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vinyl vs cd- its long but I hope your read it.
Here is a situation that I would like to share with all you that pour your heart and soul into the entire vinyl vs cd casam. I hope after reading this, those individuals will understand that it is not where you are from, but merely where you are at and that you must use all of your given aptitudes to succeed in this world, let alone as a DJ- whether it be to eat or as a hobby. Hope you enjoy it and once again, thanks for taking the time!
In the past 6 years, I have collected what is to me my pride and joy- My DJ Equipment. I have been djing for the last 10 years on and off starting off with one turntable and a radio shack mixer. When I headed for the Military, I sold my equipment to my friend with the option of buying them back- one technics, mixer, and vinyl not knowing what opportunities that lied upon graduation, hence all the traveling. (When you travel to other countries and see how other djs can rock the house using cds or vinyl and the crowd not even caring what the hell is being used. I have been fortunate to have been to places such as Japan, Tallinn, France.
All with at least one year living in those locations. During my 1st year 1998, I was posted in Japan, where hip-hop is a phenomenon. All the djs were playing records out in town at the clubs and in our club on Base; there was an American – Ex Marine, playing vinyl. There was another dj that was using cds only. Both rocked the house Fri and Sat. These were the spot to be before hitting the clubs. Everyone came on Base those nights. You could only imagine the babes- that is if you are interested in Japanese chicks. Anyway, that motivated me cause I saw the versatility in djing at that point. All I thought about was rocking the crowd. But unfortunately, I would have had to be employed by the base but I was not into seizing up my spare time with my limited experience as a club dj.
I headed back to the States in 1999 and I decided that vinyl was going to be a headache because I would not be able to access any stores. Not only that, being in the military, you come in contact with a lot of different individuals that like different music and that playing only hip hop or house available on vinyl was not worth it, let alone that a lot of the Military is from the Dirty South and me being from NY, well, let us just leave it at that. So, I brought my first cdj 500 and a vestex mixer. I used a walk man to attach to the mixer and called that my set.
Then after, being the visionary that I am- which is one key to success; I brought the sp808 Roland sampler. I began doing remixes here and there and having local djs play them at clubs. After that success, prior to shipping off to Japan for a second tour in Iwakuni, I decided that I was not going to miss out on anything. I brought my second cdj500 and the pioneer efx 500 and 1 technics from my friend in October of 2000. Upon my arrival, the first thing I did is went to the Club on base and see there set up. It was a Gemini 19” rack with Gemini dual cd players. Well, I had been collecting cds so I figured that it could not be that bad. I talked to the Manager and said that he would give me a shot but I had to weight for my equipment to come in. I needed the practice cause I did not want to make a fool out of myself without any experience.
That weekend, I was syked about heading to the club on Base. I got there and that mama was so packed. The dj was putting it on and every body was loving it. All with only cds. That is what the club only had. So, after a month, my shipment came in and asked again for a date. The Manager started bull-ishing and saying that he did not want competition between his main dj and me. So, I was like forget this, let me do my own thing. I have my equipment, let me start doing gigs out in town. I started going to the clubs out in town and one in particular that everyone went to. I had a friend that new the manager and he asked if I could do the New Years party. That was a go ahead. So, now, I had 3 weeks to prepare my sounds.
I had some crooklyn party breaks and had started a record pool along with promo only since that October back in the states. So, I had the music. It was now all about perfecting my mixing and club dj skills. No more bedroom djing for Colione. Also, one will notice that if you are a dj and you travel, you are appreciated more so overseas then in the States. You can actually approach a dj in the booth and ask him questions. More than likely, they will even invite you to do a set.
That was the case in all the countries I visited and that is the honest truth. For some reason, being a dj in other countries is a way to bond and share experiences. Especially if you are from the States cause they think you have something fresh. Anyway, to get back, I got ready for the gig and New Years came. I lugged all my equipment and used their amp. I had so much stuff at this point that I had to provide my own table. I had a Numark mixer, 2 cdj 500's, a pioneer effector, sp808, one technic 1200, a cd case and a crate of records. I was set and the show was a blast. A Dj's dream come true. It was something new to them, something fresh. I brought my New York style but had a little something for everyone.
Anyway, after that party I started getting hungry and had drive. I was asking the local djs to throw some shows with me. They all were like yea, yea, we will do something. After all that non-active bull ish, I was set to do something on my own. Luckily, I hooked up with this other cat on base that had only vinyl and played only Reggae. I offered him to join me and get something started. It was about doing our thing but more so to show those suckers off. Co-incidentally, both being from Queens, New York, we could not rid that battle mentality. Anyhow, I finally went to this "buy me drinkie bar"- a place where you pay for a drink and to have a lady sit with you just to talk. There were other clubs near by but they were bars that played hip-hop and small. This place was perfect in that it had lots of room to dance and good seating areas.
