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-- DJ school recommendation?
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Before you go out and shell out big bucks on turntables
start with VirtualDJ for pc and when you have mastered it move on to TRAKTOR pro, take my word for it man.

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Originally posted by djeso who are you to say that?

I'm someone who's been around long enough to know better...

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Originally posted by Skipper I have to think that DJ schools are a sign of how DJing became trendy over the last 5 years, and the digitalization of the industry plays a huge role in that IMO.

I would have to agree. Overall, I don't see it as a bad thing but to me DJing is something you pick up watching friends, other DJs and just screwing around. I don't think just anyone can be a DJ.....you need to have a real understanding of music if you are going to be a really good DJ.

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Originally posted by PivotTechno And don't even bother trying to get into whether DJing is a form of musicianship or not - in some hands, two decks and a mixer = glorified jukebox, but under skilled and knowledgeable fingers the same setup is most certainly a form of instrumentation, and as such can and should be taught in the same manner as any other instrument.

For your information, I am one of the biggest believers in proper DJ's being musicians and using their decks as instruments...

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Being shown even the most basic skills such as how to handle a record (speaking from a vinyl standpoint, obviously), cueing and beatmatching, speeds up the learning curve and can eliminate much of the frustration and limitations that neophyte DJs face. If taking lessons builds someone's confidence and allows them to enjoy DJing more than if they hadn't, what's the big deal?

To charge for lessons is taking advantage of pure trendiness and takes away from the purity...

If you can't learn the basics without paying, then you just don't have what it takes...

To me I see DJ school as like cooking classes at george brown.
You can learn the raw skills but you probably don't have a natural knack for it...most people who are passionate about or have a natural curiosity in something would rather figure it out by themselves through trial and error.

repeat post

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper To me I see DJ school as like cooking classes at george brown. You can learn the raw skills but you probably don't have a natural knack for it...most people who are passionate about or have a natural curiosity in something would rather figure it out by themselves through trial and error.

Very good analogy...

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Originally posted by VDub To charge for lessons is taking advantage of pure trendiness and takes away from the purity...

This isn't the 80s anymore, and you aren't Grandmaster Flash.

I have clients in their late 30s who are just picking this up for fun and are more concerned about having a good time behind the decks than about whether what they're doing is trendy or not. I also work with more advanced DJs who are simply looking to polish their game and, despite what often amounts to years of know-how, they seem to have just as much fun as the beginners do. Whether expressed or not, a lot of the people I teach are really just trying to get in touch with their own inner groove (in case you hadn't noticed, there's a lot of disconnect in the world these days) - all I do is facilitate that effort.

Maybe the trick is to not take it too seriously. If "purity" was the only indication for DJ success, then more than half of the "Top 100" DJs wouldn't be anywhere on the list, so your efforts to "keep it real, dawg" aren't amounting to much. There's room for everyone, and if lessons/schooling are how someone chooses to learn, why fault them for it?

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Originally posted by jchung52 dj kotsy school of turntablism

be realistic, justin.. he can't afford that.

so Im gonna be buying the complete dj set this week and Im wondering whats better, the used $1200 ones people have or new equipment at stores such as moog audio and play de record?

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Originally posted by lacedpills so Im gonna be buying the complete dj set this week and Im wondering whats better, the used $1200 ones people have or new equipment at stores such as moog audio and play de record?

If it's Technics 1200, then get the used ones, they are built rock solid!

Re: DJ school recommendation?

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Originally posted by lacedpills whats the best place in tdot for a noob to learn how to spin? thx

I suggest getting a private teacher first to put you on the right track and then you can practice as much you need on your own. I know many experienced DJs and Producers who you could choose from according to your budget. Prices are very reasonable, let me know.

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Originally posted by Shaya007 forget schools/ hardwares; Ableton... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

+1!

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Originally posted by lacedpills so Im gonna be buying the complete dj set this week and Im wondering whats better, the used $1200 ones people have or new equipment at stores such as moog audio and play de record?

Did you read the used/bargain gear buying guide on my blog?

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Originally posted by xxbioghostxx Before you go out and shell out big bucks on turntables start with VirtualDJ for pc and when you have mastered it move on to TRAKTOR pro, take my word for it man.

