Lugging a MIDI controller + laptop to a gig?

[Sparxy]

Hi DSF,

Fairly new member, recently registered having been a long time lurker. Love my dubstep, have been spinning it for a few years now having historically been a DnB DJ. I've always been a vinyl purist, but recently invested in a MIDI controller mainly to produce studio quality mixes with relative ease and to spin the stuff I can only get on 320. I've done a few gigs in the past, mainly DnB but more recently have had the oppurtunity to do some dubstep sets.

Now with my vinyl collection of dubstep being limited, i'm running out of material to spin but have a massive collection of 320's i've bought over the years. I'm tempted to take my lappy and Numark Omni Control on my next gig. Just thinking, will I get laughed at? I often use this on my radio show usually combo'ing it with my Technics but obviously no one can see what i'm doing hahahaha!

Does anyone else take a MIDI controller for gigging? I've got masses of DnB on vinyl from 2000-now so can't see much changing there, but mega tempted by the MIDI controller next time I get asked to to a dubstep rave.

Thoughts?

[krispy]

I don't see why you would get laughed at if you do a great job! Also, it could be a new experience for people if they have never seen someone play with a midi controller before..

Lot's of people use midi controllers + laptops nowadays

Personally I am not a fan of watching DJ's stare at a laptop screen the whole time they play but it seems to be one of the directions things are heading

[Sparxy]

Fair. I'm just conscious alot of the DJs here are vinyl purists. I do value the hands on approach of vinyl and to me nothing beats a perfectly rinsed set done by ear. But fuck, I can drop some smashers with my Numark, love the extra level of creativity I can get out of it.

Think I might give it a go and see what people make of it! Now... to find a place to rest the damned thing in the tiny DJ booths we have around here lol

[SunkLo]

Get a big piece of foam and a flat surface and lay it on top of the mixer or a turntable.

[Sharmaji]

alot of the DJs here are vinyl purists

fuck 'em. play an amazing set and bring something different to the table.

[Sparxy]

Excellent, cheers for the input
I'm convinced to use it next time I get the chance now.

[lightshapers]

i dont think anyone will laugh at you. not really any different from people who use cdjs (top of the range all have waveform read outs,key lock etc etc etc) most people are too busy having a good time not chinstroking

might be worth getting some insurance just incase someone decides to share their pint with the laptop

[deadly_habit]

alot of the DJs here are vinyl purists

fuck 'em. play an amazing set and bring something different to the table.

yes this is someone who is famous in the edm scene

[deadly_habit]

might be worth getting some insurance just incase someone decides to share their pint with the laptop

plexiglass shield

[upstateface]

alot of the DJs here are vinyl purists

fuck 'em. play an amazing set and bring something different to the table.

yes this is someone who is famous in the edm scene

at the guy staring at his dong. And is that Tim Exile?

[deadly_habit]

alot of the DJs here are vinyl purists

fuck 'em. play an amazing set and bring something different to the table.

yes this is someone who is famous in the edm scene

at the guy staring at his dong. And is that Tim Exile?

yes

[Sharmaji]

in a way, i'm thankful that nude-guy DJ'in has already been done and no one has to go out on that particular limb to bring something "different"

[deadly_habit]

in a way, i'm thankful that nude-guy DJ'in has already been done and no one has to go out on that particular limb to bring something "different"

thank lsd and having a brain

[abZ]

Don't even get me started on dj's. We have a local board in Pittsburgh and we go back and forth all day long. The city is always behind the times and they defo make fun of people not using decks but fuck em. You have to have confidence in yourself just to get up on stage. A lot of people don't have what it takes! You just gotta go up and rock it how ever you see fit. But I don't see why you don't get yourself Serato or something if you know how to spin vinyl. Not that you have to or anything just for me personally I would feel weird not manually beat matching. You can't tell and old dog he doesn't need his old tricks anymore or something like that

[nowaysj]

just gonna start learning how to dj. I ordered a vestax vci - 100 midi controller. But because the economy is so shit, there are none in the US. Waited a couple of weeks, still no units coming, so cancelled my order and bought a second 1200, and now a mixer. It's dvs for me.

[Phigure]

alot of the DJs here are vinyl purists

fuck 'em. play an amazing set and bring something different to the table.

yes this is someone who is famous in the edm scene

at the guy staring at his dong. And is that Tim Exile?

yes

I can't tell if you're serious or not

if you are

my respect for him just multiplied by 10

[Phigure]

just gonna start learning how to dj. I ordered a vestax vci - 100 midi controller. But because the economy is so shit, there are none in the US. Waited a couple of weeks, still no units coming, so cancelled my order and bought a second 1200, and now a mixer. It's dvs for me.

I did the same shit

I was gonna get either the VCI 100 or the omni control and then i decided that some real decks are the only way to really learn how to dj. got myself two used 1200s, a mixer, and traktor control vinyls and I couldn't be happier

[Sparxy]

just gonna start learning how to dj. I ordered a vestax vci - 100 midi controller. But because the economy is so shit, there are none in the US. Waited a couple of weeks, still no units coming, so cancelled my order and bought a second 1200, and now a mixer. It's dvs for me.

I did the same shit

I was gonna get either the VCI 100 or the omni control and then i decided that some real decks are the only way to really learn how to dj. got myself two used 1200s, a mixer, and traktor control vinyls and I couldn't be happier

Yeah man, if you're a first timer defo start with turntables. If you're adept on them you can mix on anything. I learned on a pair of crummy Gemini Belt Drives. In fact, that's probably the best way to do it - get some real shit decks and use them to the point that you are god like on them. When you switch to Technics, it'll be a piece of piss.

[Sharmaji]

oh fuck yes

[nowaysj]

^ I don't think this sort of thing is going to be kindly looked back upon in ten/twenty years. No offense.