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Sasha is now using Traktor!!! (pg. 5)
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| Ryan0751 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Quazar
The one thing I don't understand about the industry right now is the love of CDJs. They're dumb, and they've always been dumb (obviously they're good gear from a technical standpoint, I simply mean in concept). It should have gone from vinyl straight to mp3s, but instead we have this middle stage with CDJs.
It's funny how I've been told by some DJs I should "learn CDJs, cause midi controllers and laptops are lame". To me it seems ridiculous to buy something to play a dying medium. Vinyl will always be respected and unique, because it actually SOUNDS different, but CDJs play the same digital tracks in a more cumbersome way.
Who knows, maybe it's just because the first time I started DJing was back in the latter vinyl days (02-03), and then I gave it up and have been getting into it again recently with a midi controller + laptop. Burning a bunch of CDs just seems silly.
(I know the new ones have USB inputs, and they'd probably be great to use as controllers, but I don't see why you'd look down on a midi controller, but respect the use of CDJs as mp3 controllers) |
Because when the CDJ's first came out, there was a period of about 7 years where laptops weren't powerful enough, and the software to DJ with digital audio files wasn't mature.
Some people still love to have physical media, it's a preference. |
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| n3lly |
| quote: | Originally posted by Quazar
It's funny how I've been told by some DJs I should "learn CDJs, cause midi controllers and laptops are lame". T |
I think 'laptop/controller' dj's should learn how to play on CDJ's not because laptops are lame, but because every club will have a cdj there. It's a solid and reliable enough medium to play your songs from. A club wont have a spare laptop sitting around with all your tunes on it.
The amount of times I've seen laptop dj's give up their sets because they can't play on cdj's is hilarious. "no no no i can't play on cdj's i'll only play with my laptop"
The ability to play on cdj's is just a handy backup. |
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| Quazar |
| quote: | Originally posted by n3lly
I think 'laptop/controller' dj's should learn how to play on CDJ's not because laptops are lame, but because every club will have a cdj there. It's a solid and reliable enough medium to play your songs from. A club wont have a spare laptop sitting around with all your tunes on it.
The amount of times I've seen laptop dj's give up their sets because they can't play on cdj's is hilarious. "no no no i can't play on cdj's i'll only play with my laptop"
The ability to play on cdj's is just a handy backup. |
That's a valid point, and I suppose most clubs now have 2000's so you can still use the mp3s via USB. I just wish they weren't so damn expensive. :P
@Ryan: I understand the love of physical media, but CDs don't really feel physical to me when they're just CDRs in a wallet. You just slide it in and manipulate it like an mp3. It's not like vinyl. But if somebody already has a wallet full of CDs, I can understand them just wanting to use it like they always have. |
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| Nemesis44 |
| quote: | Originally posted by n3lly
The amount of times I've seen laptop dj's give up their sets because they can't play on cdj's is hilarious. "no no no i can't play on cdj's i'll only play with my laptop"
The ability to play on cdj's is just a handy backup. |
Indeed, I always have 4 CDs full with my absolute must play tunes (Duplicated so 8 in total) in the event that something goes wrong. I have only ever had to call on this once but it’s once more than I would like to be in the situation where I would have to stop playing altogether.
I actually have the tracks as CD Audio files in the event that the club doesn’t have CDJs that support MP3.
Nem |
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| n3lly |
| quote: | Originally posted by Quazar
That's a valid point, and I suppose most clubs now have 2000's so you can still use the mp3s via USB. I just wish they weren't so damn expensive. :P
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Even with a memory stick though, it's the art of actually beat matching on a cdj that i'm talking about. Laptop dj's and the software they use can often lead them to rely on a sync button here or there or a quick stare at the laptop screen to see if the beat grids are lined up etc.
But yes i agree that there is a separation with cd's. It's no where near as nice as vinyl but the convenience was what won peoples hearts over. Let alone the fact you only had to pay for the cd's you were burning your illegally downloaded tracks on to. :)
Nem, i do the same. Although i don't update those cd's often enough. I should really burn a new batch right now! ha |
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| progress |
| quote: | Originally posted by Quazar
The one thing I don't understand about the industry right now is the love of CDJs. They're dumb, and they've always been dumb (obviously they're good gear from a technical standpoint, I simply mean in concept). It should have gone from vinyl straight to mp3s, but instead we have this middle stage with CDJs.
