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-- Dance Music Visionary on Turntable Technology, by Paul Oakenfold for CNN
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You want advice on what the industry has become, talk to Mark Reeder.
EDIT: Nevermind...while he as a good handle on what the music has become, he's kind of dissolusioned with the industry...
Alright since this already was posted,
I think if a dj wants to use whatever device he/she wants to put on their best preformance, it's ok.
Some use vinyl, some use laptops, if they are good enough to put on a good show, then so be it. Okenfold can't even mix nowadays, why is CNN useing his opinions.
Amen to Oakenfold on hitting a great point, however, I think a balance between vinyl and CD's is definitely the way to go.
How can Oakey go from being a good mixer to a crappy one? Has he gotten lazy?
I take it most of you don't use vinyl.
There is obviously something to be said when a few of you admit to a few months experience and Oakey has, what, more than all of you combined perhaps?
Nevertheless, like some have said, it is just progress. I agree with the stance that what your chosen instrument is shouldn't be the deciding factor for if your artistry is true.
This reminds me of a documentary I saw on some learning channel about war & battle field photographers and videographers. The people who go out to Iraq and Afghanistan etc to bring back those images you see on TV and in the papers. Bunch of old geezers reflecting on the days when you actually needed to know what you were doing and know everything about the equipment you were using. They were all upset because now any Joe Schmoe can go to Best Buy get a disposable or handheld video camera fly out to the battle and do exactly what they used to do without any skills.
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| Originally posted by OurManFlint Okenfold can't even mix nowadays, why is CNN useing his opinions. |
I think that you all need to start djing, and give both a try. You'll notice that cd's are not easier than vinyl, and that they do sound a little poorer. Youll notice that vinyl is no harder than cds (some may find it even easier) the sound quality is better, but you just cant do as much with it.
It doesnt fucking matter, people are making a bigger deal out of this than it is. Djing was never "extremely hard" As much as people like to make a big deal out of a djs technical skills, it usually isnt any big deal really. (not that i can even beatmatch :P) If you want to see musical talent you should be watching someone play the banjo well...that takes mad skilzzz.
The important thing is what you play, i mean this in the genre you play, your track selection in different situations etc. Djs construct their sets differently, it really doesnt fucking matter if its done with turntables, or done on a computer even. (although i must say laptop djing is boring) A set is like writing a book, it doesnt fucking matter whether you write it on a typewriter, or a computer.
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| Originally posted by ZendoBro Amen to Oakenfold on hitting a great point, however, I think a balance between vinyl and CD's is definitely the way to go. |
I think it really depends on whether you approach your DJ'ing performances as an art, or simply to keep people dancing.
"You know, moving two or three discs of plastic so that they go at the same speed is not really that clever. I'm not impressed, you know? Being a DJ is a matter of getting the speed of the plastic the same." -Genesis P-Orridge
I would disagree slightly with that in the sense that you have to be able to keep a crowd interested ie. track selection. But, I think Oakie is making an error in postulating that simply mixing records should be a revered artform.
Zabiela and a few select others who are trying to incorporate a much more artistic approach to mainstream electronic music (ie visuals, real-time edits etc) are the people who will help electronic music (and DJ'ing) progress as a form of expression.
Sure, Oakey exposed lots of people to quality (erm, sometimes) electronic music, but, to be honest, has he radically changed electronic music? No. Will he? No. Why? Because all he is doing is mixing records.
To me, it just sounds like another dinosaur not wanting to admit that his era of peak-time performance and production is coming to an end because of the advent of superior technology.
***Genesis P-Orridge was a post-punk (70's and 80's) electronic music pioneer who, even if we don't know it, advanced electronic music (and I use this term loosely, not just house, or breaks 
) way more than any DJ in the 'trance' scene today.***
my 2 cents
-caleb
I'm embarrassed to come from the same country as such an ignorant figurehead for dance music. I really cant believe his ignorance when it comes to the use of Final Scratch or even cdrs - i get the feeling the man has never even tried to use FS. It's his attempt to be sly and bitchy about talented djs like Sasha and PvD who use both.
