A couple of years ago, me and few friends were sat at DMC 2006, watching Enferno do a blinding showcase using laptops and loopers alongside turntables. We all agreed that it would be better if everyone could use this kind of gear and unleash the creativity instead of being limited by just turntables and analog mixers. It wasn’t just me and my pals, but a scratchernet full of voices hankering for change. And DMC have heeded the words and change is afoot. This year, as a move in the right direction (and I guess to evaluate the potential logistical nightmares), the teams will be unfettered in their use of technology.
This just in from Sally@DMC:
Official DMC statement in regards to the DMC World Team Championship
DMC have decided to allow DJs to move with the times whilst protecting the integrity of the art and allowing them to embrace modern playback technology.
These decisions are being made at the behest of DJs and our international branches who want to move their events into the 21st century whilst remaining loyal to pure turntablism.
Under any circumstances we don’t see the DMC World Championships ever dropping turntable/vinyl as the main focus.
Once we see how it develops at the World Finals and we have met with our international branches, our decisions for expanding use of equipment in the future will be made. So we’ll let the Teams take on the challenge and judge once we have seen the results and, most importantly, the fan’s reactions.
The equipment allowed in the DMC Team event are : Technics Turntables, Ortofon needles, Digital software (Serato, Traktor, Mix Vibes…), Loop Stations (ie type Roland RC-20 or 50) and analogue or digital Mixers (internal or external).
So there you have it - DMC making tentative tippy toes in the right direction. The implications are immense, not just from working out just how the hell you’re going to handle teams of DJs using oodles of different mixers. software and samplers, but also for the judges as well. They need to be aware of how all this works and also to see if the DJs are being skilled or simply miming to pre-sequenced loops and beats with a couple of crabs thrown in for effect. And the apparent no limit on brands is cool as well, although I’m sure SSL some brands will dominate.
Either way, I welcome the decision with open arms and will probably do 2 days at DMC now if the budget allows. Discussion - GO!
No additions of MIDI controllers next to the turntable setup.
That with Ableton (No mentioning about this fine piece of software in the letter) would have been the best.
I kinda assumed midi control would be allowed, using programs without midi is kinda stupid… if they have however, DJTT just became the #1 resource on the net for people in the running for the next DMC competition
I think the smartest idea is to have a “controllerist” challenge sort of thing. Turntablists do their thing, controllerists do something else. The organization that sponsors and runs the DMCs should sponsor and run something different for us. We are doing different things. Rugby and football players don’t compete in the same world series.
The problem is the turntablism is dead and it needs a fresh breath of life put into it, if it got split into sections the turntablistists section would be even more dead than it is now. I agree with what your saying though, they still want to keep it turntable focused but the pc music generation utilizes alot more than just a pair of turntables to get their funk on. the years to come with the DMC are going to be very very interesting indeed.
I personally cant wait to see someone there break out Ammobox that will be friggen awesome !!!
Oh Bento… Turntablism is not dead. It’s just not for you and I. The DMCs can’t deny what is happening with DJing, but they can’t really combine the two. The techniques and styles are just way too different.
man this is why i bought my technics … looking at routines and competitions is amazing … hopefully we can see new interesting techniques with dvs … as well as controllers .. u might even have dj’s with their own mod controller battleling each other in the future.. that be crazy.. its good news.. from dmc
