Is high tech killing the art of Spinning?

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Mr.Chris

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Okay How many people have switched over to CD turn tables from wax?.Do you realize that all you need is a program like final scratch or OTS jukebox and you can jam like us PRO's.Heck Im sure that you can take an ipod hook it up to your Cd turntable and store/download your songs for your next gig.Really how many of us are still buying wax when all you have to do is download from any of these file sharing sites..(you know late for that next gig/damn The record store closed!!) How easy has it become and is'nt everybody tryin to spin? Mixtape what an Over rated term!! One Of the good things is if you dont have doubles of records all you need to do is burn copies and walla!! there you have it static and all LOL..Cool for those hard to find 45's, breakbeats, and hiphop vocals if you're producing.. What do you think?
 
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I try to embrace all new technology but mp3s still sound like a$$. I wouldn't play an MP3 in a larger venue.
 
In my own opinion, I think vinyl has still a ways to go before it is ultimatly consumed by technology. Scratch DJs might not ever give it up, but thats not saying there will be new alternatives either. Most people are still holding onto vinyl not because of tradition, but because of the arts of beatmatching an other skills that a DJ must learn through vinyl only. I personally think ever DJ should know how to beatmatch naturally, and this is a skill you must possess to be a good DJ. You cannot gain this skill through BPM counters and technology help.

A lot of the professionals such as Sasha and Zabeila and etc are getting into the new stuff because they can already beatmatch instinctivly and can use the technology to be far more creative in their mixes and sets. Its probably a lot more fun for them that way. I dont have any problem with that, but they did start with vinyl, so that should be a good enough example.

As far as prices go, when you can download songs and put them on CD for very very cheap, that way outcosts the expenses of vinyl. Even record companies these days are comming out with single CDs and mimicking the vinyl they make as well.

I believe DJ vinyl is in its prime right now. Maybe it has peaked already, but I doubt vinyl will stop being made in the next 15 years. However, CDs and MP3s are taking over at the moment and it would be safe to go ahead and start investing in that. But at the rate technology is going, CDs could become obsolete in the next 10 years as well, and maybe even MP3s (though I doubt it). As far as vinyl is concerned, I have fear, but ill keep on collecting.

I dont think the new technology is killing the art of spinning, but making it more available and easier for new and older DJs.
 
"I dont think the new technology is killing the art of spinning, but making it more available and easier for new and older DJs"

You hit it right on the head there - new and old(ish) I am, and CDJ's have allowed me a way into something I've been wanting to do for years!
 
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Just because new technology is out does not mean they can rock it like pros. A kid might get his or her hands on final scratch but can't beatmatch and has to learn the ropes like the rest of us. Mixing comes down to mixing songs. And a CDJ does not make it any easier (or final scratch for that matter). DJs should know that.
 
to continue on what everyone else has replied with, i think that all the core skills it takes to be a professional DJ are things that cannot be bought, like: beatmixing, harmonic mixing, track selection, record / CD collection, ability to work the crowd, set structure, timing, and tricks.

modern technology makes some tricks a lot easier thanks to sampling, digital crossfaders, and FX. it also can make aquiring and playing out music a lot cheaper and easier (thanks to mp3's and other digital file formats). and, it can also make remixing songs easier as well.

however, I don't see the current crop of DJ equipment making it any easier to develop the basic skill set needed to be a pro. those abilities still come from the DJ him/herself, and not their equipment.

-sim*n
 
I think the one key downside(in my opinion) to the technology is how it has taken away some of the tactile feel of spinning. You just don't have as much physical involvement with getting the beat matching correct or scratching.

Fortunately some of the companies have become aware of what these new cd decks were lacking for some DJs and started making them more like the turntable to bring that feel back.

For some DJs I'm sure this is a waste of time because they like the way their cd deck is...maybe they don't scratch....I dunno...could be many reasons. But for the other guy...that likes to put his hands on a spinning platter this makes a difference. :)
 
Another part of the new technology that I and everyone else forgot is stuff we kinda take for garnted these days.

