DMb | Dance Music blog & Podcast

Music download store Trackitdown.net team up with sample pack creators Prime Loops for Remix Addict! An exclusive download pack and remix competition that will see a winning track chosen by none other than MJ Cole, D. Ramirez and Crissy Criss.

The free Remix Addict download pack gives you 15 selected loops from the Addict Trilogy series that are completely royalty free, and can be used in all your projects and releases as well as the Remix Addict Competition. Any style of music can be submitted for the contest.

Winner to receive:
1 x Propellerheads Reason 4 & Propellerheads Record Music Software (Mac and Windows)
1 x IK Multimedia T-Racks Deluxe Mastering Bundle (Mac and Windows)
1 x 10 free Sample Packs from Prime Loops
1 x £100 Download Voucher from Trackitdown.net
1 x 12 Month Subscription for Computer Music Magazine
1 x Digital Music Distribution Package for 1 Track by Zimbalam & Believe Digital

Plus a huge range of merchandise from Prime Loops, Trackitdown and your favourite labels and artists.

The judges will be looking out for: no clashing keys and notes, perfect beat syncing, good track structure, the appearance of a hook line (either lead synth, bass or vocals), clean and well balanced mix down, intelligent editing of loops and of course, something that represents your production style – whatever the genre! Additional use of royalty free samples and original sounds are encouraged but submissions featuring uncleared copyrighted material will not be accepted.

Get the Sample Pack

Contest ends June 1, 2010.

Sander van Doorn has been on a tear lately remixing some of the biggest artists out there and playing every massive around the world. He recently took some time to do a quick interview with DanceMusicblog and here it is.

So you’ve been getting a lot of great press lately and you’ve been doing some high-profile remix work for Depeche Mode and The Killers to name a few. How did you feel and what kind of approach do you take when doing a remix for such an influential band as Depeche Mode?

It was an honour to be asked to remix the Depeche Mode track. I’ve been a fan for years and feel privileged to have my name attached to their music. I guess I approach it the same as any other remix but make sure it really works and does the original song justice.

The Killers are one of the biggest bands on the planet with some great melodies. That can make remixing a track easy when you have great parts to work with, especially when it’s a strong vocal.

Did you get to speak with any if the band members of DM, The Killers, or other artists before you started work on a remix?

No I didn’t speak to them. It’s extremely rare to do so when you’re doing a remix.

They must, obviously, like your work to choose you to reinterpret their music. Did they give you any specific instructions or ideas they had for a remix or did you have complete control over it?

No they left me to do as I thought best. I guess I was chosen because they like my style and they thought it would work well with the parts of the tracks. Obviously you work very hard on a remix when it’s for artists like the Killers or Depeche Mode.

Your second remix of the Killers’ track Spaceman has been my favorite track the past month or so. The lead synth string sound has a haunting kinda feel to it. What can you tell us about that sound and how you work in the studio?

That sound is a sample from the Killers track that I treated with some overdrive and other effects. The best way to see how I work in the studio is to watch the Studio Sessions videos on my website which show how I create my projects, some of the equipment I use and some tips and tricks.
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Another cool instructable for turning an old hard drive into a rotary controller that can then be mapped to MIDI to contol some DJ software or some other bit of virtual gear. If anyone technically gifted enough to build one of these does so please post some photos and let us know how it works out.

Full instructions here.

Jochem Paap aka Speedy J has been making news with the announcement of his forthcoming album which will be a collaborative process with anyone who wishes to contribute some loops. He is doing it all from the Soundcloud website. Checking the SoundCloud site I just noticed they have unreleased tracks from MC Hammer’s new album (hmmmm). The site also acts as a way for sending audio files to fellow collaborators.

Here is the info from Speedy J’s Collab page…

What is Open Collabs?
Building on the concept of his past Collabs Projects, Jochem Paap aka Speedy J invites producers worldwide to submit parts for an album collaboration of epic proportions. In times where the vast majority is reluctant to embrace the changes that digital technology brings, he’s reaching out to prove the value of creative synergy new tools and formats have to offer. The project will be a manifest of these values, re-injecting progress into electronic music. The resulting album will be released on his label Electric Deluxe, profits will be shared with all artists appearing on it 50/50.

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Paul Oakenfold, once the #1 DJ in the world, was photographed drunken, unkempt, and apparently homeless in a Los Angeles bus depot. My how he has fallen.

His latest release Greatest Hits & Remixes, out Oct. 23 on Perfecto must not being doing too well. This collection features his remixes of Justin Timberlake, U2, Madonna, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and others.

(editor’s note: We have reports that this photo might not actually be Paul Oakenfold but rather one of the cast members of ABC’s new sitcoms “Cavemen”. We’ll keep you posted.)