THE HISTORY OF DJ EQUIPMENT!
A DJ AKA 'Disc Jokey' is a person who plays records of music in clubs, parties and so on. They tend to mix 2 songs together and make it clash.
There are a lot of techniques that can be used for DJ's such as scratching. Scratching is a Turntablist technique; that you move a disc back and forth to create your own sound.
In the history of the equipment there is many types of equipment, from old to new. Many Dj's have used loads of these equipments. Such as Turntables, Decks, Traktor (Digital), Vinyl, Platter's, Cross fader’s, Mixing Desk
Digital is data technology that uses values, by contrast. Non digital system represents information using a continuous function.
People nowadays use Date such as MP3, to download songs onto their IPod/Laptop this is because this type of data is easier to get than CD's also MP3's are cheaper, for example on iTunes a song is about 70p, whereas a single from a shop is about 3.99.
MP3 data is data that doesn't exist, mp3 is also a data conversion. Back in the days no one used mp3s because there wasn't any updated phones, computers /laptops or softwares to convert files into mp3. Digital is way better because you can get whatever the song you want, without having to go through many shops just for vinyl.
DJ mixers are used for, the EQs, cross faders and cue points. This us mainly used to bring in the next song, when another song is playing. The cross faders are used for the transition, by playing two songs together in unison or by moving the knob to either the left or the right.
Cross fader has two faders connected side by side but in opposite directions. This is useful for beat matching two sources of audio. Cross fader’s main function is to gradually increase one part of the song and decrease the sound of the other one.
Traktor - This is a digital DJ software and type of equipment that some DJs use nowadays. MP3s are more compatible with traktor because it isn't a turntable type of equipment mainly data is used for this. You could use your phones to put music on to the laptop and then use it on the Traktor.
A traktor has 2 decks just like a turntable but they are smaller, it also has a mixer conjoined together with the traktor
Turntables and Vinyl
Vinyl also known as phonograph record, is a flat disc, which has a analogue type of sound on it.
In the 1850's the phonautogtaph was invented by Leon Scott, he used a vibrating diaphragm and styles to record sound waves and movements to trace sheets.
In the late 1800's Thomas Edison invented the Phonograph, the Phonograph was capable of recording both and reproducing. The Phonograph was first tried on a Telephone as it was creating a telephone repeater.
These types of records were used back in the early 70's as well and the late 90's. These are the type of discs that DJs would struggle to get as it was quite hard to get them back in the day. Also DJs and producers would find it hard to cut their own record so that no DJ would have the same sound but they would also find it hard to get the song that's not released yet onto a vinyl. Nowadays vinyl is still used but it’s mostly used for distribution as people use data that doesn't exist which is mp3, they also used CD's nowadays as well. Vinyl can be used for many DJ techniques such as beat matching, scratching and slip cueing.
David Rodigan
He is a British radio DJ and he has performed, DJ'ed and battled in the past. He is known for Reggae and Dancehall music the reason why he is known for Jamaican music is because when he DJ's this is what he mostly plays, also he has a passion for Jamaican music as he watched a Jamaican artist perform she was called 'Millie'. He did a DJ battle against another Jamaican DJ in Jamaica and he was one of the few British people to do it. David Rodigan has performed at the Notting Carnival as well. The type of Equipment he used back in the late 60's/70's/80's/90's was a lot of Vinyl and Turntables. David Rodigan had to do travelling quite a lot so that he could cut his Vinyl, so that no one has the record besides him... The place he had to travel the most was Birmingham and he had to pay a lot of money to do it. Back in these days Vinyl cost a lot of money and it cost a lot to cut it as well.
He used Turntables as well, although he didn't use it to do the scratching technique, his act of a DJ was different to the others. He would get a Mic and say some things to get the Crowd hyped up and then he'd played the music while he's talking/rapping on the Mic.
Nowadays David Rodigan doesn't use Vinyl anymore; he uses CD's, cross fader and a DJ mixer. David Rodigan changed to Cd’s because, nowadays no one uses Vinyl anymore and it’s rare to find a vinyl shop.
DJ CRAZE
Dj Craze, is a professional DJ. He has the DMC world Dj champion. He’s from Miami, Florida. The type of genres he plays is Drum N Bass, Hip Hop, Dubstep and more. The equipment he uses is Turntables, MPC, Traktor, Headphones and a Laptop – on his Turntable it has a gold plate around it, this gold plate represents that he has been the DMC champion 3 times. Dj Craze is a different DJ compared to David Rodigan, David Rodigan is a entertainer as well but DJ Craze does the magic with his hands more. Back in the days he was known for “ America’s best DJ “, World DMC Champion and many more!
DJ techniques
- Beat matching - This is a DJ technique which is to do with pitch shifting or time stretching. This is to do with time and tempo for example when beat matching 2 tracks the snares and kicks have to be in time, you'll need to know when to bring in the verse in time with the other song, once you've done that it means you just beat matched two songs. 'The technique was developed to keep people of the dance floor' this means this technique is mostly used at clubs... or parties to stop people from dancing.
- Scratching - The Scratching DJ technique is a Turntablism technique, this is used with Vinyl records to create manipulative and interesting sounds by moving it back and forth. Scratching is mostly used with Hip Hop because scratching was formerly developed during the Hip Hop times since the 70's. They're generally used for Hip Hop because for scratching you can make beat out of scratching using two records and you could make it your own style. Scratching is also used with the cross fader to make it more intriguing and to make it sound like it has a cutoff - when it cuts out in and out rapidly. (EQ). Mostly scratching is used for battling against other DJs (well it can be its optional). Nowadays scratching can also be used with Traktor pro. There's also scratching techniques such as:
-Baby scratch - The baby scratch is a method moving your hand back and forth, this is one of the easiest and most known method to use. Most amateur scratchers do this.
- Forward and backward scratch - This scratch is like the baby scratch. The forward scratch is also known as “cutting” the reason why it's called this because the cross fader is used during the backwards movement of the track.’If the track is let go it’s called a ' release track '.
- Tear scratch: This scratching technique is a technique where you're scratching the record in a staggered way, splitting the forward and backward movement into different parts. This allows creating sounds without using the cross fader, this also allows more rhythm to the pattern to make sound a bit more complex and difficult.
- Beat Juggling - This technique is to manipulate two or more samples. This technique is used to create an original composition using s lot of turntables or more mixers. Beat juggling is slightly the same as beat matching except you have to create your own beat/composition using the records that you have, you have to use the vocal phrases or the drum kits. Beat juggling has its roots in cutting... this was first done by Kool DJ Herc and later used by Grandmaster Flash in the early 80's. Beat juggling has sub-DJ techniques called:
- Tapping or walking: the way these techniques are used is that the DJ tape the in between the record and the percussion sounds stopping it to slow down the beat or pushing it faster to speed it up.
- Shuffling or Strobing: Is when the DJ has two records and they loop the records at two different times, the DJ is remixing the record at live with different styles and formations.
Conclusion
In my conclusion, I think the best source to use between Vinyl or Mp3/Cd’s. Is to use MP3, this is because MP3 is more cheaper, you can make your playlist by just downloading either for free or by paying. If you’re paying it would only cost about 79p for a single on Itunes, however if you’re buying a vinyl it would cost over £10 for just a vinyl plate. For MP3’s you can find whatever song you like and just use it. I think that Digital is more better than Analogue because the equipments are more top- notch. Digital is more easier than analogue as well, using traktor is just like using a Turntable, just more impact.
The difference between Digital and Anlogue, is that Digital is more Data and Mp3 – more online stuff. On the other hand Analogue is more Vinyl and big turntables.
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