hey I think you should bring up the fact that you are using a generator and power also, I power my sets by simultaneously riding a bicycle and using the laptop battery, my mixes sound like shit, but I’m legit.
Totally, I want to learn. It’s just the investment is so high for something like that. Where can you rent CDJs?
I’ve been practicing on traktor with my x-session pro without using sync and I think I have it down. Depends on if he wants no laptops at all. Or if they allow serato. I can do it pretty well with the help of visual cues.
Dude, you ride a bicycle? I run around a giant hamster wheel. The rhythm of my steps is the beat and my manic screams of pain is the melody.
Again, $0.02:
No because the industry has shifted enough to an extent to make purchasing vinyl pressings not only difficult, but expensive at $15 per cut. If you mean a time code rig on 12" as a back up, then that’s different, and I would consider it a wise idea in that case if you really want to play it safe either way. But in all honesty, never in my years has a CDJ jammed, and that’s why they’re widely accepted and encouraged. Chances are if it skipped - it was the burn job, the CD quality, or damage to the CD. I’m not saying they never ever fail, but considering they’re the core of any club setup, they go to great length to test them, have them cleaned, and undergo maintenance regularly.
Yes, I believe so. If you are unable to perform basic functions without the aid of a program, all that makes you is a fluent user of that program. Knowing only one medium - the one which makes your job the easiest at that - is crippling to a DJ specifically. It has nothing to do with “keeping it old school” or showing that promoter where he can shove it, we’re talking foundation level skills to make yourself a valued and reliable asset at any gig in a utilitarian sense as well as expanding your experience out. I consider it the same as accumulating job experience. Again, it will only help you in the long run to keep your game sharp and well versed.
The time read out existed before a CDJ, they were called 12" record grooves, and they worked really well. Knowing when a track is going to end has never been a crutch, it’s been a fundamental knowledge. The CDJ-1000 provides no more on a visible level than a record cut did - yes even waveform (though both mediums were very limited), and as a matter of fact on a CDJ its fairly crappy, because that’s a dot matrix resolution readout. Regardless it serves its basic purpose in letting you know when the phases come in and out, just like a record groove did. I don’t call any of these things crutches, the bare basics simply shifted to a bare level digital medium, and they existed well before it.
I agree, this is a great idea actually. Hell, with anyone really. Create a youtube channel, and print the link on the label of your CD promos. It looks good too if people subscribe to it, the more people interested, the more interested the promoter. It also gives a good insight as to how busy you are while using your medium, and will drive your point home more than words will.
I’m in film school and it’s very similar. We’re learning how to use film cameras, even though in all likelihood we’ll never actually use them in most of our student films. It is essential to know where it came from.
That’s really cool actually 
Totally just $0.02 from here on out. We can all have civil discussions 
Now I know I’ve not spun in nice places, well, ever. But I can tell you that I have never ever spun in a place that tested, cleaned or maintained their equipment. I can’t imagine many starting DJs working in places like the HUGE clubs, but I know for a fact that I have had CDs jam in decks and we need to kill the music to unjam it. Granted, I’ve spun in some shit holes, so take that as you may
I’m not arguing that it is a great thing to know. In fact, I said that I agree with that. But if I can sit on my laptop and completely rock a crowd, who cares how I do it? Really. If you put three amazing DJs in a room, one who can only spin on vinyl, one who can only spin on CDs and one who can only spin on a laptop, I think the one who can spin on a laptop is going to get the most shit for not being well versed. That’s my issue with this argument. It won’t matter if that laptop DJ is a better DJ technically, or if they can mix better. And them sitting and learning vinyl or CDs won’t make them better, it will just make them think differently.
Record grooves are VERY different from time readout, but they are still just another form of the waveform. I’m sure turntablists can count off sections based on the rotation of the grooves. Now, obviously, this is not a perferct A/B comparison, and I’m not positing that a reading a record groove is as easy as reading a wave form. My point, though, is that it sounds like you’re saying that if it’s hard it’s more legit. If it’s easy it’s a crutch. CDJs are more legit because their dot matrix readout isn’t detailed, but laptops use a crutch because it is. What happens when CDJs get detailed wave form readouts? Is this argument moot? If so, in my opinion, it’s a silly argument.
