The DJ/producer thread.

[mexr]

Ive noticed theres quite of few antilag cats who play around on the 1's and 2's. So just thought I'd create a thread for us to talk about relative ****.

So basically, how long you been spinning for, what genre's you spin, do you cut, mix or do both, what equipment you using, and lastly post a pic of your setup.

I'll start off of course.

Started playing around with decks a bit less than 2 years ago. Before that used to play around quite a bit with cool edit and fruity loops etc, but never that serious. Now my head is totally into my music and trying to get into the production game.

I predominantly spin true school hip hop. i.e. anything from the rawkus crew (common, mos def, talib...), cats from def jux, quannum, native tongues (ATCQ, De La Soul etc), just a lot of proper hip hop **** and now spinning some aussie hip hop too (gotta support our locals).

I've been mainly mixing, but now finally getting more into the turntablism side of things. I forked out for a rane ttm-56 so this kinda motivated me to get into the battle scene.

The equipment:
Rane TTM-56
2x Pioneer DJ-3500's
2x Ortofon Q-Bert Concorde's
Sony MDR-V700
Behringer TRUTH B2031A Studio Monitors
Behringer TRUTH B2092A Studio Sub
Toshiba Satelite A100 (Centrino Core Duo): Reason 3.0, Fruity Loops & a whole lot'a music.

where the magic happens:/
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c304/gauth85/darklab.jpg

-Gauth

[Drkside]

I started mixing when I was 19: Around 5 Years ago. Worked the scene back then for around 2 years.

I have:
2 x CDJ 100s
2 x American DJ DDS
2 x Stanton 500 ALs
1 x Ecler Smack Pro 3 mixer
1 x Roland MC307 sequencer

Collection mainly consists of Deep House, Tech House and Trance

[Adr3naL1N]

been doing prolly 2 years, shortly after i turned 18. 2 mates got me into it, started on tractor on the computer n just bought decks. Currently in the process of upgrading to turntables and serato :boink: My two mates who got me into it are very good, did a night at liquid nightclub n got offered residency but rejected, just been doin a ****load of parties 18ths/21st etc, school balls etc.Ive done only done a few parties so far, hopefully do afew more once serato and the turntables come through.

Atm stuck with
2x Denon DN-S3000 decks
Numark DM3050 Mixer
Sennheiser Headphones.

One of the guys i dj with supplies some nice JBL Speakers n subs for the parties and also the lighting equipment, no point us all having it. Mostly spin hip hop/rnb. But also include top 40, bit of dance and old school 80's rock for the 18ths etc

[Remix]

Great to see the musical diversity in here!

As for me I mix prominently Breaks, however I find that mixing an entire set of breaks can become quite monotonous. In a bid to escape this I have a tendency to platform a rolling 4/4 beat and then layer a bit of Breaks/House/Electro and mid tempo stuff in-between.

Overall I am a big fan of most forms of melodic dance music and am not genre restrictive. If it sounds good to the ear then I will play it!

My tools of the trade are a set of Technics 1200's and a Denon DNX1500 mixer.

Where to from here? Well I am satisfied playing around at home and doing the odd party here and there.. for now :)

[Twe12ve]

i want to know about CD mixers. (those digi scratcher things - excuse my ignorance)

do you have the same level of control with them as you do with vinyl?
do they ruin the CD - i.e. scratches/fingerprints etc like you would with vinyl?
is it the same thing in principal? does it make the same sounds when you scratch with it?
How do they work?

PS: Mexr: Kudos for spinning Def Jux - i take it you play some Non-phixion as well yeah? also, spin some atmosphere and immortal technique - tech and slug are the two best MCs walking the earth right now.

[mexr]

Hehe a lot of people always raise the issue of people getting serato when they dont even have a record collection. It's like they have to earn the right to use it, e.g. carrying crates full of vinyls to gig after gig but now cats can just take there laptops, serator and decks to any gig. DJ Premier (gangstarr) has always been stressing it.

