Comments on: Real DJs use CD and NOT vinyl

By: a4

a4 — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:40:42 +0000

You have many good points. But I partly disagree with 7&8.

With digital formats, the majority of labels today order masters that are dynamically squish-compressed to hell and back, because “the kids like it”, “the music’s gonna end up on ipods anyway” and “it’s how the market works now”. In other words, since the loudness war has pushed things way too far, let’s participate by making our records sound even worse! Everyone does it anyway…

As vinyl has its limitations on loudness, the mastering engineer is forced to keep the percieved volume below world-domination-metallica level. If he/she doesn’t, the record won’t be playable because the needle will jump with every big transient (if there are any notable ones left).

As for the formats themselves, PCM (CD) definitely has the cleanest reproduction of sound. The sound can also be as squished and fucked up as you like, as long as you keep it under zero dBFSD. What people seem to give a shit about, though, is that when the loudness is pushed too far, it sounds worse. Much worse. Depending on how much you messed up the sound, a listener can grow ear-fatigue after less than one minute. On the contrary, a more dynamic record can be turned up (using the knob labeled “volume”), and sound bigger, punchier, and detailed instead of flat and distorted.

Excess use of soft clipping and brickwall-compression has a lot more negative impact on the sound than the vinyl’s high presence-compression + clicks & pops. The engineers probably compress the waves way further than the vinyl does anyway.

That’s why I vinyl – in many cases – still sounds better. The majority of labels and artists don’t give a shit about quality as long as the record sounds louder than their reference. IF they do start to care, though, CD has an amazing potential.

Think about it – do you want your listeners to turn the music up, or down?

See http://www.dynamicrange.de and http://turnmeup.org for examples.

By: JamieG

JamieG — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:21:27 +0000

Dude, maybe I should have said, People Use Digital Formats..
I am all for the performance. And I undertand what your on about. Tho I also do feel, you can perform on CDJ’s as well, and in some ways you get a more dynamic performance as you can do many more effects. (Apart fron scratching). Dropping in effect and other base lines. etc. All on the spot spontaneous stuff.
Stuff not possible in turntable world. (Well maybe with a sampler on the side)
Thats what I really appreciate in a DJ performer. Scratching is cool, but gets tired fast. Especially as its not the style I like. But I can appreciate it.
My beat mixing ability was very good and well, it was easy for me. So I don;t really see or appreciate simply beat mixing as a skill. When a DJ can keep everything tight in the beat mix AND also bring in other layers of beats. Now whats what I find amazing. Its super hard and only pure talent.

But at the end of the day, with the speed of internet distribution and easy to copy/pirate. Speed of getting tracks out and around the world. You cannot be playing anything super fresh on vinyl. And thats what a log of the top DJ’s are all about. So, apart from Final Scratch, turntables are out.

James

By: matt khadem

matt khadem — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:16:29 +0000

Ok you know my thoughts on the warm feeling of vinyl and i know yours. But what you dont know is that i use 2 turntables with Serato Scratch Live, time coded vinyl, mixer, and a laptop with nearly 15,000 mp3’s. I only throw and actual record on the deck when i’m scratching, other than that, i’m digital. I’m living proof that there are plenty of digital dj’s out there who have MOVED WITH THE TIMES but are still in love with vinyl for very valid reasons. The reason why i use serato instead of cdj’s is simple, people go nuts when they see a dj with two turntables rotating records (even if it is time coded). Why? because most young clubbers these days have never even seen a dj mixing with records/turntables. These days they go into a club and see loads of black boxes with buttons on and pioneer written in the corner, and they aint got a clue what the dj is doing other than pressing buttons, or in some horrible cases, using a mouse and keyboard. Lets not forget the visual stimulation/impression that vinyl and turntables offer the crowd, they can see the music, they can see the dj touch the music, they can see and in some cases understand what the dj is doing which sends an huge buzz through people in a rave and gets em going.
I’m sorry to say, if you look at dj’ing based on the fact/science, with no emotion, you must of been a pretty piss poor dj. I’m not the best dj in the world, but i love my music and people see that in me when i’m mixing, which means they love it to, and as far as they’re concerned at that moment, in that club, right there and then i’m the best fuc*in dj that ever lived!

I do agree with a lot things in your blog though dude, lol dont get it twisted, there is middle ground on this.

By: JamieG

JamieG — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:24:17 +0000

Vinyle “Sounds better” is an excuse by those who don’t understand the technology they are using.
I encourage you to listen to “Home Theatre Geeks” podcast on the Twit network where thy interview the pinnacle of sound recording and reproduction.
They unfortunately really dump on vinyle. Yes it has a certain sound. Something that COULD be reproduced digitally if you really want it.
Also consider, what you are hearing is not what the Master was recorded to. It is that which came from a digital master, the way the producer wanted it, then altered by the vinyl process. Altered in a way that is of less quality then a digital master.

Those who hold onto the vinyl dream, apart from the scratchers and real DJ performers that use vinyl as a performance characteristic of the set.. Are just holding onto old habits and trying NOT to change with the times.

As an X DJ that is computer science based.. I just see it for what it is. Removing all emotion and legacy issues.
James

By: matt khadem

matt khadem — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:48:01 +0000

I have a problem with item 7 & 8. With tyhe greatest respect in the world you clearly dont understand why dj’s say vinyl sounds better. We dont mean the quality of the track itself, of course, quality sounds better in a cd or on a digital basis rather than wax. But the reason vinyl sounds better is because it sounds WARMER. The poor sound quality of vinyl is what makes it so good to listen to! Warm, Crackly, Depth, Substance – This is the “sound quality” vinyl gives you and you simply cant get that with other formats.