Attitude towards controllerism/digital DJs

**illstep** · 05-06-2009, 11:48 PM

i'd be happy if most djs (no matter what format) would stick to simple transitions and not mess up the good music with stupid fx and loops.

i love all changes made by djs when theyre good but you can really mess the music up. i mean whats flangers for anyways lol.

theres so many bad djs out there - i think any digital dj that just has a ear for what sounds good is ways above average.

**roberto** · 05-09-2009, 03:13 AM

question:
does anyone know why others (djs) talk down digital/controllerist djs?
is it because vinyl (sound quality) is superior to digital? is it because what took them time to master (beat matching) takes digital djs no time, if that dj is using the sync button? what took them years of crate digging, takes digital djs minutes to google?

i have noticed in my city some veteran vinyl djs nonchalantly brushing other djs off that use digital devices. funny thing is, this happened years ago (as several previous posters have mentioned) when cdjs starting coming out. ironically, even some cdjs have passed down the torch of frowning upon the midi-controllerism technology. i was recently told by a fellow dj friend of mine that i should invest in serato and turntables (i currently use vci-100, laptop, and audiofire4) just because it looks better, more professional!?!?

it is easy to argue both points of view, but can money also be a factor of these new format issues? a fear of a whole new crop of laptop djs competing for the same limited venues and cash crop? not to mention many of these new djs have access to whatever the internet has in its infinite universe, and for quite less the price and wait time of vinyl (giving the benefit of doubt that they actually pay for these downloads).

truth be told, there is a quality issue at hand as well: how many digital djs care to download the best bitrate for their performance? how many give back to the artist(s) they are playing (by paying for their downloaded tracks or by naming the song being played when asked by listeners/guests/other djs).

there is no need for history lessons here, but djing used to also be about the music as well (sarcasm intended). seriously, how excited were you when you heard the dj grab the mic and say: "yo, i'm about to play some exclusive sh*t right here, give it up for (so-and-so's new release)" this is also a quality issue, one dealing with the dj aka music selecta. how well do they know the music they are playing for their crowds? can you feel the passion from the dj when he/she drops a track? are they themselves fans or just going through the motions syncing bpms, eyes gazed on a laptop? some djs back then, and still to this day don't even blend beats or do turntablism routines, they just simply drop jewlz. keep it moving. i think much of this passion gets lost in translation with some of the new breed of djs. this may not apply to a majority of us digital/controllerist djs, but as you know, it does not take a majority to contaminate the water, er digital stream.

i suppose some of the elements of a djs performance is also determined by the genre of music they play. personally at my gigs, music comes first before my controllerism routine (after i am lowered down from the cieling in a cloud of smoke in my gold crescent leather cape). and i can also understand why some djs do not like to tell other djs what is on their playlist. biters suck, especially if they don't give you credit. but, the world still turns, on vinyl and digital bits.

as a couple of the veterans have said, do your thing, do it well and confidently. and other dj (vinyl) veterans' egos/fears/concerns won't affect your output. as you see, from both sides of the stream, there are a variety of factors that can taint a digital djs image: techniques/methodology; sound quality/selection lack of respect for the music. don't be that dj, but at the same time, don't join the cesspool of hate. bring up a newbie brother or sister once in while. each one, teach one. that is how the forum functions, take it live as well.

**JesC** · 05-09-2009, 04:04 AM

i dont get the beef...I can throw some clean sets on vinyl or cds, but my weapon of choice is Traktor 3.4 w/my Vci-Se they dont see whats coming with I fire up my MB. Plus I prefer carrying my vestax bag vs 4 (or more) crates of vinyl to play the same set.

Mudo · 05-09-2009, 04:50 AM

...
Which analog setup will be the same functionality than Ms Pinky synced with Ableton live synced with Resolume Avenue?

Pioneer dvdj?

...

**selfinfliction** · 05-09-2009, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by JesC

Welcome to the club. I feell on what ur saying that we have to prove our self by doing some off the wall shit. A lot of djs here in l.a. Only go from deck a to deck b on cd or vinyl and the feel they have the right to judge or label me and other midi djs. I always shut them up by saying let me play on ur vinyl or CDs and u play on my rig. Or I remind them the the music they are playing was made on a computer.

haha tell them to piss off. coming from using 100% vinyl, then over to this traktor pro/controller setup, i will tell them to piss off too this is the best upgrade i've done. the only thing this controller does is link up the beats (for the most part) but you still have to do everything else. if they think beat matching is all it takes to dj, then they are the retards

**JesC** · 05-09-2009, 11:33 AM

Beatmatching...is only one piece of the pie when it comes to djing. I think the most important thing is how you transistion from one track to another. You can be mixing on 2 or 4 decks but if it's sound like crap, in my book ur a crappy Dj!

**roberto** · 05-09-2009, 02:09 PM

so, what would be a peaceful resolution to end the vinyl vs. midi dj debate?

so far, established is the fact that beat matching is not everything. it can come down to performance, music selection, transitions and context of track placement, etc.,...

has anyone considered doing a friendly vinyl vs. midi dj battle in their hometowns? taking it back to the old school, when dancing break battles and mc battles did not result in broken glass bottles over heads. same can be done perhaps between djs, instead of resorting to insults and what not.
anyone heard of promoters organizing this or has anyone competed in something like this?

**BentoSan** · 05-09-2009, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by roberto

so, what would be a peaceful resolution to end the vinyl vs. midi dj debate?

The extinction of the human race

**Karlos Santos** · 05-09-2009, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by roberto

has anyone considered doing a friendly vinyl vs. midi dj battle in their hometowns?

No... what would be the point. Have you ever tried to have a discsussion with a 17yr old about music or DJing, vinyl or digital.
Or the same discussion with some old vinyl bore?
Some people will NEVER change their minds and i see no point in trying to change the view of close minded people.
If they are young and full of that "i know everything attitude" only growing up will change their attitude and old bores are just gonna be stuck in their ways.

As Bento says the only solution is the end of humanity or
you all finally realise that MY opinion is the only one worth having and that i am right 100% of the time