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What do you guys think about laptops in the DJ Booth?

This has gotten some heated discussions on other forums. I was just wondering what you guys thought about all the new technology in the dj booth, especially the use of laptops.

Me....I have no issue with it as long as the DJ is using it to his full advantage of whatever program they are working with. I can't stand the guys who get up there and just click play, play with the eqs and hey I'm a dj now.

What are your thoughts?

Ah I remember the good ol' days of vinyl! I remember even PvD used to be walked in the DJ booth @ Space while holding his big ass silver box of vinyls. Then it went to CD's then he began using Final Scratch (which BTW I work for Stanton and what is now known as Traktor by Native Instruments used to make the FS software but they basically fucked Stanton out of it).

Now it's Traktor, Serato & Abelton.

Honestly, I understand vinyl is hard to carry + gets warped but I think it should have at least stayed with CD's.

My bf just RECENTLY got Traktor, he began DJing in 2001 and has over 300 vinyl's - like in 07 he began using CD's but says he would still prefer to use them. Traktor makes life easier I'm sure but I think it takes the true talent out of it. I think ALL DJ's should know how to mix properly without the use of laptops. I know these programs are still somewhat hands on but my bf showed me and tracks basically stay on beat. Everyone knows you'd have to work hard to beatmatch vinyl & CD's.

A lot of "DJ's" now never even learned how to spin on turntables and I find that sad. Since the use of laptops I think it has taken lazy to a whole other level. The sound quality isn't even the same.

I personally don't like it. My bf doesn't either but I can see why it's used.

though I'd say you're right for the whole lot of djs that started last week that auto sync everything, I think the experienced peoples' argument is that they already know how to beatmatch and mix like riding a bike. by having ableton, traktor, whatever do that for them, it allows the djs to do so much more that was previously impossible.

with vinyl and cds, it really wasn't that much more beyond just mixing from track a to track b. these dvs packages automate the no thought process of beatmatching, allowing the dj to focus on doing much more.

so for me, it all depends on how you use it. if you bought it the other day, and basically use your entire setup as a $1,000+ ipod shuffle and claim to be the next big thing, then I hate laptop djing. but if you use it to expand what normally couldn't be done, and already mastered beatmatching, then I say why not?

I could care less. The important thing is keeping the crowd dancing. I've never heard a good set and thought "i don't like him cause he uses a laptop". Technology is progressing and so should the dj.

Donnie, assuming he is not doing his own beat matching, what else would the dj do besides messing with the eq's? Some effects? I don't really know because I've never used a pro mixer or cdj's.

Very Interesting Post�I MUST SAY.

I have been a DJ for over 15 years (10 Professionally Touring). I started my career only using (Technics 1200's) which was the standard at the time. In order to be a quality DJ you had to learn how to beat match. The same thing happened when I was introduced to CDJ beat matching was still required (and it was a learning curve), but you had hot cues, seamless looping and triggers which made it more creative & live edit / remixing where options now.

After siting in the DJ booth with Paul van Dyk a couple of years ago, I was amazed at what he did with Ableton. Live synth's, beat loop mashing, vocal edits, sampling & overlaying 2 / 4 tracks at once. It was creative and that's what I liked about the Technology. I have recently converted my live system into Traktor which allows me to be even more creative in my sets. In using Traktor you still need to know how to beat match. Traktor has options for using "The Traditional Style" of DJ'ing. I like Traktor as it helps me organize my music and allows me to do live edits & reworks on the fly while performing.

The flaw I have with "Lap Top" Dj's are the ones who just hot cue everything and mix track to track. Sure the programs are built to keep you in sync & time, But be creative with it. Also please remove the lop top directly from in front of your face. DJ's who tend to look at their laptops the entire night while performing annoy me. Technical skills and being interactive with the crowd is what being a True DJ is all about, In my opinion. Use technology to its full potential don't be lazy�That's what separates the professional from the bedroom DJ.

All The Best
Kaeno

quote:

Originally posted by bigmike928 I could care less. The important thing is keeping the crowd dancing. I've never heard a good set and thought "i don't like him cause he uses a laptop". Technology is progressing and so should the dj. Donnie, assuming he is not doing his own beat matching, what else would the dj do besides messing with the eq's? Some effects? I don't really know because I've never used a pro mixer or cdj's.

