Vinyl has gone from being the club standard to a niche in a few short years – many smaller venues aren’t even providing turntables for DJs unless persuaded to drag them out of the cellar. Still though, many DJs stay dedicated to their turntables and swear by the precision, controller and feel of the trusty 1200’s. With the advances in speed, accuracy and acceptance of controller based solutions, is time code control still relevant in today’s digital landscape? When will controller technology get good enough to possibly exceed the performance or DVS systems and if that does happen, will time-code disappear?
A LITTLE BIT OF EXPLANATION
In reality there are a number of factors that affect the quality of time code solutions though, from worn/dirty records and needles to inconsistent turntables and unreliable audio connections. A purely digital solution, theoretically, would be able to sidestep these variables and get much closer to true capabilities of the numbers. So what’s here now, and what’s on the horizon?
At 33 1/3 RPM, the standard speed a 12” vinyl spins, a full rotation takes 1.8 seconds. NI time code thus contains 3600 counts per rotation, or to look at it another way, the needle’s absolute position on the vinyl can be accurately measured to a 10th of a degree. To achieve the same level of accuracy on smaller sized platters, fewer counts are needed; a 12” platter has to rotate around 3mm on its outside edge to advance a single degree, whereas on the smaller 4” platter of a NI Kontrol S4, for instance, the outside edge needs to rotate only 0.9mm. The Kontrol S4 features 1000 counts per rotation, which more or less equates to the same accuracy as a hand touching vinyl time code at 4” from the centre.
AN ALTERNATIVE?
So as we can see, the technology is already here. Theoretically, controllers can have an even quicker response than time code as well as all the accuracy and more – without audio to send, latency can be reduced as MIDI and HID latency is almost indistinct (many modern drivers achieve lower than 1ms latency, without counting USB errors, and Native Instruments have designed their own interface, NHL, which is similarly fast) and it’s also quicker to process than an audio signal.
THE BIG QUESTION
So is time code merely an interim solution that made use of existing technology to enable digital control? Crucially, is the design of digital DJ equipment even interested in matching the model of a 12” spinning platter? I think maybe not – if turntablism is the only category of DJing that utilises the turntable as an instrument in its own right, manufacturers may not be interested in reinventing the wheel of steel when they can invent something new with their own designs.
THE BOTTOM LINE…
At the end of the day, demand tends to drive the market. Are you hoping to one day have a super low latency, 100% accurate, 12” spinning platter on your desk? Or is the scratching just a throwback in your quest for cue point stuttering, effect bending world domination? Let us know!
i have my mixvibes dvs system and let me tell u, its not much of a difference……just dynamically there is a slight change…..but for my sound setup……i rather use 2 technics and a midi enabled mixer..problem solved lmao
From everything I’ve just read (and I read it all) there is one important element that seems to be missing. The audience!! Regardless of your source material, be it digital or analogue, whether it is on usb or disc (vinyl or cd), if you are not playing to your crowd it won’t matter. You may have the latest and greatest equipment. you my have the latest releases from beatport, you may even be wearing a watch! But, if you can’t keep you audience captivated it won’t be long before you are replaced, just like that old 1200 turntable……
Why the xenophobic hate on original and digital vinyl DJs on this site. This article is subjective opinion, just as whatever platform person chooses to use as a DJ.
You say that “without audio to send, latency can be reduced as MIDI and HID latency is almost indistinct.” I thought the whole point of timecode was that it just literally sends a timestamp and not an audio signal? Then why would it have to process an audio signal when it’s really only sending a timestamp? And how is that different from sending a MIDI or HID signal? Thanks
Yes,
please! Stop feeding the perpetual trolling that is these websites (i.e. stop
linking to them, and stop giving them hits), because these articles are
nothing more than that: trolling for hits (and
stainless steel business
cards
shameless self-aggrandization
to sell products).
Throwback. Controllerism and modern production software just present too many well designed interactive sonic possibilities for me to ever be interested in scratching.
I started “djing” last summer with two tt’s and a mixer and a box of vinyl records, if your going to learn how to dj in my opinion you should learn the way it has always been done. I heart my timecode.
fun fact:
the record on that photo is not even a DVS record.
just a ScratchLive Label stuck/shopped on it
Give it time. As soon as us dinosaurs are out of the DJ game it will be all controller. Price performance and foot print, turntables just don’t cut it anymore (no pun intended). DJing is a small market. Turntablism is a super super small market. At one point turntables out sold guitars in the UK. But nowadays they don’t have the selling power and the guitar will never die. Too bad Technics discontinued the 1200. We hang on to vinyl due to nostalgia, not for improvement in tool set.
Give it time. As soon as us dinosaurs are out of the DJ game it will be all controller. Price performance and foot print, turntables just don’t cut it anymore (no pun intended). DJing is a small market. Turntablism is a super super small market. At one point turntables out sold guitars in the UK. But nowadays they don’t have the selling power and the guitar will never die. Too bad Technics discontinued the 1200. We hang on to vinyl due to nostalgia, not for improvement in tool set.
Give it time. As soon as us dinosaurs are out of the DJ game it will be all controller. Price performance and foot print, turntables just don’t cut it anymore (no pun intended). DJing is a small market. Turntablism is a super super small market. At one point turntables out sold guitars in the UK. But nowadays they don’t have the selling power and the guitar will never die. Too bad Technics discontinued the 1200. We hang on to vinyl due to nostalgia, not for improvement in tool set.
I think this is an easy one! but even when it hurt deep in my soul, vinyl and DVS somehow are going to disappear or get to much of an exclusive devices, if we see as
demand tends to drive the market, try buying a pair of new 1200’s for 1100Us$ each, when you can buy top line midi bassed controller for the same price of 1 technics 1200! a truly sorry but i think this are the facts! Vinyl will never die at all, but its gonna get pretty uncommon!
I think this is an easy one! but even when it hurt deep in my soul, vinyl and DVS somehow are going to disappear or get to much of an exclusive devices, if we see as
demand tends to drive the market, try buying a pair of new 1200’s for 1100Us$ each, when you can buy top line midi bassed controller for the same price of 1 technics 1200! a truly sorry but i think this are the facts! Vinyl will never die at all, but its gonna get pretty uncommon!
I think this is an easy one! but even when it hurt deep in my soul, vinyl and DVS somehow are going to disappear or get to much of an exclusive devices, if we see as
demand tends to drive the market, try buying a pair of new 1200’s for 1100Us$ each, when you can buy top line midi bassed controller for the same price of 1 technics 1200! a truly sorry but i think this are the facts! Vinyl will never die at all, but its gonna get pretty uncommon!
You all-controllers dudes are fagz. techz for life
I really think that this site needs to stop making vinyl/tech 12 users some sort of villains of progression. If anything we should be seen as gatekeepers. Heritage protectors, or something.
Too quickly are there articles written to support the controllerist/etc. I’ve all but once, run into an avid CDJ/controllerist that doesn’t have a disrespect for actually taking time to care about a soulful set. The essence and importance of a dj existing is of no use anymore. Autosync, auto-this, auto-that and what does it all amount to for some of these gents/ladies? Makes it so any bum with a computer and cut-throat attitude towards getting laid and paid can get out start making profit. Not to mention few cool pics with their free bar tabs and a big name around town.
Its been decades now and look what lives on, the turntable. Instead of finding ways to leave indirect reminders that turntablist or simple, soul loving djs should move on from their vinyl/timecode ways… how about writing and covering things that would matter to them as well. If you don’t have to writers to support it, find some who can. You could probably find some in this comments space.
We share this industry… I think this site needs to start reflecting that, MORE.
My back just cant take vinyl anymore.I do still love the warm sound of vinyl, just like valve amps from back in the day.Its a distinct sound that cant be faked.
But my turntables have been boxed up for a couple years now, i went midi.The ease of use and more important for me less to carry got me hooked.Time coded setups seemed a waste of the turntables imo, two huge turntables plus mixer/midi and laptop+interface.I only see the point if you scratch or you already had turntables.
First of all let me state my respect for old school DJs. The amazing things that I have seen accomplished with nothing but a set of 1200’s and a basic mixer boggle my mind. I believe you should work with what feels right to you. At the same time I believe you should respect other’s choices as well.
All this luddite BS about a certain technique lacking “soul” or not working with a certain style of music grinds my gears. Especially coming from people basically using a computer.
This really brings to mind stories of Bob Dylan going to electric guitar, or when cars first came out and you needed someone on horseback riding ahead of you to warn everyone of the “infernal machine” that was coming.
As far as the whole “taking the D out of DJ and what do you have left”. What you have left is the Jockey, riding the music, the vibe, and the crowd towards a beautiful experience. Whether D stands for disc or digital is irrelevant.
Who is a better DJ? A guy with perfect vinyl beat matching skills but with crappy track selection and oblivious to the vibe of the room? Or a guy using beat sync who takes the crowd on a journey and maybe turns them on to something they haven’t heard before using nothing but a computer keyboard for control?
I understand and agree with the whole “iconic look” of the turntable, but what you are basically saying there is that it’s an expensive prop. No different from the metal bands with a wall of fake guitar amp stacks, while their real signal goes direct through a POD to the front of house. And since most venues have the DJs hidden away, or at least in a spot where all you can see is their head bobbing, it’s a prop there almost solely to impress other DJs or ignorant promoters.
And where would be be if Hendrix had listened when someone said “Jimi I get what you were doing with the guitar, but you lost me with your foot on that weird box on the floor…”
Pretty rubbish article. Long live the turntable. I used to use 1210’s but fell in love with the Stanton STR8 150’s. they out perform the 1210s in every corner
All i want is for Manufacturers to NOT try and reinvent the wheel (1200’s). Most dj’s that have used vinyl and it’s control hate the small platters.
The market needs a 12″ High Torque spinning platter controller with midi/Hid the same size a normal deck. Give us some trigger pads and encoders like the Opus and you have a hit.
SL1200’s go extinct, too many clubs have badly adjusted sl’s making djing almost impossible. BPM variety of .2-.4 is just too much, people expect more effects in mixes. I always check the turntables when I get somewhere, 30-40% of the time I have to switch to CD timecode. But on good turntables, it just feels better!
You make a lighter turntable and I’ll make you a simpler DVS.
I have the privilege of hearing the world’s top DJs every week at Beta in Denver, CO. The guys that own this club are the same guys that own Beatport which seem to be tied at the hip with Native Instruments. But the funny thing is 99% of the DJs that play there use CDJs without Serato or Traktor. They walk in with their CD case full of CDs and a few of them use vinyl as well. And they kill it. I love people who use DVS and controllerists but there is still a market for old school beat matching and that club is packed every week with people who appreciate it.
I come from a drumming background to production and then djing (Vinyl) abd i’ll be really disappointed If someone write an article asking when The acustic drum kit thAt needs Mic. Cables … And weigts A ton And It’s Big and uncovinient will be replAced by a trigger finger, a midifighter Or a drum pad…
Is this real?
Or am i missing something
“How ever, a digital turntable could one day have the exact same feel and response as a real turntable, thats what we gotta be aiming for, rather than just blindly sing Technics for ever.” – PaulHolland DoubleDutchdj
Exactomundo dude! I dont see what the hold up is…Controlers or time coded vynil.. they basically do the same job, they manipulate the digital mp3 by means of a revolving platter/jog wheel. Why the hell havent technics just stepped up and mashed the the whole controller/turntable into one? wtf is the hold up… if they get it right they would dominate the market for the next 30 years. Imagine that a 1210 controller with the exact same look and feel of a 1210, fully digital, cue and other contol buttons all built in without the need for the extra serato kit, external button controllers etc… pure heaven.
RPM + DN-S3700 is a wonderful MIDI combination (not HYBRID) with a rotating platter. No Sticker Drift and “super-low latencies of 0.25 ms (non time-stretch mode only). RPM is the only dj app in the world that uses this technology.” HYBRID is flawless in Scratch Live and more accurate than a Vinyl or CD timecode.
I still don’t understand the hate towards Denon on this site.
I personally hate buying new records and needles. Static platters are OK but you don’t have feel, back cueing, scratching and accuracy as a rotating platter. The DN-S3700 is the perfect choice.
Hmmm, is time code dated and not a practical/convenient form of DJing? Maybe? However, DJs like Craze and Rafik, among many others seems to be doing some pretty creative/original sounding mixes with vinyl control based systems. Just sayin’.
http://www.youtube.com/user/NativeInstruments?v=msdFDCcdwaA&feature=pyv&ad=6953924173&kw=DJ%20craze&gclid=CJGjr-fbwqgCFcq8KgodHyY8tw
This article forgets that all controller setups essentially are mimicing the 2 turntable and 2 channel mixer classic Dj setup. So I say as long as a controllerist seeks the most authentic Dj experience on a digital system I think DVS will always have a place in Dj crowds. If a controllerist seeks a more unconventional Dj experience like the MIDI fighter or the new novation controller neither containing jog wheels.
Looking at the heated debates people get into on here, and no one mentions the REALLY important things, like you know, the actual music. I went to a local dubstep night last week, it’s getting pretty big now (Been going for about a year) and at first some guy pops up with a DVS serato system, looking all badass with his gangster image (bearing in mind the people that style is modelled after cannot afford the equipment) and everyone was like “WOOO” when he showed his vinyls.
The next guy came on with 4 launchpads, an iPad, a nanokontrol and a nanokey and some random soundcard. He turned it on and the 4 launchpads came on. Everyone was like “WOOOAH”. He proceded to play one of the most righteous dubstep mixes I’ve heard. People acknowledged he was by far the best that night, they even let him play an extra half hour before the final DJ came on. At the end, the DVS DJ goes “it was cool, but you need some platters to really take it to the next level”. The guy just looked at him and laughed.