Going off from CDs and stuff like that.

New tonearms and cartridges, speakers, turntables, mixers etc, they are all being upgraded all the time for the better of the DJ. Imagine if we were all still using Bozaks today. An excellent mixer for mixing, but as far as scratching goes, more and more endless possiblities to choose from now. All this stuff is helping the art of DJing expand into tons of new possibilities..

But now, back to CDs... ;)
 
Wow, you pointed out something that I never thought of before.

Just because some of the equipment back in the day is awesome and irreplaceable...that doesn't mean that innovation isn't needed.

Because if you ask 10 people how to do a complex task...Each one will have their own way of completing it. :)
 
I don't know how many of you have tried the new cdx, but man I would have to say that thing feals a lot like a real turntables with some built in effects, and don't have to worry about a needle, I really don't know what the real problem is, you still have to match the beat with the other table the same way as you would with a turntable, and can spin the record the same way.
I don't know if I would say there is that much of a diffrence between a MP3 and Record I have had songs on both and played them side by side to see if I could hear any diffrences and I really couldn't, not sure maybe this differs with diffent songs though.
Right now I use a laptop and turntables and is a lot of fun, can use the laptop for beats to play behind songs or whatever, and I wouldn't say it is any easier to mix my turntable with my laptop than mixing my 2 turntables, in a way a little harder.
 
Some of the new equipment does make it easier for a beginner to get up to speed. Take this setup for example:
  • 2 x Pioneer CDJ1000
  • any mixer

Have the n00b play a track on deck 1 & note the BPM on the CDJ display. Tell him to hit play on deck 2, then adjust the slider till the BPM reading matches. Thanks to the magic of auto-cue, all he has to do now is hit play on the downbeat. Might not be perfectly matched, but it's enough for him to do a quick crossfade smoothly enough.... a lot more smoothly than most of us our first time out.

Then there are the programs like Traktor that will beat-sync two songs within a fraction of a second, and they will never drift.

Good, bad, irrelevant... who knows. I prefer to build on a solid foundation, which to me means knowing how to do it all the old-school way. Is a CDJ in my future? Definitely maybe.

In the end, I stand by this viewpoint: If you can rock the house, you can rock the house.
 
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Viper983 said:
I don't know if I would say there is that much of a diffrence between a MP3 and Record I have had songs on both and played them side by side to see if I could hear any diffrences and I really couldn't, not sure maybe this differs with diffent songs though.
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Click to expand...

huge difference in a large system, the MP3s (***edit MP3s not burned ontop audio format -- files, via ipod, RIO, etc) definitely lack depth -- I can also hear this when playing on my altecs, it does help to double up the signal -- IE run the MP3 into mulitple channels and crank it -- but i dont think solutions like that are suitable for live play.....


my .02
 
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WinAmp??? Please don't tell me that you set up your songs in winamp and enable that corny crossfader to switch between tracks. :) It's cool for when you are at home, but not for a party.
 
Of course the new technology helps us, but thats besides the point. Its killing the art. The art is to be able to do it on your own, to practice and learn it for yourself. Not let a computer do it for you. BPM counters or programs that beatmatch on their own are yes, killing the art.

Helping the DJ, but also not helping him.
 
What we forget is that as DJs we're there to give people a nice vibe, a good time and hopefully enlighten them to some music they may never have heard otherwise. Therefore, the songs you play and the order in which you play them was, is and should always be number one. Whatever format you choose for playback is of less importance. Whatever techniques you use are of less importance. Sure, be technically apt and fluid is never a bad thing, but the music is going to have to come first.

No one wants to dance to someone who switches tracks every 20 seconds, constantly drains them in echo and filtering, and clutters each break full of processed samples. Dancers want tunes, not some egotistic moron who brings in 4 turntables, 3 CDs, 2 laptops, 3 samplers and 19 FX units and feels the urge to use all of that constantly.

