AH HAH! finally.. my demo is up and ready to d/l...

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-- AH HAH! finally.. my demo is up and ready to d/l...

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-21-2002 03:59:

AH HAH! finally.. my demo is up and ready to d/l...

aite folks.. the sound quality is probably as shitty as can be because i took dj liquid's advice and threw it up on www.skoolhouse.com which only hosts real audio files and i think they gotta be less than 15mb.. anyways, i encoded it at a single-rate/music level which is probably shit because my 1hr set is only 10mb.. anyways click here to d/l:

dj Reel - demo
it works best if you right click, and hit "save target as" becuase just clicking on it doesn't always get it from the server right away..

Track listing (sorry im in a rush to get outta here so i'm just putting the songs, if you want to know which remixes then just ask in this thread):

satoshi tomii - virus
system f - dance valley theme
star - rock rose
christopher lawrence - mind eraser
dusk 'till dawn - fine night
sven r g - goin' crazy
klubbheads - big bass bomb
signum - second wave
solid sleep - club attack
altitude - altitude
talla 2xlc - come with me
x-cabs - neuro 99
mr. phillips - 7th day
4 clubbers - children

ya.. sorry the quality is so bad.. i have the file in mp3 format but its 58mb and i can't host it anywhere.. anyways.. please leave comments because im thinking about sending this one out to promotes and clubs.. just want opinions from u guys first!

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-21-2002 04:13:

c'mon fellow TA's.. i originally wanted my demo to be longer but this was recorded live at a party last night and i only had an hour to play.. but anyways, all comments are welcome.. and less than 10mb so hopefully for you dial-up internet peeps, it won't take too long.. anyways.. enjoy

Posted by skywarp on Apr-21-2002 04:34:

No offense but when I see tracks like dance valley theme or x-cabs - neuro 99 it really makes me NOT want to listen to the mix. Where's the originality ?

Posted by Great Outdoors on Apr-21-2002 08:13:

Hap I'm downloading it right now I'll take a listen and let you in on my comments ok?

If it's recorded live in a club I probably won't be so demanding on the mixing, it's sure to be less perfect than if you did it at home with your own equipment.

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-21-2002 21:21:

yo great outdoors.. did u listen to it?

Posted by mute79 on Apr-21-2002 22:15:

Posted by shompton on Apr-22-2002 04:08:

quote:
Originally posted by skywarp
No offense but when I see tracks like dance valley theme or x-cabs - neuro 99 it really makes me NOT want to listen to the mix. Where's the originality ?

This brings up something that has been bugging me for a while so I am going to try and get some feedback and advice. I often find myself buying classic and not-so-new tracks, and I own alot of very popular anthems. How bad is this? I mean, when I first heard rapture, I thought it was a bitchin' track, but now that everyone's heard it and it's even been infesting the airwaves, does it now sort of suck? Is it bad to drop popular choons... and old tunes none the less.

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-22-2002 04:47:

quote:
Originally posted by shompton

This brings up something that has been bugging me for a while so I am going to try and get some feedback and advice. I often find myself buying classic and not-so-new tracks, and I own alot of very popular anthems. How bad is this? I mean, when I first heard rapture, I thought it was a bitchin' track, but now that everyone's heard it and it's even been infesting the airwaves, does it now sort of suck? Is it bad to drop popular choons... and old tunes none the less.

ya know what bro.. play what you feel like playing.. if it makes you feel good when you play it, then by all means play it.. have u ever been to a club where when a dj plays an older song, the crowd boo'd.. personally i haven't, so sheit.. besides, most of the complaints come from other dj's that also have that album and don't want to play it because THEY think its old.. to tell you the truth, i believe more dj's complain about track listings and whatnot then the majority of people that are gonna listen to it anyway.. im open to all comments though, whether the comment is coming from a dj or not, if i suck i want to know about it!

Posted by skywarp on Apr-22-2002 05:19:

As a DJ, your responsibility (besides filling the dancefloor) is to bring new music to the clubbers / partygoers. Now, I don't know how musically demanding the clubbers in your area are, but usually people are looking to hear new tracks and not just a FluffyEpicTranceAnthems Vol 342 compilation set. I personally would feel disapointed if I heard your set at a club ... I always say that the DJ should be more than a human jukebox. There is no art in playing old tunes that everybody has heard many times already (well ... except a few classics - Cafe Del Mar being a prime example). This is seriously one of my pet peeves, especially here ... all you people seem to have the same tracks (or at least extremely similar style) and the only thing that varies is the order in which they're played.
Show the crowd something new and interesting.

Oh. And please DON'T USE THE FLANGE effect on the mixer or FX unit. It sounds horrible and overused. I know that big orange glowing button is tempting but try to control yourself .. hehe.

Posted by shompton on Apr-22-2002 05:37:

Skywarp, I definatley agree with you and that's why I brought it up. However, I obviously am not a big-name DJ who get's promo's by the dozens on a weekly basis. Usually, the big names are going to play the best shit they can get their hands on, and that's usually what I hear and it gets big then around the time I want to buy it. Unless you're advocating playing shitter but unknown music, I don't know how that can be avoided. I definatley think my crate is cheesy -- not in the fact that the tunes suck because they are all fuckin' bitchin', but that I could play all of them and any given person on this forum could ID probably 70% of the tracks, and any seasoned clubber could probably recognize 35% of them.

