Also, there is NO DJ ON EARTH who controls the crowd like Oakey does. His tune selection when the room is getting too hot (physically) is masterful, taking the level down so that people cool down. Then bringing it back up again. This cannot be achieved by playing a mixed CD.

I have only seen Sasha a few times so fair enough. And you are correct about 'Unkle - In A State' it is emotional, which is why it was Oakey's biggest tune for a while. As for Sasha being a better producer, I don't know. Sasha is better at producing his type of music and Oakey the same. If we are going into production, then in terms of variety Oakenfold wins hands down. He has produced Trance, HipHop, Drum&Bass and breaks. 'Virus - Earth' is absolutely outstanding as is his mix of 'Jan Johnston - Unafraid.'

Airdrawndagger personifies the Sasha sound. As I said before, it is meaningful but not emotional in the way that Oakey's material is. (I wish somebody could give me the word I am looking for in describing Sasha's sound. Please)

Take THE Northern Exposure and A Rare Treat. Both are quite simply staggering. My comedown regime involves listening to both of these on some GHB. When I listen to Northern Exposure, I hear it and think "It doesn't get much better than this," then I stick A Rare Treat on and the difference is amazing. Again the difference in the sound is evident in these two but I can't say what it is. Sasha plays much more percussive tracks and Oakey tends to go for THAT beat which is evident in most of his tracks, a heavy drum then a thick CLAP sound. I picked up on this when standing up on the metal balcony at Home in London. The heavy beat then a sound like EVERYONE stamping on the metal floor beneath me, then repeated. It rocks, literally.

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Originally posted by gzmums Also, there is NO DJ ON EARTH who controls the crowd like Oakey does. His tune selection when the room is getting too hot (physically) is masterful, taking the level down so that people cool down. Then bringing it back up again. This cannot be achieved by playing a mixed CD.

First of all, Tiesto works the crowd just as well, if not better.

Secondly, you can work a crowd through a premixed set. If he knows where he wants to take the energy and programs it.

Third, he made them build an enclosure around him the night of the accused cd play. Seems awefully fishy that he didn't want anyone to see what he was doing. I saw him this year, and he was alright. I'm not an Oakie hater. I think he's done a lot for EDM. I just think his passion is intermittent, at best, now. He cares sometimes and doesn't care others.

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Old Norsk Sessions every 4th Monday from 4-6pm EST on Digitally Imported Radio (Progressive Station), and 7pm CET on Trance.fm every 1st Saturday

honestly i didnt even know Oakey played using CD's.

Ive seen him like 5 times in the last 3 years, and never have i seen him using cds, on vinyl!

and even if he did use cds, i find it very hard to believe that any big name would use a pre-recorded mix, even if it was amazing.

you think the club owner would stand for it? if i was an owner i know i wouldnt

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Originally posted by Orko honestly i didnt even know Oakey played using CD's. Ive seen him like 5 times in the last 3 years, and never have i seen him using cds, on vinyl! and even if he did use cds, i find it very hard to believe that any big name would use a pre-recorded mix, even if it was amazing. you think the club owner would stand for it? if i was an owner i know i wouldnt

It wasn't a club. It was an outdoor festival for a radio station that plays some edm, but not mixed. I'm not sure, as I didn't see it with my own eyes, but word is that it was a pre-recorded cd and that it wasn't even a good one. Someone else I spoke with told me they heard the same exact set, with the same errors, in another city prior to seeing him here. I am speculating a bit, but I don't know for sure and until then I still have some respect for him.

The other thing that I have heard, and believe, is that his mixed cd's are put together via computer by a team of sound engineers. He picks the tracks and the order and they put the cd together. To me that is fairly weak as well. The whole purpose for me when I mix a cd is to see how much I can individualize my set and come up with mixes that move me and others. Track selection is highly important, but the overall package should be there.

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Old Norsk Sessions every 4th Monday from 4-6pm EST on Digitally Imported Radio (Progressive Station), and 7pm CET on Trance.fm every 1st Saturday

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Originally posted by Nite-Mer The other thing that I have heard, and believe, is that his mixed cd's are put together via computer by a team of sound engineers. He picks the tracks and the order and they put the cd together. To me that is fairly weak as well. The whole purpose for me when I mix a cd is to see how much I can individualize my set and come up with mixes that move me and others. Track selection is highly important, but the overall package should be there.

i dont know if it takes an engineer to put together a mix cd on the comp, but i believe it too, and it doesnt matter to me. these cds are supposed to be perfect, i dont want double beats messing up my nice cd. They are very rarely supposed to be a live set, but merely a representation of what you will hear if you go see the dj live.