It's funny how I've been told by some DJs I should "learn CDJs, cause midi controllers and laptops are lame". To me it seems ridiculous to buy something to play a dying medium. Vinyl will always be respected and unique, because it actually SOUNDS different, but CDJs play the same digital tracks in a more cumbersome way.
Who knows, maybe it's just because the first time I started DJing was back in the latter vinyl days (02-03), and then I gave it up and have been getting into it again recently with a midi controller + laptop. Burning a bunch of CDs just seems silly.
(I know the new ones have USB inputs, and they'd probably be great to use as controllers, but I don't see why you'd look down on a midi controller, but respect the use of CDJs as mp3 controllers) |
What happens when you're laptop crashes and you can't get it back up? It rarely happens, but when it does, what are you going to do? If you know how to at least use CDJ's you can salvage a night vs. being able to do nothing.....
Same with vinyl, but unless you plan on spinning vinyl these days, you're not carrying that crate of records to a gig anymore.... |
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| DjWoody |
| quote: | Originally posted by progress
What happens when you're laptop crashes and you can't get it back up? It rarely happens, but when it does, what are you going to do? If you know how to at least use CDJ's you can salvage a night vs. being able to do nothing.....
Same with vinyl, but unless you plan on spinning vinyl these days, you're not carrying that crate of records to a gig anymore.... |
And that happened to me before way back when Spundae was at Circus. That day it wasn't just Serato that crashed, my motherboard fried!!!! Luckily, I always bring CD's with me so I finished off my set with CD's. |
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| Ryan0751 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DjWoody
And that happened to me before way back when Spundae was at Circus. That day it wasn't just Serato that crashed, my motherboard fried!!!! Luckily, I always bring CD's with me so I finished off my set with CD's. |
But that's always been the case, what if your stylus snaps off? You always need a backup! |
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| Quazar |
| quote: | Originally posted by progress
What happens when you're laptop crashes and you can't get it back up? It rarely happens, but when it does, what are you going to do? If you know how to at least use CDJ's you can salvage a night vs. being able to do nothing.....
Same with vinyl, but unless you plan on spinning vinyl these days, you're not carrying that crate of records to a gig anymore.... |
It's sad, I never see turntables in the booth at clubs anymore. I'm sure they have some in their store rooms, but still... I miss seeing them up there. :/
You guys make good points. If a CDJ crashes, the club will probably have a spare. If your laptop crashes, I doubt they have one with your software of choice sitting in the back. |
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| Lunar Phase 7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nemesis44
Heya Fledz, feel free, although I have to say I am quite surprised as I had already prepared my asbestos undies for this one but so far the flamethrower mob havn't arrived he he.
Cheers
Nem |
That's a red dwarf quote if ever I seen one! |
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| Lunar Phase 7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by n3lly
I think 'laptop/controller' dj's should learn how to play on CDJ's not because laptops are lame, but because every club will have a cdj there. |
Do you really think this is true though?
People said this about 1200/1210's not long back, I know of several clubs that got rid of TTs a few years back.
I've been to a few clubs (not world class by any means) and all they have are ty rack mounts CD players for top 40 djs to stop-start DJ with and that's it, they hire in CDJS or the performer brings their owns gear/laptop. It's mad. |
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| Stu Cox |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lunar Phase 7
Do you really think this is true though?
People said this about 1200/1210's not long back, I know of several clubs that got rid of TTs a few years back.
I've been to a few clubs (not world class by any means) and all they have are ty rack mounts CD players for top 40 djs to stop-start DJ with and that's it, they hire in CDJS or the performer brings their owns gear/laptop. It's mad. |
I'm a firm believe that generally trying as much different equipment as possible can only help. DJing has a strong technical part to it and the more experience you can get using different kit the better. Once you've learnt your way around a few different mixers in detail you get used to the common features and find you can walk up to one you've never seen before and use it straight away. Same goes for turntables, CDJs, DJ software and controllers. And understanding how something like a turntable works will probably also improve a DJ's understanding of the software they use.
The fact that knowing how to find your way around any install mixer and CDJs gives you a back-up option is a big bonus. Saves you taking spares yourself...
There might be a point when installed CDJs disappear from clubs. If so, with things like the CDJ2000 around I don't think that's going to happen within the next 5 years at least - residents love them because it at least reduces the amount of kit they have to bring with them week in week out.
And when they do disappear and every club has an installed laptop, we'll be saying that you should get used to using whatever the standard software is. |
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