TT’s have become an object of “image over music” in recent times, where people are willing to compromise their capabilities for the sake of looking ‘cool’ whilst they play. The DVS DJ did ONE scratch in his entire set, with a set up that cost well into the thousands.
In 20 years time, people will look back at DJs with 5000 pads and faders and go “Damn, old school controllerist!”, and at turntables with “What the hell is this granddad ****”, whilst the new DJing method, which takes the sounds directly from your mind, will be hated on large and wide by controllerists saying “Yes but there’s no tactile feedback, so it has no soul”
I have had a DVS for quite some time as I used to just use non-digital vinyl for dj’ing. But that is also when I used to DJ and scratch hip-hop.
Since then I have moved on to just dj’ing EDM and I have since really just left my DVS in a box and have compiled a setup of various midi decks and controllers to go crazy with channels, effects, and cue points as it fits the style of music better.
I think that is what it is all about. The answer to this shouldn’t be “oh it’s losing support, so now it’s useless” but rather a DJ should use what ever fits their musical style the best. If you do turntablism and scratching or hip-hop then I say DVS is the best you can get! But others may think other wise. It’s all about what suits you and gives you the best performance.
Great article though, I was just saying this to my buddies the other day.
Technology moves oh so fast…
I cut my teeth on vinyl and am saddened when I see CDjs or drinks sitting on them….but after 10 yrs of vinyl, 5 years of DVS…a few years of being sound guy, and some great memories…my add here is more a question, which I realize is not a technical comment on time code, nevertheless, I’m curious of a few related things…
1) how many of you travel long distance to DJ, where you are dependent on at least one taxi or plane to get there?
2) how many of you have ever been booked or paid more/less because of what equipment you use?
3) how many of you have been stranded where there’s no sound guy to deal with anomalies, missing cables, power converters, or a general look of “huh” when you wield your 12″?
4) more humorously, how many of you gave two shits what the DJ was using while you were cutting up the floor with some hottie as long as he/she didn’t f%ck your chances of getting laid?
I understand the above may not be a majority situation (including the dancing with said hottie part), similar to advanced turntablists, and I’m often in a typical local setup myself, but as long as the timecode discussion takes a sharp path toward controllers…there’s something to be said for the bonus of minimizing issues with a normalized rig you can tote anywhere…as well as being a good wingman, timecode or otherwise.
Good riddance. Vinyl systems are cumbersome, bulky, distorted, outdated, and prehistoric. Ill take any measures necissary to make my DJ’ing experience for introspective and efficient…right now we all know its digital.
will people stop pulling there dicks over vinyl.. ffs..
I used to carry a grip of vinyl with me. Stuff I enjoyed playing or hadn’t played in a while or had just bought. But nowadays since clubs are so Serato dependent it’s hard to get a good level on the phono input of a mixer due to monitor or sound system place. Feedback or bad cables or bad ground run rampant as not a lot of people play and sound check vinyl anymore. On a good sound system with proper monitoring though I still find real records can be way louder and hit harder then any MP3 if your levels are straight. Being able to switch back and forth is always what kept me with my turntables.
Has anyone brought up the Technics SL-DZ1200? you get the 1200 feeling with no needle breaking???
After playing on that piece of shit I got the feeling that Technics couldn’t design there way out of a paper bag, the 1200 was a beautiful fluke that turned out to be the worlds number one dj turntable. At the same time of SL-DZ1200 release Numark had a brilliant full size cd playing turntable that felt great to use
I have two. They suck!
I think that things like the N7 are not bad but all these little garbage controllers that we see are just no good. Those will not become the standard, and you can really scratch with them.
I’m shocked that most people so far disagree with the article (and am happy that they do).
If anything button are going to replace all of this. i’ve seen ppeople use the s4 and not even use the jog wheels.
Vinyl Love is Forever!!!
The comments on this post have made this post relevant. Not trying to say anything mean or slanderous about techtools but there is a lot of love for djing being shown in a really respectful and open minded way on this thread. It’s what techtools is all about in my mind.
Oh FFS!!
How many times much you ask and answer the same questions, bring up the same arguments and come to the same conclusions?!
Enough of this death of vinyl crap. Especially since every single article on this topic is the same. At this point I think the articles about turntables dying out are more played out then the turntables themselves.
We should be looking ahead to new things, stop this melodramatic crap. There are plenty of new pieces of gear to be looked at, craptons of interesting techniques and tricks to be shared.
Let’s discuss tomorrow’s technology, learn more about what is possible today, instead of getting stuck in this perpetual ‘what-if’ war. When vinyl finally goes, we will all know about it and that would be the time to seek a replacement, for now let the dinosaurs play with their spinny disks in peace. 🙂
Actually, as a owner of the next-step technology that should take over the DVS, each and every of these comments were valuable and great read. I presume that other industry-heads are reading all these comments as well.
NOT ANOTHER DIGITAL vs. ANALOG THREAD! guys, play on what you feel comfortable, gear doesnt matter at all, it’s all about the music anyway.
good dj + any gear = successful party!
bad dj + 10 000 $ gear = bad party!
Amen +1
2 Wax or not 2 Wax that is the question…..Listen up mother(board) flickers, as long as DVS is around you can simply flip a switch and play vinyll for real. You cannot do that on a controller set up. So b4 you ditch DVS you better convert all your vinyl.
I don’t mean to offend BUT my little girl can press 2 or more buttons and the songs will be in sync but she can’t do it on a turntable nor mix or scratch at-lest not yet LOL I think electronic music DJ’ have talent by not focusing on beat matching and blending in sync but placing focus on creativity and expression I get that. But why are they dissing everyone else by glorifying themselves as being the sole future of DJing? What made DJing so popular is the skill and talent needed to master the WHEELS OF STEEL these DJ’s paved the way for you (the electronic music DJ’s) to even exist. By all means your doing you, and you have a great following props for doing that, but you the electronic music DJ or the next generation of your style of music will be saying the same thing when people decide that robots can press the buttons a lot faster, and in a more creative way than you can!!!!!LOL
Yeah! Fuck robots! Those tin-cans with their ethernet ports just come and plug in. I hate them. They have no idea that a real feel is pressing sync and pushing cue at the same time while with the other hand you’re twisting filter knob for deck B.
(shit I’ll probably face a quick redemption for this comment when the robots take over)
The really funny thing is that actually the most superflous technology involved is dominating: CD. CDs contain 100% digital audio -and comparing standard CD 44100Hz/16bit PCM to actual standards not even very high quality- on a slow, low density material medium: the CD itself. The rotation speed of the CD drive is different to vinyl not connected to the pitch of the played sound. Pitch bending and time shifts with CDDJ equipment are the result of resampling. Means there is a “little DAW” in any CDDJ gear that does these tasks, simulating some vaguely vinyl-like behaviour. In other words: *There is absolutely nothing you can do with CDs that you could not do a lot better with a computer and controllers.* Except one thing: neither controllers nor CD players will give you a haptic interface letting you *feel* the speed, acceleration (which includes brakes) and obesity of the medium (which in this case is identical with the audio, as it phisically generates the latter).
This is where time code comes into play: as a replacement for the big and heavy crates you dont want to take with you if you can avoid it. (As a side effect digital audio lasts forever, while vinyl wears out. But that’s OT.)
So the question should be: Vinyl or MIDI-Controllers? The rest is not a real alternative as vinyl recors and CD won’t be produced forever – because they are not necessary, technically.
Playing devil’s advocate – I feel when comparing Serato Scratch Live playing DVS (doesn’t matter the bit depth or frequency, I’m talking wav lossless here) to a CDJ playing the same thing, that CDJs with their hardware will usually produce a better sounding pitch change. I haven’t recorded or tested this conclusively but I feel it anyway. I haven’t heard Serato DJ with Pitch n Time however, it may be a big improvement. I think blending two tracks on CDJ (say at -7% and +7% for the tracks) with pitch lock disabled would probably sound better than doing the same with a DVS (at least SSL – SL3 would sound better than SL1 but regardless I feel CDJ wins here).
I’m not sure where this assertion that ‘loads of clubs are getting rid of their vinyl decks’ comes from. Every single bar and club I play in Bristol has decks, either Tech 1200/1210 or Vestax STR8-150s. You’re less likely to find CD decks tbh.
Might be the style of venue I play, or the fact that Bristol still has a thriving funk/hip-hop scene …
I almost cried when I saw this article, don’t get me wrong I embrace new technology and advancements in DJing but I feel Timecode will always have a loyal following. “Timecode/Turntables” are an integral part of DJing period! Not just Hip Hop, and I know the future of the turntable is looking bleak but Timecode should be treated as real vinyl. Now a days almost everyone gets their music digitally, so you can say the same thing for cd’s and records, but artists still to this day put out new releases on both because there is still a demand. As a DJ who owns both turntables and midi controllers I can honestly say I see the pros & cons in both pieces of equipment. Obviously a controller is much more effecient in so many ways; it’s more mobile, takes up less space, it’s a mixer and two turntables in one conveniently small package, but I still trust timecode in certain situations and environments over a high tech controller. I remember when I first started as a DJ with my 1200’s, and a couple years later Vestax came out with their spiffy new PDX 2000 turntables with all these new high tech functions and features, like reverse platter control, Ultra Pitch Fader control with a pitch range of +/-50%, start and stop adjustments, etc… I had more problems with the PDX’s then I ever did with my bulletproof Technics. My point is sometimes simple can be better, with all these new controllers and features coming out on a monthly basis I believe it leaves more room for error and problems to occur. I guess I’m just a stubborn scratch DJ who would never trade in my Technics 1200’s for any new controller. There is just something about the feel of a vinyl record (LP or Timecode) on your fingertips with a spinning platter and slipmats under it.
The S4 is actually awesome for scratching. I scratch on both the s4 and a 1200. It’s all about skills man.
Another Amen +1
I find DVS extreemly pointless and hinders me majorly.. I use it in some clubs to keep the resident DJ’s and owners/staff happy but its a completely pointless exercise.. I actually find it much easier to use plain CD’s the old school way than use DVS.. no stupid setup and having to pull the club mixer out of its slot.
Midi/HID all the way.. and forget about jog wheels or platters… fair enough people who scratch still need them but for DJs like me that dont scratch jog wheels are just a waste of valuable space. In australia its only RnB djs that scratch and lets face it, most of them do it really badly!!
Im now using Ableton live and Beatmatching isnt even a consideration in my sets now..
Grant you’re a fuggin beech gtfo
+1
Wow, I can´t believe somebody actually had the nerve to write this article! Trying to look at DJ as a parallel to the electronics sales person at Best-Buy is pretty ridiculous (or funny if you don´t try to take it seriously). It´s like analogue photography or silk screening: There will always be new technologies but they´re never achieve what created the culture. And – most importantly- they will NEVER have the same feeling. Its digital. It´s not real. Virtual. And, it doesn´t exist without electricity . And: WHY would I want to give up my turntables? It´s a craft! Digital accuracy? Seriously? Who cares?
I don´t know ONE person who switched to DJ software due to technological reasons. It´s always the same reasons: practical, practical, practical. Looping & FX are fun, absolutely! DVS allow a great deal of innovative techniques. But giving up turntables is like giving up DJing for me. It is pure. So beautiful.
The only thing I see fading out is CDJs.
And “controllerizm” ? Pressing buttons is not DJing. It´s definitely entertaining and it´s cool to see ButtonEntertainers develop new techniques for themselves and for sure it works, but where is the DISC in the DiscJockey? Using the term is already pushing it.
I really like to see new technologies as add ons for creative people- please don´t get me wrong. But getting rid of the soul, just because manufacturers need new grounds to make profit? Which DJ would buy into that? Perhaps if you started DJing with DVS and never learned the craft from the bottom to the top.
But- thats actually funny- if most DJs will use buttons and simulating plastic wheels in 20 years- that´s gonna automatically rise the status of DJs. How much fun would it be if you could make 500 kids in a club go beserk with an instrument they have not seen before in action? 😉
I get what you’re saying, but your logic is flawed at a base level. Digital music is every bit as “real” as music on vinyl is. Neither one “exist” without electricity. You can’t spin a record in thin air and make it play what’s in the grooves. Spinning with vinyl has it’s place, and it always will because of the roll it played in creating the culture, but to continue to praise it as being superior to other ways of DJing simply for that reason makes no logical sense.
A lot of us like to think that people at a club care if you’re using vinyl or not, but the last several clubs I went to you couldn’t see what the DJ was using behind the booth…and we didn’t care because he was killing it! Yes, spinning 1200’s looks really cool, and I have the highest respect for all the guys/gals out there spinning vinyl without DVS, but do you still watch black and white TV for the “magic” of watching it for the first time? Did you install an 8 track player in your car? Technology isn’t the enemy here.
hey i just wanted to point out that you can take a rolled up piece of paper that’s rolled into a cone, tape a needle to the skinny end of that cone and play a vinyl record with that.
granted it’s not going to sound good, but if rapture happened over the weekend and we lost all electricity, i could still listen to all my vinyl records in a primitive way.
hey i just wanted to point out that you can take a rolled up piece of paper that’s rolled into a cone, tape a needle to the skinny end of that cone and play a vinyl record with that.
granted it’s not going to sound good, but if rapture happened over the weekend and we lost all electricity, i could still listen to all my vinyl records in a primitive way.
