Got it?
Scary...
The change from audiophile to tech guru/mastermind did not come overnight mind you. This was a highly involved process, and it realistically had nothing to with the evolution of DJing. However, that is not to say that our passion did not help fuel an already raging fire.
I started out on vinyl. Why? Because I wanted to. I wanted to know how big of a pain it really is to line up a track, screw it up, wind it back, and ultimately try it 50000 times until you drop it just right.... And what did I choose to try this with? Drum N Bass. Smooth move on my part. Let's just say I got frustrated enough to go buy more records that week! If you find yourself frustrated while learning the fine art of Vinyl, you are not alone. And by no means should you throw in the towel unless you practice everyday, and just can't get it down. Some people learn faster than others, and you should NOT let it discourage you. The first time you place a track perfectly, you will thank yourself for all the hard work you put into making that happen.
Fast Forward to today. I migrated to a more modern approach. For me, being able to utilize CDs (which if you want to argue with me, isn't so modern anymore, but hey, I didn't ask you!) and flash drives is far more convenient than importing records from overseas. Add in a hard drive filled with great music, a great friend who scours the web for new tunes, and a passion for the art that is DJing, and it all makes quite a bit of sense.
Even with my upgrades, I am still somewhat behind the times. Who needs decks at all? We have Laptops and programs that will accomplish the exact same thing. And thus begins the controversy of whether the guy with a Laptop is "better" than a guy behind the decks. Hold that thought for one moment....
I was once asked if I thought I was a better drummer than a person who was in the band before me. My response was this: "We are different." I measure my success against my own success. Might I follow the path of another at times? Absolutely. Play the same rhythm as a well known artist? You know it. But at that point, I have made it my own. Regardless of what type of art we are talking about, the bottom line is you make it what you want it to be.
Back to the two different DJ's with their setups. They are different. They are delivering what we are looking for in a different medium. Would you be able to tell the difference? Likely not. If they played identical sets (which in itself is highly unlikely), we would probably be just as excited. Granted I find the art of manipulating a platter (digital or not) flashy and quite a bit of fun, but that is my opinion. Next time you are at a club, or at a rave, see if you can tell what they are doing without looking. Then look and see if you are right. You'll be surprised, I promise!
There will always be new toys to play with. For both Audiophiles and techies alike, we will find new ways to enhance the listening experience, tweak the output, bend the pitch, phase shift, stutter, distort, etc. What is important, is that we can walk away leaving the audience baffled by what just happened. I look forward to looking down upon a crowd and seeing jaws hitting the floor, only to see them snap back into their dance groove once again.
I don't know what the future holds. But I'm excited. And you should be too.
Here is a new Track from Tritonal, remixed by Stoneface & Terminal! They are playing in San Fransisco this Thursday, February 4th @ Ruby Skye. If you are able to make it out, I HIGHLY suggest going! It will be one wicked night! This is "Suede"!
Make sure to add this to your collection, as well as other tracks by Tritonal on