I sort of agree with it, but hey ive spent about $1500 on wax so far, not even close to the amount some people spend on it. But hey, i'll be certainly buying serato sometime soon. Its a better option they forking our for cdj's ONTOP of my main vinyl setup (vinyl fo life yo). I'll never stop buying wax as long as its still being pressed.

JBL powered speakers are the go adrenalin! Im saving for some JBL EON 15 G2's, at $1200 a piece there worth it. I currently hire from megavision when I gig:/

You into Hybrid at all Remix? Just picked up 2 copies of Wide angle 3LP (original press) for $150. I dont mind breaks, been getting some old trip hop stuff too atm.

I'll post a pic of my setup tonite.

[Remix]

I have previously owned a pair of CDJ100s and have used CDJ1000mk2's.

Digitally, The closest 'feel' to using vinyl available is using the CDJ1000 mk2. The mk2 does not have the same control as vinyl (vinyl with it's obvious hands-on-the-music approach). However in vinyl emulation mode you can cue, scratch and stretch tracks.

The CDJ1000 mk2 has up to 0.02% tempo (pitch) accuracy - so it is not 100% accurate (mind you it is damn close). The mk2 does not damage CDs. As for scratching, The sound is pretty damn good, but there will always be sounds that only vinyl can offer you let alone the warmth of sound :P

But at the end of the day, what matters is the sound that comes out. Whatever means you use to achieve this is up to you!

I am a fan of using both Vinyl and CDs combined.

mexr, as for Hybrid I have had a recent listen to his Y4K compilation - progressively he is right up there. :)

[mexr]

Twe12ve: Havnt really used CDJ's (as I said, vinyl all the way), but seen a lot of people using them. Im pretty sure they dont ruin the cd's with respect to scratches or fingerprints. Your using a platter which sits at the top of the deck. When you "move" the platter, you digitally manipulate the sound/sample at that point on the cd I guess.

A lot of people who try to cut with them say the sounds dont sound as good as vinyl, but apparently this changes from brand to brand and model to model. I think theyre a great idea especially when you cant find that hot track which is out of press or had never been pressed on vinyl. But still, I think Rane serato scratch live (www.rane.com) would be a better way to spend your money on than cdj's. Only my opinion guys:)

People who have used/owned CDJ's please step in, as i said my knowledge of these are very limited.

Gotta love atmosphere (wish they played perth this year, and wish i didnt miss them at the bdo in the past), and yeh revolutionary vol. 2 is always on rotation.

On another note, I picked up Blackalicious - Melodica EP yesterday. This was the ORIGINAL 1996 repress, brand new for only 37 bucks.

[Drkside]

Yeah the CDJ1000 takes a digital sample, and then with the jockey wheel it digitally emulates the sound of scratching. Fun at first, but no substitute for the real deal.

As a result though no damage is done to the CD, but then with good carts you shouldn't damage vinyl either

[Denver]

I only a backayrd tinkering in the mixing sense, mostly fired up on friends gear at parties and the like, used to fill in for a mate who dj'd on that party bus that would take people pub to pub..

grease mega mix for the win!

always been meaning to get some of my own kit, cars seem to take precedent tho, however changing that is on the cards..

wouldn't mind a pair of sl1200, couple of cdj's and a djm500 to hook it all together..

one day soon it shall be mine

[RICEY]

Mate of mine is selling these if anyones interested.

Stanton STR 880 decks $800.

Cheers.

[Adr3naL1N]

On that note as well, my denon dn-s3000 is up for grabs 750 ono. pm me for details. Need the cash for turntables n serato.

[Syncope]

I bought technics 1210 mk5s and a mixer, but ended up selling them not too long after. I've found out i dont like mixing and actually trying to produce music as much as i love listening to the finished product. Does make me appreciate it a little more when i see how much effort is actually involved in mixing/scratching/producing etc.

