Starting Out!

[Euphonics 0]

im still trying to perfect engaging my brain before i type, bear with me. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/1087.gif

 

no offence meant http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/oops.gif

[pulsations 0]

Well well well http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif

 

I've had 2 lessons. In the first lesson we got aquainted with all the equipment and how to set it up properly. We also learnt how to do a simple cut. In the 2nd lesson we learnt how to do other cuts involving scratching. Next lesson we'll do more scratching and maybe start on the beat matching.

 

I feel I've learnt more about the general scene now. I'm still debating with myself whether I should get some turntables or not. I really would like some to practice on http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif I know the scene isn't big in New Zealand.... but you gotta believe in yourself right http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif

 

Another thing. About scratching, some DJ's say that house/trance/dance DJ's don't have as much skill as hip-hop DJ's because they just know how to beatmatch. While this may be true technically (since hip-hop DJ's arguably are better at scratching because it's used more in hip-hop) at the end of the day, a DJ is providing a service and DJ's should be judged on the crowds they pull and not by another DJ commenting on their skill level superiority. It also has to do with playing what the crowd wants to hear and getting those tracks that not many other DJ's have http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

I was thinking of going for top of the line gear...

eg. 2x technics 1200's and a Numark 3 channel mixer. But then again I should start with something fairly standard.. arh so confusing http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/1087.gif

[Eskie 0]

QUOTE

I feel I've learnt more about the general scene now. I'm still debating with myself whether I should get some turntables or not. I really would like some to practice on  I know the scene isn't big in New Zealand.... but you gotta believe in yourself right

It sounds like you want us to convince you http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

I reckon you should go for it. You wouldn't be on here and speaking to so many people about it, and being so pro-active if you weren't really sure.

Don't worry about the scene not being big in NZ. Where ever there's people they need DJ's http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif

Chris Shepherd (DJCS59) lives in a small town of 50,000 people, yet it's able to support quite a few DJ's and has given Chris a full time income for the last century or so http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

 

QUOTE

at the end of the day, a DJ is providing a service and DJ's should be judged on the crowds they pull and not by another DJ commenting on their skill level superiority.

Never worry about what other DJ's say, especially if they're being negative. The DJ's that criticise the most are often the one's who have little experience and are basically just wannabies.

Any good DJ, with experience, is more often than not likely to give you constructive criticism.

 

QUOTE

It also has to do with playing what the crowd wants to hear and getting those tracks that not many other DJ's have

It is most definitely all to do with playing what the crowd wants to hear, there's no point otherwise. Regarding getting tracks that other DJ's don't have; this is only important when you are doing specialist gigs, such as a certain style of music, i.e. a gig where everyone's into Trance for example but is not important for the mobile disco scene.

Good luck.

[C.S 0]

I underline and support all of the above.Good advice from the Esk http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[pulsations 0]

Hey Guys http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

Well I finished my 4 week DJ course. So I know my way around a turntable and the basics of a mixer. I've got some technics 1200's lined up which I'll get 2nd hand. But they aren't going to be sold with headshells/cartridges.

 

I'm thinking I would like to experiment with scratching as most new DJ's would I'd think. So I'm looking at Stanton 520's. As for the mixer I'm looking at the Behringer VMX 200. Any suggestions/comments/questions would be appreciated.

 

I've been purchasing vinyl from the local record shops...been spending a few hours at times in them just going through 2nd hand and new records trying to find my niche. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wine.gif

 

- John

[YourBigEvent 0]

QUOTE

It sounds like you want us to convince you

 

Think he has already done this to himself.

 

I say Go for it John and best of luck.

[The Spindoctor 0]

Good luck mate! You've done the course, now walk the walk! You know you're gonna enjoy it!

 

Spin

[pulsations 0]

THANK YOU all so much for all your input so far http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wub.gif , I really do appreciate it!

 

Well guys, to update:

 

I completed the DJ course (4 week course) a wee while ago now. I've bought a 2nd hand DJM 300 mixer in fairly good nick. I'm still saving for decks... looking at getting some technics 1200's 2nd hand. I've been going into the local record stores at least once a week and sometimes spending hours just going through record after record.

 

At the moment I'm putting most my effort into house. But I don't like cheesy house with all those vocals... I prefer something unique/sophisticated/upbeat. I've got about 10 records now http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif I'm still unsure of what genre I really want to play... I do like trance but I'm not sure if I'd like to play it out... the beat gets to me after a while. I think house is more versatile in that regards anyway.

 

So for now a few questions:

 

1) When hearing a record for the first time how do you sample it?

 

2) On a record how do you tell is side A or B? I mean some have labels but is there any common rule?

 

3) How are some records harder to mix than others? (I hear about DJ's avoiding hard to mix tracks but I have no idea what they mean)

 

4) When you sample (listen) to a record what do you take note of? For me I may glance at the label/artist/title of song/mix, but in general I don't pay that much attention unless I like the song.

 

5) What music production software would you recommend to play around with and how to go about it? (I currently have fruity loops 3.0 I think)

 

once again thanks for all your input http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/hug.gif

 

 

[C.S 0]

Good to here that you are going for it,shaun is the man to help you on your questions,so be patient,help is at hand http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif

[YourBigEvent 0]

Any news on your first gig yet ?

[Gary 0]

Its good that you're not sure what genre you want to play. I wouldnt recommend sticking, or specialising in one genre at all. A single genre can go out of fashion and leave you high and dry with a large record collection.

 

Also, dont underestimate the popularity of lyrics. True, lyrics in a tune make it harder to mix, especially with regards to timing of mixes to avoid vocal to vocal "clashes", but songs with lyrics stick in peoples minds a lot more. eg: No-ones gonna ask you to play that one that goes "thud, thud, thudddaddy, thuda". This goes to answer your question number 3 (hard to mix tracks) ...I've heard DJ's in the local record shop turning down good songs, simply due to them not being able to mix songs featuring words. Later on in their skill sets, those same DJ's will be looking for accappella (voice, no music) tracks to drop in on top of instrumental/dub tunes.

 

As for the mixer...The VMX-300 (the slightly bigger, 3 channel brother to the VMX200) is reviewed here on DJU. The VMX range are nice mixers, however, if scratching, you WILL get through mixer faders/crossfaders at a surprising rate, and those faders on the VMX's are not user-replacable.