Actually, you can play a record without electricity and hear exactly what is on the grooves, it will just be very low… a gramophone, the precursor of the modern turntable was just a way of amplifying that sound. It just takes electricity to amplify the sound. If you turn off your sound and use digital control vinyl you will hear a loud piercing, high pitched and somewhat annoying EEEEEEEEEE sound. Similarly with actual vinyl song records you will actually hear the bass and treble at a much lower volume and higher pitch. And can actually feel the beat a little in your hands while you scratch. Kind of miss that when playing digital vinyl (aka serato or traktor records etc…
“controllerizm” ? Pressing buttons is not DJing. That’s like say a Great author can only write a masterpiece only if he write it by hand vs using a typewriter….LOL! but I guess that’s human nature being afraid of you new and up coming Technology!
Oh and here’s a couple of examples of DJs that aren’t real DJ acordding to you. LOL!
Controllerist legend and founder of DJTechTools.com Ean Golden – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4DUUDw3mww
and DMC World Champ DJ Shiftee shows what the upcoming Traktor Kontrol S4 DJ system is capable of, highlighting the powerful new Sample Decks and Loop Recorder in four spectacular mini-routines – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1EVo8v3OG8
“but where is the DISC in the DiscJockey?” Indeed!
My friends and I have been calling them Button Jockeys or BJ’s – if you will – for some time. Even with the negative conotations of the BJ moniker, it still sound better to be than “controllerist” or whathaveyou.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, BEETLEJUICE!
But no, really, “Controllerist” sounds better than “Button Jockey”, just as “Turntablist” sounds better that “Disk Jockey” if what they’re doing is creating music instead of playing it. Depends on how they present the music.
One thing I must say that I don’t thing has been touched on is that vinyl appeals to the collector and hoarder in me! There was a time when people thought that vinyl would die and cd’s would take over. Now cd sales are way down digital has taken over but I still love to go crate digging and find that piece of vinyl I’ve been hunting for. Ok I can buy it as a download and get it in minutes and have catalogue it with the rest of my tracks but to me you still can’t beat that vinyl feel and a library of records to me looks more satisfying than a couple of hard drives and memory sticks any day! But maybe that’s just me?!
Why to buy new gear without less features and drop actual and useful one?
Turntables could read digital files but the actual digital solutions are not capable to load vinyl and crappy or “closed” to softwares like ITCH or VDJ.
Ean maybe you could talk with NI guys and convince them to support NS7 or SCS.1d (hint: the version update for the date release of scs.1d dropped the hardware timecode compatibility… ouch).
Meanwhile Controllerist with controllers and Turntablist with turntables.
Tooltablisters waiting for turntable integration in the equation.
jm2c
Hmm as a human being I like actually using my brain as a CPU and my hands as MIDI controllers, I have been DJing for over 20years and I have tried controller based systems, but controllerism to me isnt DJ’ing because of the lack of connection to the music caused by the requirement to learn an array of buttons to control the tracks means.. it has NO SOUL, NO FUNK, NO FEELING because the process gets in the way, It just is not as intustive as playing vinyl. Thats why DVS helps keep that SOUL & FEELING connection intact. Killing the 1200 was like the industry saying, hey we want some of the pie Technic’s so were gonna flood the market with games consoles and call it DJ’ing too. Ahem, before you start WTF was that Xbox DJ toy effort about?. SALES, SALES, SALES, it bred a new generation of non-beatmatching sync DJ’s. Come on guys the S4, the Omni, The VCI100, Total Control, these are just fancy game pads emulating the real thing. Ask yourself this, would you rather have a fillet steak or a emulated synthetic fillet steak? DVS is cool because it bridges this obvious shortfall. This whole argument seems like the other manufacturers are simply trying to twist the poisenous blade and kill vinyll for good. This shows No respect for the cultural roots of DJ’ing and simply stinks of electronics companys swarming like vultures over the still pulsing Technics carcase. Who posted this question in the first place? He should be fired!!! And who does he work for? NI? SERATO? MIDIFIGHTER? VESTAX?…..no wait its TECHNICS isnt it…….
SAVE THE VINYLL !
I love the way you completely ignored what cdj’s have done to the industry! The process of dj’s moving away from turntables started years before dj midi controllers were even invented, or was you in a coma from the mid 90’s to 2007? Sadly 9 out of 10 dj’s don’t need a moving platter to control there music, VCI, S4 ect…. aren’t there to replace turntables, there replacing cd players.
Scratch jocks like my self and turntable lovers will always need a moving platter, I’m not all of sudden gonna want a static jog controller.
This post is simply throwing up the question of DVS as an in perfect system, no matter what advance’s are made DVS is flawed as it will never be as tight to scratch with as real vinyl, it’s physically impossible for it to be that accurate without latency. How ever a digital “turn”table could over come DVS flaws. With DVS a 1200 becomes a controller for a digital output, so why would a moving platter controller that looked and felt exactly the same as a 1200 be so bad when it could achieve the sort of scratch control DVS could never do?
Signing off with save the vinyl is pretty dum considering you most probably use timecode and have done your bit towards killing real wax as well. Saving the moving platter as the number 1 way to physically and visually move sound is the important thing here.
The 12″, high torque, spinning platter and a vinyl record does it for me. I never liked using CDJs either. If a controller had to take place of my 1200s they would have to have a large (12″) spinning surface with a feel like vinyl or better. Scratching is an art…there are several generations of artist expressing with this format. It may eventually go the way of Jazz musicians but that mean it will have a respected and rich legacy.
I think someone already mentioned this, but there is something about the recognizability of two technics. Regardless of if you agree or not and if there is any truth to it or not, a big piece to the puzzle is public perception. An overwhelming amount of people are not gear heads or DJ’s. They are just going out to have a good time and grab a few drinks. They know what turntables are, what they do, and to some extent (due to the boom of people delving into DJing in the late 90’s/early 00’s), there is a small segment that understand the skill needed to mix/scratch with them. I think we’ll eventually move towards a suitable all digital replacement, but I don’t see it being before all generations of clubbers who have the connection of DJ=turntables is a thing of the past.
a controller beats a nice analog setup with turntables when…
– the quality of pitching records is worse than digital processing
– latency of a digital system is faster than nothing (DVS and Internal are close but what about the faders and eqs?)
– digital gear will have more headroom and better sound quality than analog equipment
– you see soda, beer and long drink commercials with nice chicks dancin right next to a traktor controller instead of the 1 and 2…
for the time in between we will still enjoy real equipment and will also enjoy dvs for combining the digital with the analog world
I like turntables because of the level of control, I suppose a 12″ spinning platter w/ no vinyl on it would work just as well. But you don’t get as fine control w/ a smaller size, especially if it isn’t spinning and providing physical feedback. I also feel that direct tactile control is more precise than clicking things.
Also, the crowd likes the performance of seeing you working as apposed to mixing in the box which I did at the last gig cause one of the decks were broken. Now that’s a definite drawback, moving parts can break!
The thing is, I had to keep my eyes glued to the screen, it made it harder to look at and interact w/ people. w/ good physical feedback you don’t need to look at what you’re doing, you can feel it.
I love my Serato though now that I don’t have to worry about any 5-10ms lag times some other digital dj systems have given me.
I started off on analog vinyl in 1992, got into DVS in 2005, but finally got off timecode for good in 2008 and never looked back.
For me, the frustration I found with turntables is as the article says. I show up to events and the turntables are either nonexistent or old and broken. Most of the guys I’ll see playing were using CDs. Plus since I’m NOT using one of the illustrious two (Traktor or Serato), it would also become a small menace to hook up my soundcard and such to play when others are also showing up with Serato and Traktor setups.
When I went Midi, I originally just wanted to be able to show up, hook up one RCA cable, and go to town. I’ll say it made life a lot easier for me that I ended up not looking back. I more have a love for the music, not the medium. I don’t care if I can feel vinyl under my fingertips or not, but I care more about if my set sounds solid. Mind you I was playing on vinyl for sixteen years…so one can’t claim I don’t “get it” or I haven’t experienced it enough to “get it”.
Analog vinyl and timecode are both nuisances in my opinion. I don’t knock anyone who loves the older medium and stands by it, but I personally like that I don’t have to run out to get new vinyl at $12 a pop and rush to get to the store within a certain window of time because supplies are limited. I like that I can shop anytime I want on the MP3 sites and not have to deal with hooking up and disconnecting turntables and such when I go play.
Not saying it’s for everyone, but I honestly feel that as vinyl lovers get older and move out of the scene, their replacements will be younger folks who only knew midi and thus stay on it.
Controllers have lots of advantages over timecode-systems.
But when it comes to the feeling -> Controllers lose!
I really love the looks of a (timecode-)vinyl spinning on the platter <3
To me, my 12’s just feel comfortable. Granted, Ive thought about getting a controller and making my payload lighter and simpler to setup. But there’s just the feel of the vinyl and dropping a needle thy makes me feel like “I’m in there with the music”.
vinyl sounds better and is available are garage sales around the world… software and controller based products are sooo much fun…
i will keep my turntables so i can listen to those old vinyls but use my laptop for djing 😀
First of all, I love and always will love my 1200s and timecode let me use them with serato instead of switching over to cdjs or controllerism. Even though i do use midi and occasionally use cdjs its just something about the spinning platter and controlling the music directly with your hands that is unbeatable and is unmatched by cdjs, and I’m not talking about just turntablism and scratching I’m talking about all kinds of Djing with them whether it is just beat matching or doing a turntablist set the turntables are really an instrument and atleast i feel they are a natural extension of myself.
I really hope though in the future this art and style doesn’t die or atleast if it does a good number of us won’t let it fade completely.
-DJ Addiction
I don’t scratch, at all, I have tried and failed and therefore I see this post a little ignorant and naive towards all the timecode users out there…
I personally would never consider giving up my turntables. For me its the feeling that you are quite literally touching and handling your music (even more so with real vinyl than DVS). I cant think of any other way or form DJing that provides this type of feedback, and for me that is the real reason that vinyl and turntables will forever be used.
As a user of DVS and a lover of vinyl I find the marriage between the new and old forms through timecode is perfect. I love the fact that on one turntable I can have my latest white label playing whilst I am mixing in a tune from Traktor. I do also use MIDI through my keyboard for cue points (not juggling, just flicking to different ‘load in’ points) and this has made DJing for me so much more enjoyable and fun.
However, Hitting cue buttons just doesn’t compare to cueing up vinyl, and I cant imagine anyone would disagree with this (unless they cant DJ with turntables) and its the same for beatmatching, even pioneer CDJ’s have pitch faders that feel disgusting (in my opinion) compared to good turntable pitch faders.
So to answer the initial question, I can’t imagine timecode will ever run out of time, whether it be on vinyl or CD. Although, having said that, I cant imagine vinyl will ever die out either.
Coming from a digital perspective, it’s a similar difference with a different slant.
Because I’m used to cue points on CDJs or controllers, cuing on vinyl feels sloppy and imprecise.
To me, a turntable feels like an enormous and clunky controller with almost no features. All it does is let me adjust playback speed and move the playhead (without much precision). To me that doesn’t feel like “hands on control” at all, it feels like a clunky interface for some very basic functionality.
“Because I’m used to cue points on CDJs or controllers, cuing on vinyl feels sloppy and imprecise.”
You do realise we had cue points on vinyl right? Take a small bit of sticky tape or a coloured tab. Draw a line or use another piece of tape on the label to dictate the ‘start’ position of the vinyl on the platter for the cue you want.
As has been pointed out before, try using your controller to play ‘music’ (other than beating on it with a stick) in a non-electrical world. A turntable you can literally stick a horn next to to ‘amplify’ slightly (like gramophones) and you can (again literally) move the record with your hand on a turntable. You can put your ear up to the needle at the very worst case, to hear a trebl-y version. I’m just saying, these things are not ‘clunky controllers’ they are the devices that first brought recorded music into the home (before and apart from radio, which were often using vinyl anyway, over tape).
honestly, I’d love to never have to lug my 1200s around anymore…
I think that even if you take all the benefits and shortcomings of vinyl/timecode out of the equasion there is still always one thing, and my whole comment is about that. So please READ this carefully, this comment is just about the NON functional “advantage” of a turntable….
Vinyl just looks cooler, for the DJ and for the audience.
Its kind of the same case with a watch if you ask me:
You don’t really need it anymore because of all the new technology, i don’t know anybody without a mobile phone these days. You carry your cell with you everywhere, and it can tell you what time it is. But a watch just looks nice, so i still wear one.
This I agree with.
lol so now the posers come crawling out…guess its “all just about looking cool” and convincing people that you are pro cause you can afford to by overpriced decks. News flash BRO, you look like a jack ass standing there spinning that platter while deadmau5 is glitching edits and ritchie hawtin is killing it with a decent mix
This is something I’ve been banging on about for a while, of course i love time code, I’m a turntablist. But should needles and tone arms have a place in dj booths in 30 years time? I don’t think so, too many things need to be right with the current DVS systems for them to work at 100%.
I hate reading peoples naive comments from so called turntable purist’s hating on moving platter controllers like V7’s. Numark, Denon and Stanton are doing there bit towards saving a revolving platter as the number 1 visual way to move and manipulate sound.
DVS and 1200’s will be my set up for years to come, but while I’ll happily mix and juggle on Timecode, I’ll always prefer scratching with real wax, so therefore timecode isn’t perfect and it never will be as it’s physically impossible. How ever, a digital turntable could one day have the exact same feel and response as a real turntable, thats what we gotta be aiming for, rather than just blindly sing Technics for ever.
Nostalgia aside, what would be wrong with a digital turntable that felt exactly the same as a 1210 to to use? especially if you don’t play any real vinyl
By your token a horn player should relinquish his instrument for a digital one? We need to remember that Turntables are instruments too.