Most djs mix their cds via computer, or pro-tools. I thinks most of the GU cds are computer mixed, except...oakey's oslo. It states on the cd "recorded live at the venue at request of the dj" or something to that effect, prompting me to think that the others are all mixed via computer.

if you listen closely to most mix cds, the mixing is just TOO PERFECT for it to be the dj. ive only ever heard Sasha mix flawless sets before.

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Originally posted by Orko i dont know if it takes an engineer to put together a mix cd on the comp, but i believe it too, and it doesnt matter to me. these cds are supposed to be perfect, i dont want double beats messing up my nice cd. They are very rarely supposed to be a live set, but merely a representation of what you will hear if you go see the dj live. Most djs mix their cds via computer, or pro-tools. I thinks most of the GU cds are computer mixed, except...oakey's oslo. It states on the cd "recorded live at the venue at request of the dj" or something to that effect, prompting me to think that the others are all mixed via computer. if you listen closely to most mix cds, the mixing is just TOO PERFECT for it to be the dj. ive only ever heard Sasha mix flawless sets before.

I believe Politics of Dancing was mixed on cd or Final Scratch, but I know what you mean. If he were to mix it on the computer personally, I would respect it more.

On the same token, there are ways to make a cd perfect playing vinyl, or at least close enough. I don't even master my discs and I have several good cd's. If you level match properly there are ways to go back and fix errored mixes. I prefer that to cheating via computer. Also, I believe others mix their cd's, because you can hear minor errors, sometimes, covered up by software. In fact, I believe I heard a minor slip on Sander K's "Everybody". It's minute, so it could be kick/bass interaction, but I heard something funny. I have never recorded a set that went 100% perfect without some adjustments, but minute errors show the human aspect. As long as the slips are very minor and caught early, it's almost negligable.

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Old Norsk Sessions every 4th Monday from 4-6pm EST on Digitally Imported Radio (Progressive Station), and 7pm CET on Trance.fm every 1st Saturday

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Originally posted by Nite-Mer Secondly, you can work a crowd through a premixed set. If he knows where he wants to take the energy and programs it.

I disagree totally. You have to read the situation tune by tune and see what goes down well. Nobody knows really whether any DJ's set is totally pre-planned, but you have to mix live to fit the mood. Also, with specifics such as dancefloor temperature that can lead to people dying, you have to mix live to control this. (One other aspect to this specific point is that Oakey's contract rider states that there must be free drinking water available at all his gigs.) Another example is the crowd tiring, a pre-mixed set is useless to combat this.

'Working the crowd' and 'pre-mixed set' are contradictions in terms.

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Originally posted by gzmums I disagree totally. You have to read the situation tune by tune and see what goes down well. Nobody knows really whether any DJ's set is totally pre-planned, but you have to mix live to fit the mood. Also, with specifics such as dancefloor temperature that can lead to people dying, you have to mix live to control this. (One other aspect to this specific point is that Oakey's contract rider states that there must be free drinking water available at all his gigs.) Another example is the crowd tiring, a pre-mixed set is useless to combat this. 'Working the crowd' and 'pre-mixed set' are contradictions in terms.

I agree and disagree with you. I don't pre select my tracks for a set, because I agree it's better to read the crowd and feed off the vibe. However, a man such as Oakenfold could pre-select and record and get away with it, if he plans the set. As far as I know, he didn't get away with it. Everyone that attended that I know, said he was terrible this night. In addition, it sounds like it was a recording of a live set. If people vibe off his sound and he recorded in front of a live audience it could work. I still go through stages of emotion when I listen to Essential Mix - Live in Ibiza or the Rojan. If a set like that, that I hadn't heard was played on cd at a party, I would still love the set.

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Originally posted by Nite-Mer I agree and disagree with you. I don't pre select my tracks for a set, because I agree it's better to read the crowd and feed off the vibe. However, a man such as Oakenfold could pre-select and record and get away with it, if he plans the set. As far as I know, he didn't get away with it. Everyone that attended that I know, said he was terrible this night. In addition, it sounds like it was a recording of a live set. If people vibe off his sound and he recorded in front of a live audience it could work. I still go through stages of emotion when I listen to Essential Mix - Live in Ibiza or the Rojan. If a set like that, that I hadn't heard was played on cd at a party, I would still love the set.

you may like the set, but it doesnt mean that the set would be in tune with the crowd. it would go in a direction regardless of where the crowd was going.

on the flip side of the coin, you could say that the set would help give the crowd direction, which i totally agree with.

but one thing is for sure, it would not be responsive to the crowd.

oakey rarely will play a totally pre mixed set, but he does do it and has been doing it for years. Pretty pathetic really.

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Originally posted by Laushinameee oakey rarely will play a totally pre mixed set, but he does do it and has been doing it for years. Pretty pathetic really.

i wish, that way his mixing wouldnt be so horrid