Questions to DJs?

[gaarth]

I really like listening to music and from time to time friends ask me to dj or whatever you call it. I have to admit I don' t know how to do it. I just push the lever from one side to the other. How do you guys make the fades so smooth as if it is only one song? Do you need a special mixer? I have seen some mixers have rotary buttons whereas the common mixers have levers. Are there any good websites/magazines where I can read more about dj-ing or do you just learn by doing?

Why do DJs still use turntables at the clubs? The sound quality is not so good, it is difficult to find the tracks and you have to handle them with care.

There is a cool software which imitates the Denon 2000 professional double-CD-player. It is called BPM Studio (latest Version is 3.2). This is a cool program for people like me. You just make a playlist and the software makes the rest. It even fades one song into anotherr. It doesn' t sound like a professional DJ, but it is better than some hobby DJs can do.

 

[Viper Frag]

Where's MaxFPS when you need him.

 

[bigvince]

well that all depends on what your doing if your just trying to get one song to fade into another then thats not djing thats just playing music DJ ing is realy the art of synchronizing diffrent beats so that they sound like one contiguous sound ... dj's use turntables instead of cd's beacause you can't pull a cd back and forth makeing the sound change or scratch it. and realy it sounds like you need a lesson in the ways of hiphop.

 

[gaarth]

bigvince,

I never claimed that what I am doing is dj-ing. I just listen to music. I started this thread to get into "the art of synchronizing different beats".

I am still not convinced about the need of turntables. First of all there are more music styles than only hip hop (I like Hip Hop). I have never heard that techno or house DJs scratch. Possibly because I seldom go to these kind of clubs. Furthermore I have seen one cd-player which allows you to scratch. I think it is made by Pioneer.

 

[GL]

gaarth,

Techno/Rave/Dance and all the rest of the genres use turntables too. It's not just about scratching...you have to synch up the two songs and match the BPMs and stuff if I'm not mistaken. There are CD turntables but they sound artificial and most DJs don't like the artificial feel or sound they produce.

-GL

 

[bigvince]

hey if you know where i can get that cd player that would be cool and while some techno and rave DJ's do scratch it's usually to evoke a hiphop type sound (kindoflikecrossingoverinentertainment) usualy there experimenting with diffrent sounds mosty synth any way my point is that scratching and mixing orriginated in hiphop and any other use is realy a copy

 

[yakko]

If you can find me one cd player that lets you see the grooves on the track so you know when the breaks are coming up I will buy it.Until then I am sticking with my Technics 1210 mkIIs.

Most DJs prefer the turntables because it is a lot easier to do more creative mix styles with them.

As far a cd players that allow you to scratch there is more than one but none of them sound like real scratching.

 

[gaarth]

GL,

yeah I know that techno/house DJs use turntables, too. Just did not understand why. I thought that synch up two songs is just slowing down or speeding up the song a bit. I have seen these levers on the Technics 1210 MKIIS and on the Denon 2000. It seems as if there is no equivalent CD-solution out there.

bigvince,

sorry, don' t know an e-tailor. I live in Germany and I have seen it a long time ago (5 years?!). The first time I spotted it in a music magazine. Later I have seen it in two other stores, but I don' t think they still sell it. You should look into a music magazine, which reviews music equipment.

Hey, right now I am listening to a german black music station. Now they are doing what I want to learn. I think they will stop mixing in 20 minutes. You can listen to it over the internet (http://mp3.jamfm.de:8000/live).

 

[gaarth]

Yakko,

I didn' t know you can see the grooves on the LP. I think I heard of it, but I can hardly believe it. I have always just seen rills.

It shouldn' t be that difficult to write a program which shows you the breaks. Every CD-recording software can display the frequency of the song. It just needs someone to do it. At least I think so - I don' t know anything about programming, too. Maybe one day BPM Studio has this ability. They say the software is tested and developped with the help of real DJs.


For all of you who haven' t understood the talk, I just want to tell you the most important messages. Every Tuesday they want to mix from 9 to 10 pm and 11 to 12 pm (central european time = CET). Now it is midnight and the girl you heard has taken over. No mixing!

 

[KidViciou$]

ok, what you want to know is how to mix, practice is the only way to "learn" how to mix. we use turntables mainly because of control over the music, and i think it is a HELL of a lot easier to mix records than cds. i am a turntablist so i do tricks on the turntables that cannot be done on the cd players. finding new records isnt hard at all, just expensive

if you just want ot mix songs for a cd that you will burn, just use software. if you want to make professional sounding cds, then just buy a mixer, you can find fairly good ones for 100 and make sure you have two cd players. then you can feed the output to tape or back to your ocmputer as a file.