“By your token a horn player should relinquish his instrument for a digital one?”
Your analogy for what I’m saying is pretty simplistic and doesn’t add up . It’s impossible to make a fair comparison where up to date software is being controlled by and merged with a 35 year old “electronic” device to make a hybrid digital controller. Once your using DVS that turntable becomes a controller of a digital output, but because the time code signal goes from the needle, thru the deck, in to a soundcard, thru analogue to digital converters, in to a computer, back out to the soundcard and then to a mixer your obviously going to get latency and a potential list of other problems, the nest of DVS cables, bass interference from large PA, knackered headshell input.
” We need to remember that Turntables are instruments too. ”
Amen to that!
I don’t use the word turntablism lightly, hence the term controllerism annoys me because it’s a similar term that doesn’t mean the same thing.
Trust me when I say this, I’m an out an out scratch geek in every sense of the word but Turntables are only instruments in the right hands, if you just mix on them then there little more than advanced play back devices, otherwise you could argue a Cdj is a instrument too! But then again considering what I’ve witness Dj Shadow and Prime Cut’s (aka short ass from the scratch perverts) do on a cdj it’s hard to not call them an instrument once in right hands too.
But once you hook up DVS there no longer a turntable in the traditional sense, all your using is the revolving platter to control a signal. Needle dropping is irrelevant if your using hot cues and loops, so what part of a traditional turntable is left?
The revolving platter is the part that makes a turntable an instrument via your hand to control pitch time and speed. But once paired with DVS a real turntable doesn’t have 100% accurate control over these because of the latency and accuracy of which future moving digital turntables could nail.
I’m not saying ditch tech’s for a pair of V7’s, far from it! I’m in a fortunate position to have a studio with a number of set ups, one of which is a non DVS set up next to all vinyl
All I’m saying it is amazing, but DVS is not the perfect solution to control a digital signal and it never will be, but a digital turntable could achieve the sort of accuracy needed to match the feel and tightness of a real wax cutting.
Go into a jazz club and explain to a performer there that your turntable is an instrument. In that moment you will understand what it feels like talking to turntable purists as a person who PREFERS a digital medium.
“Nostalgia aside, what would be wrong with a digital turntable that felt exactly the same as a 1210 to to use? especially if you don’t play any real vinyl”
Well, for one thing, the fact that the feel of SL-1200s is not that good after all – they never upgraded the motor (of course, if you’re good with the 1/3rd startup time, it’s absolutely great for you). Personally, I really do prefer a snappier response on the startup.
Other than that – it’s a workhorse. I recently sold one of my SL-1200s (mk2) that was over 20 years old. Granted, it had seen its fair share of action on the road, but I still got almost same amount of it that I originally paid for it (and at that time, it was already a used one).
Hey Paul, you have a lot to say about everyones personal opinions and “naive comments”, Get yourself outta your own arsehole and take a chill pill. Just becuse people dont agree with you doesnt mean you are correct. I find you quite offensive. You assume people have not the knowledge you seem to wield. I think it is you who is naive. Your history is whack, CDJ’S only really emerged and took off after 2000. At tha point I’d owned 1200’s for 10years and had witnessed final scratch being played by Hawtin in Glasgow. I decided that was for me and CDJ was a waste of cash. I waited and bought into Traktor, no coma, just made an educated purchase. why keep ditching kit everytime a manufacturer waves a shiney box. Which seems to be happening a lot just now. Mind you there may be another band wagon along any minute sir so you can go jump on that and leave us vinyll dinosaurs in peace.
P.S. RE: Deadmau5 , Deadmau5 would get fucking rinsed by DJ Mixmaster Mike….FACT
well said!
It seems that controllers have taken a backseat in the market due to software limitations over the past few years. If DVS programs were able to read a high resolution motorized platter from the get go, I”l bet you would see more modular systems now. Why not have the mixer as a main controller with many more options for additional controllers to be added to the mixer?
Currently the only individual controllers with rotating platters are the Stanton SCS1d, Numark V7 and Denon 3500/3700. Both are not truly modular systems. The SCS1d still has software limitations and is it even possible to pair a SCS1m to a SCS3d? The V7 and Denon units still need a mixer with analog connections.
The technology is here to create a controller that is a true 1200 replica in the digital age. It would need a weighted 12″ platter and motor to complement the platter. The closest we’ve seen is the Numark CDX and HDX but they are not controllers. The HDX was an epic fail because it never made good use of the midi port and link on the unit.
I would love to grab a different controller for different gigs. What if you were able to have the choice of a 2 or 4 channel mixer and a larger (or smaller) rotating platter or button style controller and mix and match between them – or even combine 2 sets of different style controllers to a 4 channel mixer with no timecode. Only then will the custom controller market open up.
I know that I would spent much more $$$ on hardware if I had more options…
Enjoyed reading this. For me timecode (and I’m talking 5 years ago) enabled me to link my trusty 1210’s to my ever expanding mp3 collection, with absolute ease. The natural progression for me then lead to ditching the turntables and turning solely to midi controllers. For this timecode will always have a place in my heart but it’s just far too impractical for me to make use of today.
I don’t scratch, but i am DJing for over 25 years now, and i just love the feel of turntables, needles, and records spinning. Using timecode vinyl gives me this feeling which a controller cannot do…
Really guys? This is one of your most ignorant articles. It doesn’t mention any of the benefits DVS systems provide, such as being able to play all your mp3s as if they’re real vinyl and not having to carry around a crate of vinyl to gigs. It’s not about the resolution, it’s about being able to play all your digital music with the traditional vinyl feel.
Honestly, I think the article even feels a bit hostile towards vinyl DJs…
“if turntablism is the only category of DJing that utilises the turntable as an instrument in its own right” – Since when is turntablism the only category of DJing that utilizes the turntable as an instrument? This is totally offensive and completely ignorant as it dismisses one of the main uses for turntables, which is to beat match two records and mix out of one record and into the other one.
“Vinyl has gone from being the club standard to a niche in a few short years – many smaller venues aren’t even providing turntables for DJs unless persuaded to drag them out of the cellar.” Sure, but any of the important and relevant clubs in electronic music today will have the traditional set up. Also, this seems to contradict one of your more recent articles where Ean writes: “Lately, I have recieved a few emails from frustrated readers who told stories of being refused gigs based on the equipment they use. This type of ignorant discrimination was common five years ago but is it still alive today? Unfortunatly- yes. Well meaning, but ignorant club owners and promoters still think that the only “professional” way to DJ is with a pair of turntables or CDJs.” … well which one is it? jus sayin’……
SA
This blog is always hostile toward vinyl DJs. Frankly, its a fucking joke. Use what works best, quit being astroturf for the companies making digital gear so you can get free shit to review and use.
Ha ignorant, thats rich! Dude your missing the point of the article, I’ll happily mix and juggle on DVS, but timecode is still not tight enough to match scratching on real wax, it’s physically impossible for timecode to ever be as tight as real vinyl. This article is simply throwing up the question of DVS life expectency in the future as a moving platter controller could emulate realistic scratching far better than DVS ever will.
I’ve been using turntable’s since before many of the people on hear were even born, old school feelings aside I love what DVS has done for me. But it isn’t perfect, so many variables have to be in place for timecode to work at 100%. What would be so bad about a digital turntable that felt and even looked exactly the same as a 1210?
I’m really sorry that you feel that way Sam, but Paul who replied below has picked up on the exact point of the article – that turntablism intrinsically relies on the actual control of vinyl on a record, and anything else is an approximation – DVS isn’t really ‘just like’ real vinyl, and other advantages of DVS are shared by non DVS digital solutions. Whilst the beatmatching and mixing of two records that you mention is a function of DJing, the beatmatching is a science, not an art, and thus it is not using the turntable as a musical instrument. Perhaps the omission of the word musical is the thing that has upset you and in which case I apologise – the feel of your favourite carving knife in your hand is part of, if not the majority of the pleasure of cutting roast beef, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of – but the act could be performed just as efficiently with another tool (instrument).
I just want to make it clear that I, Chris the Tech Editor here at DJTT, am a committed vinyl aficionado; I’m a scratch DJ and sampling musician, have thousands of vinyl and have spend thousands of hours in uncomfortable physical positions but joyous mental states sifting through unloved vinyl to re-home it and discover its beautiful secrets. I know many of the other members of DJTT have a similar affinity with vinyl, and the digital control based slant of this site is down to the love and desire to further the nucleus of an idea that is the incredibly exciting potential of controllerism that we are really only just scratching the surface of.
I absolutely promise, Giggity (below), that our integrity is of utter priority here at DJTT, and we would never suggest anything that wasn’t in the interests of our readership. This article, indeed, asked the question of what does work best, and we hoped to inspire positive discussion from it.
Beatmatching definitely is an art if you are a) using live drummer recordings that change tempo b) are using belt drive turntables or do not have pitch adjustment.
One of the biggest problems is that we, the people on this site, represent the most tech(and general dj skills) obsessed Djs in the world. The general run-of-the-mill Dj who actually play 80% of the gigs out there, don’t have a setup at home, and just brings either CDs or vinyl, either out of preference, disinterest or ignorance. And that’s who the clubs have to cater to.
I would LOVE for clubs to have a setup that forced all the shit Djs to learn how to really use the equipment, but that’s gonna take a while….
80% of the DJs in the world don’t have a ‘home setup’ to practice on…? I like how you make things up
I just don’t like that most of the controllers I encounter are much smaller than the 12″ platter I’m used to. 10″ is manageable but 8″ in below is not interesting to me. Pause on the above paragraph.
When Rane or Technics comes out with a 12″ motorized midi controller, I’ll purchase as soon as my 1200s die
I just don’t like that most of the controllers I encounter are much smaller than the 12″ platter I’m used to. 10″ is manageable but 8″ in below is not interesting to me. Pause on the above paragraph.
When Rane or Technics comes out with a 12″ motorized midi controller, I’ll purchase as soon as my 1200s die
I just don’t like that most of the controllers I encounter are much smaller than the 12″ platter I’m used to. 10″ is manageable but 8″ in below is not interesting to me. Pause on the above paragraph.
When Rane or Technics comes out with a 12″ motorized midi controller, I’ll purchase as soon as my 1200s die
Yo, if u keep those 1200’s clean and dry… they’ll be around for a long time to come.. I’ve had mine for more than 15 years.. and I bought them second hand! .. The same can’t be said about any of the controllers out there.. especially the cheap plastic ones.
Word. And resale value too. My first 1200 was one of the earliest, late 70s production.. still kicking almost 40 years later.
a controller that will never work at playing actual records.
Ya man, i love my Traktor kontrol s4 and all possibities that i have on it, but after i saw some videos of Qbert scratch university, i have to admit that are many cool tricks that can only be possible on a turntable…
Ya man, i love my Traktor kontrol s4 and all possibities that i have on it, but after i saw some videos of Qbert scratch university, i have to admit that are many cool tricks that can only be possible on a turntable…
Ya man, i love my Traktor kontrol s4 and all possibities that i have on it, but after i saw some videos of Qbert scratch university, i have to admit that are many cool tricks that can only be possible on a turntable…
I see the point of the article but I think it would be a shame to lose this aspect of digital DJing. It’s ace to be able to seamlessly go from playing digital vinyl to real vinyl and IMO a technice turntable is always going to be infinitely better than some plastic controller with little jog wheels. It seems a new controller comes out every week and to me they all feel like toys compared to a technics. I know this is the way things are going but it would be a massive shame if the turntable was phased out completely. There were no major changes to the design in 30 odd years for a very good reason (or whenever the 1210 was introduced). An absolute design classic.
1210 only difference to 1200 was colour and voltage for US peoples. Rest of the world gets 1200s.
I see the point of the article but I think it would be a shame to lose this aspect of digital DJing. It’s ace to be able to seamlessly go from playing digital vinyl to real vinyl and IMO a technice turntable is always going to be infinitely better than some plastic controller with little jog wheels. It seems a new controller comes out every week and to me they all feel like toys compared to a technics. I know this is the way things are going but it would be a massive shame if the turntable was phased out completely. There were no major changes to the design in 30 odd years for a very good reason (or whenever the 1210 was introduced). An absolute design classic.
I see the point of the article but I think it would be a shame to lose this aspect of digital DJing. It’s ace to be able to seamlessly go from playing digital vinyl to real vinyl and IMO a technice turntable is always going to be infinitely better than some plastic controller with little jog wheels. It seems a new controller comes out every week and to me they all feel like toys compared to a technics. I know this is the way things are going but it would be a massive shame if the turntable was phased out completely. There were no major changes to the design in 30 odd years for a very good reason (or whenever the 1210 was introduced). An absolute design classic.
its all about the love.
big fan of controllers and traktor but will never give up my 1210s.
will there ever be a controller that looks as sexy as a turntable? i think not.
its all about the love.
big fan of controllers and traktor but will never give up my 1210s.
will there ever be a controller that looks as sexy as a turntable? i think not.
its all about the love.
big fan of controllers and traktor but will never give up my 1210s.
will there ever be a controller that looks as sexy as a turntable? i think not.
small jogwheels/platters suck! The S4 is whack for scratching. I dont see the point in putting jog wheels on controllers if you cant scratch with them. The pionner CDJ jogwheels are as small as they should go.
small jogwheels/platters suck! The S4 is whack for scratching. I dont see the point in putting jog wheels on controllers if you cant scratch with them. The pionner CDJ jogwheels are as small as they should go.
small jogwheels/platters suck! The S4 is whack for scratching. I dont see the point in putting jog wheels on controllers if you cant scratch with them. The pionner CDJ jogwheels are as small as they should go.
