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Do you think you have improved as a dj?

Seriously,

As I am typing this I am listening to my newest composition. And it just blows my mind

I can remember when every transition was a trainwreck

now....well...its pretty seldom that I do

Me as a dj...i keep to myself quite a bit...as in im not lined up with 100+ gigs ...i guess because i never thought that i was that good...but im listening to myself now and im eating my own words

I wish I could post this mix, but my computer is out of commision

well, maybe I'll post a few transitions if my friend will let me use his computer.

Does anyone feel this way?....do u remember when every transition was a train wreck? Do you think that you can compare/hang with the big name djs?

Im ready to be let loose

i totally agree with you, not that i could compare with big namers, but i scrounged up an old mix tape of mine, and its fucking nasty.

heh but i keep on truckin so we'll see what happens :P

yes, i've gone leaps and bounds since i started mixing vinyl in october
my mixing has become more and more solid, however i still do have some off days where i'm not happy with my transitions, but i'm becoming more and more happier by the day

I've had decks for 2 weeks well 3 actually but records for 2. I never trainwreck anymore. Ocasionally they go out of phase for like 2 seconds but its piss easy to get them right again. Everyone says that beatmixing is the hardest thing. I reckon it's easy. I reckon the hardest part is like efffects and perfect transitions and cues. Beat mixing is the easy part. Now the hard part starts for me. Sometimes you getlucky and they cut in/out at the right time. I love it when that happens cause you sound really good!

But yeh I have definately improved!

At DJ�ing, I haven�t yet and never will stop learning. Every time I spin a tune be it at home or out in a club I learn something. And this is true for everyone, even if your name is Paul Okenfold, Ferry Corsten, Paul Van Dyk or whomever you care to mention. I�ve said this before in the forum, DJ�ing is an art, not a science. Which is why we all continue to learn new things. The day that I feel I�ve stopped learning things is the day that I�ll pack it in and hang up my headphones. If ever I get like that I�ll know that I haven�t got the right attitude to continue spinning the tunes I love in a decent manner.

quote:

Originally posted by Trancey Ash Everyone says that beatmixing is the hardest thing. I reckon it's easy...Beat mixing is the easy part.

I totally agree with you there. Beatmatching is the easy part. What I don�t agree with is that the hardest part is the effects etc. In my view the real skill the DJ has to master is the really difficult thing of interacting with the crowd and developing that innate sense of knowing exactly what tune to play next without spending three quarters of the last tune trying to decide. It may seem simple, but developing that all important link between the crowd and yourself and your tune selection is more important than nearly anything else a DJ could do.

Well that�s my opinion anyway. Feel free to disagree. Personally I�d rather go and see a DJ who�s face up, spends a lot of time interacting with the crowd, really looking like their having a good time than a poe-faced, miserable, heads down DJ, despite their high technical ability.

Yeh well I have no experience yet of crowd interaction but i reackon it wouod be fricken hard to know what they want. And to get them going!

Don�t panic too much, it gets easier the more and more you play out to people.

quote:

Originally posted by Spin Doctor At DJ�ing, I haven�t yet and never will stop learning. Every time I spin a tune be it at home or out in a club I learn something. And this is true for everyone, even if your name is Paul Okenfold, Ferry Corsten, Paul Van Dyk or whomever you care to mention. I�ve said this before in the forum, DJ�ing is an art, not a science. Which is why we all continue to learn new things. The day that I feel I�ve stopped learning things is the day that I�ll pack it in and hang up my headphones. If ever I get like that I�ll know that I haven�t got the right attitude to continue spinning the tunes I love in a decent manner. I totally agree with you there. Beatmatching is the easy part. What I don�t agree with is that the hardest part is the effects etc. In my view the real skill the DJ has to master is the really difficult thing of interacting with the crowd and developing that innate sense of knowing exactly what tune to play next without spending three quarters of the last tune trying to decide. It may seem simple, but developing that all important link between the crowd and yourself and your tune selection is more important than nearly anything else a DJ could do. Well that�s my opinion anyway. Feel free to disagree. Personally I�d rather go and see a DJ who�s face up, spends a lot of time interacting with the crowd, really looking like their having a good time than a poe-faced, miserable, heads down DJ, despite their high technical ability.

I totally agree with you!

beatmatching is easy, it's the crowd interaction that is hard to master, as well as getting the cue points just right, and memorizing all your records.

BTW, it's really hard to read what you write spin-doctor.

I spin cd's.