YAY! We agree
Once again, no offense meant to anyone specifically. I like discussions like this with people who disagree and can stay civil, so yeah. Even if we just agree to disagree, it’s nice to talk about something with smart people on the internet.
w00t
We’ve all been there I would think haha.
Hey, totally agree, that’s why I advocate learning the trade with/without a program. Nothing gives shit talkers a kick to the dick by not only doing something different by preference, but also being able to do their job while you’re at it.
I wouldn’t really connote record grooves with time readout, that’s more associated with the tone arm position.
Absolutely not, as a matter of fact, I hate that shit. As my prior posts suggest, it’s not about “keeping it real”, or being legit, it’s about expanding your experience out to be a more universal and seasoned DJ. I’m all about encouraging people to refine themselves to break that mold that laptop DJ’s and program users don’t know shit lol.
Already has, the CDJ-2000. But damn, if anyone wants plop down $4000 for a pair, they deserve it to say the least lmao.
Unfortunately, cause my job blows, I won’t be able to see that pic until I get home. I am anticipating lols.
Overall I think we have an understanding. This is where our discussion deviates, and what I think the crux of the situation is.
I spun on CDs as a resident at a small club in Manhattan for a year and a half. I beatmatched, mixed, did everything. Then I decided it was easier to carry a backpack with my DJ gear than almost 1000 CDs with me. So I moved to my laptop. Suddenly I wasn’t a DJ anymore to some people. It didn’t matter what I was doing before, it just mattered what I was doing then.
The only way we’re going to get ourselves out of this stigma is by proving that laptop DJs not only can be, but have to be, talented and disciplined, just as much as turntable DJs and CD DJs (well, moreso than CD DJs, in my opinion). But what good does it do to go out and say “Well, I can spin on this antiquated method that will soon be pointless, so that means I’m a more legit laptop DJ”?
It’s one thing to learn it, understand it, but it’s another to be required to use it to prove your skill. You might need to learn how to develop film in a dark room, but if you’re trying to get a photographer gig they are going to want to see your best work. And that’s what they are going to expect.
This is the same exact thing. Learning vinyl might make one a better DJ (and I think CDs will add nothing) but why would a promoter want you to spin in a way that isn’t your preferred method, when you might not be as good? Seriously, it boggles my mind.
I havent read any of this thread , i just want to know where i can get an MP3 of that recording.
Id like to make a Fidget Step Dub & Bass version of it.
why don’t you think knowing how to play on cd-js will add anything? it seems like there was some good points made in this thread suggesting that it is a valuable skill.
think of it from the point of view of this promoter, in his/her mind everyone else is doing just fine on cdjs, and then this one dj wants to bring in their laptop, soundcard, and controller to do what is perceived by the promoter as the same thing…dj. from the point of view of the producer, that probably seems mind boggling.
if we are talking about a club where the owner/promoter/check writer prefers their djs spinning on cd-js then a dj who can spin on cd-js is more legit then a dj who can’t, in that situation.
I think CDJs bring nothing to the table that you can’t learn exactly the same on a laptop. You get BPM readouts, you do basic math and move the pitch fader. Hell, you can make laptops MORE complicated than CDJs. I think learning vinyl is much more useful because it forces you to mix and spin in very particular ways that the other mediums can’t replicate, outside of DVS. I agree with mmauve that it can’t hurt to be well rounded, but I don’t think it actually helps make someone a better DJ.
And for promoters that think like that, well, it’s backward, anachronistic, and, in my opinion, stupid.
Does it make the situation any easier? No. Does it change the OP’s situation? No. Could a good conversation with that promoter change this? Maybe. And that, to me, is the preferred outcome. We’d all look at a promoter cross eyed if this same conversation was limited to vinyl, unless it was a specific, VERY niche scene.
I let my wife do the work
I’ll be honest… I lol’d
Haven’t read all the posts, bit lengthy, but I agree with DvlsAdvct. If you started mixing vinyl or what ever back in the day, that was all you could physically use, there was no Traktor etc. Or maybe it was your choice to start on decks regardless. Now you can use midi controllers and have all your shit sync’d. If that’s how you started out why move backwards instead of forwards?
Nowadays you can drum rhythm’s on a midi pad controller with your fingers, does that mean you gotta go out and learn to play the drums the old fashioned way?
If you play on a PSP should you have to go and get to grips with gameboy?
