The Art Of Knob Twisting?

[Powertripper]

As someone who is just getting into live DJ-ing (Ive been producing electronic music for a few years now though), I'm a little confused as to what most "stars" of the scene are doing up there on stage. Obviously theres the transitions between songs, some slight Eq-ing in-between, and figuring out/loading up the next track, assuming it isn't a pre-made mix. But most of that can be done within the first 30 seconds of a track. There seems to be alot of fake knob twists, exaggerated tapping of stuff, and just overall movements that arent actually doing anything. Is there actually something going on here, or is it just to look busy?

It all kind of seems inauthentic. I get that it adds a little bit of a stage show, and it looks like your engaged in your performance. In no way am I trying to be negative about it, I'm just trying to understand the live aspect of DJs. Can someone enlighten me on this ? Thanks

[Jester]

Look Busy. Get Paid

Welcome to the Forum matey.

[Powertripper]

Look Busy. Get Paid

Welcome to the Forum matey.

Lol I guess that makes sense. And thanks !

[sarasin]

Adding FX?

Doing Bass Cuts?

Cue point jumping?

[Dohjo]

It's partly doing nothing and small adjustments on the way. You can also use the EQ knobs to do create effects.

[Patch]

Look Busy. Get Paid

Words to live by.

[JaF]

Well you would look silly doing nothing.

[bc6]

Pressing record, changing from one fx to another kind of fx controlling the amount of wet/dry/fx. Song selection, favorites, playlists deck selection, gain multiply that by 2 or 3 and then I think you've got everything covered oh and pressing record again to stop recording.

[mostapha]

There are people who actually do things.

Mostly, it's people needlessly tweaking EQs or Effects or drumming on cuepoints to "add live flavor" to their set....which more or less actually means that they're just screwing up the groove and ruining their music to look busy.

Sometimes, they're de-activated effects or dead mixer channels....which actually makes me feel a little better...since then I actually get to listen to the music.

Also, if you are using effects and what not, you probably need to reset your knobs when you're done....so the next time you turn it on, it's non in some weird state that immediately destroys the music. You might as well do that in a way that makes you look like you're doing things.

A few people are actually "making music" live. How live it is depends on the artist, but don't think that's a new thing....groups like Orbital, the Prodigy, the KLF, and Underworld have been doing it for decades (or at least did it decades ago). Their knob tweaking actually does things.

Mostly, it's DJs puttng their "performance" and ego above the music they're playing because they don't have the balls to just stand there and enjoy the music they're supposedly curating...probably because the vast majority of them don't actually like the top40 remixes and mainstream dance garbage that they play.

[Patch]

Sometimes, they're de-activated effects or dead mixer channels....which actually makes me feel a little better...since then I actually get to listen to the music.

This is a great point. You definitely have to switch off "DJ Mode" as much as you can during a night - it is mentally exhausting...