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DJ Technique in psy trance
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John
IsraTrance Full Member
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768
Posted : Sep 20, 2003 01:36
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The last post sums up a lot of the problem - too many party organisers book live acts/producers to do DJ sets (which makes business sense) when they are not necessarily good DJs.
And good DJing is not new - someone like Mark Allen or Tristan has been doing it for years - but how many new DJs (NOT producers/live acts) are now coming through now that will activly pull a crowd in? |
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nobody_3
Inactive User
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13
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1177
Posted : Sep 20, 2003 17:12
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I could not agree more John.
It's a well-know fact that the majority of "DJ's" are person's that are popular for their music skils and not for their DJ skills. I guess a "real" DJ is a "town in Russia" in our little scene. There have been exceptions and still are but let's face it 95% of DJ's in our scene would never have been doing DJ gigs if it weren't for their music production - including myself  .
But that does not mean that some of the Dj's we got aren't good! We do have very skilled DJ's in our little scene |
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Mike A
Subra
Started Topics :
185
Posts :
3954
Posted : Sep 21, 2003 01:35
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On 2003-09-18 17:22, yossi wrote:
how about dj`s starting to work by themselves?
u know... beeing a dj is a job, so let them work!
mixer with bpm counter... bpm on the cd, cue, and u wanna add key too?!
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Let the dj's mix instead of making them try to figure out the BPM or key.
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Borris
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
45
Posts :
1581
Posted : Sep 21, 2003 18:41
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Mike: A good DJ should be able to mix without trying to find out the initial BPM of the track, and should hear if the tracks are on key or not.
the pioneer CDJ has a Master Tempo function that changes speed without afecting pitch (tone) of tracks.
i heard about a DJ-MD thing that has seperate controls for speed and pitch (but never seen it)
Christian: DJ Anti is Sverdlovsk, Antaro is Krasnoyarsk and I'm somewhere beyond kamchatka. but look at the trend, popular "DJ only" guys are all veteran label managers.
 Kinetic Honda GmbH, Worldwide Supliers of Quality noise.
Progression Sessions of the 3rd Empire! |
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psyvader
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
5
Posted : Sep 25, 2003 11:52
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i mix between 2 en +3 minutes for me it is importent , jou create a total diferent track. whit short mixes jou can better put a pc behind the discobar then a dj
start the groove in trance
start to move and dance |
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nobody4
Inactive User
Started Topics :
21
Posts :
358
Posted : Sep 26, 2003 12:13
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Good point John - A good measurement fo a good DJ is one who can pull the crowd and create a 'critical dancing mass' (an amount of ppl big enough to make it comfortable for the dancers and start the party rolling on its own momentum). These are usualy the DJ who begin the party, and its (imo) the hardest job. Taking over a 'rolling' party is easier, you got a mass of ppl already into the party, you just have to keep them entertained.
I heard many opening DJs (hell, I did that myself for a long time and really like it - its not glorious but its the most important set...), and not many know how to build a good opening set, one that will builds up (not starting off with 'hits' and dancefloor smashes), teasing the ppl but never fully delivers (to create the expectation for the next one). Too many DJ are playing the 'DJ with the biggest balls in the hall' game - who can tear the crowd more, and are forgetting that is a team work to make a party lineup good - if the opening DJ plays all the hits and dancefloor fillers at 00:00, what are the following DJs can play to make the party interesting? its gonna sound the same for 10 hours (and god save the DJ who tries to break the peak reached by the opening DJ by playing softer music - he might get stoned, and I dont mean the complimentary offered joint...).
yes, I believe that was all...
Cheers!
auspexx@compact-records.com |
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Borris
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
45
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1581
Posted : Sep 26, 2003 17:32
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For once i agree with Auspexx, having played more then one opening set. Lateley i tend to agree to play those sets only if they are longer then 4 hours (from 1 till 5 for instance) cause otherwise it's quite frustrating to get off the decks just as the party gets on rolling.
the only place where it was fun playing like that was the late Dinamo where by 2 the place was rocking and rolling.
Kinetic Honda GmbH, Worldwide Supliers of Quality noise.
Progression Sessions of the 3rd Empire! |
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John
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
76
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768
Posted : Sep 26, 2003 17:53
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Its slightly differnt in the Uk as indoor parties tend to be over by 6 or 7am - but the opening slot is still really important. I was talking to a guy I know who's been resident at lots of big nights in London & he was saying that far too often a new DJ will be given the opening slot and play as if it was 5am - all the big tunes on +8.. to an empty dance floor... wheras they would do far better (for crowd AND their career) to do a warm up set.
Recently a friend played at a night and he was on second. The first DJ had hammered it out on +8 to about three people - everyone else was just stood around - my friend came on slowed it right down and made it funkier and within a few minutes the dancfloor began to fill up...
I quite enjoy playing the opening set as its nice to go from an empty dancefloor to people tapping their feet, to a few brave souls venturing on to the dancefloor to a full dancefloor - although I know what you mean about it being frustrating to then hand over a full dancefloor to someone else!!
