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Is Laptop Djing Really Djing?

Im still on the fence regarding this subject.

You can do a lot of amazing things with Ableton, but in the end is it really Djing?

Is it right to do in a club??


Thoughts??

(My first official Thread.... )

Yes it is, because ultimately DJing is creating unique atmosphere through original track selection - and not just the motor skill of beatmatching. However that conclusion is reached (at least from the audience's perspective) should be irrelavent. Five years from now it will all be lap tops.

quote:

Originally posted by Hypersky Five years from now it will all be lap tops.

I'm not sure about that cuz I dont think the vinyl format and cd format will go away completely. There will always be some sort of market for vinyl for all the vinyl purist and people who cannot get digital masters of tracks on CDR.

As far as what is DJing, I dont think it has anything to do with format such as vinyl, cdr, laptop. I think the defination of DJing has to do with presence, sound, ability to be unique and create whatever atmosphere/feel the situation calls for. I find it funny when people think they are more of a DJ simply cuz they spin vinyl. If you look at the trends, hardly any of the top producers spin vinyl, if not 100% CDR, more like 80%.

I think DJ's that perform in club have a responsibility to interact with the club goers. I was very disappointed to see G&D use ableton and josh was zoned in to the screen. BT came out and he rocked the crowd and used ableton bundled with OZone I believe. So it just kind of depends on how DJ's use it. When Above and Beyond was here last week I asked them about ableton and they said they have only used it 3 times for shows but wont use it anymore cuz it doesn't look cool and takes the fun out of mixing sometimes. They are simply using only for CD compilations now for obvious reasons.

So to answer your question, yes, playing a laptop is still DJing. Is it cool?? I dunno about that.....

Absolutly yes.

yes i see the future is going to be mainly computer based....there will always be those who will stick to the old school....but o\if u want to be succesful u have to go with time my friends....cant always dwell in the past!

A lot of the people I know who use laptops to DJ and don't cheat (if possible) say in some ways, it's actually more difficult to DJ with a laptop than vinyl or CDs, but I personally dunno since I haven't DJed but once since 1999....when I was at a house party and the Dj got too drunk to continue and so I had to DJ using some cheap ass CDDJ system and all the tracks the dude had were Carl Cox and Metallica...was weird,

I guess i would have to say yes.... but BT has to get better at it!

Yes. Anyone can beatmatch.

quote:

Originally posted by Clovis86 Yes. Anyone can beatmatch.

Tiesto and Acosta?

quote:

Originally posted by Electrophile Tiesto and Acosta?

They aren't DJs. In the UK they're refered to as "Muppets"

quote:

Originally posted by Electrophile Tiesto and Acosta?

Tiesto did beatmatch...in 2001, lol hope that still counts

no, after watching g&d dj on their laptop i actually hate them mixing now, they gave no energy to the mix and both looked bored as hell, no one was dancing because of the lack of energy or atmosphere from them!

and every other dj i have seen dj from laptop has never given as much energy, and lets face it, if i wanted to see someone click a trackpad or mouse for 2 hours id go to an internet cafe!

sorry but laptop djing is pathetic, IF it has to be used why use it for a whole set? why not use it as a deck a part of the setup not the whole setup!!

anyways enough of my ranting

Nick T

quote:

Originally posted by Mechgear no, after watching g&d dj on their laptop i actually hate them mixing now, they gave no energy to the mix and both looked bored as hell, no one was dancing because of the lack of energy or atmosphere from them! and every other dj i have seen dj from laptop has never given as much energy, and lets face it, if i wanted to see someone click a trackpad or mouse for 2 hours id go to an internet cafe! sorry but laptop djing is pathetic, IF it has to be used why use it for a whole set? why not use it as a deck a part of the setup not the whole setup!! anyways enough of my ranting Nick T

You havn't seen James Zabiela or Tania Mann huh...

here was me thinkin james used cdj's more than laptop

Nevermind tho

quote:

Originally posted by Mechgear here was me thinkin james used cdj's more than laptop Nevermind tho

He uses both. And I have seen DJ's look stone cold behind decks too...that doesnt make a difference.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Xtracktor Tiesto did beatmatch...in 2001, lol hope that still counts

lol i <3 vinyl

Look similar debates take place everytime new technology gets released. I bought my CDJs in 2000 and got some weird looks from people when I showed up at shows wanting them plugged in and space made for them (along with my Korg Chaos Pad lol).

