Prejudice against controllerists?!

[mike_o]

I love it when this happens, seriously, I always tell the guy with the bad attitude how old, out of touch and completely behind the times they are, I really do just laugh and point at their record crates and smile. I'm a dick when someone gives me attitude, I respond with that kinda "instant karma" attitude, however they treat me is how I treat them, usually right then and there.

look at these moments as a chance to laugh in the face of the childish stupidity of others, its actually really funny when you drop the reverse snobbery on them.

"WOW, you actually dont know what midi or timecode is? where the hell have you been man, playing in the 90's or something, you know that was almost 2 full decades ago right dude?" this is ALWAYS hilarious.

[PGB]

As a vinyl DJ, then CD DJ, now controllerist I see both sides of this.

People see it as "anyone could get up there with a laptop and controller and through a set togehter". I admit, you can easily through a basic set together once you have got you grids / warp markers set up.

You can go more advanced with it though than you ever could with vinyl or CD's. I do feel the 'auto-beatmatched' thing is cheating though. I play with Ableton and of course have everything in time. I think I can use it well but still wouldn't feel 100% comfortable in front of other DJ's playing out.

Ableton shouldn't be used to mix 2 tracks though. You might aswell be on decks to do that. For 4+ channels of sound, loops, effects, VST's etc. Your not going to be able to get near that on decks.

it is the way forward. Why should the DJ be forced to beatmatch. I can do it if I want to, but chose to use my time elsewhere.

Catch 22. The CD guys got this stick from vinyl guys (including me). It's swings and roundabouts. In 10 years time, we might be giving it to the next generation of gear.

[V-Hoff]

it is the way forward. Why should the DJ be forced to beatmatch. I can do it if I want to, but chose to use my time elsewhere.

Man, I can't beatmash properly if I want to, as I'm starting out now, I don't see why I need to do it.

Lets argue with Math, Do you need to know the Scientific Method that Pitagoras or Bhaskara used to discover their formule? Do you really need to know how to use they in deep to know how to solve a math problem in your life?

I just need to know the basics of the beatmashing, I need to know what it is and how is it done but I don't really need to practice this without the sync button. You know how to play with vinyl cdjs and controllers, but could you play with controllers without this knowlage? I can, and I don't consider it cheating, do you consider Pitagoras or Bhaskara cheating?
Before their discover, all people would do much more calcs to have the same answer and not everyone would know how to do it.
After their formules the scientists becomes more agile and they could spend more time doing something else even better for the humanity, thats how we keep evolving.

[LiveFastStephen]

Anytime you find a hobby (or profession) where things are expensive your going get people in it that treat it like a car show (It's the American way) meaning the more expensive your stuff, the more exclusive you are within the crowed. Dj'n and production are about art & about having fun, & unlike the typical over priced collection of "stuff" It takes practice, creativity, talent, dedication, etc.. - knowing this it's hard for me to take anyone judging my make shift gear seriously.

[V-Hoff]

"WOW, you actually dont know what midi or timecode is? where the hell have you been man, playing in the 90's or something, you know that was almost 2 full decades ago right dude?" this is ALWAYS hilarious.

I don't think this is the best way to handle this situation... You need opportunities like these to be nice and explain to these DJs how you do your thing, this way you will stop beign "the enemy" with the "snobe" attitude and will become the reference to those people. Sometimes, like I've said before, they are just with fear of what is changing, and people with fear generally do all sort of strange reactions.

[sarasin]

I was ripped slightly as next week.....i play out with my Arcade VCI for the first time.

All I said to the hecklers was....."I will give anyone who can pull a mix on my rig a 100 Bucks."



Hope no one tries!

KEKEKEKEKEK

IT's MINE!

[BentoSan]

Is the guy with the Herc RMX and VDJ a controllerist? (not bashing you guys, merely trying to figure out at what point are we labeled as such)

No that would like calling a mix dj mixing on turntables a turntablist - something which they are clearly not. A controllerist is a dj mixing on midi gear who is pushing the art of mixing on controllers to the extreme.

Some kid whos just picked up a Herc RMX and is jamming out isn't worthy of the name controllerist if you ask me, thats something they have to work on to obtain.

[EdanUK]

In my opinion CDJs were like a step backwards. Why would you want to burn CDs all day long when u can have them all at your finger tips. VCI 100 all the way!

The only problem is next time I play out I'm going to have to turn up early check that it is all plugged in ect and have power for my Mac. Which is a bit of a pian in the azz, but to have 4 decks is all worth it.

I live vinyl and agree with mr ciar that would never get rid of it, but CDs are just fkin anoying. They look sht so they haven't even got that on there side.

[alien2k]

I want to add my 5 cents here. When you are a dj invited to play at a club you are a "Guest", guests usually adopt to their hosts requirements and costumes, it is a way of being polite or not? It is the same when you are invited for dinner, you don´t bring your own plates don´t you?
I know controllers are not well looked at the begining on some places, most of the time because people asume that if you are using controllers you are a beginner.

My opinion and what have worked for me is not to force anything man... if it is your first time in that specific club just go with the flow. Try to get your controller as an added equipment for the cdjs or TTS.Tell the guy that you will be using the cdjs or TTs with traktor and if that is possible you would like to add a controller for effects, samples and loops.
When they see what you can do the next time you will be able to set the booth as your will. Just go very respectfully with their booth the first time.

The part of my explanation that you might not like is that in my opinion if you want to be "welcomed" everywhere now a days you must be able to do your thing with Cdjs or TTs also. At least with time code. It will make things 1000 times easier. It is great to be able to adapt your set for any situation, it is something that needs practice but will change you into a real pro Dj.
That is my real opinion, I would never change my controllers is defently the way I prefer to go, But I would not consider myself a pro dj if I wasn´t able to play with TTs ir Cdjs, I could make and analogy with a pilot who only knows how to fly with autopilot on, you know someday he will need to manually land the plane.
I have a small nano control that I use when cdjing or with TTs, if I am not able to take my VCi because of lack of space. I consider that I am an invited Dj so I must follow their rules and gain their respect with their rules. Once you have respect you may play naked if you want

Just my personal thought regarding controller djs now a days.

[Lantau]

When you are a dj invited to play at a club you are a "Guest", guests usually adopt to their hosts requirements and costumes, it is a way of being polite or not? It is the same when you are invited for dinner, you don't bring your own plates don't you?

I think that's a very good point, as you could be seen as being awkward (not intentionally) with your setup compared to others

Man, I can't beatmash properly if I want to, as I'm starting out now, I don't see why I need to do it.

But I would not consider myself a pro dj if I wasn't able to play with TTs or Cdjs, I could make and analogy with a pilot who only knows how to fly with autopilot on, you know someday he will need to manually land the plane.

I was trying to think of a good way to describe that and alien2k's analogy is perfect; sure you could get away with beatgrids but the one time you're playing out and you realise Traktor got the autogrid wrong and you forgot to do it manually...*

Plus for me I like to know that I could beatmatch if I wanted and that I'm not reliant on Traktor, as Richie Hawtin explains very well I think it just frees up your time to concentrate on other things such as effects/loops/etc.

I guess before I saw this whole community I saw laptop DJing in general as inferior, just as I saw CDs as inferior when I was spinning vinyl. I hold my hands up and say I wasn't as open-minded back then, but I'm converted now, so I can sort of understand both sides on this one

I do wonder what the solution is though? I guess in time it'll happen but I think being polite always helps things along

* I know you could loop the phrase of an ending track or quickly switch to another track, it was just for arguments sake