Was checking out vids of big named DJ’s at WMC and Ultra and I’d say about 80% of the DJ’s and 100% of the really big names (Guetta, Tiesto, etc.) were all using 4 CDJ’s rather than a digital set up or even time code cd’s. They had NO laptop, instead a HUGE book of CD’s! Some guys were using timecode and had Serato up, a small few had Traktor up, and only 1 or 2 vids were guys using complete digital set ups/midi controllers.
Whats the big advantage of using stricktly CDJ’s?? Only thing I can think of is at an event that big if one CDJ goes down you still have 3 more to keep the music going, rather than a computer freezing or crashing.
I figured these guys would be using timecoded but I guess not?
yeah, but thats my question why is it that David Guetta, Tiesto, Roger Sanchez, Armin Van Buuren, etc ALL prefer 4 CDJ’s.
I know there are big time names using software but in my opinion David Guetta and Tiesto are as big as it gets, and WMC is a HUGE event. So why do the biggest names at one of the biggest events prefer using CDJ’s?
Maybe the likes of Guetta & Tiesto are ‘that big’ that all they have to do is play b2b songs with no more than a tweak of the flanger for good measure.
Both of them have gone down the commercial route, remixing big pop acts tracks, etc. Fair play to them.
i prefer a midi set up because it was much more economical than 4 CDJ CDJ 1000’s, also I am not playing at big clubs – I play small gigs requiring me to be mobile and a VCI-100 and trigger finger can do what I need it to do. BUT, living in Miami (which I think is a pretty big city with big gigs) all the clubs come with CDJ’s and most have Tech 1200’s as well. So as I expand on my knowledge of DJing, and aspiring to move on to bigger gigs I have to wonder why is it that the guys who headline at Club Space, or fill up a stadium, or are the headliners of WMC and ULTRA, why do they use CDJ. What makes it better for them.
These guys are not blending one song after another. They are putting one hell of a show on, at one of the biggest House events in the world. So my question is it just realiablity of a CDJ vs. a laptop. Is it the showmanship. Whether they have gone mainstream or not, they still are carrying around a book of over 100 CD’s and playing for more than 100,000 people. That has to make you wonder why they use CDJ’s?
I know for a fact that plenty of the big names at Ultra were using Traktor last year. Maybe the few videos that you saw were of djs using, but, hawtin, loco dice, luciano, cox, and plenty of others were using Traktor. So to say 100% of the big names were on cdjs is false.
So don’t sweat it, many of the big names have embraced technology just like us. And plenty of them lurk these boards.
yes personal preference, They have been playing them for years.
There was the same stigma attached to CDJ when they were new as there is today with Digital DJ’s. They like you say are big name acts, everything they do is for the public to see, and lets face it, human nature in general is not impartial to a little tall poppy syndrome. These guys have built their name with CDJ’s… Now they get ridicule for selling out and playing pop, what will happen when people who dont appreciate digital DJ’s see their CDJ heros using Traktor.
They will come under fire, why put their reputations and millions at risk, when their CDJs are working perfectly fine. Yes you could offer the opinion that digital offers more creative potential, but lets face it, the guys have already sold out. Its usually the case that real ground breaking artists arnt appreciated until after their time. If you want to get PAID in your lifetime, then you got to play what people want to here, and do what people expect too see.
I believe thee guys will follow suit when some digi Dj’s start busting down thier door.
Fatboy Slim is a good example of that, was very anti-laptop in an interview a couple of years back, now spins on serato.
ok it’s basically the same as what he was doing (tt’s) but the technology is being used.
thinking about it maybe that’s the reason… if these guys are using 4 cdjs, why bother putting a timecode disc in each of them when they’ll be doing the same thing, just with the risk of laptop crashes?
Yeah but other concern is if the “Big, Big” names are using CDJ’s it sets the bar for what set up is used at events. During WMC ther are huge parties at both clubs and hotels, and in the majority of the vids that was the set up. So in essance if you get a gig there you need to comply with the set up or do some major rearranging. So another view point is — Big Name Dj’s use CDJ’s, Clubs/Hotels provide their set up, you must learn to use what the club/hotel has. It’s a vicious cycle, unless you’ve managed to break the mold and “make it”
Again I will tell you many of the big names are using Traktor (Cox, Dubfire, Hawtin, Loco Dice, the list goes on)… Most of the Carl Cox tent at Ultra last year was on Traktor… most of the parties I played last year at WMC many of the DJs were on Traktor. Most of the clubs I travel to now have plenty of space and lines already set up to plug traktor in… I wouldn’t base your concerns off of some videos you have seen…
TTs and CDJs are a staple they are standard !! if was not for them this whole midi thing would not be happening!
To even ask the question why do a big name Djs use Cdjs and not timecode / midi ect is well ? not hating but think about it abit you must be quite young
Also most BIG NAME djs are all OLD dudes they went out bought the Vinyl back in the day so Physical media is an Important factor !
I use a Laptop and Techs / Cdjs / DVS
BUT as much as it is great to have my whole Record collection on a HD I remember the time when I used to hunt down Vinyl and this is all lost now days
Music in the Digi world has what I call a 10 second value a hard to get tune on Vinyl back in the day was and still is priceless
I believe you man. I live down in Miami and went to many of the parties, but from what you’ve seen are folks using Traktor Pro with a few controllers or using Traktor Scratch with timecoded CDJ’s. I know times are shifting and house music is revolutionazing digital set ups – for the guys you saw using Traktor - what would the average set up look like?
More curious to know why they choose certain tools besides the obvious thats their preference. Would be good to hear other tips, size, space, functions, reliability, etc.
And by contrast — if you switch Genre’s and look at Hip Hop the majority of folks are scratching it up on Serato and almost all use DVS timecoded vinyl. But in contrast the house DJ’s I mentioned are using actual CD’s.
Only think I can think of is fear of a computer crashing — but as stated by LB above many big names are using Traktor.
I would think if the tool of preference was a CDJ1000 then why not use timecoded cd’s rather than having to lug around a huge CD case, much like hip hop dj’s don’t lug around crates of records any longer.
