Just spit balling here but what if there were a DJTT school…
I was thinking about this the other day when some people asked me about djing and I just told them to check out the DJTT blog and forums. Then I came to realize that there are a ton of resources online, youtube, djtt, digitaldjtips, but finding the information you want when starting is so cluttered and difficult. If someone were to say I use to dj back in the day on vinyl but have no idea about software and mapping. I really want to learn, of course I would send them here but then what? Tell them to dig around, or search the forum and ask? I mean you all know how derailed topics can get on the forum. Of course Mad Zach and DJTT staff and contributors really help with tons of great content, but its not organized in any ways. Many times we also assume or readers have all that knowledge built prior with ableton or traktor or whatever. Everyday we get someone on the forum asking the easy questions only to get ridiculed off by some not helpful members, or directed in a very aggressive way to the search button. Why not just have a section dedicated to learning?
I guess my thought were say a dedicated tutorial section with staff updates that are categorized with curriculums. It would start out small probably with articles and tutorials already uploaded by staff. Then say there would be additionally courses that would be uploaded by users, and of course ranked. DJTT tutorial might guide say the beat matching section with a simple beat matching video, but then user would upload their tips and tricks. This would go from beginner all the way to advanced or pro fitting neatly into sections. There would even be a buying gear section, hooking it up section, trouble shooting section. Bad content would be down voted until removed, and good content would go up. Eventually it would get into neat tricks and tips that people do with their gear but to start out the basics is needed. Hell it could even go to legit courses held online for medium to advanced learning that could even eventually be paid for courses paying out the instructor and DJTT. This could especially work well for people who can’t afford to do dubspot, but just want some instruction on a particular topic.
Anyways thats what I was thinking about last night, maybe its a bit ambitious but I think it would help the community grow immensely. Help budding djs learn faster and easier, and also get DJTT huge exposure to the new young audience.
maybe an introduction “area” where there are tutorials and videos? A collection of all the stuff to help you get started so you don’t have to wade through all the junk and bad advice?
It sounds like a good idea, I used to dj with vinyl about 10 years ago, then life got in the way, sold all my gear etc. and then a couple of weeks ago bought a numark mixtrack pro II, I found that mixing is still the same as it ever was, except its a bit easier now if you want to use sync etc. and I’ve done enough audio production and midi with cubase etc. that mashing buttons in time with a beat is nothing new
I was talking to my son earlier who is keen to learn but said that amount of buttons and controls is a bit overwhelming to start off with, he’ll be fine once we’ve had a few sessions but it would be better if he could pick this up from videos. I think the main issue either of us will have is to decide which software is suitable for our musical tastes and mixing styles. I’m keen to learn how to use a midi fighter, I’m quite struck with stuff like araabmuzik and really like the random musical styles that I’ve seen in Ean’s videos, so these are the kinds of issues that fighter/digital dj noobs are going to need resolved.
I think the idea of a seperate locked area with just the ‘school’ stuff in it is a good idea, backed up with a sub-forum for people posting videos etc. but it would also need organising, would djtt host the videos via youtube? you don’t want content disappearing, I’ve noticed that’s quite a problem on the forums as it is, lots of dead links to old posts which I’m guessing got lost in a migration.
How about just a forum called “learning”
Highly moderated, only help, no bullshit.
Any beginners can post there without being lit up by the few trolls around
Stupid questions allowed. What should I get?
This makes the forum very conducive to beginners learning, and keeps all of the overly newb questions off of general discussion.
And it is what usually comes back every cycle of time. (Average of 2 to 3 years)
We have been talking about it behind the scenes every now and then, but we always come to the conclusion that we will try to make do with the way the forum is now.
That’s a real shame. I think a beginners forum would stop some of the flame wars and ass hole comments that pop up when somebody new wants an answer. With a beginner forum, it might be easier for a newb to find the answer to his “what controller should I buy” if there was a quick and easy place to check.
There doesn’t need to be a lot of regulars attention to the forum either, only those that are wanting to help out. I’ve seen threads past in regards to a beginners forum, and as you said tekki, it always ends up with keeping it the way it is. Maybe the fact that it keeps coming up should be an indicator that it’s wanted by the community. It would sure keep general discussion cleaner than it is now.
Either way, the you mods do a good job here, and the community’s is generally helpful, I just think it would help out some.
I don’t know if y’all are big on Reddit, but the responses in r/djs vs r/beatmatch is pretty telling IMO. On the other hand, the community here at DJTT is better, so that may make a difference.
You’ll always find the best and the worst kinds of people on forums, however, making a forum would be good where noobs can feel somewhat insulated from the polarised battle lines that await us all once we’ve gained a clue or 2.
That way, those that want to help can, those that want to be difficult can be removed and the forum looks like an inviting place. you already have a collection of videos that djtt/ean/mad zach have done, expand on those, fill the top 1/2 of the forum with stickies explaining what’s going on in the videos to pre-empt most of the FAQ stuff and let the community build itself. You never know, encouraging people to get on with their hobby might just spawn a community of people that are just happy to help each other and the forum becomes self sustaining.