With programs like Traktor and Ableton, there is a whole ton of new shit you can accomplish on the fly. Guys like Hawtin, Dubfire, Loco and most of the Techno jocks are using those programs to their full advantage. Running loops, live edits/remixing etc it opens up a vast array of creative activity.

I just can't stand the guys who get a mac book, load up their tunes, buy ableton or Traktor and boom, look ma I'm a dj.

with all the tutorials on ableton anyone can learn to timewarp and have their tracks synced perfectly and be the pro dj. Atleast some background knowledge of beatmatching would be ok.

i don't think knowing how to beatmatch is the difference between a pro dj and a non pro. we're getting to the point that knowing how to beatmatch is becoming less and less important... and give it a few years and I'm sure it'll just be a skill of the old school people.

frankly, I don't mind that because I don't think beatmatching is all that it takes to consider yourself a dj. I just can't stand the people that consider themselves djs with all of their equipment, and all they do is load up two tracks and quickly slide the cross fader left and right.

I don't really give a fuk but I do give cred to dj's who spin Vinyl - a la Burridge & Mr. C

and to those who play CDJ's.

In the end I don't care because tracklist > anything else. It's just they get that MellyMel respect ;D

haha

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd with all the tutorials on ableton anyone can learn to timewarp and have their tracks synced perfectly and be the pro dj. Atleast some background knowledge of beatmatching would be ok.

a lot of these people still do not know how to perfectly warp marker a track and you can tell when they play. It sounds 'ok' at best. Thats why I wont show anyone Ableton until they have learned to beatmatch. Personally, I still prefer to play with final scratch using the time code vinyls

quote:

Originally posted by Dream Beamz a lot of these people still do not know how to perfectly warp marker a track and you can tell when they play. It sounds 'ok' at best. Thats why I wont show anyone Ableton until they have learned to beatmatch. Personally, I still prefer to play with final scratch using the time code vinyls

Yeah me too, i use traktor scratch pro with timecode vinyls. I recently learned how to warp and i tried it live on the fly, When i did it i hardly had time to cue and listen to tracks. I think having your tracks prewarped lets you do a lot of things but also takes out the inner part of spinning which is pure mixing imho hehe.

I'm not even gonna go there again Donnie. This has been dragged on waaaaaayyyyyyyyy tooooooooo much on TNL!!! You know what I think about it!!! LOL

quote:

Originally posted by LaMiLf I'm not even gonna go there again Donnie. This has been dragged on waaaaaayyyyyyyyy tooooooooo much on TNL!!! You know what I think about it!!! LOL

LOL I know it has been but would like to get some opinions other than from guys that haven't been out since I was shitting yellow

I'm a beginning dj and I have been learning on Serato using vinyl timecode. Been listening to this music for over 15 years so I have a great understanding of phrasing and keys due to always paying attention to the dj's mixing. I got the beatmatching down, but that is partially due to being able to read the comp and see the bpm and use the Serato to align the beats. I know it's cheating and I want to learn proper, so I want to get vinyl and straight-up try beatmatching two tracks and keep doing it till I nail it without using any bpm counter on the mixer or using the computer to assist visually. I have friends that mix using Tracktor and 1 in particular that doesn't even use headphones when playing cause he has the damn things auto-cued and just uses his mouse to eq/mix. Pisses me off, and he considers himself an "artist" which ticks me off to no end. But to each their own, they use the technology to their advantage. I want to use all resources but to have the knowledge that I can beatmatch proper before moving on to other things. End rant.

I agree with Mel.. As long as i'm hearing tunes that blow me away, I could care less what someone is doing in the booth.. PvD could be controlling ableton with a guitar hero controller and a walkie talkie but if the music is awesome, more power to him!

quote:

Originally posted by bdr222 I agree with Mel.. As long as i'm hearing tunes that blow me away, I could care less what someone is doing in the booth.. PvD could be controlling ableton with a guitar hero controller and a walkie talkie but if the music is awesome, more power to him!

+1

lappys are kinda gay but if you still spin vinyl and cdjs thats cool. djing is abbout track selection and turntablism. software effects, looping etc is cool, just dont rely on it and be an IT geek behind the decks. learn some crazy shit like Mathais Kaden.Witness:


epdarks, love the cameo in this one haha

i could care less about someone using a lappy. as long as whats coming outta the speakers sounds good, im cool with it.

quote:

Originally posted by echoform +1

+2. If the Dj is flawless in his beatmatching skills yet plays crap, its as if he ain't doing a damn thing. Imo the hardest part of dj'ing is putting a sweet set together with your knowledge of what track should be played when.

