Comments on: Microwave DJs

By: nan

nan — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:42:19 +0000

technology has a basic purpose… make things easier, faster, and better. If you consider other careers oustside djing or making music, like for example a Doctor or Dentist. There are old school ones, that will only keep up with the necessary things, but will continue with their old school technics to heal others, and might be considered the best. But there will be others that will get deeply into the new technologies and apply them to become most likely better than the old school ones, maybe not using the same technics and procedures, but excelling on their own, continuing to heal others in an easier, faster, and better way. I think so will dj’s, only making others stay on the dance floor through the whole gig in an easier, faster and better way… Maybe not exactly now, but it will happen soon enough.

By: chromeclone

chromeclone — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:48:16 +0000

The on going discussion about “The Old Way” Vs “The New Way” in music has been going on since the 1950’s.
If we “look to the past we can see the future”.
Allow me to elaborate, when the electric guitar starting appearing in music the musicians like it because it sounded different and was easier to play than the acoustic guitar. Purist hated it period (I’m sure they felt threatened).
People use technology to make life easier.
If you want to be a great guitarist and not play in cover bands, you start on the acoustic and then graduate to electric. This is so that you learn tonality, pitch, etc. If you start on the electric guitar you can miss these values of music (usually because they are covered by effects loudness, etc.).
DJing is similar to this in that Digital DJing can be instantly gratifying if you jump into the PC and let it do all the work, but the experience of DJing is somewhat muted. DJing is about listening to the music, not necessarily the song (I don’t know many right words to songs, ask my wife).
In the DNB/Jungle scene they treasure turntables because vinyl is more rare and “underground” like their genre.
I am sure that is why vinyl hasn’t totally died out; there is something to vinyl….LEGACY.
I personally use CDs in Mobile DJing, but love scratching and MIDI is awesome. Embrace them all for diversity!
Oh yeah, don’t check your e-mail or IM while DJing, It’s a performance.
Don?t be a tool, interact with your audience.

By: Ean G.

Ean G. — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:57:05 +0000

wowzers. i think that guy needs to read dj tech tools. Well, at least he is enthusiastic. Toooo funny.

By: kidfromkibbly

kidfromkibbly — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:32:26 +0000

Ha; seeing as Ean is everything that is right with the digital DJ’ing scene, I thought a good comparison was in order - so ladies and gentlemen, I give you the worst abuse of a VCI I have yet seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZGH2DT67tA

By: Matt Holden

Matt Holden — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:28:10 +0000

its hard to fully agree with either side of this argument, i only started Digital Djing about 3 months ago and i love it, being able to easly find and practice with tracks is liberating and the amount of gear you need to carry now is also extremely attractive.

when i was 15 about 6 years ago i got myself 2 turntables and tried to learn how to dj, i couldn?t afford to keep buying vinyls so eventually had to sell them, i didnt think i learnt much from this, however looking back on it, i learnt a hell of alot from those early years of just playing with vinyl, just spending some quality time trying to listen to beats and is extremely rewarding (even if you dont know it at the time)

The fact i learnt about beats is what spurned me onto learning drums just after i sold my decks. Ive been playing drums ever since in various bands etc however im back into djing.

Now i admit i could be called a microwave dj, i use traktor and guilty of using sync one to many times, however after reading this post i have vowed to stop and just go back to the basics. I think it is key to learn these basics but i really really hate elitist dj’s who look down on people who use digital technology, not everyone can afford to go out and buy turntables and if they can most cant afford to buy enough records to practice on. So with digital technology people no have the ability to access unlimited tracks to practice with however i stress you gota PRACTICE with these and take advantage of all the tunes available to you.

anyway, ive said my piece lol. Good luck from microwave to another.

By: Fatlimey

Fatlimey — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:17:25 +0000

Couldn’t give a monkey’s what gear or sources a DJ uses to mix their sounds - I’ve seen DJ Surgeon in his bedsit (went to University together) do an ambient mix off tape loops and an analog echo box plugged into nothing but itself. Talent will out whatever equipment is used - it’s all about the _music_ and the _journey_. Nothing else matters. “Journeys by DJ” was the inspirational CD series that introduced the concept to me wayback.

Then there are producers performing live who mix sounds in ways I can’t fathom how they do it - The Orb touring with their enormous Sound archives and expansive vision of what works together, Sasha deconstructing tracks at home and reintegrating them in the club with seeming direct control from his brain to his gear.

These people inspire me to always do better, to find that hidden loop deep in an outro, restructure that track to tell *my* story, add that missing bassline, break or accapella that pushes the mix over the edge.
Controllerism is just the start, a more direct way to insert your creativity into the mix. The creativity still has to be earned through practice and dedication, and the journey doesn’t come from the tracks you sequence, it comes from the DJ you are.

By: Jens Paul Malone

Jens Paul Malone — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:48:46 +0000

joe, the xponent is ok but the vci is much better (build quality, layout, jogs, community support etc.), and traktor is better than torq.

i suggest you get the vci-100 and a echo audiofire 2 (maya44 is outdated).

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:16:35 +0000

Thanks for the article. Myself, I have to agree with everything that was said on this article. The technology that it is out today is great, but people need to have limitations, adopt the technology and actually take the time to learn their craft. I’ve been to several clubs and I’ve seeing Dj’s that have all of the technology in their disposal to have a kick ass set, but in return don’t have the basic knowledge on how to even scratch properly let along transition from one song to another (which sounds horrible). Even worse, you have new or establish Dj’s out there that have all of the elements or techniques for a great set, but the music selection is too out there that it takes away from the techniques that the DJ has to offer (Play that funky music white boy at a college night??? What the hell!!!!!). Like drinking responsibly, Dj’s got it Dj responsibly too.