This is probably the biggest topic in DJ world since the DJ started out. Although a disc jockey refers to someone playing (and maybe jocking) discs, today a DJ is also someone creating a musical atmosphere in order for people to dance and to keep on dancing.

During the 70’s and 80’s there were many kinds of disc jockey’s. You got your radio jockey, mix tape makers, wedding DJ’s, disco DJ’s.. All with their own kind of tools and methods to get the music done. During those day’s, new songs where only released on vinyl records. So if anyone wanted to play fresh tunes, vinyl was the way to go. Most people had massive collections of heavy weight, carton sleeved plastic in their living room. Because vinyl was the only game in town for many years, the term record got referred to its vinyl incarnation.

Art of mixing
During the vinyl era DJ’s developed their own ways in playing and mixing vinyl records with their turntables. This skill evolved into an art named mixing and is basically unchanged since then.
There are two kinds of DJ’s. Those that do mix, and the ones that don’t. To most DJ’s, mixing makes the difference between a real DJ and a plain disc jockey. A “cheap” disc jockey will stop somewhere at the end of a song and then starts another one, while a mix DJ tries to create a special mix combining two records at the same time.
The main aspect of mixing is to get from one record to another by blending them together to get a non-stop mix. Repeat this sequence a few times and you got non-stop music. This way it’s possible for DJ’s to create a long mix, so people can keep on dancing. Besides the skill of mixing, there is also the importance of style, what records to choose and when to play them.

Full control and the right records
In order for a DJ to have full control of his mix, he needs two special turntables with pitch control. Pitch control is a knob that changes the turntable’s playing speed so two records can be matched. A DJ also needs his hands directly on the music, so adjustments can be made in real time. Those “hands-on-controls” movements requires a very steady and reliable turntable.
For over 30 years, only the Technics SL1200 turntables got the job well done. Millions where sold world wide and for a long time it was the only kind of turntable found at clubs and DJ booths. It became the world wide standard. It was the only turntable used by serious DJ’s and a set of “SL’s” and a big vinyl collection were all a DJ could wish for. DJ’s got very emotional about their turntables and record collection, talking about their baby’s… Well, DJ’s spent lot’s of money, energy and effort into it! Getting my wanted records was a long mission, some records were hard to find or rare. But I had to find them, ’cause those discs could expand my style with new flavours for a longer and better mix. Owning them and adding them to my collection would increase my emotional value of it too.

The digital age
Turntables were banned from the living room by CD-players during the mid 80’s but DJ’s held on to vinyl until way after this millennium. With vinyl shops in every town and DJ’s still mixing on turntables, Dance songs were only released on vinyl. Cd-players had no pitch control, no moving platter, less control, so less mixing.
It lacked everything the art of DJing stands for, and don’t forget the DJ’s big record collection he wanted to use. Mixing on CD-players never took off until Pioneer came with their CDJ-1000 CD-players. It had the look and controls of a turntable with a dozen added features. Today, many clubs own a set of Technics and a pair of Pioneers. If not, only Pioneers..It took some time to get CD-players accepted by the hardcore vinyl DJ. But the young starter DJ’s never grew up with vinyl so they grabbed CD-players more easily. A sad revolution for the “true” dedicated DJ.
But there was no other way. Internet and MP3 made it very hard for the entire music industry to overcome. Small record labels that released their songs only on vinyl closed down or had to change their strategy. Many record shops closed down too, because less to none records were sold anymore. Another downside for the DJ. No more digging for records because any tune is spread worldwide. This makes it hard to stand out and be exclusive..

Record Kult
With less new stuff on vinyl, the ease of mp3 and the invention of DJ CD-players, vinyl will slowly die. (Sorry to all DJ’s with10k+ records who spent a life time collecting).
Vinyl lovers claimed CD-players didn’t have the feel of a turntable. I personally think that’s true, but that’s just what I’m used to. They also claim that the art of a DJ is only be done by turntables. If they mean mixing, that’s not true. The same can be done with Pioneer CD-players. It takes more skill to play on turntables, but with the added features on CD-decks there are more options.
I understand the vinyl world will try to remain the value of their record collection.
But the vinyl days are about to be over, really.

To me
The ” format-war” didn’t mean much to me. I personally think turntables are the best and I still use them every day. I stopped buying records and CD’s in 2003, so when the discussion started I was already a few steps forward. I don’t think turntables or CD-players will be future proof  as musicplayers anyhow.  I use Traktor Scratch nowadays, a box that connects my turntables to my laptop. Now I’m using my turntables to control the music that’s on a computer. This digital system can play digital music such CD and mp3, but also vinyl, all controlled by turntables or cd-players. Never have to buy a record or CD again. It gives me the same controls and it’s exactly the same as mixing normal. Maybe even better! But the actual player within this digital dj setup is actually my laptop. The turntables are only to control my laptop by mixing, but are not playing any music. So I don’t invest in expensive cd-players, because they are made to be good players. Hifi quality players with excellent sound and hi-tech circuitry; while I use my laptop for the outcoming sound. So it’s way too much money for a controller that produces
no sound while I use my digital system.
I don’t mind playing on CD-players on gigs, but I prefer turntables.
For me, CD-players are just another mixing skill that can be mastered.

Beau.

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Filed under: DJ Talk
by Beau