look man,
proof of my intentions and devotion to the music is evident in my stance against digital DJs. If you understood half of my position, and could comment on it objectively from there you might have some kind of ground to stand on. Unfortunately you don't because you keep going off topic and calling this a pissing contest between myself and the world. Well frankly its the furthest thing from it. I see the adoptation of digital mixing as the death sentance for dance music and I can trace the historical patterns and document turning points from previous downward slides and paint you a picture of how this happens - if the vinyl DJ is eliminated from the picture, and thus the acid test that the vinyl record provides for the quality of the music released and played first and foremost, from there, a whole long list of other things pops up that simply cascades the problem and even MORE SO raises a cause for concern. Digital DJ or not, if you had two minutes of deep thought on the subject you might come to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, I am onto something here and you would take the attitude that you have towards the people that hold this business together - like the bedroom djs who buy music on records and pay them some more respect. I certainly do, and not just because they buy our products, but because they provide for the core elements that essentially cause for the recycling of creative energy in the culture itself.

You don't get the same thing with digital this and digital that and a bunch of punks standing around pumping their fists in the air ever few minutes before returning to their "hide behind the screen" performances.

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DJ Lithium
Black Tiger Recordings | NKME Ltd.
www.djlithium.com | www.blacktigerrecordings.com

quote:

Originally posted by Axolotyl Congradulations... you've just recieved the "TA most pretencious DJ who is more hung up on vinyl politics rather than actually mixing award" Give it a rest dude, no one cares how cool your label is or how your average canadian bedroom DJ will rip apart your average european "jetsetter" DJ. Which I have to say, is a rediculous claim if ever I've heard one. It begs the question why they are still in the bedroom for example? I'm sure you have an answer though. Take a bow DJlithium. Your the man. I'm converted. I'm going to burn my mp3 and CD collection and smash my DNS5000's to bits. What the hell was I thinking? Infact I'm going to melt down all that silicon and make a big plastic donger to keep up my ass to remind myself of the day I was converted to being a real DJ by your good self.

Look,Dont discount what lithium is saying-there is a lot of sense to his arguement,and btw-his reach internationally is larger than most of you or any of the superstars would expect.I was amazed & could not believe it when i found out he was located right here in Vancouver.His sound is not exactly what one would expect to come from a city so over saturated with bad house its greasy.

Lithium is a rare breed who ses through a lot of of "trendy" crap and calls it as he sees it.If that does not sit well with you fine,But dont for a sec take what he has put forward here as being anything but serious and with a lot of background to back it up.

I dont see any of you guys with your own label pressing records by artists that he has helped to develop from around the world and launch onto other lables,While still holding down the longest running independent netstation around...so maybe you might just want to back off a bit unless you have something to add that simply doesn't just default to the a-typical excuses we all hear from digital djs over and over again

OK, so its about digital vs vinyl again, sorry I thought you were all wound up about the quality of your labels DJs.

Well if thats the case, why hasnt psy trance died in the ass? 90% of releases are on CD only? And if thats the case, then why are tons of other, trance labels supporting digital downloads? Just because your label chooses to release on vinyl only doesnt mean digital is the downfall of dance music. Seriously man, that is so far from the truth. The only thing it could threaten is vinyl only DJs who refuse to use anything else.

So vinyl is an acid test again bad releases? You could look at it that way, or you could choose to look at it as a barrier to more innovative and experimental forms of music that wouldnt be otherwise released because record labels cant afford to invest in something that they're not sure will sell. Why do you think theres so much trance out there atm that sounds the same? Economically speaking, digital should be used as a test bed. Artists get signed to digital and if they gain enough support from cheap digital downloads, then they can get released on vinyl. Infact, theres already labels that are doing it. Trancetribe recordings for one. But ofcourse that goes against the ethos that the more underground tunes get released on vinyl which would piss of the DJs that do spend thousands of dollars on vinyl. If anything, vinyl makes it more difficult for people to get into music and if you take those barriers down, then DJs dont seem quite as mysterious or as elite as they used to be and theres a lot of oldschoolers out there that frankly, just dont like that.

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And for good reason they don't like it... because digital download singles doesn't translate in my experience in talking to "digital djs" and then hearing what they play - into anythig worth playing.
Most if not all digital DJs will play anything they can get their mitts on thats cheap or free that has a beat and sounds "trippy" (there is your reason as to why psy-trance is still around). Well that doesn't mean there is any "taste" in the selection available or those "purchased" and played by digital djs.