Technology was made to make things easier, even when it comes to things people consider arts or skills.

I look at it this way.... Are you really going to stand up and walk to the TV every time you want to change the channel?... or use the remote because it was made to make your life easier?

Do you really want to break your back carrying a zillion records or CD's or just one piece of portable equipment?

I respect the art as it was in the old skool and if that's the way you want to go it's certainly your choice, but as things advance those who are resistant against the advances of modern technology are just stubborn in their ways.

...and +1 to Melly, Tracklist is damn important!

Very interesting topic indeed...


Well, when I first started DJing back in 99, DJ's were starting to get into CD's. That's how I learned how to DJ. I remember getting lots of crap for doing so too. The old school vinyl DJ's used to hate on me all the time. Many online 'flame wars' between TA, CoolJunkie, and ClubPlanet. I didn't let it bother me one bit. I let my music and mixing skills do the talking.

I challenged myself to try vinyl to see if I can do it. I tried it on my spare time and I was able to do it fairly well. However I found CD's to be easier, especially since that's how I learned.

As for laptops being used today, to me it's the same thing as when the 'vinyl vs. cd' debate was going on. Technology allows the novice DJ to be a superstar with flawless mixing. What sets the great DJ's apart from the flawless laptop mixing DJ is the way the set is put together and tracklist.

I personally have been on a long vacation from DJing lately, but I do plan on returning in some form or another and when I do, I will be using laptop. So I must be a traitor now

Feel it out. Be different with track selection. Know what when and where to play your prized possessions. A planned set may backfire if you do not think it out. Big room tracks in a dorm room sized bar is more uncomfortable than a tight pair of boxers. Some might think the Beatport top 10 is slamming, but as slamming as it may be, you can hear that on XM amongst other places. Loops are nonsense unless mastered by the man behind the controls (whatever controls they may be) Loops done by the big boys are tracks that you have never heard. They can loop the same thing for 18 minutes with other tracks and samples... but it is all new to the audience making it new and fresh. White labels, promos, unsigned, and un-heard material will always win. Always
Frowning upon technology in the booth doesn't make it a booth anymore. It makes it a VIP where girls jiggle and point while hugging a guy who needs a shave and can of Axe. Software, VST's, and sequencing software can give more options than you can imagine. CD and record players play one thing at a time and are analog. Digital sound comes from digital software/firmware. RCA cables are a thing of the past. If you're looking for the bigger jock-strap in this sport, and your opinion is vinyl and CD's; back to the bench you go!
Most producers and re-mixers that tour have a library full of loops and samples on a storage device of some sort that they can put together like a puzzle once they get to the table. A CD wallet or vinyl case of white labels are short simple and to-the-point. Not only that, but a DJ using wax and discs carry less music with them, making it much easier to know what they have and can mix it in a lot faster than most amateur lappy DJs.
Lastly, the infamous "ID this track!" posts on TA usually are tracks usually coming from a laptop, freshly burned CD of a WAV, or flash drive and are being tested on a crowd before they see a pressing compression or release.

quote:

Originally posted by XxGrOoVeERICxX Very interesting topic indeed... Well, when I first started DJing back in 99, DJ's were starting to get into CD's. That's how I learned how to DJ. I remember getting lots of crap for doing so too. The old school vinyl DJ's used to hate on me all the time. Many online 'flame wars' between TA, CoolJunkie, and ClubPlanet. I didn't let it bother me one bit. I let my music and mixing skills do the talking. I challenged myself to try vinyl to see if I can do it. I tried it on my spare time and I was able to do it fairly well. However I found CD's to be easier, especially since that's how I learned. As for laptops being used today, to me it's the same thing as when the 'vinyl vs. cd' debate was going on. Technology allows the novice DJ to be a superstar with flawless mixing. What sets the great DJ's apart from the flawless laptop mixing DJ is the way the set is put together and tracklist. I personally have been on a long vacation from DJing lately, but I do plan on returning in some form or another and when I do, I will be using laptop. So I must be a traitor now

Who are you? Are you new to TA?

hi there,what do mean by dj booth man....
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As long as the tracks are banging, the transitions are flawless, and the DJ is interacting with the crowd, it shouldn't matter. Music is music. Beat matching is beat matching. Good times are good times.

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