I suppose I've never really been a 'purist' dj. I mean, I prefer to spin vinyl but if -you- wanted to rock CDs or virtual dj'ing, I frankly could care less what your preferred tools are so long as you get the job done.

It's true that the dancefloor cares about a few things. (Dance) Music should (usually) be beatmatched. Music should be played from a suitable quality recording. Music should also be appropriate to the event. What the dancefloor doesn't really care about is HOW you accomplish those goals... which is where I'm struggling to see why some DJs are so vehemently luddite when it comes to virtual DJ systems or even hardware DJ gear.

I don't see a single reason why I should spend time beatmatching tracks if software can do it better and faster - and allow for seamless loops and hotcue points in the track that allow me to -remix- rather than just mix tracks. I fail to see how it's "cheating" or somehow a lesser-quality performance if I use these tools. Drummers play to click tracks, electronic musicians don't manually sync arpeggiators and drum machines - no, that's why there's a MIDI clock signal. I don't see how manual beatmatching - when there are good tools available - makes me a better DJ (though I agree it's a good skill to have for times where the tools are unavailable).

With Traktor - especially the new Kontrol S4 - I'm completely sold on software djing. Due to virtual dj software's capabilities, I am able to create, rather than replay. Not having to worry about clocking and sync'ing tracks (and maintaining that sync) means a lot more time to work with elements of tracks, rather than whole tracks. Loops and samples forming a library of material at my disposal. With full MIDI control out - including clock out - my world is open even further, to include sequencers and actual gear.

I only hope that electronic music hasn't truly waned in popularity... because these recent improvements in capabilities for DJs promise to take the experience to an entirely different, more energetic, more complex level.

Bought this new toy last night, to intro at my upcoming gig:

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/dj/traktor-kontrol-s4/

Playing with it this morning and holy crap it's going to take my djing to a whole new level. MIDI out so I can bring along some of my other toys to add my own beats and bleeps. Four separate virtual decks - with two "sample" decks that can host four midi-triggerable loops each - I was sampling, looping, and remixing stuff on the fly effortlessly.


So ...just pulling some tracks for some killer music for ya'll.
Freestylers - "Boomblast" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm3x_eK0whE 

End of line.

This is making me all sorts of pre-adolescent "why is that getting bigger and harder?" feeling. Almost looks like thye're not going to ruin my developmental childhood, either (which is seriously just one bad WarGames rehash away from dire-need-of-therapy-to-fix-identity-crises).

First Daft Punk song I've really liked, too...

(dunno how I feel about lightcycles turning arcs tho... :/ )

Must... break something.

Goddamnit.

LastFM is removing the awesome streaming playlist feature which allowed me to make playlists and share them with you all.

Considering pandora is now streaming on TiVo, I'm really re-thinking the awesome domination that LastFM has over my music listening time.

Grr...

How you like me now?

Also, realized last night that the totally awesome song in this totally awesome commercial -



... is, in fact, The Heavy.

They put on a really great live show, as well. Very energetic and enjoyable. And came and hung out in the crowd afterwards, cool cats. I'm really digging them more and more, such a great sound.

Do ya wibbity-want me to jibbity-jibbita tell ya what's up?

Went for The Heavy, who were absolutely incredible.

Stayed for ... wait, what? DJ Jazzy Jeff is spinning? Um...



I've seen many, many, many DJs in my time. I've seen a bajillion raves and club nights, seen DMC scratch championships, and danced to some of the greats in venues from loft parties to arenas. And even though Jazz's mixes at times were somewhat sloppy, he was a shining example how a dj with great scratching and deep technical skills, coupled with broad music knowledge, can utterly devastate a room.

Too goddamn much fun. My ass was danced-off.

Salsa

Took a Salsa lesson at the Havana Club in Central with Andrea. Was a good time, quite a bit more people than most of the swing events (and certainly much more spicy!) Pretty easy to adapt some lindy moves into salsa; so we weren't completely left with the bits of the lesson to work with.

They've got themselves quite the space in there; and a bar (though drinks are cash-only and other than beer, fairly expensive for their size). I can definitely see returning, taking more lessons, and adding Salsa to my ever-growing list of dance in my repetoire.