I tried a lot of effects and settings before finding the final and accurate sidechain I would never leave for my productions and remixes. But before getting to that point I needed a little bit of theory:

Side-chaining uses the signal level of another input or an equalized version of the original input to control the compression level of the original signal. (source: Wikipedia)

That’s all you need to know! Basically, if you want to make your synth channel pump, you will need to apply a signal that will compress your channel on the beat.

For me, a good sidechain is making the overall mix pump without crushing the instruments and the stereo.

Step 1: Choose the right signal

Click

This is the signal I use to apply sidechain on the channels of my track. Just a metronome click.

1. I create an audio channel called “Click” to put my click loop.
2. I create a bus called “Sidechain” that will receive the sidechain signal… I will root the channels I want to sidechain to that bus.

Step 2: Choose the right compressor

As a compressor, I use the same effects for years.

This is a 39$ effect you will never leave: dB-D Dynamic Processor by Db Audioware.

1. I add this effect to my “Click” channel to send the signal. I put the Gain button to “Mute” and the Send button to “A”.
2. I add this effect to my “Sidechain” bus to receive the signal. I put Thresh to “-30.0″, Ratio to “LIMIT”, Attack to “0.5″, Decay to “100″, Knee to “1.5″ and RECV to “A”.

You can also play with the overall compression settings by normalizing the Click loop, this will increase the compression.

Step 3: Choose the right mastering

As far as I remember, I didn’t have to use more than two separate sidechain buses on my tracks.

For example, on my remix of Itajai Vibes I used two sidechain buses:

1. A bus for the bassline only to keep it warm, powerful and pumping without crushing other elements.
2. Another bus for the other elements.

In the case you want to create more than one sidechain bus you repeat exactly the same manipulation but the buttons Send and Recv are to be set to “B”, or “C”, etc…

                          

Eurospace

Just a quick stop on my remix… Still the old progressive house vibe I can’t put my hand off… But after the success of Itajai Vibes with almost 3000 downloads on Beatport, I was a little bit stressed… I wish the whole Eurospace EP the same success!

So I tried to move to another direction with less pads and more lead synths like the amazing old-school voice sound from E-MU Proteus X in memory of my gone and regreted E-MU Proteus 2000. And the result is really melodic to my opinion, and close to what I’m really into right now: progressive and melodic sound.

A big thank you to my mate RED-EYE with whom I already work on the track Sunshine. And if you still got time, have a look at Jan Peters’ page on MySpace, his sound is just amazingly inspired. A bit of Alan Braxe, a bit of Lifelike! Just love it.

Enjoy the music!

Jan Peters – Eurospace (Wize Remix)

                          

Tracklist Club Life 049 – Direct Link

1. Nick Fiorucci feat. Kelly Malbasa – The Night [chris ortega electro mix]
2. Yoav – Club Thing [redroche rmx]
3. Sultan & Ned Shepard – Itajai Vibes [wize rmx]
4. Everything But The Girl vs. Noel Sanger – Wrong Perfection [nick wax mashup]
5. Airscape – Cruising [scape mix] (Tiesto’s Classic)
6. Headstrong feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw – Love Calls
7. Johan Gielen – Physical Overdrive [kris o’neil 2008 rmx]
8. Duderstadt feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw – Beatitude [marcus schossow rmx]
9. Amex feat. Anna Basel – Komarna [eddie sender rmx]
10. David & Carr feat. Jenna Colaizy – Every Day [dennis sheperd rmx]
11. Milan Lieskovsky – Elenya [heatbeat rmx]

Want more?

• Visit DJ Tiesto’s official website
• Subscribe DJ Tiesto’s Club Life Podcast

                          

Just a few words to tell you the highly supported Itajai Vibes masterpiece, is reviewed on Beatportal by my old friend Lewis Dene! Check this out!

“SNM are Soultan, Ned Shepard and Maher Daniel, each no stranger to the dance arena, while the track also comes with a mixes package featuring 16 Bit Lolitas, Roman Rai, Claes Rosen and Artego, who each offer much to underscore why ‘Itajai Vibes’ is already racing up Beatport’s dance chart.

However, for me, it’s Wize’s ethereal dreamy journey that needs to be heard from beginning-to-end, with loved ones close at hand and preferably at sunset on a sun-kissed beach, to be fully appreciated. Sacredieu!”

http://www.beatportal.com/feed/item/itajai-vibes-with-remixes/

Lewis Dene – MySpace

Lewis Dene’s Solitaire alias has already enjoyed a trio of chart topping and dancefloors filling hits with versions of ‘You Got The Love’, ‘Thinking Of You’, and – ‘I Like Love (I Love Love)’. The latter a huge international hit, that spent 15-weeks in top 40 of the Australian sales chart, ending the year as the third biggest club record of 2003 in both DJ magazine and the Music Week club charts (it spent more weeks on the latter chart than any other)…

                          

My remix is charted #20 in Beatport Global Top 100!

