Archive for 2012
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.
American youth entitlement culture
Melinda, 25, has just posted on Facebook how she's booked upcoming trips to Las Vegas, Miami, and Toronto. People who know her know she's the type who goes on these trips with three priorities: shopping, clubbing, and lounging by the pool. Friends have joked about her regularly posting links to expensive clothes on her timeline, wondering where she gets the money.
Darien, 24, drives around in a brand-new Ford Mustang that he customized with rims and a nice stereo. He wears Diesel jeans, Guess shirts, and Fossil watches. He also makes it a point to buy every new iPad and iPhone when they come out. Weekends for him are usually about cruising to the clubs and getting a booth with bottles of vodka, generally $250 per bottle.
Melinda and Darien both sound like they have fun lives, but there is a catch. Melinda skipped college and works as a low-paid receptionist/assistant for an insurance company, and Darien has just graduated from college and is working an entry-level position in an ad agency. Both live at home with their parents, have zero savings, and loads of debt. This lately seems to be a common story with much of America's youth.
Chicago's city sticker and the insane controversy
So it's been all over the news and internet about the now pulled design for the 2012-2013 Chicago city sticker. For those not from Chicago, I'll lay it out simple. Every year we who own cars in the Windy City have to shell out $100 to display a sticker on our windshield, or face fines. The designs for these stickers are usually made via a contest for local amateur artists.
This new sticker though has incited controversy due to claims that the hands in the image are somewhat like gang signs. This one I have to give a hearty "facepalm" about, simply because it's such a stupid logic.
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.
6 Steps To Your Dream DJ Gig Abroad
Have you ever dreamed of playing in another state or even country? I'm sure you have. It's a dream practically every DJ out there has the moment they get on the decks.
They see the headliners and even popular locals flying around the world to play, and want to be there themselves one day. Now you might think playing abroad is a privilege only set for those guaranteed to fill a club - but that's not entirely true. What if I told you it could be easier than you think? Yes, with a little work and some ingenuity, you could play abroad too. Here's how...
