***Who really mixes anymore? DJ’ing is becoming a farce!!

[fullenglishpint]

TBH I can understand both groovemixer and ponyboy's opinions but from my point of view, going out to see a DJ is primarily about the musical experience, not what he's using to do it. If he rocks the place with ableton so be it. I'll get drunk and have a great time just as I would if he were mixing with Traktor, SSL, Mixvibes, Mixxx, CDJs, vinyl, a pair of quarter inch tape reels or minidisk players powered by an exercise bike attached to the back wheel of a mustang.

Only because I DJ and I'm a bit of a geek do I enjoy watching what's going on in the DJ booth, how someone's doing their thing, but it's by no means a deal breaker on whether or not I have a good time. Just an outlet for my geekyness. And let's be honest, how many people in the club (apart from the guy in the booth) are going to be DJs with any interest in how he's working? 1 or 2?

[lethal_pizzle]

The actual physical act of making 2 records play at the same speed as each other is the least important bit of deejaying - it's so robotic you can even get a computer to do it automatically for you!

There's a lot of work that goes into deejaying prior to the night itself of course, song discovery, song selection.

If you've got an idea of what you're going to play, you know your tunes and the crowd are with you then you mightn't have your headphones on very long to cue tracks.

At the end of the day, if the DJ has the crowd rocking then he is doing his job. If he hasn't and you see that he isn't doing very much, then he's got no plan B and he isn't reading the crowd, he isn't doing his job.

It continually amazes me that the 'trick' of beatmixing is held up by so many as the essence of what deejaying is about. It is the opposite of this. It is the one element of deejaying that can be picked up by anyone with practice, the one robotic process that takes no inspiration and no artistry. It is the antithesis of creativity - the one element that can be delegated to a cold, soulless machine.

[3heads]

DJ fanboys are the worst. When I go out, I go out to party, have fun, get f*cked, dance like a loon. I don't give a f*ck how the DJ is making that happen(unless he has put in a mix cd).

This!

I go out to dance and have a good time, not analyze how somebody is DJing (well, can't switch that off completely - at least not until being severely f*cked - but it surely is not the prime reason for me to go out). In the end it really isn't important, song selection is (and always has been) the key skill for any DJ anyways, imho.

[JesC]

nice to see you on the forums again groovemixer. I feel you on a dj dropping a ableton set, Its cool and all but its pre-made.

[groovemixer]

nice to see you on the forums again groovemixer. I feel you on a dj dropping a ableton set, Its cool and all but its pre-made.

Thx JesC, been a while for me, been too busy doing reno's on my house and condo, I really miss the scene!! Once I get more time Ill be hanging out and creating more mixes.

Sorry about the "beat mixing" what I mean is the DJ should put some effort into the night. Yes read the crowd and go from there but if your set is pre-mixed are you really reading the crowd?

I like watching Ian's mixing, yes use whatever you want regarding software and hardware but DO something dont pretend to do it like Milli Vanilli!!!

These guys are getting paid big bucks and do nothing or hardly nothing. To me that's just fake and it does put a damper on things cuz again why not play a cd and come down to the dance floor with the rest of the crowd instead of pretending to mix??

[sarasin]

People say they go for the music...the sound experience.

So then why not play the CD through the Sound Rig and thats it?

Cuz you want to see the artist peform.

Do you go to watch a sports match to see the players FAKE it that day?

NO No......you go to see the guy do his thing.

If he fakes it....he is FAKING it!

But this too is a grey area. These days....if he is playing LIVE...then its Live PA. Personal Appearance.

I have mates who play Live ..Psytrance....and this is how its done...by 90% of em.
Some do more...some less.

However....if this was to be DJ set from this guy you were watching....then I would be upset too.

It has happened to me....going to watch my fav act...and he did not mix.
Real Letdown!

[Rdperry]

It has happened to me....going to watch my fav act...and he did not mix.
Real Letdown!

I don't understand why that's a letdown. It's not like hearing an electronic musician in concert will be thatmuch different from the songs on his computer.

Did having him not mix live really ruin the experience of the concert?
Isn't it about enjoying someone's music with a ton of other people that love it just as much as you do?

[sarasin]

Yes it did!

Specially when he has done it 10 times before and canned it like a demon!

I know he can....but he didn't!

Its like going and paying to get into the Titty Bar....and then not getting to see TITS!



It was not RUINED as you say....but i felt let down.....i had an expectation....maybe it was my fault.

Point is.....i felt let down.

[Archies'bald]

"where I was standing I could see what he was doing and never saw him once change a CD for hours"

"I know digital djing is becoming the norm"

The same old argument (format vs format), but you can't have it both ways. Since I'm still a fan of vinyl, I must pick you up on the point that using cd's is still digital djing.

Yes, I am a pedant.

[groovemixer]

I don't understand why that's a letdown. It's not like hearing an electronic musician in concert will be thatmuch different from the songs on his computer.

Did having him not mix live really ruin the experience of the concert?
Isn't it about enjoying someone's music with a ton of other people that love it just as much as you do?

I kinda understand your point but for me after watching him on sat night I felt pissed, like I got ripped off.

Why was there such a big deal with Milli Vanilli??? LOL cuz they were posers and most ppl don't like posers. I guess thats how it is with me.