The Thread for DJs

[YellowPoofBall]

Well, we all know DJs are the glue that holds the fabric of music together so here's a thread for the DJs.

Here's some questions to start with if you feel like it:

How long have yoiu been a DJ?
Do you mix? Do you scratch? Maybe both?
What's your setup? PC, hardware, both?
What genre of music do you spin? Got a mixtape?
Have any residencies? Gig much? Wish you could?
Any tips for your fellow DJs?
Feel free to post some of your work.

[Hardcore_Raver]

How long have you been a DJ? I've had my decks for about 6 years or so I think. Can't actually remember when I bought them, but 6 years sounds about right!

Do you mix? Do you scratch? Maybe both? Just mix really, though I have been trying to teach myself how to scratch. The only problem is that my decks are pretty poor, belt-drive things, so scratching is pretty much impossible!

What's your setup? PC, hardware, both? Just got the belt-drive decks and a mixer at the moment. I was thinking of upgrading to CD decks in the near future, though I was at a party recently where someone had something called scratch pro (I think), where you can actually use your decks to mix with MP3 files by connecting your computer to your system. That's cheaper than sorting out some CD decks so I might go for that instead. And I also desperately need to replace my record decks and mixer too!

What genre of music do you spin? Got a mixtape? Mainly hardcore (techno, not hip-hop or rock!) and drum n bass, as well as old skool rave stuff. Also I've got quite a lot of old trance records which I like playing quite a bit, as well as early house music. Haven't made a mixtape for ages, and don't have any mixes online unfortunately, due mainly to my complete lack of technical knowledge!

Have any residencies? Gig much? Wish you could? I've played in a couple of clubs, but I prefer playing at houseparties as I can play what I like there, and also just wander off if I'm getting a bit bored. It's also more fun to annoy people you know than peopl you don't by playing real hardcore gabber!

[PureBloodGirl]

What do DJs even do and what do they use to DJ and how do you do it?

[YellowPoofBall]

DJs mix one song with another, the goal being to do it harmoniously, in a way that your listeners won't get a headache from clashing beats or that the dancers won't fall over because of a sudden, ugly change in tempo. Some DJs scratch or beat juggle, basically taking samples and reworking them into something new.

All you need to DJ is a mixer and 2 or more sources of input (and a lot of cables). Mixing is simple in theory - you play one song, then you fade over to the next song. Scratching is simple in theory too - you move the record over a sample and cut sound in and out to make different patterns.

BTW, looks good Hardcore Raver. Hope you get to upgrade those belts soon.