Archive for the 'DJ/Club Culture' Category
The Great Debate: Sync
You knew I was going to dive into this topic.
I started with the discussion over media, but now I want to stop beating around the bush and go right into the bigger point of debate that has been endless for a few years now - the sync button. A mainstay of most DJ software titles, with improvements being pushed on every update, it's a function that's become the black sheep child of DJ midi controls, and yet while many admonish its existence, many more are using it, even if they won't admit to it.
Is it cheating as some DJs insist? Or progress? Down the rabbit's hole we go...
DJ Name Drops: All You Need To Know
I've noticed many DJs on the Digital DJ Tips forum and on similar forums asking about name drops. How to make them, where to get them made, when to use them, even debating on whether DJs should use them at all.
Today we're going to explore a little history on DJ name drops, as well as discuss how you can make your own and where to get them from professionally. Finally we'll give you some tips on when and how to use them for best effect.
Simon Cowell's DJ X Factor: Why It Could Be A Good Thing
It's been all over the internet this week that reality show producer Simon Cowell is looking to take his talent show formula to the DJ world. From what's been leaked, this will appear to work in a similar fashion to Idol and X-Factor, only with DJs competing (rather than singers/performers).
Already the DJ world has blown up into its predictable bevy of hate and angst for anything "pop culture" that dares to invade its private little realm. I admit I rolled my eyes at first, but after thinking about Cowell's other shows, I now think that "Traktor Factor" might not be a bad thing for DJ culture after all.
The Great Debate: Media
With the 2012 National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show this weekend, I'm reminded many times of the endless debate that the technological progress in DJ equipment has brought. If any of you have been following the advancements over the years, you'll of course notice how much the laptop has become a mandatory part of most DJ setups, and even analog media (vinyl records and CDs) being pushed out for digital media (MP3, Flac, WAV, etc.). On top of that, midi controls have now become even more widespread and it's pretty clear they will push CD players and vinyl turntables out.
Probably from the birth of the CDJ, I've been hearing this debate to death. Even more now with the advent of digital technology and software-based DJing. I can't go one week without seeing a Facebook posting, YouTube video, or blog entry from someone lamenting on how DJing has taken a nosedive because of the decay of analog vinyl or the onslaught of software and midi.
Why the opening slot isn't a guaranteed DJ career boost
Over the last couple of years, I've seen videos and blogs pop up like crazy with "rules" and "guidelines" and "suggestions" on how DJs can be a good opener. I've heard plenty of DJs, music enthusiasts, and even promoters lament on how they can never find a good opening DJ for events, even some claiming how being a good opener can help a DJ grow to being a superstar like the big name headliners.
I look around at all the guys I've seen open for big names over the years. All those local DJs who opened for some headliner, and I haven't seen any of them become anything close to "superstar". I've seen some get some bigger spots once in a while, or play more regularly around town, but I have really yet to see any of these openers become the headliner who flies all over the world making big money DJing.
Steve Angello and his Dance Valley set
It's been the talk of the internet for the last week. I first heard through Patrick Wayne when he posted the video link on Facebook. Others chimed in, mainly DJs, about a recent set Steve Angello played at the massive Dance Valley event in the Netherlands. While the video has been removed from YouTube, a Netherlands-based video site still has the footage here.
As you can see, Angello is playing without headphones, dancing around, doing "Jesus poses" and any DJ can even hear blends happening when the man wasn't even on the decks. You can clearly see the controversy here as what appears to be a big and expensive headliner is doing what popstars have when they lip sync performances.