VirtualDJ and Traktor are totally different for me than mixing with a real set of CDJs...but thats just me

the way i learned, and the way i tell people to learn to beatmatch is get a pair of 1200's (used) and a two channel mixer get some vynils and just take time to learn to beatmatch on those cause if you learn on that, you can practicly beatmatch on anything else with ease

quote:

Originally posted by lacedpills so Im gonna be buying the complete dj set this week and Im wondering whats better, the used $1200 ones people have or new equipment at stores such as moog audio and play de record?

I would look at getting a used pair of CD decks. I know playing with vinyl is fun and cosidered to be "pure" or whatever, but it is also very expensive. You may end up paying more for the decks at first, but you will quickly save that on music. The average cost of a new release record is $15-20, the average cost of a new release MP3/WAVE is $1.50-$2.00. Thats a HUGE difference. Also remember that most new music is released digitally now, very few make it on wax and as well digital is released EVERYDAY and not just on Thurs. Now, if your desire is just to play in the basement for kicks......then sure some used Techs will do just fine. You could probably score loads of older records for cheap off people getting out of it too. I still have a pair of Techs in the studio although I only use them for digitizing older vinyl now.

As for the beat matching goes, its the same skill on CD decks or Techs. The only difference is the manual labour it takes to rewind and start the record. Although this looks cool and is definitley part of the DJ look, it doesn't really teach you anything about beat matching. I'm not to familiar with DJ software but I do know you don't need to beat match.

As for a DJ school, I don't see the problem with wanting to learn the basics right away so you can start developing you own skill and style. Yes, most of us older vinyl guys had to learn by teaching oursleves and we loved it but the TRUE skill of DJing comes after learning those skills. Once you can beat match and mix, you will develop your true skills as a DJ. And this is where the truely talented DJ's will shine and where some may not. Nobody can teach you what track to play next or how to read a crowd properly, those are the skills you will learn over time if you really learn them at all. Sure, some DJ's have a natural gift but everyone had to learn the basics first. If you can save a couple months of fooling around by taking a couple classes I would do it, it would also be fun to meet new people going through the same thing I would assume!

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Originally posted by cammaxwell As for the beat matching goes, its the same skill on CD decks or Techs. The only difference is the manual labour it takes to rewind and start the record. Although this looks cool and is definitley part of the DJ look, it doesn't really teach you anything about beat matching. I'm not to familiar with DJ software but I do know you don't need to beat match.

i meant beatmatching as in having the ear for it....without the bpm read out lol, but well said, i agree with you 100%, to skip through all thouse years of learning on my own i would have done the classes too...

and it does take experiance to learn to read the crowd and programe your sets. i wouldnt have said it better myself

quote:

Originally posted by PivotTechno Did you read the used/bargain gear buying guide on my blog?

learned a lot

quote:

I would look at getting a used pair of CD decks. I know playing with vinyl is fun and cosidered to be "pure" or whatever, but it is also very expensive. You may end up paying more for the decks at first, but you will quickly save that on music. The average cost of a new release record is $15-20, the average cost of a new release MP3/WAVE is $1.50-$2.00. Thats a HUGE difference. Also remember that most new music is released digitally now, very few make it on wax and as well digital is released EVERYDAY and not just on Thurs. Now, if your desire is just to play in the basement for kicks......then sure some used Techs will do just fine. You could probably score loads of older records for cheap off people getting out of it too. I still have a pair of Techs in the studio although I only use them for digitizing older vinyl now. As for the beat matching goes, its the same skill on CD decks or Techs. The only difference is the manual labour it takes to rewind and start the record. Although this looks cool and is definitley part of the DJ look, it doesn't really teach you anything about beat matching. I'm not to familiar with DJ software but I do know you don't need to beat match.

I feel you but I wanna go original you know.

alright I think Im done with the help. thx

quote:

Originally posted by lacedpills so Im gonna be buying the complete dj set this week and Im wondering whats better, the used $1200 ones people have or new equipment at stores such as moog audio and play de record?

$1200 for used is a bit steep. You would be better of buying new for a slightly higher price. Or look around for a better deal. You could probably find used 1200s for $700-$800.

Yo, lacedpills...

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/ele/1018588131.html

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