The DJ Evolution

A dj can come in many forms , have their own unique way of performing and can use many platforms to create their own style. It doesn't matter what gear you use the only thing that matters if you use it well and put on a show that people will enjoy. There are so many gear choices djs can use it all depends on what you want to achieve and how fancy you want to make your performance.

Dj gear is like a musical instrument in a way as it requires skill and an understanding of how to use & master it. And like any musical instrument it evolves and gets better with technology. We've come along way from vinyl to digital and some djs still like to mix some old with the new. DJs just don't press play or sync, they can do so much more with the technology  that's available today.

 

An old mobile dj spinning vinyl in the day, probably my uncle Al
 

 

 

Hip Hop gained a cult following in the 80s with groups rapping over a dj sampling / scratching and laying down beats. The pre cd era the mobile dj used turntables along with milk crates full of vinyl records to take to weddings , discos etc.

 

CDs changed the way we listened to music giving us clearer audio and were small & compact compared to vinyl records. Dual CD players became the universal player for mobile djs .

 

 

CDJs became the industry standard and in some cases still are as they tend to be the preferred choice for many djs (club ,mobile or international djs) as most venues that have dj booths will tend to have CDJs installed. They revolutionized how you mix, beat sample , scratch etc. You could manipulate music much more than you ever did before.

 

Software started to develop at the turn of the century to be able to dj via your laptop. The software was quite primitive to todays standards but at the time was ground breaking. It meant you could take a laptop to gigs rather than cases of cds and songs were easier and faster to find meaning you could get a song or request quickly.

 

Dj controllers are devices that help djs mix music with their preferred choice of software. Controllers send signals to a computer to tell the DJ software running on the computer how to mix audio. Controllers  really enhanced how to utilise your software as opposed to simply using your touch pad on your laptop or a mouse.

 

 

Launchpads are often used in conjunction with Abelton Live software.  In contrast to many other software sequences  Abelton Live is designed to be used as an instrument (yes an instrument) for live performances as well as a tool for composing, recording, arranging, mixing and mastering. If your creative and want to play your own music in a live environment than simply playing pre recorded music then this is for you. 

 

I-pads can be used for just about any application, yes it can also be used to dj with . Apps are another alternative to PC software, check out this four Ipad dj setup.

 

Touchscreen DJ, called the emulator this is a multi-touch midi controller PC software for the professional DJ , Emulator is a MIDI controller that shows all the information on one single screen and gives the user a colorfully lit display of all tracks and controls.

 

So at the end of the day there is no one proven way to DJ , to master any one of these platforms  takes time to learn and skill to master . There are pros & cons with whatever medium you choose but at the end of the day its what you feel comfortable with and if you put on a good show then that's really all that matters.

 





 

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