A few questions for dj's

T

tom landers

Bluelighter
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Dec 14, 2008
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CA grown
I'm super new to DJing/Mixing and I just have a few questions.

1. If you're using a program like Serato and you ONLY mix, what is the point of having turntables/or CDJ's? Because I have seen guys mix with just their computer, serato, and a mixer.
I thought turntables were if you were into scratching/used vinyls, and CDJ's for if you use CDs...

2. How much of your set do you "prepare" before you perform? Meaning, do you prepare a set list before hand or mainly "freestyle" when you perform? Or is it a little of both?

2.1. If you are big on preparing a set list, do you specifically prepare tracks?
I saw a DJ cutting songs on his computer before hand then burning them onto CDs before he performed. Also, I've seen a lot of DJ's "alter" songs through ableton before performing.

Thanks
 
1. I like the feel of vinyl and although programs can autosync, they aren't always perfect. I'm pretty good at beatmatching so it doesn't take me long to sync songs. I also like collecting vinyl and there's a lot of music that isn't digital. I still want to switch to traktor scratch cause there's a lot of music that doesn't come out on vinyl that I'd like to mix.

2. It's a little bit of both. I'll pick and choose tracks that I'll play for one night and put them in a crate. The order in which I play them I don't choose. I just choose what track feels right to play next.
 
1. If you're using a program like Serato and you ONLY mix, what is the point of having turntables/or CDJ's? Because I have seen guys mix with just their computer, serato, and a mixer.
I thought turntables were if you were into scratching/used vinyls, and CDJ's for if you use CDs...

I think its mainly for when crowds want to see DJs use vinyl. I think cueing may be a bit different/easier. Its mainly up to you really, if you've used vinyl and like it.

2. How much of your set do you "prepare" before you perform? Meaning, do you prepare a set list before hand or mainly "freestyle" when you perform? Or is it a little of both?

I buy about $40 of tracks and mix that. I more record it and toss it on the Interwebs for free.

2.1. If you are big on preparing a set list, do you specifically prepare tracks?
I saw a DJ cutting songs on his computer before hand then burning them onto CDs before he performed. Also, I've seen a lot of DJ's "alter" songs through ableton before performing.

Who has the time? I'd only do this for an intro and it'd be a produced track. I've fooled around with cue points and it doesn't work for me. Hope this helps.
 
There are a few reasons some djs still use vinyl or cds as apposed to working with a controller. if you want to use a controller you have to find a good one to use, thats going to run a few hundred dollars. now you also have to learn and be comfortable with this controller. Most controllers are compact and things are much smaller, this means your control surface is going down from 12 inches down to about 6 inches or sometimes even smaller. Also, you cant needle drop on digital music, although you can set cue points and such this is again more you would have to learn to accommodate these features.



Set preparation can vary depending on the crowd and party. If I am playing at a big party I will prepare a set list that consists of roughly 20 tracks. From these I will choose a few in which I think would be good to open with depending on the set playing before mine. then the rest will just go on crowd vibes. Having a pre-ordered set is boring and takes a lot of the fun out of a live performance. However, having a track collection well into the thousands it can make finding tracks difficult, thus the importance of selecting a much smaller list to choose from. If I am playing at home or just for friends I prepare absolutely nothing and just play whatever seems good, and often times tracks I have never tried mixing before.

The only preparation I go into my tracks is running them through traktor and making sure the grid is correct, although I don't use the sync button, this helps for a more accurate read on the pitch. I will also run all my tracks through a program to help organize my tracks by key. tracks mix much better together when the key is close to the one of the track played before.
 
1. The point is to try to look cool aka there is none. You absolutely CAN needle drop with traktor. Don't know about serato.
2. Definitely both. I tend to switch up genres a fair bit when I am playing, and I have a few 'transition' tracks that I know sound good to get from one genre to another. I'll sometimes prepare a few neat trick mixes beforehand too, and maybe experiment with some acapellas.
3. I would say I edit at least 50% of the tracks I play, just to trim out parts I don't like. a lot of the time, tracks are WAY longer than they need to be.
 
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