The arguement at the time was 'Yes, but with CDs you just don't have that hands on feel that you do with vinyl'. My response was - Who Cares ? As long as the music connects with the audience. And so I'm going to use that same arguement today.

But what stops a dishonest DJ from pre recording a set and playing it?

jump around and pretend that you are playing???

quote:

Originally posted by Bob_Motamedi But what stops a dishonest DJ from pre recording a set and playing it? jump around and pretend that you are playing???

ummm..... and who would ever think of something like that????

quote:

Originally posted by DJFaded I'm not sure about that cuz I dont think the vinyl format and cd format will go away completely. There will always be some sort of market for vinyl for all the vinyl purist and people who cannot get digital masters of tracks on CDR. As far as what is DJing, I dont think it has anything to do with format such as vinyl, cdr, laptop. I think the defination of DJing has to do with presence, sound, ability to be unique and create whatever atmosphere/feel the situation calls for. I find it funny when people think they are more of a DJ simply cuz they spin vinyl. If you look at the trends, hardly any of the top producers spin vinyl, if not 100% CDR, more like 80%. I think DJ's that perform in club have a responsibility to interact with the club goers. I was very disappointed to see G&D use ableton and josh was zoned in to the screen. BT came out and he rocked the crowd and used ableton bundled with OZone I believe. So it just kind of depends on how DJ's use it. When Above and Beyond was here last week I asked them about ableton and they said they have only used it 3 times for shows but wont use it anymore cuz it doesn't look cool and takes the fun out of mixing sometimes. They are simply using only for CD compilations now for obvious reasons. So to answer your question, yes, playing a laptop is still DJing. Is it cool?? I dunno about that.....

Vinyl will go away in the next 5 years because small independent labels can't continue creating vinyl records when all of their competitors are going to digital only. Some people will still play records, but they will be relegated to playing older material. There's already a shift going on with European labels where they are slowly starting to drop Vinyl in favour of digital only.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob_Motamedi But what stops a dishonest DJ from pre recording a set and playing it? jump around and pretend that you are playing???

That's only valid as it relates to beatmatching - but the track selection (the more difficult of the two) still has to come from the DJ.

For example, I couldn't be arsed hearing some local DJ play a bunch of rubbish anthems that are mixed well, but at the same time are predictable, when I could hear a bigger name DJ from out of town play new material, that (for the sake of arguement) may not be mixed as well, but creates a new and unique experience.

Tune Inn records closed thier shop. Reason: Cant compete with the digital technology or something of that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by Bob_Motamedi But what stops a dishonest DJ from pre recording a set and playing it? jump around and pretend that you are playing???

Whats the difference if you pop in a CD and do the same?


Its been done before... *cough* Cokenfold *cough*




Most of the people I see dissing Ableton Live have no clue how it works, and likely never will. You can get 1000x more creative with Ableton...edit, loop and do accapellas in seconds, and because everything is sequenced in tempo and there is no beatmatching, you can concentrate more on the actual music and trackselection and how it sounds coming out...which IMO is the most important.

Is just beat-matching records really DJing? When a set has no flow at all and is just a bunch of hyped tracks or the latest stuff from your record pool?


IMO the only constant that defines a DJ is if they are able to read the crowd and make them DANCE.

im not to fond on it. and sashas abelton sets are more boring to me than when he used to do it with out.

involver cd owns me still but the otherone no.

quote:

Originally posted by nchs09 im not to fond on it. and sashas abelton sets are more boring to me than when he used to do it with out. involver cd owns me still but the otherone no.

lol...I like it how when people give reasons why they dont like Ableton...the reasons...never have anything to do with Ableton...

Ableton is a tool, how the DJ uses it is another matter...just like with any medium.

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