This is the very first D4Dirty masterclass tutorial, aimed at being one single reference for any new up and coming producer to check out. We are starting at the most basic levels today, what is your role a producer...

About The Author

For a long time I have been planning on writing production tutorials, but I never published them. Now that I am teaching my brother how to produce dance music I feel like it is time to consolidate what I know, and what I am learning. It will help me, it will help my brother and it will help who ever reads these tutorials

So before I tell you about my tutorials let me tell you about me. I am D4Dirty, my real name is Chris and I am an Australian dance music producer. I have been producing music in some form or another for the past 10 years. Starting on an Amiga computer back in the 80's and working my way though as many instruments as I could get my hands on.

My musical background comes from guitar. Rock and Metal were my two loves. I had a very healthy obsession with building, tuning, and playing guitars. There wasn't a single Metallica solo that I couldn't play with my eyes closed. I slowly came to the realisation that rock and metal were both impossible genres to get known in, and even harder to ever make money.

I discovered dance music around 5-6 years ago, and I have been producing ever since. I own a trance record label, and D4Dirty records. Both are start up labels that will have several releases by the end of this year. I been DJing for 6 years now, hosting trance after parties in New York City and now I have returned home to Australia to focus on both my family and producing.

Over this year I have plans to run my labels, grow this blog and hopefully start a community, and also to start a full time recording studio. I have a grand plan of integrating all the aspects of my business to offer my clients a full range of recording, mastering, mixing, printing and promotional services.

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About My Tutorials

I am aiming to write tutorials that take the best of what I know and what I have found on the web and stick them in one easy place for everyone to find.

I remember when I first started making dance music how hard it was to find good advice. I spent weeks looking for tips on software, hardware, even how to make certain sounds.

These guides are going to tell you everything you need to know, and where you can find out more. They will have links to the places the producers who have inspired you to start make music all gather and talk and share ideas.

Of course I am going to have to start at the very basics of production, but you should know that I will not be stopping there these will get quite advanced very quickly. So Enjoy and keep coming back to visit to check for updates.

Production Master Class 101

Where do we fit in?

Before we delve into making wicked beats I want to give you an overview of how the dance music industry works. Where we all fit in. This first tutorial might seem basic, but this is important because a lot of budding young music makes struggle so see the big picture, and when you can't see the big picture you really have no idea what your striving to achieve.

Let's start where I see the begging of the Dance Music Industry life cycle is... the listener.

The Listener

The listener, sometime called fans, or the crowed, or punters are the reason why we are here. You have been a listener for a while, and you will always be a listener.

Listeners are our bread and butter, we need to respect them and appreciate them in order to gain respect and to be appreciated. They are the ones who will show up at your gigs, and buy your CD's and you are the one who entertains, and make them happy. Simple.

The DJ

The next link in the chain is the DJ. They come many varieties, some are stunning turntablists, some have a super ability to pick a crowed. Some cut up tracks and scratch in new music on the fly using nothing but two turntables and a two channel mixer, some pre cut all their sets using a laptop.

It doesn't matter how a DJ does what they do, it just matters that they play a producers tracks and they are the face of the music that the listeners see.

It might surprise some new comers that %99 of the DJ's they admire are simple mixing two tracks together, but essentially that is all they are doing.  You might get the odd super DJ who mixing and make music on the fly in front of you eyes, but mostly DJ's are just mixing tracks together.

What makes DJ's special is that they are admired by the crowd, they care charismatic, the are especially talented and they look awesome up there.

DJ's are the means to how a producers tracks get to heard by the listeners in this industry. Even before all other mediums like radio or TV. DJing is so important to producers that a lot of us are DJ's, or started as DJ's or will become DJ's in order to promote ourselves.

The Record Label

The record label is either your best friend or your worst enemy as a producer. The theory is quite simple, the label makes money by selling records to DJ's or compilation CD's or simply listeners. They buy the rights of the music you make, and give you a cut of the profits.

So why does a producer need a label? Money. Labels invest a lot of money into your tracks. This includes money for well known artists to remix your work, money to print, press and distribute records and to promote your tracks, and money to pay well known DJ's to play your tracks.

It is possible to producers to release their tracks on their own, but it takes a lot of research, a lot of time and a lot of risk to do so.

The Producer

Ahh yes, here you are! The producer is the top of the chain, the one who makes the music, find the vocalists and books the studio time.

Most of us in the industry have our own studios, some using hardware synths and drum machines some using software or any mix in between. Some work with other artists, or sound engineers. Some work alone. This is where we stand, this is our role in the Life Cycle. From here we can start delving deeper into making great dance music!

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