modern djs

[MiscGenius]

i was wondering what do djs do these days :confused1:
i mean is it still mostly mixing a set of songs for the right situation like in a club or does todays technology allow them to do something else or more than before with the two turntables?

also can anyone name some famous djs for me to look up and check out how and what they do in their styles and mixes etc?

[NoirTech]

Not sure I understood the questions, but I use various things depending on the situation and location. At the club I'll use the in house CD players. If they don't have CD players, I'll either

a: bring my own
b: bring turntables with time coded vinyl to use with my laptop

It really does depend on the night, the duration of my set, and how much it pays. Depending on those factors I'll bring minimal items, or go all out and even bring my projector.

[MiscGenius]

yea just meant like with visuals and maybe samples
anything that is new and modern for an overall set
also who are some famous djs today

[NoirTech]

In which genre? Does it matter which genre? If not, ...

DJ Ronnie G is blowing up lately since he's considered the world premiere video DJ. He does some amazing stuff live with visuals and video mixing.

[Trentreant]

yea just meant like with visuals and maybe samples
anything that is new and modern for an overall set
also who are some famous djs today

You mean like, do they have music pads that they hit on their bodies as they dance in the DJ booth. Sort of like, have they become a part of the music by adding their own bangs, claps, and horns or something? LMAO :001_tt2:

[LSDJ]

i was wondering what do djs do these days :confused1:
i mean is it still mostly mixing a set of songs for the right situation like in a club or does todays technology allow them to do something else or more than before with the two turntables?

also can anyone name some famous djs for me to look up and check out how and what they do in their styles and mixes etc?
I use a couple different midi controllers with Virtual DJ, this allows me to out source hundreds of real time affects like kill base, flange control, beat stutters, ect instantaneously to a one touch interface. The potential for mixing live becomes nearly unlimited. The other bonus is I can interact with the crowd. I can pick up the midi controller and move around still doing live djing vs. being stuck behind the tables unable to really move around at all.

Digital Djing is getting huge and is a lot of fun because there are no restraints to what you can come up with if you do a little homework.

[NoirTech]

Hellz yeah! Now we're talking. Welcome Tom!
Tom is one of the other resident DJs where I mix at.

[MiscGenius]

You mean like, do they have music pads that they hit on their bodies as they dance in the DJ booth. Sort of like, have they become a part of the music by adding their own bangs, claps, and horns or something? LMAO :001_tt2:

damn man you are busting my balls again
i will get you for this soon you can count on it


I use a couple different midi controllers with Virtual DJ, this allows me to out source hundreds of real time affects like kill base, flange control, beat stutters, ect instantaneously to a one touch interface. The potential for mixing live becomes nearly unlimited. The other bonus is I can interact with the crowd. I can pick up the midi controller and move around still doing live djing vs. being stuck behind the tables unable to really move around at all.

Digital Djing is getting huge and is a lot of fun because there are no restraints to what you can come up with if you do a little homework.


thanks for that lsdj
that was what i was asking and related to how a modern dj does their show
nice to see all that interactive stuff in the set
must be loads of fun

[NoirTech]

Oh hell yeah it is fun. Tom (LSDJ) really gets into it. It's quite the show to witness. :)

[Nautilus]

I always wanted to be a DJ when I used to go out to clubs. It was like they had all this power. I used to walk up the podium to this mysterious, hidden, protected place and watch the records spin and that Numark mixer I think it was. I remember that from staring at it for so long :).

[LSDJ]

Oh hell yeah it is fun. Tom (LSDJ) really gets into it. It's quite the show to witness. :)
Thanx NoirTech,

and yeah, 1st and foremost Djing for me is just fun, the technology just takes a small learning curve... the music and watching people dance to music you pick is the rewarding part

[LSDJ]

I created a group called Djing and Beyond if you want to see some of the actual machines I use

[system22]

sean and i (system22) are setting up our monthly vegas spots using the following:
ableton live run by two midi controllers, 2 cdj1000s and hopefully soon an efx1000.

we set up all the songs in chunks (ie intro, kick in, main part, mixout). each one of these parts can be triggered via the controller and layered or mixed with other tracks, parts in the same regard. this sets up a bed to do more freestyle type stuff and tricks over the top. each of us have our parts to control to make up the whole set. its definitely a cool way to be very improv or linear depending on your style.

cheers,
-c.

[Centurion]

Sounds cool, do you have a link to some samples?

[Trentreant]

I created a group called Djing and Beyond if you want to see some of the actual machines I use

I saw that group's pictures and it looks way more techy than the gear I remember djs using when I used to go out. Can you describe how you use some of that gear during your set?

[LSDJ]

Of coarse Virtual Dj is a software program. What is does is take any give type of song file and turn it into a wave file... this format allows the song to be markered at certain spots, scratched, ect... also because it's a digital file the effects in virtual Dj are all programmable to do pretty much whatever you want.

I'll set up my laptop on a laptop stand on a table, power is provided from the PC to the other Midi controllers
I have USB hub that I interface the other machines through.
The Mk2 once plugged in acts as the left and right channel decks for mixing and song selection. Then I plug the RCA
cable from the Mk2 to the input on the mixer at the club.
The M-Audio touch pad controls all the affects and I have the mounted on a mic stand off to the side of the Dj table.
I outsource all the effects I like to use in Virtual Dj to the M-Audio so that I can step away from the Dj Table while playing a song and then at a touch of a button I can kill the songs bass or turn down the mids or add a flange affect with the sliders, or with the actual touch buttons I can assign
real time samples or voice clips... The cool part is I can set the M-Audio to do whatever the hell I want

All the music is on an external 100 gig hard drive
And my whole set up and access to over 7,000 songs fits into two laptop bags

So in short
Laptop on a stand on a table
Mk2 right below it
Hard Drive next to the Mk2
M-Auio on a mic stand to my left and good times ensue

[Trentreant]

Wow man, much props for taking the time to run that down. Things sure have changed a lot in recent times as far as what DJ's can do if they choose to and this was real cool to read. I am not a music gear head or anything but that was very enlightening.

[NoirTech]

One thing that I wanted to add to what Tom wrote (him and I use very similar setups), is the shit we've taken from more traditional DJs. It's been two years now since I made my switch over to a more digital style of DJing, and boy is it looked down on by the masses. So both Tom and I have been on the receiving end. So, to spice it up, he has gone into a more performance type of DJing, and I have moved over to VJing (music videos). Everything is becoming digital, and people don't like change. ...but it's cool to have a choice as to how one wants to work with music. I don't understand why there has to be people hating on others who are trying something new. If the dues were paid, what is the problem? Eh....just my 2 cents.

[LSDJ]

NoirTech is absolutely right... but I think the one thing we have in common over our dj set is that despite how people view Digital Djing, the point of Djing in the first place is the music. People dancing don't give a shit what machine is driving the music coming out of the speakers as long as it makes them want to dance. It's all about having fun, playing music, and filling the dance floor. Don't get me wrong I give all the props possible to Vynl and CD djing ... but I'm a technology junkie and I also don't like crating around tons of records and cds every time I want to DJ somewhere... and digital djing allows me to do everything that vynl or cd djing can do and more

[Synthere]

Awesome.
Now I'll have to check the booth next time I am out bumpin' and look for a fancy hi-tech rig next to Mr. Dj.