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Tunes v's Techniques
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| Millsyy2k |
First off i'd like to say i'm chuffed to to finally find a forum with intelligent people who want to discuss the music i love. Nice one you lot.
Now i was just listening to a PVD set and thinking to myself how much better his mixing is than Oakenfold's but how i still find a lot of his tracks boring. Oakie is my idol but over the years i've noticed his mixing is getting sloppy but i still personally rate him as number one because i think the tracks he plays are superb and he often deviates from the formulaic trance other top jocks play.
So , my question is this : Do you think clubbers in general give a damn about all the smart little technical tricks DJ's use or is it a case of the best records win the day?
Millsy |
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| Floorfiller |
welcome...
i think most people look at the music first, but technique is definitely important. i personally think i want to hear some bad ass tunes before anything else hehehe |
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| benoitfan |
| quote: | Originally posted by Floorfiller
welcome...
i think most people look at the music first, but technique is definitely important. i personally think i want to hear some bad ass tunes before anything else hehehe |
yeh what he said
though I must admit I often focus myself more on technique and tricks than the set's flow :nervous: |
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| Billabong |
| I think with subtle use of tricks and technques and using the mixer effectively with the eq's, a DJ can really push his set up a notch. This shouldnt be overused though, otherwise it cheapens the point of using them. |
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| davepiazza |
Welcome !!!
Excellent question Millsy! In my opinion I personally place more emphasis on a DJ's track selection than say mixing. I agree w/ you 100% on the PVD/Oakenfold comment.
My rationale is pretty simple. The history and the future of the DJ has and will always be about the music. They are the ones who introduce, create, and even mature a particular music scene. That said, it ( music selection) is the defining aspect of a DJ.
Of course mixing matters but in the day and age of computers and beat counters etc. There is one thing no computer can ever do ; that is select and program music in a way to inspire and move people. Anyone can beat match but no one can select and program a night like say PVD,Oakenfold, Tiesto, etc.
To be fair it was the DJ's like PVD, Tiesto, Oakenfold, Armin, Sasha, and many others who helped create and shape the music and music industry we enjoy today. That is the true calling of a DJ. Not just to throw one record after another until the nights over. Or be a perfect mixer. It about exposing people to something new, communicating w/ people across languages and culutres through music, thats the beauty of the DJ.
As you well know Oakenfold and many others were able to do the above extremely well and as a result their popularity and fame grew. |
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| Millsyy2k |
Interesting point about the eq's and filters. I guess that even though a lot of clubbers dont even know about a DJ's mixer and how he can manipulate the sounds, if he's doing it right it will be pushing them harder and making them feel more euphoric.
I'm a DJ and when i'm out listening to other DJ's and noticing their mistakes and lack of technique i think ignorance probably is bliss.
Millsy |
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| Nite-Mer |
Maybe I'm asking too much, but I want a dj to play good tracks, mix fluidly, program his/her set properly and play to the crowd (tricks, gestures, etc.). I spin myself, and expect a lot, because I hold myself to that standard.
I used to think PVD was really solid techinically, but the more I listen the more errors I hear. Now he doesn't even play good tracks anymore.
Oakenfold is a great programmer, but isn't the best technically either.
Tiesto falls into the same category, but he plays to the crowd.
Ferry is very good technically and, I think, pretty solid programming wise too.
In my mind Armin is the best trance dj, because he can mix fluidly and has a good track selection, that doesn't sound like everyone else.
I, personally, like to mix it up. Play some proggy, then build up and have some lulls too. Depends on where you are playing and what crowd, though. Certain events I have to play hard trance all the way. I prefer to mix it up, if possible. |
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| chesco |
Being a fan of mauro picotto, it's clear that I think tune selection is more important than technical ability.
however, since I began dj'ing, i've found myself listening a lot more closely to dj's mixing when I'm in a club.
I think when a dj starts pulling of insane tricks, a la dave clarke or starts creating new tunes with sampling and stuff, you can't help but stand there and appreciate what they are doing and how they contol every aspect of the dj performance. |
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| Nite-Mer |
| quote: | Originally posted by Millsyy2k
Interesting point about the eq's and filters. I guess that even though a lot of clubbers dont even know about a DJ's mixer and how he can manipulate the sounds, if he's doing it right it will be pushing them harder and making them feel more euphoric.
I'm a DJ and when i'm out listening to other DJ's and noticing their mistakes and lack of technique i think ignorance probably is bliss.
Millsy |
I agree completely, Ignorance is bliss! I miss being ignorant. A lot of other dj's kind of suck, when you really listen. And eq manipulation on the right type of music is awesome. I saw a bunch of the top techno dj's in Miami for WMC and their turntablism was astonishing. With techno it's almost as important to tweek the tracks as it is to play the right records. But it is a double edged sword. You can make your music sound dumb as hell with the wrong tweeking at the wrong time. |
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| davepiazza |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nite-Mer
Maybe I'm asking too much, but I want a dj to play good tracks, mix fluidly, program his/her set properly and play to the crowd (tricks, gestures, etc.). I spin myself, and expect a lot, because I hold myself to that standard.
I used to think PVD was really solid techinically, but the more I listen the more errors I hear. Now he doesn't even play good tracks anymore.
Oakenfold is a great programmer, but isn't the best technically either.
Tiesto falls into the same category, but he plays to the crowd.
Ferry is very good technically and, I think, pretty solid programming wise too.
In my mind Armin is the best trance dj, because he can mix fluidly and has a good track selection, that doesn't sound like everyone else.
I, personally, like to mix it up. Play some proggy, then build up and have some lulls too. Depends on where you are playing and what crowd, though. Certain events I have to play hard trance all the way. I prefer to mix it up, if possible. |
Agree w/ you 100% |
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| benoitfan |
| quote: | Originally posted by chesco
Being a fan of mauro picotto, it's clear that I think tune selection is more important than technical ability.
however, since I began dj'ing, i've found myself listening a lot more closely to dj's mixing when I'm in a club.
I think when a dj starts pulling of insane tricks, a la dave clarke or starts creating new tunes with sampling and stuff, you can't help but stand there and appreciate what they are doing and how they contol every aspect of the dj performance. |
Well that's how I am as well and that's why technique is so important to me, both when I perform and when I'm watching others. Eddie Halliwell is my favorite DJ, and I don't often listen to hard trance or hard house and that's essentially what he spins so... :rolleyes:
problem is in the club 5% of the ppl if that much will have an idea of what the mixer's for, so for the masses, track selection will be the most important, no doubt. some people can barely notice trainwrecks and sometimes don't even know it's the DJs fault :p |
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| Millsyy2k |
Another intersting point Dave. Computers cant program a night as succesfully as a top DJ but i think the downfall of the computer is the lack of human interaction.
An example of this: I went to Gatecrasher at heaven to see Oakenfold a few weeks back and for some reason there was seriously low lighting in and around the DJ booth. I couldnt see Oakie and because of this some of the enjoyment of his set was removed.
I think some of the answers could be found by examining the swift rise to fame of Tiesto. Although you could argue that was mainly due to his producing & remixing skills.
Millsy |
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