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH!!!!!!
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH!!!!!!
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH!!!!!!
Has no one mentioned the natural drift that timecode produces?
Sounds more natural and soulful to my ears and one of the big factors for me.
Has no one mentioned the natural drift that timecode produces?
Sounds more natural and soulful to my ears and one of the big factors for me.
Also one of the reasons you don’t want to merely record your vinyl to ‘playback on DVS’ – double flutter
Has no one mentioned the natural drift that timecode produces?
Sounds more natural and soulful to my ears and one of the big factors for me.
One of the best articles I’ve read on this site since a long time…!
One of the best articles I’ve read on this site since a long time…!
One of the best articles I’ve read on this site since a long time…!
In my humble opinion I think this article is lacks soul.
Without fail, all of my professional DJ friends and non-professional enthusiasts friends enjoy DVS’s tangible soul – and prefer it to a singularly MIDI based setup. I believe this discussion leaves out the overwhelming majority of DJs. I also firmly believe this article would have better served the DJTT audience by at least listing some of the reasons a good portion of professional DJs prefer a DVS setup. So, in the interest of rounding out this article, here are a few good reasons why:
1. Nearly every audience instantly understands what the DJ is doing when they see a turntable based setup. I use a hybrid setup (two 1200’s and two LPD-8 midi controllers). Aside from my own comfortability with turntables (I don’t scratch often) I use them because they are easily understood by my audience. I have often heard feedback from my audience which supports this… things like…. “…I get what you were doing with the turntables, but you lost me with those pad and knob things…(LPD-8’s)”
2. Not all music is electronic based. On a proper sound system, there is no comparison to the sound quality you get when you drop an actual piece of vinyl (not timecode). Now, if ALL you are spinning is some form of EDM, this added tool need not be your concern. However, at some point, especially if you and/or your audience really love a wide range of musical genres, you’re gonna want to drop a tune you just dug out of someone’s basement record collection….. that rare gem that nobody is expecting and that maybe no-one else has! (That is part of the magic a DJ brings to their performance)
3. Obviously for those DJ’s that scratch often, there is NO substitute for a good working pair of 1200’s, period. Your article removes this huge group to make your point. That argument is analogous to this one: “Lets remove the ‘D’ from the ‘DJ’ equation… and what do you have ‘J’… What does that mean? How can any meaningful conclusions can be drawn from that?
Yo, just my .02c.. and I tried to be careful not to offend anyone’s interests or beliefs. If I did offend, I’m sorry ’bout that!
Cheers,
In my humble opinion I think this article is lacks soul.
Without fail, all of my professional DJ friends and non-professional enthusiasts friends enjoy DVS’s tangible soul – and prefer it to a singularly MIDI based setup. I believe this discussion leaves out the overwhelming majority of DJs. I also firmly believe this article would have better served the DJTT audience by at least listing some of the reasons a good portion of professional DJs prefer a DVS setup. So, in the interest of rounding out this article, here are a few good reasons why:
1. Nearly every audience instantly understands what the DJ is doing when they see a turntable based setup. I use a hybrid setup (two 1200’s and two LPD-8 midi controllers). Aside from my own comfortability with turntables (I don’t scratch often) I use them because they are easily understood by my audience. I have often heard feedback from my audience which supports this… things like…. “…I get what you were doing with the turntables, but you lost me with those pad and knob things…(LPD-8’s)”
2. Not all music is electronic based. On a proper sound system, there is no comparison to the sound quality you get when you drop an actual piece of vinyl (not timecode). Now, if ALL you are spinning is some form of EDM, this added tool need not be your concern. However, at some point, especially if you and/or your audience really love a wide range of musical genres, you’re gonna want to drop a tune you just dug out of someone’s basement record collection….. that rare gem that nobody is expecting and that maybe no-one else has! (That is part of the magic a DJ brings to their performance)
3. Obviously for those DJ’s that scratch often, there is NO substitute for a good working pair of 1200’s, period. Your article removes this huge group to make your point. That argument is analogous to this one: “Lets remove the ‘D’ from the ‘DJ’ equation… and what do you have ‘J’… What does that mean? How can any meaningful conclusions can be drawn from that?
Yo, just my .02c.. and I tried to be careful not to offend anyone’s interests or beliefs. If I did offend, I’m sorry ’bout that!
Cheers,
Thanks for your reasoned and respectful views Mylestec – it’s always a pleasure to hear readers’ opinions when they’re put forward with this kind of eloquence. As a keen scratch DJ and sampling producer myself, the joy of real vinyl is something close to my heart; I think the crux of the discussion is summed up really well by your ‘take the D out of DJ and what’s left’ point, as a big part of what I was aiming to get across here is that when we take away the advantage of the ‘real’ sound of vinyl and scratching, can we actually distill the essence of what good that platter is…?
Thanks for your reasoned and respectful views Mylestec – it’s always a pleasure to hear readers’ opinions when they’re put forward with this kind of eloquence. As a keen scratch DJ and sampling producer myself, the joy of real vinyl is something close to my heart; I think the crux of the discussion is summed up really well by your ‘take the D out of DJ and what’s left’ point, as a big part of what I was aiming to get across here is that when we take away the advantage of the ‘real’ sound of vinyl and scratching, can we actually distill the essence of what good that platter is…?
Thanks for your reasoned and respectful views Mylestec – it’s always a pleasure to hear readers’ opinions when they’re put forward with this kind of eloquence. As a keen scratch DJ and sampling producer myself, the joy of real vinyl is something close to my heart; I think the crux of the discussion is summed up really well by your ‘take the D out of DJ and what’s left’ point, as a big part of what I was aiming to get across here is that when we take away the advantage of the ‘real’ sound of vinyl and scratching, can we actually distill the essence of what good that platter is…?
On a proper sound system, there is no comparison to the sound quality you get when you drop an actual piece of vinyl (not timecode),
Hey dude. While I see what you’re saying and generally agree (turntables are iconic), as a producer and occasional sound tech I have to call you on this.
In practical terms, vinyl audio is roughly equivalent to high-quality MP3s quality. It has substantially worse dynamic range, different distortion and slightly better high frequency reproduction: so it works out about even. You can usually identify vinyl by the iconic distortion, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing 🙂
For sound quality, a CD-quality (or higher) WAV with a high-quality DAC is the best option currently available.
That said, this is a technical answer. There’s a fair bit of audio that was ruined when it was remastered for CD: so either vinyl or a vinyl rip is the best option there.
Please, please don’t ever come near any of my productions. I’m sorry but What!?
“In practical terms, vinyl audio is roughly equivalent to high-quality MP3s quality. It has substantially worse dynamic range, different distortion and slightly better high frequency reproduction: so it works out about even. You can usually identify vinyl by the iconic distortion, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing :)”
Huh? I think your definition of a practicle term is a little mixed up. Granted one thing that most clubs have there outboard gear setup for Cd’s but I strongly disagree and I think you’ll find a lot of others will too. Especially those that have played big clubs set up for Vinyl.
Jim… You clearly understand what I’m getting at. Thanks for that.
Most outboard gear at most establishments these days is way too heavily compressed, and then further limited… crazy.. Its nearly impossible to get any dynamic range these days!
I prefer the sound of real vinyl to, but it’s the mastering that makes all the difference as a vinyl can’t contain as high a quality sample rate as it’s digital counterpart. So when we say we love the sound of vinyl it’s all down to the god like skill of the technician who mastered the vinyl version. As your well aware mathematically records can’t touch super hi quality digital audio, but the placebo effect of vinyl mastering wins over most people including me. Every now and then I get hold of 96khz track, which can make an average club PA sound like a high quality studio, the only way to achieve the same thing with vinyl is do the same as the legend that is Mr Scruff,
Wouldn’t be great if we could all play vinyl to that same standard!
Nice one Paul… Although I knew Mr. Scruff was an old school vinyl aficionado, I had never seen that setup vid.. Thanks for sharing it. Makes me remember the days of running three rubber band suspended 1200’s into a Urei mixer with a custom made cross-over. Sweet memories!
FWIW, while that used to be true, most vinyl presses now are from the same WAV master as the digital release, at least in EDM.
I suppose that would have to happen eventually, but I’m sure plenty of UK press D&B and Dubstep is still mastered for vinyl, it’s part of some genres culture.
The really good sounding vinyl tunes are mastered specifically for vinyl… things like high frequency response, dynamic range, headroom, and where on the physical plate you place your tunes are just the basic differences between mastering for digital vs mastering for analogue.
I’m not sure what you’re saying?
A club’s PA should be setup the same regardless of the inputs to the DJ mixer.
I’m talking about the physical properties of vinyl and how well it reproduces sound. A club’s setup doesn’t improve this: although broken 1200s or whatever will make it worse.
I knew when I wrote that part it may stir up some debate. Look, I feel ya. I get what you’re saying with regard to technical specs. Mastering to digital format is easier than mastering to wax. But to my ears I’ve never heard a reference quality CD sound better than a reference quality piece of wax. I know that you can show me specifications that don’t support that observation, but my ears don’t lie to me.. and I’m sure you’ll find those on both sides of this fence.
I think the point though – is that there is a nostalgic audio and visual quality that many appreciate when you hold up a piece of wax pressed in 1962 that you just mashed into your set – and for which the audience went wild… do that with an mp3 and what do you hold up… your laptop, your controller?? You feel me?
Yup. I suspect we’ll start seeing digital emulations of vinyl distortion on DJing gear, as many people (including you, it seems) actually prefer audio with that distortion intact.
The beauty of digital is that if the DJ is using a high-quality file, they could easy switch between different distortion models, or disable them, and have the best of all worlds.
What fascinates me is that younger people have the same fondness for MP3 distortion as older generations do for vinyl distortion. Because of this I favour no distortion at all, but YMMV.
I see your point, but I’m too young to have any nostalgia for vinyl. I definitely get the value of tactility, but I’d usually be happy just to wave my arms around and grin.
controllers lack soul in general….but then again I use to think turntables did too so maybe I’ll change my mind
In my humble opinion I think this article is lacks soul.
Without fail, all of my professional DJ friends and non-professional enthusiasts friends enjoy DVS’s tangible soul – and prefer it to a singularly MIDI based setup. I believe this discussion leaves out the overwhelming majority of DJs. I also firmly believe this article would have better served the DJTT audience by at least listing some of the reasons a good portion of professional DJs prefer a DVS setup. So, in the interest of rounding out this article, here are a few good reasons why:
1. Nearly every audience instantly understands what the DJ is doing when they see a turntable based setup. I use a hybrid setup (two 1200’s and two LPD-8 midi controllers). Aside from my own comfortability with turntables (I don’t scratch often) I use them because they are easily understood by my audience. I have often heard feedback from my audience which supports this… things like…. “…I get what you were doing with the turntables, but you lost me with those pad and knob things…(LPD-8’s)”
2. Not all music is electronic based. On a proper sound system, there is no comparison to the sound quality you get when you drop an actual piece of vinyl (not timecode). Now, if ALL you are spinning is some form of EDM, this added tool need not be your concern. However, at some point, especially if you and/or your audience really love a wide range of musical genres, you’re gonna want to drop a tune you just dug out of someone’s basement record collection….. that rare gem that nobody is expecting and that maybe no-one else has! (That is part of the magic a DJ brings to their performance)
3. Obviously for those DJ’s that scratch often, there is NO substitute for a good working pair of 1200’s, period. Your article removes this huge group to make your point. That argument is analogous to this one: “Lets remove the ‘D’ from the ‘DJ’ equation… and what do you have ‘J’… What does that mean? How can any meaningful conclusions can be drawn from that?
Yo, just my .02c.. and I tried to be careful not to offend anyone’s interests or beliefs. If I did offend, I’m sorry ’bout that!
Cheers,
I do like the new tech, opens new doors, new possibilities. I too have been playing with the new S4 and MIDI Fighters…. love it. Best things to happen to dj ing. But I also feel that the tech is still years always from killing time code all together.
I do like the new tech, opens new doors, new possibilities. I too have been playing with the new S4 and MIDI Fighters…. love it. Best things to happen to dj ing. But I also feel that the tech is still years always from killing time code all together.
I do like the new tech, opens new doors, new possibilities. I too have been playing with the new S4 and MIDI Fighters…. love it. Best things to happen to dj ing. But I also feel that the tech is still years always from killing time code all together.
Personally I don’t see the point in speculating the “END” of certian technologies based on the emergence of new ones. Things like vinyl, analogue synths, tube amps, and controllers without touchscreens, are such excellent tools they will never loose their place for many people inspite of all the speculation of their death. Articles like this always sound biased to the “NEW” technology from the jump start, even if they try not too.
Seems to me, part of the DJ community had a great idea, where clubs would provide in house gear to use. This has been convenient for many, but these days it seems to have created more whiny lazy DJ’s, and also pigeon holed the possibilities for new technologies to be brought to clubs, and helped solidify strange stigmas about what a DJ is based on the tools used. This article adds power to such a stigma.
I’d love to see every DJ carry the equipment used to make the songs spun to a few live shows. I’d love to see parts of the DJ community come out of it’s little box of stigma. I want to see new technology embraced, but not at the expense of what has worked great so far.
If it aint broke dont fix it.
Personally I don’t see the point in speculating the “END” of certian technologies based on the emergence of new ones. Things like vinyl, analogue synths, tube amps, and controllers without touchscreens, are such excellent tools they will never loose their place for many people inspite of all the speculation of their death. Articles like this always sound biased to the “NEW” technology from the jump start, even if they try not too.