So, I started conducting business with the lady that ran the place. I offered to rent a night. She directed me to the owner. I sat and talked to him. At first he refused. He was more interested in the money. I said all we needed was the entrance fees. He came to his senses and figured that if I could pull a crowd, since there was nowhere else to go near by, then he could make some loot off the bar. The price came to $1,200. So, the date was set. I recruited a manager and others to split the cost 4 ways and help promote the gig and collect at the door plus provide security. I made the flyers and worked like a thief in the night to post them up in the Barracks and out in town.
The day came but unfortunately, there was an event on the same night on Base. We lugged all of our equipment, I brought mine and my partner brought his. Together, our set up was his 2 black 1210’s, his djm 500, my effector and my cdj500s. The boards were lit and up. My partner and me sat in the back room sipping on rum and cokes waiting desperately and nervous. We were not sure if anyone would show up. Plus, that is is $1,200.00 bucks invested. I looked at my watch and the time on deck said midnight. All but 7 people were in the place to be. But, I got word from my runner that I employed to check on the base and pass the word about our party. He said that the show was ending on base and everyone was making there way out. Before you know it, there was a long line at the door and my peoples were collecting like bank teller machines.
The gig went on. There were so many people. People that never went out before came to this new event. All the Japanese rich chicks came to see the new spot. This was the best I tell you. Anyway, we did a couple more and the owner started seeing that we were making more at the door than he was and started raising the price. Other things went on but not to be disclosed.
Anyway, my time was up and made a name for myself across the city. My next post was providing Diplomatic Security in March of 2002. I up graded my equipment and got a sweet deal on the djm 600 black version for only $800.00. It was 220 voltages but I got a converter switch for on $10.00 to use for 110 voltages. I brought another technic and a computer for remixing and the Boss Sp 505. To make it short, I pretty much did the same thing except for rent out a club. I basically hooked up with all the djs, got some airtime on the radio-, which was located in one of the clubs, made two promo cds at 500 copies a piece that got bootlegged and sold without me getting any thing from it.
Now, as of May 2003 to present and where the real lesson lies, I moved here, bordering Bangkok, Thailand. I once again, being a dj as a hobby, got in good with the djs. I up graded my equipment. I sold my cdj 500’s and brought the cdj800’s and brought the new sure white label needles. I switched my music dj preference to house. I started being a guest dj at a club. The only problem is that this country has turntables, but since it is a third world country, vinyl is not easily accessible accept for Thailand but it is too far. Hence, no one uses turntables. They use strictly cd players, which by the way are top of the line cause they get it from Singapore. Anyway, every month, I would have to lug my turntables just to do a gig.
I started going to other clubs and eventually became good with all the djs. The problem is that I started ordering my records online and now I have only new tracks on vinyl. I would go to the clubs and get on the mic and immediately, I would be asked to do a set. But unfortunately, I was limited cause I had no sounds but the same trash on cd. What was a brother to do? What would you do? As I stated before, being the visionary that I am, I started recording my vinyl to cd. I now record 12-15 tracks per cd and duplicate that cd in order to mix with in. Is this a waste, well, if I am getting the job done and it is not killing me, then no. Not in my opinion.
The only problem now lies in the sound quality. Vinyl has a lot of popping and crackling and they are use to cd sound in which I am yet to get rid of unless I am mastering a promo cd. Now, to all the strictly vinyl heads that swear that one is not a dj unless you spin vinyl, what would you do? Mind you, I have job and a salary. I don’t do these gigs for payment cause it is not allowed under my diplomatic status. I do it for the love and so when I get out of the M.C. I can say that I have something under my belt and carry on the mission in owning my own café. I know that having both cds and vinyl is expensive. No one says that you have to have the top of the line equipment. These days, companies are getting carried away with all the accessories. But if you are proficient at both, the basic systems, then what can stop you. If you know a little about everything, then that makes you that much better of a dj. That makes you prepared for all occasions. How do you think most djs get their gigs? By having a one sided tracked mind? I also understand that depending where you are, especially in the states, you can’t just get in good with the Djs, but if you do, then you better be willing to be able to put out.
Think about this, if you limit your self to one piece of gear, then what purpose do you serve as a dj. There is no order in the rules of djing that states that you must strictly be a vinyl head or cd head. It is about rocking the crowd no matter how you do it. About using your arsenal.. Do me one
Ibiza Spain, one of the best party spots in the world, not to prove a point and mock vinylist, but only to to back up the digital scene for being bashed as non djs, some djs in Ibiza use strickly cds and have a residency at the one of the Worlds Greatest party gauges!!!
I am sorry it took so long but I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for your patience!
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