as a dj, I'd have to say both. but in the sense that you have to have a very big and good track selection that you don't have to compromise the mixing to play good track selection. I mix my tracks in scales to make it sound tighter, which at times can limit the track I'm going to play next. for example a track with a root note of B won't sound good, even if the beats are lined up with a track that's in G#. But I can go up a few scales, like a 7th and then get into a track that's in G#, one or 2 tracks later. having a large track selection means you won't have to play a filler to be tighter and play the track that's in a different scale. now with playing cd's I can bring out hundreds of tracks, and burn comp's of just the best tracks... and not compromise the programming to keep tight with the mixing...

my 2 cents.
chris.

You should ask THIS guy

Most average clubbers don't care about mixing, their focus is on the tracks played.

However in my opinion, it's both. A good DJ is one who can not only entertain me with a fantastic track selection but who also has spot-on, creative mixing with as-flawless-as-possible transitions.

I think that there is a lot of energy transferred in a very tight mix. I think the mix is very inportant to maintain the clubbers' confidence in the dj, but most importantly, the track selection makes the crowd what it is.

I don't think a good dj can have one without the other.

You could mix some crap music with some shit that makes your ears bleed, perfectly, but wouldn't definitely please the crowd............

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Track selection is way more important, I've seen many guys who can't mix very well but they get the crowd rocking!

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quote:

Originally posted by jahnlay Track selection is way more important, I've seen many guys who can't mix very well but they get the crowd rocking!

This should be true. As long as there's at least like... decent mixing.

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you can have mediocre mixing and excellent tracks but you cant have excellent mixing and mediocre tracks. so in the end the trackselection is what matters most.

quote:

Originally posted by jahnlay Track selection is way more important, I've seen many guys who can't mix very well but they get the crowd rocking!

i.e. Scot Project

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both
a dj is just a dj without beatmatching

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great tracks will always compensate for average-to-bad transitions; good mixing can't save a bunch of shit tunes strung together.

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most definitely both for me.

I really enjoy listening to songs being combined in ways I haven't heard before. That's part of the thrill, when the DJ drops that track you love except it's laid over another great song. Or how sometimes the dj will give you a little taste of the next song coming on by including maybe just a barely hearable bit of the melody, or a certain beat. For lots of sets it's fun to try and guess the next track that's coming before the main recognizable parts of it hit.

Also, when I'm dancing to a song, I don't want to have to change my tempo or style abrubptly because the DJ did a hardcut or trainwrecked, that just messes with how much i'm feeling it if I'm dancing.

That said, I don't want to hear a bunch of crap, so track selection is important. The DJ needs to know when I need that bangin track that makes everyone go crazy or when everyone needs a rest. Also, I like songs I know, but I also love hearing good music I don't know, it helps me get lost more in the music if it's not a song I know like the back of my hand.

rj

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