But yeah, I've learned a lot too. Improved dramatically.
New ways of transitioning. New songs to play that gives new mixing combinations and new tricks and stuff like that.
Also just my beat matching skill is improving.
In the start I was pretty used to Pioneer, but now I'm pretty comfortable with other players as well.
As my cd bag grows, I have better chances to satisfy the crowd - well, usually they'd come with requests. But I'm also getting better at seeing witch people are actually dancing to witch tunes.
Well, just what I've been improving at...

-marQ

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith BTW, it's really hard to read what you write spin-doctor.

It�s seems fine on my machine! Thanks anyway. Two people have mentioned it thus far, so I shall change it. Sorry to anyone who I�ve made strain their eyes.

This any better?

quote:

Originally posted by marQ de clarQ I spin cd's.

Why say it like that? So what if you spin cd�s! You still are DJ�ing, and, when it comes down to it, the principle is EXACTLY the same. Your just using a different medium and methods.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Spin Doctor


It�s seems fine on my machine! Thanks anyway. Two people have mentioned it thus far, so I shall change it. Sorry to anyone who I�ve made strain their eyes.

This any better?

it's a bit better, but only a bit, still have to squint to see it.

why don't you just use the same color as everyone else?

I feel the same way!!!!!
it's a great feeling that your transitions are slowly getting smoother and seemless......
I love it...... anywayz, with practice, I think everyone can reach a good level........ depends on how much you want it......

Well, unfortunately I haven't reached that level.
I've been practicing for 3-4 months.
I hate the overwhelming majority of my transitions, even when the beats are matched -- or maybe I'm too harsh on myself?

yeah when i first started, all of my dj friends were like , dude you need to get a BPM unit it will help you match, cause beatmatching is sooo hard.

well i bought one, and it didnt help, i wish i would have saved my 100 bux, cause once you get that one right beatmatch you never forget how. like i can match soo good now, while they are all still sounding like crap with their dumb BPM units.

they are way to technical too, like when i just forgot about matching beats exactly, and I started to worry more about what sounds natural my mixing improved ten fold. I definately would like to stress that on all the newbies, dont worry so much if yours beats are a hair off, just settle down and feel the music, and make the transition flow.

thats my 2 cents

Love that phrase, lmao

"every transition was a train wreck" brilliant.

I've definitely improved, I'm embarassed by my mixing even a year ago, though I'm getting to the point where I can just mix records together regardless of having played them before or not.
Plus I'm getting to the limit with the duration of my mixes, with progressive trance you can mix for longer, but the more uplifting 4-4 you have to be careful about clashing synths. 2-3mins is about the maximum you can get away with.

Only thing I'm not too good at is matching levels on tracks, tend to just use the gain knob, and not bother with any of the eq channels (and I've even got 4), bad I know.

That said I still don't rate myself at all as a DJ, but then I rate very few of the top-flight DJ's. There's always room for improvement imho.
Also think that a lot of people younger than me are probably better.

Everything that's written on this page is right.

I'm improving but I still got a loooooong way to go until I start matching the effects and other stuff. 4 now the most difficult thing for me is the beatmatching....

But I have learned a very important thing while djing...It's not the beats that matter but the melodies....so if you can match them....you are the perfect DJ....casue this electronic music suff is all about feeling (mostly introduced by the beats)

So I agree with the guys who say beatmatching is just the start...

quote:

Originally posted by Dj Zinni yeah when i first started, all of my dj friends were like , dude you need to get a BPM unit it will help you match, cause beatmatching is sooo hard. well i bought one, and it didnt help, i wish i would have saved my 100 bux, cause once you get that one right beatmatch you never forget how. like i can match soo good now, while they are all still sounding like crap with their dumb BPM units. they are way to technical too, like when i just forgot about matching beats exactly, and I started to worry more about what sounds natural my mixing improved ten fold. I definately would like to stress that on all the newbies, dont worry so much if yours beats are a hair off, just settle down and feel the music, and make the transition flow.

One if my good friends was like that but I told him it was cheating and theeasy way out and now I can rub it into him not that I do but I can beatmatch now after 3 weeks everytime and even with new records I havent heard. I do reckon that BPM counters are an absolute waste of money. I think those people are too worried about getting the mixing perfect straight away rather than playing good music and having a good time.
I think the main this is that you enjoy your self when you are on the decks. I have a ball and I hope it stays that way. If ever it gets to the stage where I don't enjoy it anymore then I'll sell my decks and look for somethign else to play.
Keep at it!

I think I'm improving dramatically aswell

I don't think I am as good as all the 'big-guys', but I sure have improved a lot since the day I started...