Seems to me, part of the DJ community had a great idea, where clubs would provide in house gear to use. This has been convenient for many, but these days it seems to have created more whiny lazy DJ’s, and also pigeon holed the possibilities for new technologies to be brought to clubs, and helped solidify strange stigmas about what a DJ is based on the tools used. This article adds power to such a stigma.
I’d love to see every DJ carry the equipment used to make the songs spun to a few live shows. I’d love to see parts of the DJ community come out of it’s little box of stigma. I want to see new technology embraced, but not at the expense of what has worked great so far.
If it aint broke dont fix it.
Personally I don’t see the point in speculating the “END” of certian technologies based on the emergence of new ones. Things like vinyl, analogue synths, tube amps, and controllers without touchscreens, are such excellent tools they will never loose their place for many people inspite of all the speculation of their death. Articles like this always sound biased to the “NEW” technology from the jump start, even if they try not too.
Seems to me, part of the DJ community had a great idea, where clubs would provide in house gear to use. This has been convenient for many, but these days it seems to have created more whiny lazy DJ’s, and also pigeon holed the possibilities for new technologies to be brought to clubs, and helped solidify strange stigmas about what a DJ is based on the tools used. This article adds power to such a stigma.
I’d love to see every DJ carry the equipment used to make the songs spun to a few live shows. I’d love to see parts of the DJ community come out of it’s little box of stigma. I want to see new technology embraced, but not at the expense of what has worked great so far.
If it aint broke dont fix it.
I’m just curious, did Denon do something horrible to you guys at some point? You never mention their controllers at all. They’ve had 7″ digital platters for years now — you can throw an old 45 on them if you want.
I for one hate Denon’s stuff. Just me, on a personal level.
Denon 3700’s LOL go read the forms and you will seek your answer!!! Tracktor and Sereto never truly supported the mapping making them worthless w/ their audio interface
Tracktor and Sereto. I’ve never heard of them.
But the new HYBRID mode on the DN-S3700 works great with Traktor 2.0 and Serato Scratch Live.
Come on now, don’t tell people to do their research before you do your own. The DN-S 3700s work perfectly with Traktor now after the new firmware update with “Hybrid Mode”. I run a pair of 3700s and an x1600 and it all works flawlessly. Overall they are far from “worthless”, and *as far as I know* (since I have not done my research on this) the only spinning platter controller which will work properly with Traktor.
Actually, regarding Denon, since day 1, they’ve *always* made the same mistake … they make equipment that does what it’s supposed to, but they always make it too “hard” to use (many features are hidden behind the “press these two buttons at the same time while standing on one foot and keeping your index finger on your nose”).
Don’t get me wrong. When the DN-2000F was introduced in my country, I got the “7th imported piece” (not counting gray import, naturally), and aside from the searching (which absolutely sucked on the machine), I loved it. Of course, it took me a while to get used to Pioneers after Denon. But – personally I’ve always liked the simplicity of Pioneers over that of Denons. The same goes for anything Pioneer has brought out with spinning platters. I still wished Pioneer would go that way (though I’ve lost all hope on that one many years ago – they have a working set in their hands and “why bother killing a milking cow”).
Regarding SCS.1D, I bought one unit last year. Unfortunately, I was not too impressed with it (when used with Traktor). However, their firmware update made things a lot better, but I still don’t like the default mapping (which is close to impossible to change by yourself). I still wish they would bring in a firmware update that allows communication on a more “native level” with Traktor. However, I’ve tested it with MIXXX, and – despite the problems with the software itself – the feeling I get is a lot better. It’s actually too bad that Stanton and NI are not on the best of terms after all that Final Scratch stuff (I’m not saying they are on bad terms – it’s all just business after all – but things could propably be better).
If NI introduced a support for SCS.1D (or Stanton made it speak a language the Traktor can understand better), I would be a very happy camper. For what it’s worth, I still have not sold my unit – I’m hoping for a better future … since the hardware is quite incredible 😉
I’m just curious, did Denon do something horrible to you guys at some point? You never mention their controllers at all. They’ve had 7″ digital platters for years now — you can throw an old 45 on them if you want.
I’m just curious, did Denon do something horrible to you guys at some point? You never mention their controllers at all. They’ve had 7″ digital platters for years now — you can throw an old 45 on them if you want.
Everybody knows that you can do more creatively with a controller like the Traktor S4 or NS6, but there’s something magical about mixing with 2 Technics 1200s and a 2 channel mixer. The 1200s have a rich history & pedigree, it’s like driving an old stick shift Ferrari F40. You have the option to buy a 2011 Porsche 911, but nothing is going to come close to the excitement of a raw hands-on approach to driving. The same goes for DJing with turntables & a controller. It’s all about the feeling of being in control. Not to mention the best advice I can give to new DJs starting out is – hone your craft on turntables. Moving on to CDJs or controllers will be second nature in no time, but learning on a controller and playing turntables later will require a higher learning curve.
Everybody knows that you can do more creatively with a controller like the Traktor S4 or NS6, but there’s something magical about mixing with 2 Technics 1200s and a 2 channel mixer. The 1200s have a rich history & pedigree, it’s like driving an old stick shift Ferrari F40. You have the option to buy a 2011 Porsche 911, but nothing is going to come close to the excitement of a raw hands-on approach to driving. The same goes for DJing with turntables & a controller. It’s all about the feeling of being in control. Not to mention the best advice I can give to new DJs starting out is – hone your craft on turntables. Moving on to CDJs or controllers will be second nature in no time, but learning on a controller and playing turntables later will require a higher learning curve.
Everybody knows that you can do more creatively with a controller like the Traktor S4 or NS6, but there’s something magical about mixing with 2 Technics 1200s and a 2 channel mixer. The 1200s have a rich history & pedigree, it’s like driving an old stick shift Ferrari F40. You have the option to buy a 2011 Porsche 911, but nothing is going to come close to the excitement of a raw hands-on approach to driving. The same goes for DJing with turntables & a controller. It’s all about the feeling of being in control. Not to mention the best advice I can give to new DJs starting out is – hone your craft on turntables. Moving on to CDJs or controllers will be second nature in no time, but learning on a controller and playing turntables later will require a higher learning curve.
I couldnt have said it better my friend
I think it’s all up to who’s making the music and what their comfortable with. When I’m doing a set, I’m using Traktor, with a turntable, a MidiFighter AND a midi/audio hybrid mixer. I’m not knocking controllers but for me a turntable just feels right. Like real piano keys vs. a portable keyboard controller.
Speaking of keyboards, I’ve gotten loads of fun plugging a synth into Traktor, capturing phrases with the new loop recorder function & using the sample decks to build tunes on the fly. Try it!
I think it’s all up to who’s making the music and what their comfortable with. When I’m doing a set, I’m using Traktor, with a turntable, a MidiFighter AND a midi/audio hybrid mixer. I’m not knocking controllers but for me a turntable just feels right. Like real piano keys vs. a portable keyboard controller.
Speaking of keyboards, I’ve gotten loads of fun plugging a synth into Traktor, capturing phrases with the new loop recorder function & using the sample decks to build tunes on the fly. Try it!
I think it’s all up to who’s making the music and what their comfortable with. When I’m doing a set, I’m using Traktor, with a turntable, a MidiFighter AND a midi/audio hybrid mixer. I’m not knocking controllers but for me a turntable just feels right. Like real piano keys vs. a portable keyboard controller.
Speaking of keyboards, I’ve gotten loads of fun plugging a synth into Traktor, capturing phrases with the new loop recorder function & using the sample decks to build tunes on the fly. Try it!
Controllerism is good but not suited for every music style. If your playing a track that needs to be played in its entirety for it to work in a set then you don’t need to be doing any button bashing adding loops and fx over the top as it could ruin the atmosphere your trying to create. Using timecode gives the DJ something to do with their hands and physically interact with the music the same as the button bashers like to interact. It’s all about interaction with the music and there will always be a place for turntables. They are an instrument and people will get a different sound off a turntable than a digital controller. I use vinyl , cdJ’s and controllers in my home setup. each one effects my dj style and what music i play.
Controllerism is good but not suited for every music style. If your playing a track that needs to be played in its entirety for it to work in a set then you don’t need to be doing any button bashing adding loops and fx over the top as it could ruin the atmosphere your trying to create. Using timecode gives the DJ something to do with their hands and physically interact with the music the same as the button bashers like to interact. It’s all about interaction with the music and there will always be a place for turntables. They are an instrument and people will get a different sound off a turntable than a digital controller. I use vinyl , cdJ’s and controllers in my home setup. each one effects my dj style and what music i play.
Controllerism is good but not suited for every music style. If your playing a track that needs to be played in its entirety for it to work in a set then you don’t need to be doing any button bashing adding loops and fx over the top as it could ruin the atmosphere your trying to create. Using timecode gives the DJ something to do with their hands and physically interact with the music the same as the button bashers like to interact. It’s all about interaction with the music and there will always be a place for turntables. They are an instrument and people will get a different sound off a turntable than a digital controller. I use vinyl , cdJ’s and controllers in my home setup. each one effects my dj style and what music i play.
Until there’s a very good generic USB controller people are going to stick with timecode. Think of the Stanton SCS.1d with stripped down controls and USB with access to Traktor’s high-res jog positioning. MIDI isn’t going to cut it.
Until there’s a very good generic USB controller people are going to stick with timecode. Think of the Stanton SCS.1d with stripped down controls and USB with access to Traktor’s high-res jog positioning. MIDI isn’t going to cut it.
Until there’s a very good generic USB controller people are going to stick with timecode. Think of the Stanton SCS.1d with stripped down controls and USB with access to Traktor’s high-res jog positioning. MIDI isn’t going to cut it.
Kind of feels similar to the same talks happening when photography moved from film to digital. People still use film in some cases, but digital became the standard over time. I don’t think we need to ever call “time” on time code. It just becomes another tool for a DJ to make the sound they want.
Sometimes it’s better for certain sounds. Sometimes it’s not.
Kind of feels similar to the same talks happening when photography moved from film to digital. People still use film in some cases, but digital became the standard over time. I don’t think we need to ever call “time” on time code. It just becomes another tool for a DJ to make the sound they want.
Sometimes it’s better for certain sounds. Sometimes it’s not.
Except this is like someone saying it’s inherently better and more “soulful” to shoot on film and scan it into a computer, rather than using a high quality digital camera in the first place. It might work for you and, if you are used to the old way and already have all the extra expensive equipment, more power to you. Just don’t get all dogmatic about it towards those who see things differently.
Kind of feels similar to the same talks happening when photography moved from film to digital. People still use film in some cases, but digital became the standard over time. I don’t think we need to ever call “time” on time code. It just becomes another tool for a DJ to make the sound they want.
Sometimes it’s better for certain sounds. Sometimes it’s not.
No way will scratching ever disappear from the djs tool belt, but I do think that traditional vinyl will become totally obsolete (there are obvious signs of this happening already). the NS7 spinning platters are a joy to work with, and even the little jog wheels on my s4 do the job in a pinch. I think the future of scratching will be digital, especially when one realizes the full range of sounds you can produce with a turntable and daisy chained effects.
I think that instead of idealizing old technology that allows them to show off, new djs should skip right to learning things that would allow them to play a 2 hour set. Beat matching (WITHOUT auto sync), cue points and effects offer the easiest route to put on a good show, scratching and using a loop recorder (a la the s4) should come later.
DJ SoCal
No way will scratching ever disappear from the djs tool belt, but I do think that traditional vinyl will become totally obsolete (there are obvious signs of this happening already). the NS7 spinning platters are a joy to work with, and even the little jog wheels on my s4 do the job in a pinch. I think the future of scratching will be digital, especially when one realizes the full range of sounds you can produce with a turntable and daisy chained effects.
I think that instead of idealizing old technology that allows them to show off, new djs should skip right to learning things that would allow them to play a 2 hour set. Beat matching (WITHOUT auto sync), cue points and effects offer the easiest route to put on a good show, scratching and using a loop recorder (a la the s4) should come later.
DJ SoCal
No way will scratching ever disappear from the djs tool belt, but I do think that traditional vinyl will become totally obsolete (there are obvious signs of this happening already). the NS7 spinning platters are a joy to work with, and even the little jog wheels on my s4 do the job in a pinch. I think the future of scratching will be digital, especially when one realizes the full range of sounds you can produce with a turntable and daisy chained effects.
I think that instead of idealizing old technology that allows them to show off, new djs should skip right to learning things that would allow them to play a 2 hour set. Beat matching (WITHOUT auto sync), cue points and effects offer the easiest route to put on a good show, scratching and using a loop recorder (a la the s4) should come later.
DJ SoCal
So with the push of the music industry, most of which will no longer press vinyl and with most artist skipping cd’s and going directly digital. Technics no longer in production which tells you they saw the writing on the walls along with a decline in sales they are no longer profitable product. Controller’s are here to stay, so It happens again technology is changing the way we perform can you once again survive and be ahead of the curve or are you going to be left behind.
So with the push of the music industry, most of which will no longer press vinyl and with most artist skipping cd’s and going directly digital. Technics no longer in production which tells you they saw the writing on the walls along with a decline in sales they are no longer profitable product. Controller’s are here to stay, so It happens again technology is changing the way we perform can you once again survive and be ahead of the curve or are you going to be left behind.
So with the push of the music industry, most of which will no longer press vinyl and with most artist skipping cd’s and going directly digital. Technics no longer in production which tells you they saw the writing on the walls along with a decline in sales they are no longer profitable product. Controller’s are here to stay, so It happens again technology is changing the way we perform can you once again survive and be ahead of the curve or are you going to be left behind.