What do you suggest people do? How do you go about getting original tracks that arent popular but also don't suck. I don't really know how you can do that if you're just a regular bedroom DJ.

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-22-2002 05:49:

skywarp.. although i take offense at your comments (of course because they are negative towards me) i am respecting your opinions.. however, i am not made of money and can't afford to buy up every white label promo that jumps off the press.. so if the old tunes dissappoint someone like urself, i guess that would be a good time to go out for a smoke and come back when my newer stuff comes on.. but i like those songs and i will play them if i want.. basically i wanted to put variety in the mix so the promoters will know what i can do but at the same time i had to keep up the pace because it was recorded at a party.. anyways, u r right, that phat orange buttom is always itching for me to play w/ fx, sorry they bother u so much! oh.. and please don't ever disrespect me by saying what i am doing is not art because if anything, whether its the shittiest mix/track list/whatever that you have heard, or even the best, it is always art!

Posted by skywarp on Apr-22-2002 05:53:

Playing records is not art. It's entertainment. It might take skill and some musical talent but it is DEFINITELY not art.

About the new records thing, I'm buying my vinyl in the store like everybody else, and I'm on an extremely limited budget as well. That doesn't stop me from hunting for obscure tunes that aren't overplayed but still work wonders on the dancefloor.

Posted by shompton on Apr-22-2002 06:02:

So basically you just look for shit no one has heard of that's got a decent beat?

Posted by skywarp on Apr-22-2002 06:04:

Yes, that's why my weekly ritual is to go to the record store when they get a new shipment in and spend hours sitting there listening to tracks ... you'll be amazed how much obscure music there is that's just begging to be put into a decent set.

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-22-2002 06:13:

alright i guess im finally in agreement w/ skywarp.. that is definetly fun... hey skywarp are u a resident dj anywhere? i wish i could get a residency somewhere so i can get feedback from actual clubbers instead of house party heads.. but he is right, i can go pick up obscure shit that is pretty tight.. if u look in my crates, most of the domestic stuff is just stuff that is either by local talent or just stuff that is not so mainstream and its fucking good too.. but i just lost my job on friday so im pretty bitter about this whole budget thing now.. i just cancelled a 70 dollar online order for a load of records because i need that to make sure i can cover my rent.. damn no more spare vinyl fundage for me.. well at least until i can get another job

Posted by skywarp on Apr-22-2002 06:20:

No, I don't have a residency but I'm making semi-regular guest appearences at local clubs ... and the odd party (not much happening in Edmonton right now). And yes, you get the sense for feeling the dancefloor after a few times playing out ... so that does help, I suppose.

I'm telling you all this not because I want to argue and put you down, but rather because I went through the same 'anthem' stage at one point ... and quickly realised that things don't work that way if you want to get anywhere as a DJ.

Posted by shompton on Apr-22-2002 07:01:

Yeah no worries Sky I appreciate the advise, that's why I asked. Part of my problem is I live in the burbs of Massachusetts (although right now I'm in school in Boulder, CO) and I have to drive a good 30 minutes to get to a decent record store -- which sucks. So I buy alot online, and the only way to really know what you're buying is to know the track beforehand, and that's how I end up getting alot of shit everyone has heard.

I agree though that originality is key, and I definatley love all the records I own so I can drop them whenever I'm practicing, but I should get some slammin' originals so I can play out and not bore people (if I ever get good enough and lucky enough) or if I make a ballsy mix-cd.

Thanks for the advise... and if you don't mind me asking, what kind of headphones do you use?

Posted by skywarp on Apr-22-2002 07:22:

quote:
Originally posted by shompton
Thanks for the advise... and if you don't mind me asking, what kind of headphones do you use?

Sennheiser HD-25 ... my babies ... =)

Posted by Great Outdoors on Apr-22-2002 07:37:

Hey Hap I had a listen to it, it wasn't meant to be downloaded coz it streamed from the source anyway. It's a pretty decent set I must say, did not have a very good listen coz I was trying to do a million other things at the same time (sorry busy lately) but I must say the mixing is up to the mark. It's a little too hard for me but that's just me.. a very good set, though.

Posted by DJTJ on Apr-22-2002 12:11:

I disagree with skywarp about it not being an art. If every DJ mixed exactly the same tracks in exactly the same way, then no, that wouldn't be art. But, the fact that every DJ will mix two tracks differently to the next, and have his/her own style, is exactly what makes it an art.In the same way as you might go to an art gallery and say, "ooh, look at the different colors and styles he's blended here" you could go to a club and say exactly the same thing.

I would agree though that the majority of mix compilation CD's do not qulify as "art". They are mixed by computers.

Posted by Synergy on Apr-22-2002 15:52:

Play what you want to play. PERIOD! If people like it they will come and hear you. If they dont, well for the time being you are out of luck. I am driven by my passion to play great music that I love and want to bring to others. If thats not enough to be a successful DJ then I guess it wont work out for me. Although, so far it has.....

Posted by hapamoto on Apr-22-2002 17:16:

anyone else listen to my demo? thanks for the comments great outdoors