Alright...RANT TIME! I realized Saturday that I hadnt made a DJ mix in a little while...so I did. I looked, and it had been EXACTLY 1 year to the day that I had recorded a mix. While in the process of mixing...I had some thoughts (and also some realizations from my last rant): 1. People seem to be so ready to jump/wade/dive into a debate between vinyl/digital or hardware/software that mentioning any of the keywords tends to send trolls alight with flying fingers of keyboard warrior wizardry. Even if the tools mentioned have NOTHING to do with the tone of the post. 2. So that all of you are aware: In my studio I have Technics 1200MKIIs. I use them for their intended purpose-playing records. I have a Traktor setup. I use control vinyl. I have been doing so for the last 14 years. Also, I have a controller. I use it as my DJ mixer. Because I can. I dont use the sync button...though I could...its not for me. The last time I played publicly? I used CDJs with James Johnson (and we used flash drives instead of CD-Rs...because we can). Which brings me to... 3. DJ types-If for some reason you think that being vinyl-only or digital only makes you cool...you may be wrong. Being an average vinyl DJ to me now is akin to being, well...just average. If you can blend two records together....so can any guy with a controller and a computer. What makes you stand out? Also, limiting yourself in this brave new world we live in doesnt make you BETTER or WORSE...it doesnt make you a rebel...it makes you INFLEXIBLE. A great DJ can rock a party with whatever is on hand-and should be PREPARED for all situations. If you have a preference (which, of course, I do)...thats great. My preferred method of performance is to make people dance. PERIOD. 4. With all the talk of tools-PRODUCERS: MAKE MUSIC. SHUT UP ABOUT HOW. Nobody is going to hear your 16 hours of noodling on a modular (thats been put into a 6 minute track and mixed by a DJ for 3-4 minutes) and say wow, thats coming out of a MOTM...how cool! Few people will notice the artistry that it took for you to seamlessly stitch up all 17 of those drum loops and made them sound flawless. Theyll either enjoy the track and dance-or they will not. IF you decide to explain the process, thats great. But, I pick music based on its sound, not on the equipment that its made from. If all DJs picked their music that way thered be a genre for Ableton live, and a genre called Elektron...think about it. 5. In my studio, I have a mac, an iPad, TWO PC, a couple of handbuilt instruments, and also more outboard equipment. I have 3 controllers as well. I USE ALL of it. At different times. Sometimes in random combinations. Accuse me of being old all the heck you want-Ive been cross-platform since DAY ONE. My first sequencer? An IBM PC-AT (go read about the specs!)...My second sequencer??? A toaster mac. My first record was done with all digital synths. the only analog in the chain? Besides a reel-to-reel? Analog Delay. Take your purist BS elsewhere. 6. And my last comment-Be positive. Make whatever makes you happy. Dont make an excuse about not having this, not having that...because when you use those crutches, the working muscles atrophy. I love making music, I love mixing. Its NOT ABOUT THE FREAKING TOOLS. If you gave Eric Clapton a cheap, pawn shop Taiwanese six string? Hell still be Eric Clapton. And hed sound the same. The music isnt outside...its INSIDE. OH....and if youve read this far, before you comment or attempt to pick me apart about this: Please read for comprehension. Im saying ENJOY YOURSELF. Im not stating a preferred method! But Do or NOT DO, There is no such thing as TRY....to paraphrase Yoda.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 00:44:43 +0000
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