How is this Dj'ing?

[Soul Bait]

Its all about wether or not you respect someone as a performer. I personally dont consider sync DJs much as performers, as they cant make a mistake, there is no dramatic tension. Thats not to say they cant play great music and get a room dancing, no debate, but I never get the feeling that they are on the edge of something cool and experimenting.

So you're saying the only mistake a DJ can make is a mismatched beat? I mean, really... there are so many mistakes we can make, and we've all made mistakes even when the beat is matched.

[Mattalik]

Is it safe to come out now.........

Looks like there is quite a mix of opinion on this subject.

I suppose if i was to walk into a bar or club and didn't look at the dj (Im sure I'm not the only one here that looks at the dj booth or the gear the dj is using) i would just accept the music for what it was and not question it.

I do still go to the odd rave (Jungle Mania etc) and i would expect the djs to be mixing manually. I don't know why, but i would be very disappointed if they weren't. I have paid good money to come in here and hear music from a certain era played and mixed by a dj. Not some some guy hitting buttons.
I can't actually put my finger on why i feel this way, but when i went to Jungle Mania before, 2 acts came on and they literally had their MacBooks...and that was it. Fortunatly for me i had VIP tickets so i could go to the plush bar up stairs.

i was annoyed that some guy turnt up with a laptop.

Like i said before, i am not here to insult anybody, and if you get paid to do what you do, good luck to you!

But me personally, i have no interest in going out to a venue to watch button pushers. Even if it does give you the time and or option to do more loops or Fx etc.

I think maybe the use of turntables or cdj's is more popular in Jungle & DnB than it is in say House music, and maybe that is why i feel this way, and expect a dj play that way........maybe i am just too damn stubborn

I am not totally against all new technologies though. I have purchased Traktor, and after having some teething problems with it, i love the idea of having all my tracks at my finger tips. I can mix track after track after track, 3 times as fast than if i were digging through crates of vinyl, or even if i had them organised in a playlist order.
I actually find myself challenging myself to mix more and faster. I might even break out a third turntable!

Like I said though guys, I am not trying to knock anyone.

Peace...

Matt.

[Jester]

Think of it this way mate. You wouldn't call someone a "fake" driver just because their car has an automatic transmission ... sure their driving may suck balls, they think they are all that, and they may spend more time striking a jesus pose and staring at the talent than steering, but they are still driving, right?

[jdownesbaird]

OP, your original post doesn't really have anything to do with the point I think you just tried to make.

You simply posted a picture of a very high end mixer, one that can literally be used to mix anything INCLUDING vinyl, which is what I use it for (well, I have the DB2, actually). You can also mix things MANUALLY with it; in fact, it's SOFTWARE that allows you to sync tracks, not anything that you pictured.

The K2s in the picture can also be mapped to control anything in any midi-mappable software (including video software) but don't inherently "sync" anything up. There are limitless advanced possibilities with this setup, but you somehow have it out for "button pushers". You don't seem to really even understand how this equipment works, and thought showing a photo with a bunch of buttons would somehow make a point.

I'm not a so-called sync DJ, and I use a mix of real vinyl and control vinyl, and yet I push some buttons during my set when appropriate (particularly if I'm using remix decks). What's the problem?

[Mattalik]

OP, your original post doesn't really have anything to do with the point I think you just tried to make.

You simply posted a picture of a very high end mixer, one that can literally be used to mix anything INCLUDING vinyl, which is what I use it for (well, I have the DB2, actually). You can also mix things MANUALLY with it; in fact, it's SOFTWARE that allows you to sync tracks, not anything that you pictured.

The K2s in the picture can also be mapped to control anything in any midi-mappable software (including video software) but don't inherently "sync" anything up. There are limitless advanced possibilities with this setup, but you somehow have it out for "button pushers". You don't seem to really even understand how this equipment works, and thought showing a photo with a bunch of buttons would somehow make a point.

I'm not a so-called sync DJ, and I use a mix of real vinyl and control vinyl, and yet I push some buttons during my set when appropriate (particularly if I'm using remix decks). What's the problem?

I have no problem, i have said that a couple of times now. And your right, I don't know a great deal about this equpimtent, i am learning as i go.
I don't have it out for people who i tagged as "button pushers" i have said several times that if thats what you do and you get paid for doing it, good luck to you.

There has been a lot of replies since i posted my original thread, and the topic has covered a fair bit of ground. Unfortunatly i don't have the time to reply to every single one of them, so i tried to generalise and cover what i could in 1 reply.
I may not have done that very well, but that was my aim.

I am not out for people, you do what you do and if you enjoy it, well done.

Peace....


Matt.

[Ed Paris]

like i always say. only other djs care care what a dj is using.
use whatever you want to entertain a crowd. even if you're using a banana or a bicycle. as long as you have a good time your crowd will recognize and mostly will have a good time as well.

i use sync. so what?
i don't use tts/cdjs. so what?

but i can asure you that the clubs and their guests know how to have a good time once i'm in this bitch...sorry. i meant booth.


also. i saw many djs who weren't able to match a single beat. that didn't stop them from giving me the time of my life on the dancefloor.

my advise:

do not give a f*ck about what other djs say. if you feel confident with the way you are playing and you get the positive feedback from the crowd, then there is nothing to worry about.

[AshtonArcher]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disc%20jockey

disc jockey noun
a person who plays popular recorded music on the radio or at a party or nightclub

Doesn't matter what gear you use!

[DubluW]

A bit off topic but I've found recently it isn't just other DJ's who care, it seems to be the odd know it all now and again.

I've found if i play with an S4 or Z2-X1mk2-MF3D combo, i have no end of people who come up and firstly cast an eye over it and then come out with the usual "It's just buttons and the laptop does it all for you''. Drunk people usually proceed to try and press buttons and expect you to have every tune under the sun as the laptop is present.

HOWEVER.

Whip out the above with a set of 1210's and a crate of records off to the side and people stay at a respectful distance. Drunk people wont push buttons but will ask for some godforsaken chart tune to which i can make a show and dance of flicking through the record crate and saying ''Sorry i don't have it'' with a shrug......and the laptop (Running DVS anyway!) largely remains ignored.

It's really odd, but i recommend trying it!

[Karlos Santos]

HOWEVER.

Whip out the above with a set of 1210's and a crate of records off to the side and people stay at a respectful distance. !

You could be forgiven for thinking that but tell it to my mate Cottam. Playing here in the Boiler Room.
Incident at 14mins 12 secs.

Silly bint.

[DubluW]

^^^ arrrrrgh!