D-Jam

David Ellsworth, post: 24191, member: 2692 wrote: Apparently there’s a big difference in what the “top of the heap” djs use and what we use. No controllers on Paul’s table of electronics?

Um…the two keyboards?

AND…what’s your point?

With the rash of DJs miming sets, I often think most of those electronics are there for show. They want to make him look “big” with loads of gear.

I dunno about that. I have not seen the GROUP (not grope), so I don’t know what they normally post about. Maybe they thought you were looking for a freebie and not buying one legally. I can’t fathom they would kick you out for being a digital DJ when so much of the breakbeat scene is digital.

I also wouldn’t dwell on it. If they are “closed minded”, then you don’t want to be a part of it. All the “anti-digital” spots I see online now are generally more full of DJs who can’t get a gig anymore NOT because some digital DJ undercut him…as they claim…but because they walk into clubs and hate they have to play to the masses as opposed to dictating to them.

ALSO…Google is an easy help when looking for a track. I’d still love to see the music section here divided between mixes and just chatter on music. Just so you could ask where to find something.

Is this what you’re looking for? http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Free-Me/dp/B0010XDD4Q

I don’t call it cheating, especially for how many tunes have used the Amen Break.

I do call it “cheap” when one slaps a basic beat on a known track and then tries to pass it off as a “new production”.

In my opinion, the trick with trance isn’t so much in technique as it is in programming/song selection.

When I make trance mixes, I try to use quality stuff that maintains an energy while not packing too much of one thing into set and thus making a monotony.

reason808, post: 25688, member: 831 wrote: How do you guys avoid getting hypnotized by circumstances and buying bad music? Any tips?

First check out this old school tune:

[media=youtube]5ADoBW0c-18[/media]

This is an anthem to many, but to some it sounded a bit “weak”. Part of the reason is Gerald Simpson had mixed and mastered his tune to sound amazing in one place, the Hacienda:

I never had the chance to go, but I heard the club was cavernous and didn’t have the best acoustics. Hence why Voodoo Ray sounded great in there when other music might not have.

The point I am making here is sometimes music you buy will sound only good in a club. You need the loud space, echo, thumping, etc. Over headphones off an iPod it might not carry.

This is one big factor of what turned me back on to tech house. I liked how it sounded great in a club, despite how it didn’t carry well outside of the club. I’ll be selective now on what I buy to make sure it carries the energy I want over normal headphones.

One tip would be to add some reverb when you play a tune for a demo mix or something. Give it that “big club fullness”.

vijay, post: 25603, member: 2071 wrote: thank you, and what are the ways i can manage, with my own experience or i can learn through posts and reply here?

When I started back in 1992, I just made mix cassettes for my friends and played a house party here and there. I was horrible at beat matching and programming, but it was forgiven by my peers because I was new.

Over time, I got beatmatching down. 32 beats, then 64 beats, 128 beats, and so on. I also started growing in my musical tastes as I was exposed to more of the global scene. In 1992 my main influences were old Bad Boy Bill mixtapes and the DJs like Bill on the radio. 1994 I turned 21 and was exposed to deep house and underground house. Time passed and I was exposed to trance and so on.

I also took on different gigs to understand and figure out my focus. I played one wedding and realized mobile isn’t my thing. I played some clubs, bars, and raves. I was resident in one mainstream suburban club. I also tried online radio and podcasts, as well as production. In the end, I found that I wanted to play music I believed in, reach out to those who are normally spoon-fed mainstream pop. I also found that I grew to hate the politics of the club scene, and driving hours to play 30-60 min wasn’t fun…so I ended up staying a hobbyist and blogger.

That was a journey that went over 16 years. I would just tell you right now to learn the basics of being a DJ, listen to and find what styles of music you really like and believe in, and then go out and about and see what kinds of places/events you want to play at. You can learn much in the blog here on how to get to point B.

It’s up to you. Are these tracks free demos? Or are you looking to sell them?