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Making the transition from laptop djing to just cdj's
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| utdarsenal |
Hey,
I've been using Serato for about 2 years now but I think it's time for me to wave byebye to it now. My friend let me borrow his CDJ's for about a week and I thought it was much funner, I got beatmatching by ear down in about two days and thought CDJ's were much easier to use than turntables.
I want to lay off the laptop because, well, DJ's who don't have laptops are more respected in general and I don't want to be taking my laptop and midi controller everywhere I play. I just want to show up with a CD notebook or usb stick & headphones, and bam, party.
There's something I'm not sure what I should be doing though..
Everyone says that a hard part about just djing by ear is that you need to know your songs pretty good (this is something I never bothered doing because on Serato i'd just look at the waveform and know what the whole song looked like)..
Now, what exactly is it that I need to study about the song? When the drops are? How many bars/phrases are in the intro/outro, when it drops etc. etc. ?
What are good techniques for studying songs, and what do you recommend for a DJ trying to start off fresh on CDJ's?
thanks! |
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| Stu Cox |
CDJ1000/2000s have got a waveform display which gives you some idea of what's happening in a track, although it's nowhere near as detailed as Serato. But of course 'lesser' models (CDJ8XX etc) don't have that so you are a bit blind.
Yeah it'd be great if we all knew every one of our tunes inside out, but with the rate that music comes out you sort of have to choose to either have lots of new music or take time to learn your way round all of your records (or give up your social life and spending every spare minute with your music).
I think most DJs find it easy enough to guess what's going to happen: most dance music's pretty formulaic, so you know things are likely to happen every 8 bars etc. If the track happens to throw in a curve ball, it's not normally too hard to recover (if you miss the drop just mix it a bit later, etc)... the loop buttons can used to great effect to make things sit where you want them to as well, rather than having to predict.
Try mixing with your laptop and covering up the screen whenever you're not actually picking/loading your tracks. That should give you some appreciation of what it's like to mix without being able to see the waveforms. |
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| Senator Clay Davis |
| if you have the money: cdj2000 and USB-sticks. |
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| orTofønChiLd |
| you should make the transition from cdjs back laptop if u want something better |
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| knowhope |
LuLz at peeps switching gear to be "respected" and/or "famous", instead of the love of the music.
DJing is all about being cool.
Seriously. |
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| DizkokidD |
| quote: | Originally posted by knowhope
LuLz at peeps switching gear to be "respected" and/or "famous", instead of the love of the music.
DJing is all about being cool.
Seriously. |
you not know what you speak of being a dj is all i ever wanted to be, the fame the fortune the women!!!
forget the love of music its all about the popularity!!!!!
/s |
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| utdarsenal |
oh yeah totally, it's all about the girls.. the music.
=|
Yeah, i'm sorry laptop djing has become so boring and easy |
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| orTofønChiLd |
| if you started on laptop and never went on cdjs by itself then i see where your coming from but if its vice versa then there really is no transition. |
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| feelgood |
i got into the djing for the coloured headphones...
To the OP:
Dont waste your money on CDJ's unless you're rich. I personally spin CDJ's and love em. I love the tactile feel.
However...5 years from now, CDJ's will be obsolete. Don't worry about street cred. Just create beautiful layered sets and you wont have to prove anything.
If you want to experience 'true' DJ culture, pick up some vinyl decks, and 10 pieces of vinyl Learn how to spin on that, and you've experienced what 'turntablism' is. 10 pieces of vinyl and a couple used vestax decks will muuuuuccccchhh cheaper than a couple entry level pioneer cdjs. |
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| orTofønChiLd |
technics 1200's
that is all |
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| Ash Parajuli |
Revox Reel to Reel.
That is all. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by feelgood
i got into the djing for the coloured headphones...
To the OP:
Dont waste your money on CDJ's unless you're rich. I personally spin CDJ's and love em. I love the tactile feel.
However...5 years from now, CDJ's will be obsolete. Don't worry about street cred. Just create beautiful layered sets and you wont have to prove anything.
If you want to experience 'true' DJ culture, pick up some vinyl decks, and 10 pieces of vinyl Learn how to spin on that, and you've experienced what 'turntablism' is. 10 pieces of vinyl and a couple used vestax decks will muuuuuccccchhh cheaper than a couple entry level pioneer cdjs. |
Eh? bad info here in abundance.
CDJ's won't be obsolete in 5 years because laptops rate of breakage will not be obsolete in 5 years. Until they make a flawless, unbreakable, non crashing, beer and raver proof laptop, there will always be a need for CDJ's and CD's. I don't know a single laptop DJ worth their salt that does not bring a full CD wallet to a club just in case.
If anything, the rate of laptop malfunction has been steadily increasing year upon year. The current rate is 1/3 of all laptops will fail to point of repair or unit death within it's first three years. Good luck just taking you gigging laptop to a club regularly.
Secondly, if you're going to learn on vinyl, then don't buy vestax decks. Buy technics, and some cheap vinyl.
I can count on one hand the number of clubs I've seen in 10 years that use vestax decks.
2 x pioneer CDJ800mk2 and a mixer, cost the same as 2 techs and a mixer, and a fair bit less than a good laptop and serato/trackor and a mixer. |
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