to Dirty Dutch tracks you'll notice that the reverb on the synth line is crucial for creating that big, epic feel. Also, that synth line will have way more impact if it isn't going for the entire track. Maybe start with just a beat/bass/other stuff and do a big build into the Dirty Dutchness.

And as always, make sure all frequencies are represented but not competing, manage your dynamics, put the sounds in a 3D space, and have fun.

Wow. This has given me so much to work with! Thanks a ton.

I'll be sure to post my second draft as soon as I'm finished with it to show you what i've been able to do. Again, this has given me a world of knowledge to go off of. Very VERY much appreciated.

Cheers.

[sjlowy]

http://soundcloud.com/samwize-2/phred-durst

my second draft. feedback and notes welcomed. still working on the drums, but added a bassline.

lemme know.

[ollyb303]

Not my style, but....

I literally can't hear the drums at all... I'm listening on laptop speakers, so i appreciate I'm not the best point of reference, but I listen to stuff on these speakers a lot so I have a point of reference and I've got literally nothing in the percussion department...

Usually I can at least hear the drums (even if they sound a little thin!) - I think you need to beef up your whole drum section (or maybe just boost it a little!!??)

[sjlowy]

Not my style, but....

I literally can't hear the drums at all... I'm listening on laptop speakers, so i appreciate I'm not the best point of reference, but I listen to stuff on these speakers a lot so I have a point of reference and I've got literally nothing in the percussion department...

I'm literally not even worrying about the drums in this version. I'm working on making a really sick drum part right now, actually, and will post a new version once I have that done.

While we're on the topic though, any tips or advice on how to make a good kick drum or "beefy" drum section? I've heard I need to sample a bunch of different sounds to make one awesome sound... still trying to figure that one out though.

Thanks for the feedback.

[mescalinebanana]

While we're on the topic though, any tips or advice on how to make a good kick drum or "beefy" drum section? I've heard I need to sample a bunch of different sounds to make one awesome sound... still trying to figure that one out though.

I'm constantly linking people to this, but that's because it's a kickass tutorial that helped me a lot: http://www.quantizecourses.com/pages.php/?p=1342