I think he assumes people who plays cds in clubs play mp3s which isnt really the case - the best djs will use a much better quality format on most occasions. Someone needs to correct Oakey on this - he's becoming more and more isolated from the scene when he comes out with dumb shit like this. He needs to realise the scene is changing, and that the technology is becoming more and more advanced. If he wants to be taken half seriously again, then he needs to start by embracing this.
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| Originally posted by Floorfiller i'm sure oakie would agree that zabiela is an exception to what he is saying. obviously not everyone is doing what zabiela does...and that's why he is such a popular dj at the moment. |
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| Originally posted by Floorfiller i'm sure oakie would agree that zabiela is an exception to what he is saying. obviously not everyone is doing what zabiela does...and that's why he is such a popular dj at the moment. |
I think what he is trying to say is that there is a long standing mystique surrounding vinyl and those on the dance floor looking upon the DJ as having 'skills' in that regard -- because, to them, the DJ knows how to mix using vinyl (even if he sucks)...
Just like there are 'idiots' who do not understand Final Scratch, there are also 'idiots' who will go to a party and see a DJ using a laptop and automatically assume that it is beatmatching for them and/or playing a pre-recorded set. Thoughts like that will grow and spread - like a cancer - and will aid in demystifing what it is a DJ does and lead to 'Joe Blow DJ in training' assuming he/she can do a better job just by buying/downloading all the new technogical gadgets/programs.
Sure, in the end its all about the music and a great set - BUT - IMO if vinyl goes on the way out then we'll have lost one of the main symbols of DJ culture - what is going to replace it? a CD? a DVD? Fuck that.
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| You can't program creativity. |
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| Originally posted by Swamper Sure, in the end its all about the music and a great set - BUT - IMO if vinyl goes on the way out then we'll have lost one of the main symbols of DJ culture - what is going to replace it? a CD? a DVD? Fuck that. |
Sounds to me like Oakey's just got his tits in a twist cos he's not 1337 anymore. |: Additionally, his bit about "not being able to find that tune that no one else has" is a load of shit. Just about every set I hear from Nick Warren or James Zabiela (especially JZ) has at least a few tunes you simply don't hear from anyone else.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Swamper I think what he is trying to say is that there is a long standing mystique surrounding vinyl and those on the dance floor looking upon the DJ as having 'skills' in that regard -- because, to them, the DJ knows how to mix using vinyl (even if he sucks)... Just like there are 'idiots' who do not understand Final Scratch, there are also 'idiots' who will go to a party and see a DJ using a laptop and automatically assume that it is beatmatching for them and/or playing a pre-recorded set. Thoughts like that will grow and spread - like a cancer - and will aid in demystifing what it is a DJ does and lead to 'Joe Blow DJ in training' assuming he/she can do a better job just by buying/downloading all the new technogical gadgets/programs. Sure, in the end its all about the music and a great set - BUT - IMO if vinyl goes on the way out then we'll have lost one of the main symbols of DJ culture - what is going to replace it? a CD? a DVD? Fuck that. |
I don't see anything wrong in Final Scratch or CDs, example: PVD used 'em and nobody at the club said : "This dj sucks, we're going home." Everybody I talked to was rather exited about him using it. I think because of human nature evolution will effect every aspect of our life's so the music, dj'ing or mediums we use to play the music will evolve too and as long as you don't do anything illegal and you love what you do I don't see anything wrong in dj'ing with final scratch. Example: I noticed more and more clubs have only cd decks and they are packed every weekend and nobody on the dance floor is complaining about the lack of vinyl... well, unless a rather larger girl is wearing it 
And another thing, the equipment doesn't make you a great DJ , you still need skills . I've meet people that came from wealthy families and you herd them brag how great and fancy their equipment is , for them it was nothing to go and spend a lot of money on their gear , but they still couldn't mix for shit , at the same time guys that couldn't effort all the fancy stuff were technically unbelievable and way better in feeling the crowd in the place they were spinning in , some of them were using CDs because cd decks were cheaper and medium was more affordable as well .
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