Comments on: Real DJs use CD and NOT vinyl

By: LombardoR

LombardoR — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:07:30 +0000

My personal take on all this argument goes like this:

It’s quite a double-edged sword. Being that I AM a vinyl junkie/aficionado and do take on playing with CDs as second choice, there will unquestionably be zillions of pros and cons to these points. Based on my experience and choice, this is the reason why I ever bought a Serato or Traktor in the first place…to be able to reproduce all my freshly-acquired new music on the spot using vinyl or CDs, even if it’s time-coded media. Those two formats bring forth the performance factor out of any self-respecting professional DJ. Admitting to being a vinyl-lover, but both softwares sure beat the hell out of carrying 80-100 vinyls in a record bag that only leave callouses on my fingers, and most likely you won’t play nearly half the records in your bag that night. What I consider to be TRULY unforgiveable is the whole MIDI-controller b.s., which is a mayor disappointment considering most world-reknowned top DJs are just running around with a laptop and a midi controller…that to me is a mayor copout. Also, for those cats who have a problem taking their eyes off a laptop screen, two things: 1) even before laptops came into the game you NEVER depended on a computer screen to see what you’re playing…I’m sure you can do fine ungluing your eyes off the screen, and 2) exactly that…are you playing to a goddamn laptop screen? hello…there are PEOPLE dancing in front of you, LOOK AT THEM!!! Give THEM the performance of your life. You can’t get that musicianship just pressing on a couple of buttons and let your laptop do ALL your work for you. So all the years you put in busting your ass beatmatching and blending and scratching and everything else that comes about…are you just gonna ditch it all to the bay on account of extreme commodity? Oh please…I’m a REAL DJ, not a f***ing human iPod.
This debate is almost like the abortion issues…ongoing without end. But that’s just my two-cents I wanted to contribute to this . Peace out and greeting from Dominican Republic!

By: JamieG

JamieG — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:55:38 +0000

True-ish, but unfortunately, DJ, being the base from which all this has grown, even tho could be seen to mean something more concise, is used as an umbrella word to mean one tho plays tracks be it on vinyl, CD, Tape, digital playback system.

By: wiselies

wiselies — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:06:25 +0000

DJ means disc jockey. CD’s don’t count because they weren’t invented yet. The term for anyone who doesn’t use vinyl is a BJ or bit jockey. If you don’t jockey discs then you are not a DJ. That’s like calling all this rap garbage hip-hop. Things are what they are. When they evolve its like pokemon, they get a new name.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:06:59 +0000

I have to say.. there are still people who do indeed care about what the DJ is doing up there. The entire process of mixing from one record into the next, lining it up, making sure it’s perfect, then dropping it, I used to get up next to the DJ along with many others and watch it happen.. I used to live for that shit when i was partying back in the day. Of course yeah, in this day and age, no one really gives a shit what the DJ is doing as long as there’s music, so in that retrospect it can be argued that using vinyl is a dead art. I could pop in my favorite cd of whatever genre and play it all the way through, and people could love it cuz it’s music. Bottom line, DJing has its roots in vinyl, and you have to respect that. It has nothing to do with not “keeping up with the times” or anything like that, it’s just staying true to the art in that perspective.

By: JamieG

JamieG — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:33:45 +0000

I agree with you that Analog has a performance feel to it you cannot really duplicate with digital.
I like to think of it like..
Acoustic performances compared to those using drum machines etc.
Many people love Acoustic, but MUCH MORE love performances mixed with digital tools.

And I put your argument in this basket. This is not to say I am putting you down, to the opposite. I am just pointing out that the main stream bigger acts. “ARE NOT USING VINYL”
Your argument about bringing 96KhZ content is a good one but for the fact they all play on CD-J 44 or 48kHz. Unless the newer units can now also play 96kHz flac or uncompressed files.
I’m not JDing anymore and am busy running a company. So I am completely out of the loop these days.