Sure controllers are here to stay, but watching DJ Craze use vinyl is still more interesting to me than watching Ian with Midi Fighters. Even though I know what Ian puts into his craft, it’s just not as amazing as the organic nature of vinyl. The practice and precision to achieve skills that many vinyl DJ’s have sets a bar that controllerist DJ’s have not met.
I use controllers, I’m just sayin. Left behind is just a state of mind.
Sure controllers are here to stay, but watching DJ Craze use vinyl is still more interesting to me than watching Ian with Midi Fighters. Even though I know what Ian puts into his craft, it’s just not as amazing as the organic nature of vinyl. The practice and precision to achieve skills that many vinyl DJ’s have sets a bar that controllerist DJ’s have not met.
I use controllers, I’m just sayin. Left behind is just a state of mind.
Sure controllers are here to stay, but watching DJ Craze use vinyl is still more interesting to me than watching Ian with Midi Fighters. Even though I know what Ian puts into his craft, it’s just not as amazing as the organic nature of vinyl. The practice and precision to achieve skills that many vinyl DJ’s have sets a bar that controllerist DJ’s have not met.
I use controllers, I’m just sayin. Left behind is just a state of mind.
and turntables are back after some of the biggest years of vinyl sales in recent memory.
*1200/1210 is here to stay … each individual controller model won’t be around more than a few years before being superseded by the ‘next thing’
I play all different generes of music and started out on turntables and guess what? I’m still using them!
I got serato last year and haven’t looked back. Initially I was just using it as a tool to have the maximum amount of music with me but as I got used to it I quickly saw the potential in cue points, loops, effects etc.
Now I have bought dicers and a midi fighter and the doors keep opening for me, I have also just bought a traktor s4 which I love!
The thing I love the most is that I’m now practicing my craft the way I learnt plus incorporating modern techniques. For me though, the feel of the turntables just feels wonderful, I feel a connection through with the music through my fingertips everytime I touch the vinyl!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the influx of controllers, computers, keyboards etc but in an ideal world for me everyone can be catered for. Turn up at a club: technics, turn up at a club: space for my s4, turn up at a club: free drinks and a promise of an amazing night with my friends and punters alike.
It’s not just music, it’s a show!!
LONG LIVE TECHNICS: WELCOME DIGITAL WORLD!
I play all different generes of music and started out on turntables and guess what? I’m still using them!
I got serato last year and haven’t looked back. Initially I was just using it as a tool to have the maximum amount of music with me but as I got used to it I quickly saw the potential in cue points, loops, effects etc.
Now I have bought dicers and a midi fighter and the doors keep opening for me, I have also just bought a traktor s4 which I love!
The thing I love the most is that I’m now practicing my craft the way I learnt plus incorporating modern techniques. For me though, the feel of the turntables just feels wonderful, I feel a connection through with the music through my fingertips everytime I touch the vinyl!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the influx of controllers, computers, keyboards etc but in an ideal world for me everyone can be catered for. Turn up at a club: technics, turn up at a club: space for my s4, turn up at a club: free drinks and a promise of an amazing night with my friends and punters alike.
It’s not just music, it’s a show!!
LONG LIVE TECHNICS: WELCOME DIGITAL WORLD!
I play all different generes of music and started out on turntables and guess what? I’m still using them!
I got serato last year and haven’t looked back. Initially I was just using it as a tool to have the maximum amount of music with me but as I got used to it I quickly saw the potential in cue points, loops, effects etc.
Now I have bought dicers and a midi fighter and the doors keep opening for me, I have also just bought a traktor s4 which I love!
The thing I love the most is that I’m now practicing my craft the way I learnt plus incorporating modern techniques. For me though, the feel of the turntables just feels wonderful, I feel a connection through with the music through my fingertips everytime I touch the vinyl!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the influx of controllers, computers, keyboards etc but in an ideal world for me everyone can be catered for. Turn up at a club: technics, turn up at a club: space for my s4, turn up at a club: free drinks and a promise of an amazing night with my friends and punters alike.
It’s not just music, it’s a show!!
LONG LIVE TECHNICS: WELCOME DIGITAL WORLD!
I love this comment. I hope more DJs can adopt this mindset. I’m getting a little tired of the TT vs. Controller crap. Why can’t it be TT + Controller?
I love this comment. I hope more DJs can adopt this mindset. I’m getting a little tired of the TT vs. Controller crap. Why can’t it be TT + Controller?
ToonTown,,are you from Dayton, OH?
I love this comment. I hope more DJs can adopt this mindset. I’m getting a little tired of the TT vs. Controller crap. Why can’t it be TT + Controller?
I’m sorry I could never get away from timecode, as a DVS scratch DJ, its something that I don’t think I’ll ever do.
Turntables to the hip hop community are just too iconic, I am all for integrated digital technics and controllers but CDJ and 1200s just say more in their appearance alone.
I will admit that I started off as a controllerist and now I have moved to TTs. But I have more fun DJ’ing with my TurnTable than on any controller any day.
Granted I don’t play EDM so a lot of the advanced techniques (beatmasher, glitches, etc) displayed in the blog aren’t for me, so scratching and other turntablists techniques are my way of staying relevant and involved.
Ultimately, you will have different gear for different genres of music… and as long as hip hop is around, so will be turntables
I’m sorry I could never get away from timecode, as a DVS scratch DJ, its something that I don’t think I’ll ever do.
Turntables to the hip hop community are just too iconic, I am all for integrated digital technics and controllers but CDJ and 1200s just say more in their appearance alone.
I will admit that I started off as a controllerist and now I have moved to TTs. But I have more fun DJ’ing with my TurnTable than on any controller any day.
Granted I don’t play EDM so a lot of the advanced techniques (beatmasher, glitches, etc) displayed in the blog aren’t for me, so scratching and other turntablists techniques are my way of staying relevant and involved.
Ultimately, you will have different gear for different genres of music… and as long as hip hop is around, so will be turntables
I’m sorry I could never get away from timecode, as a DVS scratch DJ, its something that I don’t think I’ll ever do.
Turntables to the hip hop community are just too iconic, I am all for integrated digital technics and controllers but CDJ and 1200s just say more in their appearance alone.
I will admit that I started off as a controllerist and now I have moved to TTs. But I have more fun DJ’ing with my TurnTable than on any controller any day.
Granted I don’t play EDM so a lot of the advanced techniques (beatmasher, glitches, etc) displayed in the blog aren’t for me, so scratching and other turntablists techniques are my way of staying relevant and involved.
Ultimately, you will have different gear for different genres of music… and as long as hip hop is around, so will be turntables
How can you say never? you don’t know what’s around the corner man, what if technics make a digital 1200 with the same motor but HID or MIDI output instead of audio?
u right man, i shouldn’t say never, but that would b pretty dope if they did….
u right man, i shouldn’t say never, but that would b pretty dope if they did….
u right man, i shouldn’t say never, but that would b pretty dope if they did….
never bitch. Techinics are a hi-fi brand. They nah give a fuck about EDM, because EDM isn’t a hi fidelity listening experience. It’s been made on a laptop. They brought out the SLGLDs and you shat your pants because you realise that that sort of iconic design, and beauty is something worth $4000 to people. Yeah people argue it’s a lot- it isn’t. It’s priced that way because that’s what it’s worth and it cost them a lot to add new elements and put them back into production. Ain’t no EDM DJ gonna ever be able to charge $4000 for a gig. Cos they suck.
OK serious point now sorry about all that it’s just you guys don’t respect the art. I want to make a point and I’m going to use the Rane 2015 as an example. I think most people agree that macs are very very nicely designed for musicians. Okay so say you have a mac, then Rane give you a 2015 for your birthday and you’re like, cool, cheers, thank you I’m pretty happy with this. I have a DJ set up already and I’m digital but some of the Rane staff are like you let’s set it up with your spare mac in your spare room and have fun. They also gave you two SLGLDs because you saved their lives or something. They are like here happy birthday but yeah lets set them up and have a mix with your spare mac.
They also brought some of their favourite disco and house vinyl with them. They spent like an hour picking some nice house tunes.
So you unbox and plug the 2015 into your mac. Your mac is like, cool, core audio this is like childsplay to it.
Set everything up, have a little house mix with the new equipment you got for free. Some FLAC files and some classic disco and house you have a mix together for 4 hours and have some more people round and your all drinking and celebrating your birthday.
Bold face, god is watching, you think this is regressive and lacks innovation? I mean let’s say you broadcast this shit over fibre internet on 3 gopros you got at a good price. And you use some sort of new social networking tool to invite your coolest friends to watch you and the Rane guys perform. You wanna look at me my G, you wanna say this shit is stale? Antiquated? I mean I really want to know like you could plug a beautiful £300 groovebox from novation or Korg into your aux channel of the 2015 but your saying music isn’t going anywhere? You’re bored easily then…
would you rather plug a couple CDJs into a 2015? Play some spice girls or something
turn up
How can you say never? you don’t know what’s around the corner man, what if technics make a digital 1200 with the same motor but HID or MIDI output instead of audio?
How can you say never? you don’t know what’s around the corner man, what if technics make a digital 1200 with the same motor but HID or MIDI output instead of audio?
I couldn’t have said it any better myself…
I don’t see how beatmasher, glitches, etc only apply to EDM. Have you seen the recent videos from NI showing DMC champs rocking those very same techniques on hip-hop w/ Traktor? Or the fact that similar effects are used on the initial production of many modern hip-hop tracks? Like any effect, if used tastefully, they can be applied to nearly any style of music.
You may be correct that some glitch effects are slightly used in hip hop instrumentals, but those are only appropriate for the instrumentals.
Any DJ that has ever spun for a Hip Hop crowd/party knows that one of the most important things hip hop fans enjoy are the lyrics.
Similar to EDM (in which most tracks have no vocals what-so-ever), glitch techniques can be used in “beats,” but once vocals are added, and the song becomes popular, crowds will no longer accept disruption of the words they enjoy so much.
MC’ing (lyricism) is truly the only defining factor of hip hop.
Since hip hop beats have sampled nearly every genre of music known to man the only thing allows artists to call their song “hip hop” is the fact that they are “rapping” over it.
So unless the DJ is spinning only the instrumentals of hip hop (which wouldn’t be an attractive set to most audiences), hip hop DJs stay away from glitch techniques that take away from what matter most… the words.
You are very very wrong my friend. Hip Hop is just as much the Djing as it is the MCing. Per definition hip hop is the beats created by slicing up tracks and mixing them together. As a means of doing this Turntablism became popular. MCing became popular at a later stage in hip hop and while rap itself is one genre hip hop is the layering of Rap over an ensemble. The many effects that were applied in turntablism was imitated by software later, gating for example is just volume control, beatmashing is a product of constantly resetting the beat to create a juggle. Controllerism just takes use of these effects in a different way than turntablism. That’s it.
And the very idea of having an a-cappella play over a comp is beautifully managed in controllerism as in turntablism.
Your arguments are phallic in that they assume since A is true B is false.
If you like turntablism then you do, dislike of change is what keeps you from evolving and blatantly dishing out that you know what people like and don’t is just pure BS. Get a grip.
U r correct in your analysis of the origins of hip hop, but modern American hip hop has evolved to what I explained above.
Turntablism is something I enjoy thoroughly, but beyond DJ Battles, and short party break/build-up routines, heavy use of it doesn’t have much of a place in a standard nightclub set. Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT simply “playing music;” I am mixing, scratching, dropping samples, quick-mixing, mashing-up, using effects etc, all throughout my set. There isn’t 30secs that go by that I am NOT doing something to the record. But the type of Turntablism which is commonly referred to (and the type I believe you are talking about) where the DJ is performing something similar to a DMC battle performance (where an entire new beat is created using TurnTablism techniques and the original song is destroyed beyond recognition, for a prolonged period) are not used frequently. I assume you’ve never played an entire hip hop set, at a prominent hip hop club, in front of an all hip hop crowd or you would know what I was trying to say.EDM artists (and EDM sets) allow for much controllists style routines to be used frequently, and because most songs do not have prominent vocals allow for (and most audiences expect) complete distortion, without out the core of track being lost.As for as getting a grip… I’m not sure to what I should holding onto. 🙂
You are very very wrong my friend. Hip Hop is just as much the Djing as it is the MCing. Per definition hip hop is the beats created by slicing up tracks and mixing them together. As a means of doing this Turntablism became popular. MCing became popular at a later stage in hip hop and while rap itself is one genre hip hop is the layering of Rap over an ensemble. The many effects that were applied in turntablism was imitated by software later, gating for example is just volume control, beatmashing is a product of constantly resetting the beat to create a juggle. Controllerism just takes use of these effects in a different way than turntablism. That’s it.
And the very idea of having an a-cappella play over a comp is beautifully managed in controllerism as in turntablism.
Your arguments are phallic in that they assume since A is true B is false.
If you like turntablism then you do, dislike of change is what keeps you from evolving and blatantly dishing out that you know what people like and don’t is just pure BS. Get a grip.
When it comes to scratching having the large 12″ platter allows you grab and move the vinyl with a grip that would be a bit more difficult to achieve on a smaller size platter. Like the scratch DJ Vajra is doing here requires a large amount of space to put his full hand on the record. I have been trying out a friends NS7 over the past couple of weeks and the smaller platters are definitely awkward to use for scratching. Also like Kamal said with a DVS you can switch from timecode to vinyl instantly and I personally like using real vinyl with scratch samples over digital samples. Although I see more and more younger DJ opting for the new technology and doing just fine with it. A lot of the time I think it depends on what music you play and what you are trying to do in your sets that would ultimately affect your choice of gear.
