#dj technology

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How has digital technology changed DJing?  Well, this is a loaded question if there ever was one – but it is safe to say that DJing isn’t the same as it used to be little more than 20 years ago.  If you think merely in terms of technique that existed two decades ago, the fundamentals of mixing live music were just starting to be explored, and songs weren’t manufactured the same way they are today – and they had more impact than they do today.  A common theme that has arisen anytime a new type of technology is invented is that we are simply getting lazier. Are we? In the time it takes to cue two records a beatmatch them, a modern DJ can have an entire playlist sorted by genre and tempo.  In the time it takes to cue the beginning of a song, a modern DJ can press the sync button and hop to his first hot cue.  So there might be some truth in that statement – but does this mean the creativity and originality have died as well?  This is where I digress from others’ opinions.  While some have genuinely gotten lazier with this new technology – the smart ones have embraced it and worked it to its fullest potential. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/02/how-do-you-think-digital-has-changed-djing/  

Thinking of something and learning something all your life without actually using it is a waste of time.  This is something that many college kids feel, after years of being schooled in drab subjects.  Math is a great example, where you may learn ways to construct ideas in many dimensions – yet real life only uses the 3rd dimension.  Why even learn this if you aren’t going to use it?  Teachers will respond that it is not so much about the material as it is about the thought process used to learn it.  I guess this is true.  I think that DJs can easily fall into the trap of spending too much time trying to be on top of the game – yet they fail to find ways to use their newfound knowledge. If you’re always watching videos of others for inspiration, it doesn’t mean much unless you use that creativity for your own work.  The same goes for those DJs who are too busy patting backs and shaking hands all day.  They might win someone over with personality – but without any clear substance there is nothing to hold them up.  Inspiration is alright, but as soon as it becomes a distraction it becomes a problem. http://traktortips.com/focus-and-become-a-better-dj/

There could not be a better place to watch technology grown than within the DJ industry.  Although the industry might span a smaller base than other types of electronic arts – there is something that makes music production unique and that also drives the economy.  DJs and producers can make money with what they guy.  While kids at the store might be buying game boy games for fun, the DJ can actually make money through having a skill.  New equipment can be looked as an investment (like a shovel or a gun), rather than just something to entertain. Take a look at what one decade has done for this industry.  The best part about new gear is that even when it completely flops or is found to be unsuccessful, there is always a use for it where nobody sees it.  Sometimes, the idea of a new product is all that is needed for someone to come up with a way to bring it to market.  The first iPod apps for DJs were nothing but games, and look at where we are now with producers being able to launch sequences on the fly with confidence.  A lot has changed for sure. http://djworx.com/throwback-thursday-july-five-ten-years-ago/#.U8mDevldW1A

DJing, like any other skill, is something that degenerates when you fail to practice.  You may remember the theory and ideas well, but the technical aspects of performing will slowly degrade when you fail to focus your attention towards it.  It can be difficult for an old DJ to keep up with the times, because the technology behind DJing seems to change very quickly.  You will see it all the time if you know working DJs.  They will have piles of gear that is no longer useful or at least it seems that way.  A pile of CDs aren’t going to help you when you really need mp3s.  You could spend weeks ripping those songs back to a usable format. Adding software seems to compound that problem even more.  Traktor’s layout can be difficult for anyone to start with.  Instead of being able to recognize functions by the way they look, you will spend time digging through menus and trying to figure out what each of them actually mean.  It sort of seems like going from Microsoft paint to something like Photoshop.  It can be daunting, but it is not impossible to transfer from software to another. http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2014/11/questions-im-returning-dj-struggling-digital-gear/