This "noise" then distracts new comers to the scene and the bright flashing lights suck them into the wankers who can't hold a mix together for more than 4 bars. They don't get the background they need, from people who know (because they were actually around long enough to understand or know the history of where different things come from in terms of the genre break down) and as a result they wander through it completely clueless, get bored and bail or collectively drag the whole thing down only to, well get bored, and bail and thus take even more new people with it.
That's NOT a good thing.

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DJ Lithium
Black Tiger Recordings | NKME Ltd.
www.djlithium.com | www.blacktigerrecordings.com

quote:

Originally posted by TIESTO_MESSIAH Lithium is a rare breed who ses through a lot of of "trendy" crap and calls it as he sees it.If that does not sit well with you fine,But dont for a sec take what he has put forward here as being anything but serious and with a lot of background to back it up.

Look, I'm not discounting him. I have heard of him before and seen his name around, which is why I was so surprised to hear such elitist views on the subject. You expect that sort of stuff from Johnny Trancemaster who has bought his first pair of technics, not from a respected and experienced DJ.

Whatever man, look peace dude. Its fine that we have different views on the subject and I'm sorry for winding you up. These sorts of debates are pointless, especially when your coming from the perspective of your label. Each one is different it seems and has different practices, so more power too you.

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cool for cats,

truce for now, but my next firing round into this debate is another 12" record and two new DJ mixes which I might try to get happening tonight. Debating waiting for the test pressings or not, but whatever, nothing keeps a good record down

later.... off to mix.

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DJ Lithium
Black Tiger Recordings | NKME Ltd.
www.djlithium.com | www.blacktigerrecordings.com

22kgs is baggage. 15kgs is handluggage and peace of mind. (Personal choice)

As for your opinions on us UK DJs. I will refrain from letting this get personal and assume that this is based on a bad experience and a spur of the moment answer, as I think that you are more than comments like this.

Don't worry though, I never take a crowd forgranted, on the contrary it's my fuel and reason for doing this job in the first place. I love making people happy. I'm sure you know where I'm coming from.

My feelings on the matter are that whilst I find your enthusiasm for vinyl very touching indeed, your assesment of the Digital formats can be seen as somewhat missguided at least in my opinion.
Ultimately the art of being a good DJ has very little to do with the music format you use and everything to do with how you respond to and with the people you are entertaining.

One of the things to keep in mind with the sound quality arguement is that a lot of clubs sound bad period, what ever medium you play so there are more factors involved other than digital vs vinyl.
I admit that you can tell the difference but you have to ask yourself the question, does it go so far that it's objectionable?

A good discussion is always healthy, but I think you may also want to take on board what people are saying to you as well as enforcing your own opinions.

Overall I think the gentlemanly thing for us to do is agree to disagree.

Kind regards
Nem

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https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/

Who is more foolish?The fool, or the fool that follows him?

Let people use what they want to use- be happy within yourself and stop trying to change the world and change other peoples opinions.
People like John '00'fleming do f*ck me off to be honest- as they are on a constant crusade to changes peoples opinions and push them. I can understand he likes what he uses- but it realyl does come across as a grudge against the 12". Read his diary every month for the last year if you dont believe me.


There is absolutely no reason why the two medium cant co exist happily- just like they have for years..

People are talking about cds in the dj world like they are something new??
Ive been using them in clubs for years- twin denons were the industry standard long before the cdj1000 was thought of.
They co-existed then, and they will continue to do so.

I have also seen enough cd players go wrong/start skipping etc etc to know that every cdj will have problems in years to come- because most people wont shell out to have them serviced. You cant just 'fit and forget' like a turntable.
One went wrong on saturday night- kept turning itself off and on again.
the dj was 90% cd, and found himself in a bit of a mess......oops....

Just because something is
a) new
b)different
does not mean its
1) Better
2)groundbreaking

I repeat: Let people use what they want to use- be happy within yourself and your own methods.

quote:

Originally posted by Freak Who is more foolish?The fool, or the fool that follows him?

Obi Wan Freakinobi, my dear Watsson!

Cheers
Nem

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https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/

careful nem...showing your age

Last edited by Freak on Apr-28-2005 at 15:46

here is my favorite that touches on the subject matter...

"I find your lack of faith disturbing..."
Ah, starwars. happy times
Anyone up for some SW:Battlefront? =o)

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DJ Lithium
Black Tiger Recordings | NKME Ltd.
www.djlithium.com | www.blacktigerrecordings.com

this has been the most highbrow argument ive encountered on TA about music. really enjoyed it. and maximum respect to all the star wars tributes.


in time, you will call me, master....

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