VIVA LA DIGITAL!
Jan 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Ean Golden
Welcome to the first in a series of columns dedicated to the emerging digital DJ field. This is a very exciting time to be involved in music. Many of the basic tools and techniques we have taken for granted for years are changing at a rapid pace, allowing for great opportunity and innovation. The rapid technological advancements of the DJ world certainly bring a number of new concepts, many of which can be intimidating. This column will not only make those concepts clearer but will offer up a host of new ideas, tricks and techniques to help you take your DJing to the next level.
As your digital DJ guide, I'd like to first introduce myself: Professionally performing and touring out of San Francisco for the past six years, I have honed my skills at more than a few excellent clubs and parties. For the past three years, I have been exhaustively exploring the world of digital DJing as an educator, writer, performer and developer. Over the course of playing hundreds of gigs with Native Instruments Traktor DJ, Stanton FinalScratch and Serato Scratch Live, I have dug into every nuance that those programs have to offer. During my digital DJ courses and demonstrations for Apple in San Francisco, I have learned how to effectively demonstrate these tools to others. As a beta tester, writer and developer of new digital DJ technology, I can not only explain the surface details of digital DJing but the important underlying technologies that will really give you a solid understanding of the bigger concepts.
THE BACKSTORY
Why spend all of the time, energy and money required to jump on the digital bandwagon? Is it even worth the effort? Absolutely. Not only are these powerful tools that you need to learn about — they are here to stay. If we take a step back and look at a brief history of DJing, you will see similar developments at key points in time. There are times when DJs, the equipment they used and the music they played have evolved together.
The most obvious examples are dub, reggae, hip-hop, disco and the modern electronic movement. All of these forms of music evolved out of a dancefloor's demand of the DJ. To respond to this demand, the DJs and producers came up with new technologies, new techniques and new ways of playing the music for the people. The classic example would be the beginnings of hip-hop (or rap, as it was mostly called in its earlier days). In order to extend the break of a song and keep the breakers dancing, early innovators such as Grandmaster Flash started doing what he dubbed the “quick mix theory.” By quickly cutting back and forth between songs, repeating phrases like a drummer, the likes of Flash built the rhythmic foundation for hip-hop.
Turntables had to get more rugged, and DJ mixers had to adapt to accommodate the demands of cutting as well. Studio technology, such as fine-tune editing, was also created to emulate this process for production. These early adaptations grew into an entire DJ culture and a thriving music business.
MUSIC IS EVERYWHERE
So how is digital special? What musical trend is the software going to start? Well, the technology is both responding to and inspiring exciting trends in the dance world. Many DJ cultures like underground hip-hop, rare groove, deep house and, most notably, northern soul were built largely on what records you owned. The music you owned was almost more important than how you played it. Now, with the advent of digital downloads, both DJs and consumers have access to almost everything on the planet. With so much music readily available, it has become more about what you can do with your music rather than how obscure it is.
When creative manipulation is called for, you can't touch the flexibility of the systems available today. You have unparalleled control over the mix and the music. Nondestructive, on-the-fly edits; professional effects; instant loading; synchronization of songs; and looping are just a few of the many things that digital DJs can do in their sets. Now DJs can truly fulfill the age-old claim that they are remixing and creating new music on the fly with existing songs.
As the availability of music has widened, so has the listeners' taste. The “long tail” model means that every form of music can find a home and a listener to enjoy it. As the dancers' musical repertoire has expanded, so has the DJ's. The days of DJs sticking to single genres seem to be gone for the time being; instead, sets are reflecting the diverse influences of today's wide musical selection. In situations where large amounts of music are required, digital technology reigns supreme. DJs now can have access to an entire library of music, a lifetime of influences, all at their fingertips.
These are just a few of the dozens of reasons that digital DJing if worth taking a look at. But don't take my word for it. Try out systems such as Cycling 74 Ms. Pinky, FinalScratch, Scratch Live and Traktor yourself, and check back for next month's column for the first look at techniques for the digital DJ.
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