Still collect vinyl though, have bought (and sold) a few grands worth over the years, which i know ill regret soon enough.

[Twe12ve]

yeah like fukn selling Atmo Overcast you deusch.

[TJ]

Speaking of dj's

dj rectangle is in perth this Friday night

metros

Hope to see a few of you out there.

truly one of the best rap/hip hop dj's ever.

[waxdass]

How easy is it for u guys to take different music (ethnic) and mix it up club styles ?

myculture are always looking for DJs that can do our sort of music

[Adr3naL1N]

Speaking of dj's

dj rectangle is in perth this Friday night

metros

Hope to see a few of you out there.

truly one of the best rap/hip hop dj's ever.


yerrp he is a sik dj, i have about 4 of his albums and im so pissed off i cant go coz im heading down to margaret river on thursday, so pissed off gonna miss it, will be sweet as.

[mexr]

If you want to see one of the world best scratch DJ's in the flesh, keep 12th May free!

The Elements Tour & Scribble Jam State finals
DJ Q-Bert (3 x DMC Grandmaster Champion Turntablist)
MC Supernatural (#1 Undisputed Freestyle Emcee)
Bliss n Eso
Scribble Jam DJ/MC State Finals
Metro City, 12th May (Hosted by DJ Armee from Downsyde yo)
$45 from DJ Factory and all BOCS outlets

Check it

[Twe12ve]

dj rectangle is in perth this Friday night

truly one of the best rap/hip hop dj's ever.

hahahhahhaahhahahh thats funny ;)

Yeah go see qbert, fukn mental.

[insane]

Used to have a pair of 1200's mk II and DJM 600 but sold them after i got back from over east, i used to love scratching and i still have all my records so if anyone is up for a mix/scratch session, im there...

ps. if you guys want cheap deals on equipment, i have a close friend who is part owner in dj factory, he will look after you.

you guys that have the stanton decks, what do you think of them? are they any good?

[mexr]

if DJ factory do mpc's, get me a good deal on that:P

Ive heard nothing but bad about the vinyl stanton tt's, heard the tourque is under par when it comes to scratching. Havnt used them personally, so wouldnt really know. I think the high end numarks are probably the only thing that can come close to the techs.

Remember, Q-bert @ metros this friday night, and you get a free ticket to grandmaster roc raida for the following weekend (normally 25 bucks). And also Curtin DJ comp this friday evening too:P

Peace

[Cold Fusion]

if i wanted to get into doing this, what would be the best way? i dont have alot of money...but i want to maybe start. just something good but not exspencive.

what would you reccomend?

[mexr]

Get two second hand technics 1200's and a 2 channel mixer with half decent xfaders (vestax or numark) and whack some shure m44-7's (or the q-bert ortofons if you can afford em) on their if you want to scratch. Be prepared to spend a lot on vinyl, otherwise go the cdj route.

[mexr]

Well yesterday night was awesome, I got the chance to meet DJ Q-bert at the Red Bull Music Academy event at the Velvet lounge. Q-bert rocked up around 7:15 to show off his skills and be part of a Q&A session with the small crowd that luckily found out about this (it was kept pretty low key).

And onto scribble jam (which I missed due to unforseen circumstances), MC Marsksman took out the win for best freestyle MC and DJ Junior (im sure most of you know who this guy is) took out best turntablist. I think theyre off to Sydney now for the Aus finals.

Heres a quick pic I took when I met the man himself and got him to sign some stuff (Im spewing I didnt have any of his records with me). Note* i was pulling a rude head.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c304/gauth85/qbert2.jpg

peace!

[Sketch]

sweet thread, i'll post after the gig tonight, ive never see it before.

[Adr3naL1N]

i finally got my turntables, pair of technics 1200's. Sooo good, much beter then cd, a lil weird at first but getting used to it, serato is on the way now, but absolutly love it.

i was missing out on heaps!!