Thanks again very much for your support!

                          

Will it reach the 1st place? This is up to you guys!

                          

The highly expected release by SNM Itajai Vibes is finally out, and already reaching the top of Beatport charts!

Tracklist

1. SNM- Itajai Vibes (Original Mix) Original Mix
2. SNM- Itajai Vibes (16 Bit Lolitas Mix) 16 Bits Lolitas Mix
3. SNM- Itajai Vibes (Wize Mix) Wize Mix
4. SNM- Itajai Vibes (Roman Rai Mix) Roman Rai Mix
5. SNM- Itajai Vibes (Artego Mix) Artego Mix
6. SNM- Itajai Vibes (Claes Rosen Mix) Claes Rosen Mix

About the release

Top selling producer and DJ Sultan (aka Soultan) teamed up with Canadian mates Maher Daniel and Ned Shepard (of Digital Witchraft) to deliver a powerfull single for the Sick Watona imprint called “Itajai Vibes”, released last month on Sick Watona’s Avangardian’s LP, going on to be a Progressive House Top 100 Best Seller along with the other 9 tracks on the compilation.

Following the single’s success a huge remix LP is on the way from Ricky Ryan’s Sick Watona, a blasting pack featuring 5 remixes from top producers such as Dutch stars 16 Bit Lolitas, Wize, Roman Rai, Artego, and Claes Rosen.

Don’t miss SW008 as it promises to be one of the imprint’s most important releases to date! A big thanks to all involved. The release is out December 20th exclusively on Beatport and distributed by Proton.

www.sickwatona.com

www.myspace.com/sultansoultan

www.myspace.com/nedshepard

www.myspace.com/maherdaniel

                          

Sultan’s December 2007 Top 10

1. Sultan & Ned Shepard – Eye Spy – Harem
2. Patch Park – Pitch Black EP – Shinichi
3. Daniel Portman – White Russian
4. Soultan, Ned Shepard & Maher Daniel – Itajai Vibes (Wize Rmx) – Sick Watona
5. Splittr – All Alone (Ned Shepard Rework) – Netswork
6. Jim Rivers – Brassed Off – Misfit
7. King Unique – Yohkoh – Curfew
8. Gold Ryan & Tapesh – Collapse – Timbee
9. Tracey Thorn – Grand Canyon (Dirty South vs Ned Shepard) – CDR
10. Albert Vorne – Ravens Over My Rave (Ozgur Can Rmx) – Armada

Sultan - MySpace

From the desert heat of his country of origin to the winter rigours of Canada, Sultan has travelled a road quite out of the ordinary. In the past four years Sultan has established himself as one of the most innovative and respectable djs and producers in the electronic dance scene. Sultan has had releases on various labels including Deep Dish’s Yoshitoshi label and John Digweed’s Bedrock Breaks Label, as well as several compilations appearances including “Global Underground 25: Toronto” mixed by Deep Dish, Tiesto’s “In Search of Sunrise 4”, Dave Seaman’s “Renaissance Masters”, Deep Dish’s “George Is On” which features “Deep Dish vs Dire Straits – Flashing for Money”(Sultan Club/Radio Mix), hailed as being the worlds first ever legally cleared mash up/remix garnering praise from the electronic dance scene as well as rock legends Dire Straits. And most recently “Global Underground 29: Dubai” mixed By Sharam which features three tracks including Sultan & Ned Shepard’s latest releases “Connected” and “Together We Rise” on Shinichi Records.

In September of 2006 Sultan joined world class Dj agency, Bullitt Bookings. Having toured cities across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa over the past two years, Sultan has made his mark as one of the most exciting and technically sound performers in the DJ scene today.

In early 2007, Sultan began working closely with good friend Nadia Ali (Former singer of IIO). The two, alongside Ned Shepard, spent the month of January co-writing and co-producing songs for her forthcoming solo Album to be released later this year. Recently both Sultan and Ned Shepard have joined Nadia on tour with Sultan playing guitars and Ned playing keyboards for her Live Show.

Keep an eye out for Sultan’s monthly radio show “Connected Live” the last Monday of every month on DI.FM and Sultan’s forthcoming compilation on Yoshitoshi “Yoshitoshi: Montreal” due out September 2007 .

                          

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXkpGIUAyY0[/youtube]