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tom anteater
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
56
Posts :
1637
Posted : Sep 26, 2003 18:45
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On 2003-09-26 17:53, John wrote:
Its slightly differnt in the Uk as indoor parties tend to be over by 6 or 7am - but the opening slot is still really important. I was talking to a guy I know who's been resident at lots of big nights in London & he was saying that far too often a new DJ will be given the opening slot and play as if it was 5am - all the big tunes on +8.. to an empty dance floor... wheras they would do far better (for crowd AND their career) to do a warm up set. |
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ain;t that the truth mate
i have had this converstaion with a fair few people as well.. personally i love to play warm up sets as it is the only time indoors in london when you can play really slower and groovy stuff... its weird really that it is often given to the least experienced dj's because in manyt ways it is by far the hardest set in a london club..
>>love will tear us apart...<< |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
375
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5032
Posted : Sep 26, 2003 19:04
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i complitely agree with auspexx, the opening is so importent, mostly on under-mind level. im playing mostly "ptihot" or the opening sets and enjoy do it the most, build it from 0 to .. (to that level where next dj will feel the most comfortable to open his set at). imo its a very importent moment in the party, where several djs are suppose to play. team work is a key for sure. smooth, teasy build up its a start to wild dance.
and as for me, its also period you can realy surprize with genre mixtures and stuff like that.
Believe your soul ! |
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John
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
76
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768
Posted : Sep 30, 2003 00:52
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Quote:
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On 2003-09-26 12:13, helen wrote:
Good point John - A good measurement fo a good DJ is one who can pull the crowd and create a 'critical dancing mass' |
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Sorry - a bit of language confusion - in the UK - "pull a crowd" means a DJ who can attract people to the party on the strength of their name & reputation. My point was that there are not many new DJs (DJs NOT producers) who can do that.
Although the mis-understanding did take the thead off in a interesting direction |
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snowflake
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
194
Posted : Sep 30, 2003 05:09
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well, great thread you got here goin...
you've managed to sum up here the essence of what makes a dj. at least IMO....
since i started djing (which is about a year ago....) i learned mixing according to this guide lines of proper beatmix, keymix etc...
but it has been frustratin cos of that...
i mean, now, after gainin some crowd experience i found myself at a stage that when i do get to play in a party... it is me who starts the party... and in most cases my set is the best (or 2nd best, depands who's headlining the night....).
and i find it kinda weird... when i fuck up a mix i feel sort of bad about it, but than after me comes up this guy that most of his mixes are as offbeat as it can get (a.k.a "nagariot"....) and the rest are just simple fade in/fade out...and he looks happy about it...
and with this i'll get to my long awaited point...
allot of ppl in the dancefloor are happy about it as well...
is it just cos they don't know anything better?or is it cos they actually dont care about the mixing quality as long as it's loud and they can consume drugs??????
i practice my mixing cos i realy enjoy to hear a good flowing mix, but does the crowd actually cares about it?
Out Here We're Stoned.... |
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DiMiTry
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
70
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2299
Posted : Sep 30, 2003 12:07
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Yeah, the crowd really cares about it, more so in some places, less so in others. But if it's a sophisticated crowd, or a mixed genre crowd, they will hear you and know when you are messing up. It's more obvious when there are other stages/attractions at the party, like if it's a big festival with more than one stage, and there's other music to hear - people will leave if they don't like the dj's mixing skills. I've seen it happen mucho times.
As to the opening slot - I agree, it is very important, and hard - you can't overdo it because most people are still sober, and they won't start dancing if you play a crazy 'killer' right away - you've got to pull them in first. It's not the melodies or the craziness that counts then - it's usually the basic stuff, the kick drum and the bass line.
My basic rule of thumb: if the track makes me want to dance - meaning jump around, shake my butt, not just stand there and nod, then it's usually good enough to get other people to dance, too.  |
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snowflake
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
194
Posted : Sep 30, 2003 13:38
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On 2003-09-30 12:07, DiMiTry wrote:
My basic rule of thumb: if the track makes me want to dance - meaning jump around, shake my butt, not just stand there and nod, then it's usually good enough to get other people to dance, too.
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couldn't agree more...... 
(although nodding is a good start....)
Out Here We're Stoned.... |
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Psy Commando
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
45
Posted : Sep 30, 2003 15:32
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Quote:
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On 2003-09-30 05:09, snowflake wrote:
well, great thread you got here goin...
you've managed to sum up here the essence of what makes a dj. at least IMO....
since i started djing (which is about a year ago....) i learned mixing according to this guide lines of proper beatmix, keymix etc...
but it has been frustratin cos of that...
i mean, now, after gainin some crowd experience i found myself at a stage that when i do get to play in a party... it is me who starts the party... and in most cases my set is the best (or 2nd best, depands who's headlining the night....).
and i find it kinda weird... when i fuck up a mix i feel sort of bad about it, but than after me comes up this guy that most of his mixes are as offbeat as it can get (a.k.a "nagariot"....) and the rest are just simple fade in/fade out...and he looks happy about it...
and with this i'll get to my long awaited point...
allot of ppl in the dancefloor are happy about it as well...
is it just cos they don't know anything better?or is it cos they actually dont care about the mixing quality as long as it's loud and they can consume drugs??????
i practice my mixing cos i realy enjoy to hear a good flowing mix, but does the crowd actually cares about it?
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About mistakes, once I was mixing in some party, it was going to bugger up and you could see all the people inhale, pause and be tense then all of a sudden i flicked it slowly back to beat and everyone exailed and relaxed back to their full on dance.
Then you have mistakes when some twat talks to you while your beat mixing for 3 mins constantly and the track finishes and the other track is playing with its bass line then the other track's bassline comes in out of beat and you dont know whats happening.
Took me 2 hours to read these 5 pages... |
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