If a chef has his own set of knives, is a restaurant going to tell him he has to use the in-house kitchen knives?
If your act or job relies on certain equipment, then you gotta use your equipment. If someone wants to book you after hearing your shit and you require your equipment to do the job then make it clear that’s what you’re about. If it was you who started chasing them and they specifically use CD DJ’s or vinyl DJ’s for what ever reason then that’s your tough titties. But the fact he asked you means you can say you’ll play but you use a laptop, that’s the way you roll, that’s your act, and what of it? What’s the big deal anyway? Just take your laptop and midi controller and set it up, whack it on top of the TT’s with the lids on or some shit. What, are laptops not allowed in the DJ booth or something?
Just remember, the letters DJ stand for disc jockey. Seeing as you don’t use any form of disc you’re not a disc jockey. If anyone says we need a CD/vinyl DJ, all you gotta say is “I’m not a DJ, I’m a controllerist” … and for that you require your laptop.
DJ’s require records, controllerists require their controllers. Am I wrong? (technically speaking)
So, e-mailed the guy, told him basically that I feel pretty confident that I can beatmatch on CDJs but it won’t be as good as my mixes with my laptop and that I couldn’t record a mix for him at the moment… No e-mail back.
It’s frustrating to say the least. However, playing a friends party in march and they’re all a bunch of DJs; much older than me. So he’s agreed to let me practice on his decks for a while.
How long would you say it takes to get something like beatmatching down if I’ve been doing the computer thing for about a year now.
Whilst i agree with all of the main part of the post, this bit below is wrong surely.
Yes completely wrong.
Disc Jockey or DJ is just a convenient term of reference. Its an old term that has an over-arching meaning.
Were all DJs. There can be varying types, vinyl, digital or whatever but the guy who plays the music in whatever format is the DJ.
Going down a dangerous road singling out different mediums.
You can use CDs and never touch a platter (Denon 1800). Or use a CD player that has internal memory with mp3.
You can use DVS with cd timecode, you dont actually touch any discs but your still DJing despite not playing with the disc.
If someone says what do you do, your a DJ. What kind of DJ? a controllerist.
Your still a DJ.
Don’t do it to yourself man, where you’re spending the time learning to beat match on decks, you’re losing out on time to get better at what you do.
Can you not just plug in your midi controller via USB then use the headphone output on your laptop? Minimal effort man, just get one long ass mini jack to phono lead to connect to the system.
The ONLY reason anyone should say you can’t use a laptop is because it might require a lot of faffing around to hook up interfaces into the back of mixers etc. If all you need is a phono input to rock out don’t go learning a whole new way of working. Laptops can fit anywhere, its the interface hook up that’s the potential deal breaker.
Besides, do you really plan on now forking out on a new vinyl collection just so you can mix on decks? CD’s is a bit more straight forward obviously but do you really plan on starting all over again on something that isn’t what you do? Beat matching is one thing but it can take years to be able to learn to do more then just beat match, and you aint gonna get anywhere purely on the fact you can beat match on a pair of CDJ’s (not unless you got your own tunes).
Hence why I put in brackets “technically speaking”. It was meant as a way to be able to explain himself to a promoter who doesn’t get the whole concept of using a laptop.
If someone says “you’re using a laptop, you’re not a proper DJ!”, “No, I’m a controllerist”, what can they say? Nothing, it’ll put them in their place.
To the OP, do what you want.
Personally I cannot see it being anything except useful to learn how to mix on any given type of equipment. Just practice in general will make you better at what you do, and having a traditional setup or being able to use one is essentially “going through the ropes” of a sort.
Not that it’s needed, and you can do whatever you like. But as you can see on here, there are a lot of different opinions on the subject.
But honestly if you only plan on using your controller, stick with that. If you have funds to spare and want to get in on a CDJ/Vinyl setup, go for it. It can’t hurt, will probably be a lot of fun learning something new, and won’t hurt you in the least. At the worst, you can say you have tried it and you didn’t like it, and at best, you might be won over.
I look at it like this. I went to school for a bit for architecture. That being said, they don’t tell you to build a house right off the bat. They make you draw and do math without calculators, and know the basics before you get to the point where technology can essentially take over the minor aspects, and you get to work on other things. Knowing how to do something without computers will do nothing but benefit you in the long run.