But thats like saying its not you doing the amazing mixes its your turntables and your mixer. You've still got a computer doing it for you, just a slightly older one. Unless you want to somehow manipulate soundwaves then it is always a computer doing the work, you're just telling it what to do.signus wrote:You could still learn to beat match using Traktor, beat matching is not vinyl exclusive.wilf wrote:I am not saying that it is the right mentality but I am saying it is the mentality that is held these days simply because there is no advantage to learning to mix vinyl except for personal gain. I am purely talking from a 'playing out' point of view in that i'd rather play out with traktor knowing that my beatmatching was going to be perfect and so i could concentrate on doing amazing mixes than djing with vinyl and worrying about whether i'd get my beatmatches right tonight.-boring wrote:im sorry wilf but that is just a FAIL mentality. fairplay if u use traktor WHILE learning to beatmatch, but u should at least still be trying to one day be a real dj. it took me a year or so but IMO you need to be a real dj! if there is no one else playing dubstep out in your area and you want to get shit going immediately, then whatever, but to not even attempt to learn how DJ (ie use the pitch) then you are selling everything short.
i don't really see how this is the case? its all about preferences. it annoys me when vinyl djs say that computer djs are not real djs. i'm doing exactly the same as you except im not having to worry about beatmatching when playing out, simply because i've taken the time to grid everything etc beforehand (which requires little effort, i know - but traktor's autogridding function is shite so its not all automatic). what i will admit to is that obviously i'd rather be as good at beatmatching on vinyl.. that is the ultimate goal. but that will takes years to learn, if at all. its fucking expensive. so why? when the direction of djing is purely computers now, vinyl djing will be a thing of the past. but thats not to say that people who have already learnt the skill are wasted... not at all. you should be treasured. but what im saying is that there is NOW now point in trying to learn it except as something on the side.kizza2435 wrote:having that mentality basically makes traktor a glorified itunes crossfader. you dont even need headphones. fuck me, you dont need ears to get a mix on...fuck that!! if you cannot beatmatch, you are not a DJ. If you dont know how to touch discs, you are not a fucking dj. Fact.
its like weaving by hand, great while it happened, excellent skill to have, well done... but when machines can do it? why not make it easier and give yourself a chance to weave something amazing instead of worrying about the weaving itself. but thats not to say i wouldnt like to know how to weave. but if i did learn it i wouldnt use it to make clothes, i use the machine. awful analogy
but ultimately, its not in the means, its in the end.
But it's not YOU doing the "amazing mixes" it's your computer. If this is the case surely you don't need to be there? Anyone given your laptop could just play a set, no talent involved I'm sorry to say. All you're actually doing is choosing a tune and maybe playing with the EQs and faders a bit, I can do all of that with an old stereo playing a mix cd.wilf wrote: i'd rather play out with traktor knowing that my beatmatching was going to be perfect and so i could concentrate on doing amazing mixes than djing with vinyl and worrying about whether i'd get my beatmatches right tonight.
I don't understand this new mentality of "Why beatmatch when a computer can do it?" It's simple, if your not beatmatching then you're not DJing. There is just no talent involved at all.
Anyone can dj badly on traktor/serato/ableton, but it does take a lot of practice to really manipulate what it can do and become a good dj. I really feel like I need to show some of you old vinylists exactly what traktor can do when set up and customized properly. Out of the box it is essentially a tool for wannabe djs who think once they've beatmatched two tunes and moved the crossfader across that they are amazing. I think this is what you are talking about when you are saying "you're not Djing". When used properly, it can rival decks in terms of skills required.
Also I probably havent made this clear but I do manual beatmatch on Traktor: what i am saying is that if it goes wrong then there is always the auto button. And I do dj with headphones, as it is important to cue to see how the tracks sound together, something too many vinyl djs (and others) are guilty of not doing once they've achieved the match.
