Do DJs still use vinyl?

B

beatpusher

New Member
I noticed on my trip this summer a ****lload of laptops in front of Djs. In one of the room in space there were atleast 4 in front of one Djs. My question is do they use the PCs to better mix the tracks or are the tracs all stored on MP3/lossless digital audio formats to remove the hasttle of dealing with large records?
 
Yeah its been going that way for a couple of years now- the shift from vinyl to digital. I can't see anyone using vinyl in the next 5-10 years, its just too expensive compared to mp3s.

But I'd rather see a DJ playing off vinyl and CDJs any day of the week! I hate going to a club and seeing someone with his head in a laptop as if he's checking his mail - it has no soul, and it can be questionable how much is the DJ actually putting into it..

Only exceptions I think are the likes of Richie Hawtin, Sasha, Audion - there's no way they could make music like that just using vinyl...
 
Was having a discussion like this last night. I can understand CDs etc (I won't mention the cost of sticking two full record boxes on a plane to Ibiza with you)!!! but not laptops, you may as well do it at home via webcam and send the club an mp3.
 
Radio 1 had a video with Tong interviewing Richie Hawtin about this. Hawtin made a good point that djs who have been playing up until recently are simply wedded to the idea of playing from decks (vinyl or cd) that it's hard to imagine using a laptop or the possibilities inherent in using laptops.

Whereas kids starting out now who are going to buy their first piece of DJ equipment won't even consider decks as they can do it all and more on a computer.

I can see how a very creative musician/dj could use laptop software and midi controllers to create something magnificent (i.e. Hawtin), but for the majority of average punters, it just seems lazy and somewhat boring.

Perhaps thats just me being used to using vinyl and cdjs though.
 
I can't imagine any DJs using vinyl these days simply because there aren't many records being pressed anymore. Most of them switched to CDJs around 5-7 years ago, and to laptops more recently.
 
Theres a system that a lot of people are using where all of your music is stored on a laptop and you have a picture of 2 decks on the screen. You drag the song you want to each of the decks on the screen. This laptop is then connected to a pair of turntables/CDJ's and a special blank Vinyl/CD is played on the decks.This then allows the song you choose on the screen to correspond to the real turntables. Quite clever stuff.
The laptops only really used for storing the actual music. Saves DJ's having to lug around all their music. ALso makes the tracks easily found.
 
Hypersky said:
I can't imagine any DJs using vinyl these days simply because there aren't many records being pressed anymore. Most of them switched to CDJs around 5-7 years ago, and to laptops more recently.
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where do i start..........

cassy (almost exclusively), nick curly, zip, tanzmann.......all use a lot of vinyl and you'll still find a large number of vinyl being produced in germany
 
Like Grego says, plenty of djs use vinyl, including Sven Väth, but alot of the ones I know mix it up between the three depending on the circumstances. If travelling CDs and laptop make alot of sense...
From what I have seen, there is alot of work put into the computer mixing and frees up the dj from some constraints to be more creative.
But that's just from an observer / wife / friend of dj perspective, so I could be talking rubbish :lol:
 
don't forget about sven väth - never seen him playing a cd or even touching a laptop (when doing a set)

but i have to agree, for transportation/travelling etc laptop dj'ing is much more easy and in the end it IS the way forward if you look at the new possibilities the digital world gives the dj's. but on the other hand, it is basically very boring watching some guy in front of the laptop...
 
Great minds think alike :lol::lol:
Sorry not to meet you yesterday in Lausanne - was fun to be dancing in daylight again ! And some good tunes... Actually met Moha and I-Spy (who was there with one of my girlfriends!)
 
neilly303 said:
I would love to see someone's pc crash mid set :lol:

this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsajNyNuxck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGsJ4XEf-8g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8xkikCNpiw&feature=related


beats this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iV-qaPjHP4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUk04GDn6Ys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DS7I65PoH0

any day of the week!
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Exactly. I know my vinyl isnt going to fail like a hard drive can. Spill a drink on your vinyl? Wipe it off. BAcardi and coke on your laptop? oh shizzle!
 
cool_customer said:
Exactly. I know my vinyl isnt going to fail like a hard drive can. Spill a drink on your vinyl? Wipe it off. BAcardi and coke on your laptop? oh shizzle!
Click to expand...

Not actually true. Drinks mess up vinyl as well and you should see what a vodka diet coke can do to a 1210. Nice sentiment though. :lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
it really shouldn't matter what they are using

i don't think vinyl will ever be dead, i think it will become more and more specialist, with more juno fodder aimed at the mp3 market, but vinyl will always be around as long as the purists keep flying the flag for it
 
everyone I know tends to use vinyl locally - those who travel further afield and don't want to get fcked over by british airways baggage handlers tend to use other formats.

I don't subscribe to this idea that using laptops diminishes the value of a set - henrik schwarz laptop sets are the stuff of legends, usually in dark rooms, where you neither see nor care what the DJ is doing
 
I don't really give a damn what DJ's use as long as they are doing something that not every Tom Dick and Harry can do then its cool
 
Hypersky said:
I can't imagine any DJs using vinyl these days simply because there aren't many records being pressed anymore..
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i only use vinyl but its getting harder & harder to find any decent new choons being pressed..... i mean, most of the housey stuff like chicago stuff are still being pressed but its a matter of cost.... if i have 2play a harder gig its virtually impossible for me to buy stuff on vinyl..... there are a few labels left like baroque etc..... but its getting beyond a joke!
i actually have to ask (when booked) if they have turntables because most clubs dont even have them there anymore & its such a shame.....:cry:

i hate CDs.... they are **** & disposable & bull**** & i hate them.......
im actually having to make the decision of whether i want to DJ anymore & change format or just retire...... & it sucks.... because mixing CDs is a ****....

& DONT EVEN GET MY STARTED ON FRIKKIN LAPTOP MIXING BULL****......:spank:
 
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