However, a sample here and there, an accapella mixed in, and a little FX to hype the crowd from time to time is cool. As long as it's not overkill.
 
Great thanks for posting you guys have good points of views. I just think that you have to know the basics and we can take it back to them Gerrads and BIC's!! To me It dosent matter what you use it's all about how you use them. im not saying im willing to use B101's LOL but if I had to I guess I would. I remember a time when not every dj could afford 1200's and you just rocked off what ever you had!! I still have 1800's and every now and then I break them out just to confuse some younger catts LOL. The Technology wont really help you unless you have personality/ability!! A machine cant teach you that!! However it does make it easy to match up tempos..with that said let me just say that being a DJ your ears are the most valuable peice of equipment you will ever own and the ability to know tempos is to know MUSIC meaning if you put on say (cheryl Lynn's) to be real you should be able to identify within seconds how many songs you can mix with that.. Im not sure if they have that type of tech yet but im sure its coming.The ability to see and select songs that match? maybe I don't know but there is nothing like knowledge and showmanship when it comes to spinning. as far as so called mix tapes go Unless your crowd is into that I hate to hear songs just slammed together with a bomb effect to disguise the fact that the dj cant blend!!! Where has the art of mixing gone???? Oh sorry thats another thread LOL but I can Hardly contain myself..As a owner of 30,000 plus records 45's,LP's 78's cardboard(cut outs) form cereal boxes (the 70's) hahaha I will never give wax up but again with the S5000's those joints are really close to having turntables!! The scratchin/backspinning is very realistic!!I find myself not using some of those other functions although they are really cool.Archiving my collection seems to be the only problem LOL I start out then play some crash crew or linda jones and im done!! by then I just want to listen to records Being a dj(by default) Im a rapper!! what!! it was a natural progression LOL being able to leave the crates home is the bomb and I do know that record crates are a staple in the dj's diet but you cant front on collecting your money(hopefully half up front-from your contract, you guy's are using contracts are'nt you??) and being some what the first one out is no joke!! For me the coolest part about the Cd turntables is recording my vocals burning them and then being able to scratch my own voice on my tracks as oppossed to sampling someone else!! Now how cool is that?
 
I don't know, man. Deflation's point about losing the art just doesn't fly with me.

I understand where you're coming from.
Things are getting easier for dj's, but as new techniques evolve...from those new technologies there will be more techniques to master.

It will be a sad time for those that will look back and remember when the old techniques were the ones to master.
But that's just part of the evolution of the technology.

I mean, for example, telegraph is something that not everyone could do when it was in it's prime waaaay back...but it was necessary for communication.....

.....but look at telephones....wow...so much easier and you can even talk to the person and hear their voice.

Okay....so it's not the greatest analogy...but I think my point is understood. It WILL suck when those things on vinyl turntables that we equate to technique are lost...

...but then someday someone somewhere will be talking to a friend and saying how it's sad that no one learns how to master the techniques of cd anymore.:D



It's a cyclical thing...but most importantly(at least for me) dj'ing stays alive. :)
 
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First time posting.... And it's a little disturbing that it is to a post like this one. Next watch out for me to jump into the Tech vs. all others war. lol.

Anyways.

I was thinking about this debate this past weekend and I came up with what I think was a pretty good comparison.
Think of vinyl the same way you think of books.
They have come up with new ways to give you the same thing a book has. Take a few novels in your Palm Pilot. Download a book and read in in adobe. Hell... listen to a book on tape. Yes. All of these mediums are better in one way or another. But they don't replace the feel of that hardcover. Books have character. The sound the paper makes as you turn the page. The appeal of a nice mahogany bookshelf FILLED with great old books.
Records appeal to me in the same way. They have character. They have a unique feel, sound, look.
Yup. People may use other mediums. They may sound amazing and give the user the ability to do new things. But I truly don't believe that vinyl will go away.
It's what I call "timeless".

Just my crappy two cents.

peace
 
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