TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- DJ Booth
-- Mixing Trance and Scratching
Pages (2): [1] 2 »

Mixing Trance and Scratching

do u think it's a good combination?

short answer- no.

I don't think its a good combo, i mean, backspins are alright when your building something up, but other than that... no

i'd certainly try and avoid scratchin!!! Maybe if you can flare something into a tune very subtly to make it sound like an effect then try it, but unless your an A-lister with all the respect in the world, i doubt u cud pull it off!

OK, so while his style certainly isn't "trance," Donald Glaude does some amazing shit on the decks, and a lot of it has to do with Scratching records...

A little less well known, but no less brilliant (And a little more "trancy") local DJ to do this: Detroit's own Marcus Beier...

It can work, you just have to do it right...

Short answer: Abso-fucking-lutely. The DJ just has to be good at it, and have a good musical sense about when (and when not) to do it.

It's obnoxious...how many trance DJs R-E-F-U-S-E to even consider adding that skill to their arsenal. I can't think of another "mixable" genre of electronic music that is so phobic of turntablism.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Ikronix Short answer: Abso-fucking-lutely. The DJ just has to be good at it, and have a good musical sense about when (and when not) to do it. It's obnoxious...how many trance DJs R-E-F-U-S-E to even consider adding that skill to their arsenal. I can't think of another "mixable" genre of electronic music that is so phobic of turntablism.

+1

Another thing I wanted to mention is that "scratching" or turntablism in general doesn't always have to have a "hip-hop" or "breaky" feel to it.

One of my favorite things about watching both Glaude and Marcus is seeing how they use turntablist type techniques to just layer sounds and add effects without using an effects processor. It's definitely something I hope to be able to add to my repetoire at some point.

As a DJ I think it's generally a good idea to never close your mind to a new technique, because even something that on the surface may seem quote "outside your style" can become an awesome weapon to add to your arsenal, and in general it will only help create "your" sound.

cool, some nice and argumentative opinion here. scratching wont be good for somethis like ambient for sure, for some harder styles it may add so much vital funk, spice and energy

If you wanna be safe, do some scratching while there is a breakbeat going on, maybe some reverse kicks or whatever samples you have that will fit.

Well if you got the cash for some some samplers and efx proccesors and some good cdjs you could try james zabielas style lol

i really dont think so i listen to hip-hop when im in the mood for scratches(which isnt often) and to trance for the music, but it can be done definately

Indeed, it has to be the right kind of scratching and done at the right time. Not in the middle of a beatless breakdown, Mr Halliwell. Personally I find breakbeat sections (as previously mentioned) or kinda rolling bridge sections can work best, or just putting in a couple of stabs (literally last no longer than a bar or two) just before something kicks in.

quote:

Originally posted by NeoShaman cool, some nice and argumentative opinion here. scratching wont be good for somethis like ambient for sure, for some harder styles it may add so much vital funk, spice and energy

I've heard ambient scratching before. It was even good.

It was just very, very subtle and controlled.

I think the problem is that most people think of scratching as a very aggressive sound, when it can actually be used in a full musical range.

Just because the only precedent to scratching in trance is Dj Jean's fart scratch doesn't mean it can't be done effectively.

Me and my mates have always said yr not a real dj until you can scratch.

We've all tried to learn how to do it with our respective music styles, trance, house, dnb and sometimes rnb or hip hop. Any skill you have up your sleeve is a bonus, just because its not in the rule book doesn't mean you shouldn't try it.

I mix only trance and harder trance/techy stuff really but I don't think I'd ever try to scracth over any uplifting stuff like Push tunes for example as the scratch I've learnt would sound gay over it imo but I'm sure there is people out there that can pull it off to good effect.

Yes. If you know how to scratch like qbert or mix master mike, than let the force be with you. You can do it!

If you have a really nice record and you scratch on it enough...you will...scratch it up. Thats what happened to some of my older records. I felt like scratching on them for fun, not thinking I would do any damage. Lo and behold, after doing it for a while, they got all smeared up, scratched up and sounded awful, even when cleaning them. So if it's a record you don't care about, or if you have two of the same records, then I don't see anything wrong. But take my advice...you can permamentely damage them by doing a lot of scratching.

lol, or maybe just buy a scratch record?

quote:

the problem is that most people think of scratching as a very aggressive sound

(Sorry, still new, but ^this^ was said by DJ_Ikronix)

Exactly. many have the right idea when they say it doesnt go good with a big melodic breakdown. you have good music sense if you can feel that one out. but like some people said, drop some kicks in, or a few short stabs, and now you're really controlling and adding to the music. make it interesting and have fun. there's many SUBTLE things you can do by learning to scratch.

quote:

Originally posted by Luke Cartwright Me and my mates have always said yr not a real dj until you can scratch.

Beat Juggling, yes, Scratching. No

Ampz

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RJT

Sorry. I agree with Cartwright on this. The roots of DJing is scratching.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Ikronix Sorry. I agree with Cartwright on this. The roots of DJing is scratching.

I have to disagree. The root of DJing is playing music, the root of hip hop DJing/turntablism is scratching. It was only in the late 70s/early 80s that DJs were scartching in the hip hop community. DJs have and always will be about playing music. But these are both two different types of DJs. Trance DJs are a mixture of the two, but seem to be more in line with the disco DJs from the late 70s who played music and crossfaded, yet Trance DJs require even more skill as far as beatmatching, harmonic mixing etc. Trance/house/techno DJs have taken DJing to a new limit, and have borrowed some things from hip hop djs, but they still play/mix music, not scratch like hip hop djs or turnablists as they are often called..do.

quote:

Originally posted by Spirit5 I have to disagree. The root of DJing is playing music, the root of hip hop DJing/turntablism is scratching.

Exactly.

A DJ is simply a presenter of music. How far you then want to take that is up to you. Technically speaking, scratching is quite an abstract part of DJing as you're not using the equipment how it was originally intended to be used (i.e. you're making it play backwards in parts)... it's just because it's become so integrated into the turntablist scene and those who know nothing about DJing instantly picture someone pushing a record backward and forwards (stemming from both scratching and simply cueing up the record for a mix) that have made it considered such an integral part of DJing.

And where do you draw the line at whether you "can scratch" or not? If someone can push a record backwards and forwards - does that make them a DJ? It's not in time, but maybe it's not supposed to be...

There are so many different types of scratches out there and at least one or more is suitable for just about everything.

When it comes to ambient sounding stuff there are even combinations you can use there, just not as compexed as the more full on stuff. Just a simple stab with a lot of verb can make a nice addition.

In my own opinion though, you should never do it unless you truly master it or it just sounds shit.

Remember, less is more. You are enhancing what is already there not competing with it.

Cheers
Nem

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.