I'd like to hear some opinions on the following: how do you feel about someone using a pure digital setup (i.e., laptop DJ or laptop plus something like an Xponent or the Vestax equivalent which gives the DJ the ability to auto beat match) vs. someone who uses vinyl or CDJs but is so adept at beat matching that he/she might as well be using some means of auto beat matching.

The reason I ask is pure curiosity based on some comments I've been in various places. For example, I've seen people state something along the lines of "if you're using Ableton only, you'd better do something great with it to wow me," etc.

But let me spice up the scenario by adding this: assume that the DJ in question is only doing long blends of, say, house, trance, progressive, or even some breaks. In this case, is there really any difference between someone going purely digital vs. CDJs or vinyl (again, assume that the DJ is so adept at beat matching that it's really not a challenge for him/her)? I would think given these assumptions, the set would really be all about phrasing, programming, and EQing properly. Agree? Disagree?

For me personally, manual beat matching is the way to go. It's just part of the fun of DJing. No disrespect to laptop Djs though, but of course my expectations of them are higher than average.

Good music matters, absolutely nothing else does.

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quote:

Originally posted by RJT Good music matters, absolutely nothing else does.

I honestly thought you'd be a little more critical than that, Rob. Not trying to pick a fight, obviously, but I was under the impression that you weren't easily impressed with a "laptop" DJ. Perhaps I've misunderstood.

Music is the most important. As long as they're not playing a prerecorded cd, I don't really have a problem with anything else personally.

As a DJ, I love manual beatmatching. As someone above said, that's part of the fun of it. I came from years of messing around on virtual dj with my mouse, just learning eqing before I bought my gear in '06. The ability to "feel" the music by moving the platter is what it's all about.

Nevertheless, to call yourself a DJ, I think you should at least know how to beatmatch quickly/accurately/manually. It's sort of a bare essential.

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I too prefer to beat match manually. I like to think that I'm doing something while I'm fucking around behind the decks other than just picking the next track and pushing play. I just wondered how people felt about the issue given how easy it is now to have things done automatically now.

i agree with everyone else it's all about the music, but the laptop dj's are missing out on all the fun. it's like driving an automatic transmission car vs manual transmission, the manual transmission you feel more like a part of the car and have more control. to put it super cheesy it's a more intimate experience

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i also find that manually selecting and beat matching gives you a more intuitive and natural timing on the mixes that works well with a crowd. when you are deejaying with ableton you can change it every quarter note, and it seems like many do, simply because of a lack of things to do.



to ward against complacency and boredom in my mixing, i tend to pick tracks that are exceedingly difficult to mix/match. it feels more worth it to me, though probably my audience couldnt give a shit

anyways i like to believe that the tension and release comes through

quote:

Originally posted by Zoso I too prefer to beat match manually. I like to think that I'm doing something while I'm fucking around behind the decks other than just picking the next track and pushing play. I just wondered how people felt about the issue given how easy it is now to have things done automatically now.

You do nothing else but beatmatch when you play

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo You do nothing else but beatmatch when you play

that's not entirely true - you can focus more on selection and layering



edit:

also, jesus poses, drugs, and networking

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo You do nothing else but beatmatch when you play

I bedroom DJ only, and, yes, really I'm just doing it for the sake of mixing tracks that I enjoy the most back to back in a fashion that I think makes sense and sounds good to my ears.

I'm not doing any sort of tricks. So, essentially, I am just beat matching, I suppose.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT Good music matters, absolutely nothing else does.

I disagree, I enjoy being impressed by skill as well as the beats. Get the two right and I'm bouncing.