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Do we need to burn our whole library to CDs in order to use CDJs?

Home 2023 › Forums › The DJ Booth › Do we need to burn our whole library to CDs in order to use CDJs?

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • February 25, 2015 at 9:38 am #2146961
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Again a CDJ 800 is a relict. ANY DJ Controller and yes ANY with ANY software will do better than those CDJs.
    Club owners do not appreciate you using their outdated equipment, club owners appreciate a professional DJ who performs well and sells them drinks as people sweat like crazy and have fun.

    Now without wanting to sound arrogant: I assume I have played much bigger clubs than you the last years and I have NEVER used their CDJs and the clubs I played in had way better CDJs (most of the time a full Nexus setup).

    So get over it and get your controller, plug it into the house mixer and use what you know.

    Seriously not even DJs who still use CDJs use CDs, they use USB sticks as even the low end clubs should at least have CDJ 900s.
    If the club owner is so cheap to still have pre-historic relics like 800s then he should not make you use that worthless equipment.

    February 27, 2015 at 2:13 am #2147881
    Dj Emazing
    Participant

    I’ve used USB sticks, feel sorry for any dj that wants to burn their library to CDs in 2015 but that is what some djs have to do to get the job done. Plenty of djs did it back then and some still do it.

    March 2, 2015 at 5:56 am #2149121
    Glorina Julian
    Participant

    Thanks for responses guys. Much appreciated.


    @Terry_42     – Most of that post was NOT written by me, it was quote by another subscriber to this site who had left that comment to which Phil answered. Your assumption is 100% accurate, that’s why I appreciate your feedback and opinions and honestly really confused when I read that guy’s comment. Good to know it’s just an uninformed DJ using outdated gear as I def don’t want to be burning CDs for every gig.

    Thanks again guys!

    March 2, 2015 at 9:15 am #2149351
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    You are much welcome.

    There is still that thing going around in many DJs head that CDJ is more “pro” than controllers. Which is funny actually as many of the top acts (Daft Punk, vanBuuren, van Dyk, Skrillex, Deadmau5,…) either use controllers + a full Nexus lineup (which basically is a controller) or even use custom made controllers.
    And while a 1938 GMC truck is a worthwhile oldtimer to be driven on occasion (like my turntables) it is nothing I would take out to drive 600 miles every week…

    March 2, 2015 at 12:06 pm #2149461
    Glorina Julian
    Participant

    I can’t remember where I read this but are there some owners that frown on DJs who change up their system too much? If you’re Daft Punk, obviously you have a lot of leverage, but what about for unknown DJs? Also, is it true that most clubs will have CDJs and speakers/mixer settings already set up for that system? Or I guess a DJ controller isn’t that dramatic a change as opposed to having a drum machine/keyboard/additional FX?

    I’ll try and find this article that was talking about some Las Vegas DJ playing a 2 X 4 with a friend which I guess is where you have two DJs playing four decks but the author of the article said that most club owners would never allow that nowadays.

    EDIT: Here’s the quote from this other article on one DJ’s opinion of the Vegas scene.

    ”
    Don’t plan on seeing any DJ magic at Vegas clubs any time soon, either.

    For his birthday one year, Garcia and a friend performed a two-by-four set in which they played mostly drum and bass music, mixed in with hip-hop. A two-by-four is when two DJs spin using four turntables.

    “There’s not a club in Vegas now that would ever let you do that without pulling you,” Garcia said.

    The reason? Clubs are worried about keeping the paying customers at the VIP tables happy, regardless of their good or bad taste in music.

    “I’m not ragging on all of Las Vegas,” Garcia said. “There are people who want to listen to good music.”

    Another trend Garcia has observed in his recent years is the hiring of DJs who may not be skilled behind the booth, but who may provide a consistent guest list, making them more promoter than DJ.”

    i dont know why i would need to go to shiz hole in the desert, when i can just do that at home. If you are good and people are booking you to play there, great. but to want to go have to deal with that in the crappiest city in the U.S., i just don’t know why you would want to do that. I guess you are geographically close to some better places, LA, SD, Palm Springs, various mountain ranges, which is pretty cool.

    March 2, 2015 at 4:51 pm #2149741
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    The thing here is that DJ-ing has become more synonymous with producers. Guys that make their own tracks and or remixes. Those are more artists than DJ. And people that go to those artists go to see and even expect THAT kind of music. If you go to an Armin gig and he is suddenly playing Deep House, Top 40 and commercial stuff and none of his own material, you’d be pretty p’d off I think (and rightfully so).

    A lot of regular club DJ’s think that people go to those clubs to see them for the same reason. Unfortunately, most clubgoers couldn’t care less who was playing as long as they atmosphere is good, they get to dance and hit on members of the opposite sex and have a drink and a laugh, that is all that matters.

    For venue owners it’s even less about the music, but all about the bar take. If a DJ can play such that the big spenders and/or majority of the crowd stays longer and consumes more, you are a good DJ in their eyes.

    And while, as a modern DJ, you might not feel “appreciated”, at the end of the day you are (just) another pawn in the hospitality game. And while you might grind yourself out of that circuit and into the limelight, it IS all grinding til you get there.

    March 3, 2015 at 3:23 am #2149981
    Glorina Julian
    Participant

    Thanks DJ Vintage! That also really helps explains things a lot. I actually posted another thread somewhat inspired by your comment regarding mashups. If you’re being booked as an “Artist”, then people might want to see your live remixing skill but if we’re just there to make sure the atmosphere is good, then are live remixes/mashups even necessary at all?

    March 3, 2015 at 8:42 am #2150291
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Not necessary, but if you can use them to enhance the mood/atmosphere (i.e. a regular track would have added less than your live remix/mashup) then you should certainly do it.

    In my opinion, people like surprises, but not all the time and not too big. Like everything (scratch routines, FX use, filters, etx.) use it in moderation. It will set you apart from the mainstream, but keep you within the realm of “wanted” DJs.

    March 3, 2015 at 11:00 am #2150391
    Glorina Julian
    Participant

    Haha, I just typed that in the other post. Basically kinda like FX. Used sparingly in moderation.

    Thanks man

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