My mixing is much better, and so is my track-selection.

quote:

Originally posted by Spin Doctor At DJ�ing, I haven�t yet and never will stop learning. Every time I spin a tune be it at home or out in a club I learn something. And this is true for everyone, even if your name is Paul Okenfold, Ferry Corsten, Paul Van Dyk or whomever you care to mention. I�ve said this before in the forum, DJ�ing is an art, not a science. Which is why we all continue to learn new things. The day that I feel I�ve stopped learning things is the day that I�ll pack it in and hang up my headphones. If ever I get like that I�ll know that I haven�t got the right attitude to continue spinning the tunes I love in a decent manner. I totally agree with you there. Beatmatching is the easy part. What I don�t agree with is that the hardest part is the effects etc. In my view the real skill the DJ has to master is the really difficult thing of interacting with the crowd and developing that innate sense of knowing exactly what tune to play next without spending three quarters of the last tune trying to decide. It may seem simple, but developing that all important link between the crowd and yourself and your tune selection is more important than nearly anything else a DJ could do. Well that�s my opinion anyway. Feel free to disagree. Personally I�d rather go and see a DJ who�s face up, spends a lot of time interacting with the crowd, really looking like their having a good time than a poe-faced, miserable, heads down DJ, despite their high technical ability.

I like your comment, but I am gonna agree more with Paul Van Dyk who said you have to play for the crowd 50% of the time, and 50% of the time for yourself, to really enjoy and have a good set. Or something along those lines!

Oh and on the topic of improvement. I've had my decks for 2 weeks now and I am noticing that I am getting better. I used to worry about beat matching at first too, but that I was just like fuck it. And now I've improved so much, I guess the secret I discovered was that the records don't even have to be at the same BPM to be mixed. I've got a long way to go, and lot's of improvements to make.

Yeah, I have the same felling, I have like 3 months sppining now, and I Have improved, I could imagine when i would have like 1 or couple of years, will be great.

btw.. DJ LIQUID: havent you recived a Private Message from me?, I sent you a PM, but i havent recived a reply??

Thanks, Later

quote:

Originally posted by CarlosM Yeah, I have the same felling, I have like 3 months sppining now, and I Have improved, I could imagine when i would have like 1 or couple of years, will be great. btw.. DJ LIQUID: havent you recived a Private Message from me?, I sent you a PM, but i havent recived a reply?? Thanks, Later

nope, i just checked my PM box...and there isnt any message from u

quote:

Originally posted by Spin Doctor At DJ�ing, I haven�t yet and never will stop learning. Every time I spin a tune be it at home or out in a club I learn something. And this is true for everyone, even if your name is Paul Okenfold, Ferry Corsten, Paul Van Dyk or whomever you care to mention. I�ve said this before in the forum, DJ�ing is an art, not a science. Which is why we all continue to learn new things. The day that I feel I�ve stopped learning things is the day that I�ll pack it in and hang up my headphones. If ever I get like that I�ll know that I haven�t got the right attitude to continue spinning the tunes I love in a decent manner. I totally agree with you there. Beatmatching is the easy part. What I don�t agree with is that the hardest part is the effects etc. In my view the real skill the DJ has to master is the really difficult thing of interacting with the crowd and developing that innate sense of knowing exactly what tune to play next without spending three quarters of the last tune trying to decide. It may seem simple, but developing that all important link between the crowd and yourself and your tune selection is more important than nearly anything else a DJ could do. Well that�s my opinion anyway. Feel free to disagree. Personally I�d rather go and see a DJ who�s face up, spends a lot of time interacting with the crowd, really looking like their having a good time than a poe-faced, miserable, heads down DJ, despite their high technical ability.

Amen brother.

Every time I mix I feel like I have learnt something. The learning curve may not be as rapid as it once was but I am still learning a heck of a lot.

You can practise your beatmatching until your ears are bleeding but the only way you can develop crowd reading skills is to get out there and spin to a live audience. I have always compared mixing like learning to drive. I picked it up fairly quickly but still had to concentrate for a while. Once I passed my test I improved so much more than when I was learning, and now I don't even think about what I am doing. Mixing is become as natural as breathing to me now, just as driving has become.

And don't let the big name DJ's scare anyone. I have not heard a really great set where I thought I couldn't do better. I fully believe I could mix it with the big boys, some of them are just a name with little skill. Call me big-headed if you want, but you need to have self-confidence to continually improve!

I just gotta say that i wish my track selection was better when i first started.So much wasted money.

quote:

Originally posted by azzmatix I just gotta say that i wish my track selection was better when i first started.So much wasted money.

I think everyone�s track selection was poor when we all first started my friend. Everyone�s got skeletons in their record collection that they�d rather not let anyone else know about! It�s all part and parcel of DJ�ing. The way I see it, people need to experiment with several different genres before they actually find the one, or ones, that they like.

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