10 reasons Paul van Dyk is a trance master
From ‘For An Angel’ to his forthcoming album 'From Then On'
He won Mixmag’s first ever DJ poll in 2005
In 2005, two years after Van Dyk released his fourth studio album ‘Reflections’, the renowned creator won Mixmag’s first ever Number One DJ poll, inspiring a brand new industry milestone for artists around the world to strive for.
His Grammy nomination for 'Reflections'
The same year of coveting Mixmag’s first Number One DJ milestone, Paul procured his first Grammy nomination with his 2003 album ‘Reflections’ for Best Dance/Electronic Album Of The Year (the category was not available when the album was released).
Van Dyk went head-to-head with The Prodigy, Paul Oakenfold and The Crystal Method, the final victory going to Basement Jaxx for ‘Kish Kash’.
His Custom Xone:4D
Most artists tend to use the industry-standard gear for their DJ sets, but for PvD his creativity knows no bounds and, as such, he needs a unique setup. This includes a custom-made Xone:4D mixer by Allen&Heath. It’s safe to say that if you’re using gear that no one else has, you’re doing something special. In 2010 he described why he uses the Xone:4D.
“The 4D is the centerpiece of my setup and is based on the way I DJ. I have two computers on stage that are synced to each other: one has the synths, keyboards and controllers hooked up to it and the other is full of the audio material. One of the great things about the 4D is the great sound and the fact that everything on the mixer can be fully programmed so I can set it up to give me control to do some crazy shit!”