When it comes to scratching having the large 12″ platter allows you grab and move the vinyl with a grip that would be a bit more difficult to achieve on a smaller size platter. Like the scratch DJ Vajra is doing here requires a large amount of space to put his full hand on the record. I have been trying out a friends NS7 over the past couple of weeks and the smaller platters are definitely awkward to use for scratching. Also like Kamal said with a DVS you can switch from timecode to vinyl instantly and I personally like using real vinyl with scratch samples over digital samples. Although I see more and more younger DJ opting for the new technology and doing just fine with it. A lot of the time I think it depends on what music you play and what you are trying to do in your sets that would ultimately affect your choice of gear.
When it comes to scratching having the large 12″ platter allows you grab and move the vinyl with a grip that would be a bit more difficult to achieve on a smaller size platter. Like the scratch DJ Vajra is doing here requires a large amount of space to put his full hand on the record. I have been trying out a friends NS7 over the past couple of weeks and the smaller platters are definitely awkward to use for scratching. Also like Kamal said with a DVS you can switch from timecode to vinyl instantly and I personally like using real vinyl with scratch samples over digital samples. Although I see more and more younger DJ opting for the new technology and doing just fine with it. A lot of the time I think it depends on what music you play and what you are trying to do in your sets that would ultimately affect your choice of gear.
“the needle’s position on the vinyl can be accurately measured to a 10th of a degree”
Actually, this isn’t correct, because it can track relative movement within each timecoded “bit” (using the phase shifted base tone)…. so really it is much more accurate than this (and far more accurate than any controller available).
“the needle’s position on the vinyl can be accurately measured to a 10th of a degree”
Actually, this isn’t correct, because it can track relative movement within each timecoded “bit” (using the phase shifted base tone)…. so really it is much more accurate than this (and far more accurate than any controller available).
“the needle’s position on the vinyl can be accurately measured to a 10th of a degree”
Actually, this isn’t correct, because it can track relative movement within each timecoded “bit” (using the phase shifted base tone)…. so really it is much more accurate than this (and far more accurate than any controller available).
This is a good point ioane, and so I’ve added the word ‘absolute’ to distinguish that the accuracy of timecode is based on actually knowing precisely where on the record the stylus is, as opposed to just tracking its speed/direction value. Do you know, theoretically, how accurately a 2kHz tone’s phase alignment could be sampled and decoded for real time playback?
Well, that isn’t quite right either, depending on how the timecode is set up, as you need a number of bits to truly know what timecode you have read….
As far as relative movements go, if you had a perfect input signal, and your audio interface was sampling at 44.1kHz, then in theory:
44100 (sampling rate) x 1.8 (time of one revolution) = 79380 possible samples that can be used to calculate the position….
I think the point he was making in the post is that theres so many variables, and sure if the stanton reads it at 4000 wouldnt it a higher number of samples since the number is greater then vinyl to start with?? Plus for it to be perfect you need pretty much brand new vinyl and a brand new needle set perfect to have the same quality every time you play compaired to a plug and play solution….
I think the point he was making in the post is that theres so many variables, and sure if the stanton reads it at 4000 wouldnt it a higher number of samples since the number is greater then vinyl to start with?? Plus for it to be perfect you need pretty much brand new vinyl and a brand new needle set perfect to have the same quality every time you play compaired to a plug and play solution….
Well, like I posted above, the stanton product actually has less possible tracking samples than vinyl (even though in terms of actual timecoded bits within the vinyl it has more).
They’re a little hard to compare, because one is a digital sampling of an analogue signal (vinyl), and one is straight digital (controller). So, some interesting things can occur.
For example, lets say you play your record at -50% pitch (an extreme example). Now one revolution of the vinyl/controller will take 3.6 seconds. In that time the controller will output:
4000 samples that can be used to track the signal (or 1111 samples per second)
And the vinyl will output:
44100 x 3.6 = 158760 samples that can be used to track the signal (or 44100 samples per second)
And yes, I agree, you would need great equipment to be able to get this theoretical maximum of usable samples…. but after some cleaning up of the signal in software there is still much more positioning information available than to the currently available controllers.
I think the point he was making in the post is that theres so many variables, and sure if the stanton reads it at 4000 wouldnt it a higher number of samples since the number is greater then vinyl to start with?? Plus for it to be perfect you need pretty much brand new vinyl and a brand new needle set perfect to have the same quality every time you play compaired to a plug and play solution….
Another good point, ioane, but consider that it is only the first x bits that need to be read in full before a single bit increment will continue the chain for accurate positional information.
The sampling rate is as you mentioned in a perfect situation – the tolerance of the stylus and the vinyl pressing, the margin of error in the bus and the audio interface’s ADC would also have to be built into a simulation, and real world usage also has to contend with the consumable nature of the vinyl and stylus.
It’s a really interesting subject though and thanks for pushing me on it – we’ve plans for future features with direct input from some of the brains that actually put this kind of thing together which will hopefully shed much more light onto the cleverest technologies that we get to play with – and sometimes take for granted! – on a daily basis…
Another good point, ioane, but consider that it is only the first x bits that need to be read in full before a single bit increment will continue the chain for accurate positional information.
The sampling rate is as you mentioned in a perfect situation – the tolerance of the stylus and the vinyl pressing, the margin of error in the bus and the audio interface’s ADC would also have to be built into a simulation, and real world usage also has to contend with the consumable nature of the vinyl and stylus.
It’s a really interesting subject though and thanks for pushing me on it – we’ve plans for future features with direct input from some of the brains that actually put this kind of thing together which will hopefully shed much more light onto the cleverest technologies that we get to play with – and sometimes take for granted! – on a daily basis…
“but consider that it is only the first x bits that need to be read in full before a single bit increment will continue the chain for accurate positional information”
That is correct.
“The sampling rate is as you mentioned in a perfect situation”
True, but you’d be surprised at the amount of data you can use from the average setup (I’ve coded a system to track a digital vinyl signal in the past). Obviously there is going to have to be some smoothing/averaging of the data samples that are recieved – but for controllers there is also going to have to be some smoothing/averaging from the software that receives the position information (otherwise the output would sound terrible).
Interesting! If you’d like to chat further on this subject I’d love to hear your experiences ioane, especially with coding a DVS system – just send me an email at techeditor@djtechtools.com and I’ll get back to you 🙂
Really interesting stuff guys, but is Disqus cutting thing short or did 2 of you end your comments in …. ?
Also +1 on getting in touch with the editors ioane.
Interesting stuff indeed!
Another good point, ioane, but consider that it is only the first x bits that need to be read in full before a single bit increment will continue the chain for accurate positional information.
The sampling rate is as you mentioned in a perfect situation – the tolerance of the stylus and the vinyl pressing, the margin of error in the bus and the audio interface’s ADC would also have to be built into a simulation, and real world usage also has to contend with the consumable nature of the vinyl and stylus.
It’s a really interesting subject though and thanks for pushing me on it – we’ve plans for future features with direct input from some of the brains that actually put this kind of thing together which will hopefully shed much more light onto the cleverest technologies that we get to play with – and sometimes take for granted! – on a daily basis…
Well, that isn’t quite right either, depending on how the timecode is set up, as you need a number of bits to truly know what timecode you have read….
As far as relative movements go, if you had a perfect input signal, and your audio interface was sampling at 44.1kHz, then in theory:
44100 (sampling rate) x 1.8 (time of one revolution) = 79380 possible samples that can be used to calculate the position….
Well, that isn’t quite right either, depending on how the timecode is set up, as you need a number of bits to truly know what timecode you have read….
As far as relative movements go, if you had a perfect input signal, and your audio interface was sampling at 44.1kHz, then in theory:
44100 (sampling rate) x 1.8 (time of one revolution) = 79380 possible samples that can be used to calculate the position….
This is a good point ioane, and so I’ve added the word ‘absolute’ to distinguish that the accuracy of timecode is based on actually knowing precisely where on the record the stylus is, as opposed to just tracking its speed/direction value. Do you know, theoretically, how accurately a 2kHz tone’s phase alignment could be sampled and decoded for real time playback?
This is a good point ioane, and so I’ve added the word ‘absolute’ to distinguish that the accuracy of timecode is based on actually knowing precisely where on the record the stylus is, as opposed to just tracking its speed/direction value. Do you know, theoretically, how accurately a 2kHz tone’s phase alignment could be sampled and decoded for real time playback?
this all is very sad to me…
in fact now there are no solutions out there, wich could replace 1210s with a timecode record..
the main point is not the resolution or capabilities – its all about the haptic feedback of a vynil record. And it needs to be a 12″ because it provides much more precision controlling the sound.
It may look just like “freestyle-scratching-that-real-vinyl’s-better-for-anyway”, but thats real and the main reason for me (and for many djs out there) to chose DVS+turntables+controller.
Best Regards from Russia.
I learnt a trick from a master DJ locally to stick my 7″s that I only want to play one side of.. onto a crappy 12″ record. So you have the control of 12″ still with 7″ and 10″ records – as long as don’t want to play both sides xD
this all is very sad to me…
in fact now there are no solutions out there, wich could replace 1210s with a timecode record..
the main point is not the resolution or capabilities – its all about the haptic feedback of a vynil record. And it needs to be a 12″ because it provides much more precision controlling the sound.
It may look just like “freestyle-scratching-that-real-vinyl’s-better-for-anyway”, but thats real and the main reason for me (and for many djs out there) to chose DVS+turntables+controller.
Best Regards from Russia.
this all is very sad to me…
in fact now there are no solutions out there, wich could replace 1210s with a timecode record..
the main point is not the resolution or capabilities – its all about the haptic feedback of a vynil record. And it needs to be a 12″ because it provides much more precision controlling the sound.
It may look just like “freestyle-scratching-that-real-vinyl’s-better-for-anyway”, but thats real and the main reason for me (and for many djs out there) to chose DVS+turntables+controller.
Best Regards from Russia.
Never thought I’d move away from Turntables but I do most of my shows with controllers or CDJs now as the turntables I find in clubs can be pretty messed up. Still good to have DVS though as nothing beats a good scratch session and when I’m playing Hip Hop or Soul shows, it just feels better. Each to their own I guess but I’ll be sticking with TSP for a while. The best of both worlds.
Never thought I’d move away from Turntables but I do most of my shows with controllers or CDJs now as the turntables I find in clubs can be pretty messed up. Still good to have DVS though as nothing beats a good scratch session and when I’m playing Hip Hop or Soul shows, it just feels better. Each to their own I guess but I’ll be sticking with TSP for a while. The best of both worlds.
Never thought I’d move away from Turntables but I do most of my shows with controllers or CDJs now as the turntables I find in clubs can be pretty messed up. Still good to have DVS though as nothing beats a good scratch session and when I’m playing Hip Hop or Soul shows, it just feels better. Each to their own I guess but I’ll be sticking with TSP for a while. The best of both worlds.
I felt that the article didn’t cover a use for timecode that I use all the time. As a digital and vinyl guy it allows me to mix my digital tracks with my vinyl. My DJ partner is a vinyl purest but we can still rock the 4 decks and some digital. Its a crossover tool that bridgets the vinyl world and the digital one. I can still be railing on my x1s as we beatmatch the digital track into a record. Its a great feeling. I do agree it seems silly to be a timecode only DJ.
I felt that the article didn’t cover a use for timecode that I use all the time. As a digital and vinyl guy it allows me to mix my digital tracks with my vinyl. My DJ partner is a vinyl purest but we can still rock the 4 decks and some digital. Its a crossover tool that bridgets the vinyl world and the digital one. I can still be railing on my x1s as we beatmatch the digital track into a record. Its a great feeling. I do agree it seems silly to be a timecode only DJ.
I felt that the article didn’t cover a use for timecode that I use all the time. As a digital and vinyl guy it allows me to mix my digital tracks with my vinyl. My DJ partner is a vinyl purest but we can still rock the 4 decks and some digital. Its a crossover tool that bridgets the vinyl world and the digital one. I can still be railing on my x1s as we beatmatch the digital track into a record. Its a great feeling. I do agree it seems silly to be a timecode only DJ.
hehe, I actually bought some TT’s this weekend to have some DVS action at home. Am having 2 kontrol X1’s ready and alternatively mapped when going on the road though!
hehe, I actually bought some TT’s this weekend to have some DVS action at home. Am having 2 kontrol X1’s ready and alternatively mapped when going on the road though!
hehe, I actually bought some TT’s this weekend to have some DVS action at home. Am having 2 kontrol X1’s ready and alternatively mapped when going on the road though!
an april fools joke but…..? why not?! http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/04/technics-relaunches-1210-as-a-digital-turntable/
an april fools joke but…..? why not?! http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/04/technics-relaunches-1210-as-a-digital-turntable/
an april fools joke but…..? why not?! http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/04/technics-relaunches-1210-as-a-digital-turntable/
u know, there was an april fools post somewhere that said there was an updated technics 1200 with advanced capabilities like built in time code shit…like flip a record to change from deck a to deck c…sweet….why wouldnt and couldnt this be possible and cool?
u know, there was an april fools post somewhere that said there was an updated technics 1200 with advanced capabilities like built in time code shit…like flip a record to change from deck a to deck c…sweet….why wouldnt and couldnt this be possible and cool?
I, for one, am looking forward to where technology can take us as far as getting our fingers as close as possible to that soundwave.
I, for one, am looking forward to where technology can take us as far as getting our fingers as close as possible to that soundwave.
I, for one, am looking forward to where technology can take us as far as getting our fingers as close as possible to that soundwave.