James

By: fen

fen — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:26:57 +0000

I’ve spent some time with mp3/USB interface, then CDJ’s, and now vinyl. I’ll keep using vinyl because I actually play better sets since. I think this is the most important thing : everyone should use what makes them play the best music.

Anyway I do not agree to all your points.
1. Yes it costs a lot. And it make me think twice before buying any record. Thus, my vinyl record collection contains only tunes I really love. Why is it important ? Because I can put any random plate out of my crate, it’ll rock the place. Try this with your 180Gb 320k collection, at least it didn’t work for me (at all).
2. True. But I’ve got muscles. Everyone does.
3. I order my records online, there’s no vinyl shop around my place and a load online, shipping worldwide, so this ain’t an argument at all.
4. True.
5. As I said, anyone can buy records online, vinyl or digital does not make any difference.
6. True.
7. Partly false. Most professional producers work at 96kHz if not 192kHz, then downrate the master to fit with CD’s 44.1kHz standard. Any decent digital sound interface works at least at 96kHz.
So If you take a 192kHz tune and put it on vinyl, you’ll hear a 192kHz sound which is better than a CD, indeed. What’s the actual consequence of this ? A 192kHz sampled sound proves to have more accuracy and harmonics in the high frequency range than a 44.1 one. At loud volumes a 44.1kHz sound will sound more agressive/metallic. But well, this is a really tiny difference that needs well-trained ears to get, or a very very loud sound system (which itself could become a problem with vinyls).
8. Like I said a good 192kHz production proves to have more accuracy and harmonics in the high frequency range on a vinyl than on a CD.
What’s true is that bass feedback often occurs with turntables, and that’s a real pain but there are ways to handle this.

Anyway being a musician before being a DJ, I’m used to have a very short path between my finger and the sound. Vinyl provides this, I’m just more comfortable with TTs.

So why not use Serato-likes ? Well I tried it, but having a computer on stages just makes me look like an hypnotized geek, I can’t get my eyes out of the screen, so I got rid of the screen

Last thing, my experience shows I’m having a lot more success with girls since I’ve sold my CDJs for a pair of mkII. There’s no way this could be an argument, but well… it happened.

By: JamieG

JamieG — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:22:31 +0000

I agree with you, but the truth is that if your an up-front DJ (Playing the newest tracks) . It is only via playing MP3/WAV files are you able to keep fresh. By the time they hit vinyl, if they ever do, they have been played all over the world by DJ’s who are willing to play CD or other digital formats.

And being all about the music, how I feel, vinyl, or digital, it does not really matter. turntables or CDj’s they are notheing but tools like hammer and screwdriver. People who go on about what tools they use do not have the right spirit if you ask me.

By: jjj

jjj — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:17:06 +0000

I’m Play Old skhool(disco/funk/hip hop)
I still use records.I love records love jacket .it all about personal choice..I love spend money on records. something special..No matter what you use cd or record. Whatever happy with.I’m not against people use cd ..who cares..It all about musik….

By: JamieG

JamieG — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:44:09 +0000

Beatmixing IS a skill, its just not a skill that matters anymore. The CD and computer based tools do it all for you.
The issue here is that those who allow themselves to go beyond the limitations of vinyl also allow their creative skills to also go beyond those limitations too.. Ie you can do everything you can do on vinyl on CD-J’s but also a lot more.
In this age of competitiveness, of course any DJ wanting to shine more then the rest will take any advantage they can.

If you stay with vinyl, your staying behind.

I’m just being realistic here.
James

By: Victor Valadjo

Victor Valadjo — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:39:00 +0000

Here we go again! Beatmatching is not DJ-ing.
To use some words from Steve Angello:
“My grandma can be thougth how she has to beatmatch, but that doesn’t make her a DJ who can play for thousands of people…..”

Beatmatching is not a skill…..!
(Having a feeling for rhythm is not a skill; if someone does not have a feeling for rhythm like dancing; he or she would never become a DJ)

grtz,

Victor Valadjo