 

[yakko]

gaarth,

Ok so maybe groove is the wrong word but you'll understand what I mean if you play one while watching it closely.KidViciou$ is right though records are a whole lot easier to control than cds and you can do a lot more with records than you can with cds.

 

[apoppin]

I was a radio DJ in Hawaii (KDEO FM - Radio Free Hawaii) and also did some DJ'ing for parties.

The turntable generally gives better control than the CD. You can use your hand to slow the record, scratch or whatever. However, there are some very sophisticated CD players that give some major control over the the music including pitch.

Instead of just switching from one record to another, the beats are mixed. You can listen on headphones to the record that has been cued up and match the beat to the one that is playing. A mixer is used so the volume on one record is brought down while the other comes up.

With an LP record you can see the end of the record. A CD player will also have a countdown timer.
It just takes lots of practice. Notice on the radio, often the Station ID fills in between the records so there is no gap. This is not possible at a club when people are dancing.

 

[apoppin]

I guess I missed part of your questions, gaarth.

For minimum party DJ equipment, you need two turntables with pitch control (direct drive is essential). 2 Phono Cartridges (& back up stylus) that will allow scratching against the record (the Pro Stantons were best but the really cheap conical diamond Grados will do). A mixer with two phono inputs and a CD and/or cassette input (in case a turntable fails) and a microphone or two that plugs into your mixer (for when you screw up or need to announce) as well as a headphone plug and headphones. You may also need amps and speakers.

Go to clubs and watch the DJs, Then practice mixing beats and record your live sessions and be critical. Develop your own style.

 

[KidViciou$]

you know, in about 2 years of on and off djing, i have NEVER popped a needle ONCE!!! this is under heavy scratching also. guess stanton made the perfect stylus with these two

 

[apoppin]

It DOES happen, rarely. Sometimes you get a defective stylus; it pays to have an extra one just in case.

And those Stantons are tough. Not the best sound, but tough. Conical Diamonds are not idea for sound reproduction. However, elliptical ones will also tear up the record groves when it is forced to go backwards.

A record collection is the DJs biggest investment (usually).

 

Vinyl sounds better, is easier to manipulate and is most sexy by far.
Most clubs that want cheesy dance will have cd players. Becasue the masses dont know what mixing really is, nor understand it. Vinyl is very expesive, because its an addiction.
1200s are the standard for decks. Manual, direct drive, pitch -/+8.
Cds in my opinion are just whack, no tricks, no pullback, nuffin.
Vinyl is superior in all ways, except size.

 

[yakko]

Here is a good list of reason's why DJ's prefer vinyl over cds.
http://vinyljunk.tripod.com/cdvsvinyl.html

The one they missed is that when you show up to a gig nobody wants to carry your cds for you but you always have somebody who wants to carry your crates for you.

 

[KidViciou$]

i wish i had a record burner

 

[yakko]

KidViciou$,

I would love to have one too but they are waaaaaay to expensive.The ability to press up my on record of samples to throw in a mix instead of digging out 20 plus records that you need for about 30 seconds each.

 

[apoppin]

Actully, yakko, they didn't miss the one about everyone wanting to help carry the crates. A phenomenon noted worldwide.

However, I'd like to add to hiding your face with the LP. You're still are able to see the ugly girl thru the hole in the center (while hidden). Not possible with a CD.

Records sound so much better than CDs on quality audio equipment.


d.j.s (Sublime)

 

[Warrenton]

I bet with touch screens and a computer with a fast CD drive for ripping, and some good software, you could do everything except scratching. I mean we can digitally alter speed and pitch on the fly now, and it sounds good.

Anyone care to flame my ass?

 

[KidViciou$]

yes, i would like to douse you with gasoline

 

[yakko]

apoppin,

You're right I though they had it on there but for some reason I missed it.

Warrenton,

Flame your own ass.I only stick to women.

 

[apoppin]

It is possible now, Warrenton. However, playing with records is a creative interaction with the dancers akin to playing a musical instrument.

Using a computer and CDs loses 'life' or 'feeling' somehow. There is something about being able to react instantly to your audience that the LP allows that the CDs and a computer just cannot match (yet).

The very best club d.j.s use vinyl. Someday this may change.

EDIT: LPs SOUND better than CDs. We have given up much for convenience, long life and scratch, hiss, crackle and pop free

 

[KidViciou$]

yakko,

how long you been spinning?