Is anyone here still rocking vinyl ?

[locojohn]

So you are saying that vinyl is more "fun" than using a digital turntable or CDJ. How exactly or is it just because it's fun to watch it spin ?

Yeah, I meant the limiting factor exactly is the whole point, a bit more private attitude to music. You take a record in your hands and it feels more special, it has its own design and its own sound. You invest a little more time into care for your records etc. Lastly, for some it's that obsure non-perfect analogue sound.

I think you are missing out on a whole extra world there though.

I've been playing mixes digitally since Thinner times (2002) and had enough fun with it over the years using different software, controllers etc. The only thing I haven't really tried was final scratch or serato indeed, but for me the real revelation came when I started to collect and play vinyl records. So no loops, no cue points, just using analog mixer with a limited set of features and the whole bunch of other limitations that come with the vinyl format and then eventualy some human "errors" that make mixes more like a live thing. That was the point of mine.

I have no problem with digital DJs really. But I am pretty sure I am not missing out.

Andrejs

[jestermgee]

I guess it depends where/how you DJ.

I have always run my own setup completely designed my way and I have played everything from 40ths to kids blue-light discos to weddings, back yards, outdoor parks, football ovals etc. Going from a kids 18th birthday to a combined 30/40th karaoke party is a huge difference in music. As much as I appreciate vinyl there is NO WAY I want to invest big $$$ on music I would play at a kids 18th birthday, not to mention I spent 2 weeks building a playlist of songs I thought would be a hit and I was way off because there were way more chicks there than I thought and they were all R&B suckers (not EDM like the kids dad said they would be) so out goes a whole 2 weeks of prep and we are straight into improv for 6 hours.

I'm pretty good with my music knowledge of the last 50 years but honestly, I'm fucking clueless with what 18 year old girls really like (or what girls like at all really) and that was the key to getting everyone on the floor. The last 21st I did was completely different musical tastes and one I did a while ago was mostly country and alternative rock... same age brackets and completely different tastes that did not overlap at all.

That's why I love it tho, not for what I decide to play the music from be it a wax cylinder, cassette or even a youtube stream, but because i'm constantly learning about music and how it affects people differently and after 25 years I still think I have a lot to learn.

BTW you can limit yourself using digital decks by not using any of the modern features. I practice constantly using no beat sync, no loops and no cues to keep my ears working how they should and again., why I invested in the NS7III over the more popular Pioneer for the same price. I can switch to "old school" mode and be back where I was in the early 90s only my stylus doesn't fly off the deck when a dickhead stumbles up and bumps the desk.

[Angstrom]

I do like the ethos of vinyl, not because of some mythic "sounds better" qualities. Part of it is the physicality and immediacy, but mostly it's because if its innate imperfections. I am distorted kind of guy at heart, and I guess there's a touch of the wabi-sabi in vinyl.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

In traditional Japanese aesthetics, Wabi-sabi (??) is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.

[hoffman2k]

On both the consumer and pro audio end, I can report that turntables sell like hotcakes.
It also gives me a chuckle that "Vinyl-only DJ set" is something you'll see on flyers these days. Whats wrong 128kbps Youtube rips played from a USB stick?

You don't seem to get the point.

Andrejs

I think you missed the sarcasm there.
Though anecdotal: The best Jeff Mills set I heard is when he ditched the Vinyls for CDJ's so he could focus more on the TR-909. And he looked like he was having more fun too.
You don't have to sell me on Vinyl, I'm Belgian with a taste for Retro...

[Stace30]

Yeah I still use Vinyl. Where I'm from I'm known for playing early 90's dance music in the clubs. Things like Asha - JJ tribute, Helicopter - On ya way, K-Klass - Let me show you to name but a few............... all on vinyl, I love it, always will.

Al

[Da hand]

Still playing vinyl here at my gigs anytime turntables are available. I don't do many vinyl-only sets these days, but I have a monthly here in Montreal to which I always bring a selection of vinyls to mix with other tracks I play from USBs on CDJs. I enjoy the physical aspect of vinyl and the small extra challenge of mixing with them

[miyaru]

To be hounest, I'm not a DJ....But I really love vinyl!!!! I have a collection of around 800 vinyl albums, and still expanding in all kind of genres. For me it is more a Hi Fi thing. I had several expensive CD decks (Like Rotel and Sony ES Class), but found my Project Expierence Turntable sounding way better. I also have like 800 CD's though LOL. I'm not an i-Tunes/Spotify, etc kind of guy - I want to hold in my hands, and really own it. So downloading wasn't really an option for me.

These days, I'm fond of electonical music, but used to be an heavy rocker 20 yrs back and earlier. So my collection is wide. I have like 300 New Wave Of Brittish Heavy Metal albums, and some old stuff too from the late 60's and 70's. Also, I have a lot from the Beatles...... So that gives a small impression of my collection. Nowadays I listen a lot to work of Jean Michel Jarre, Deadmau5, Daft Punk, Air and so on.

But in fact I'm not bound to one style or artist in any way. I love it when people release on vinyl; a good friend of mine - one of the best bluesgitarist of the Netherlands - just released an album on vinyl on december the first this year. Of course I bought it, but also on CD, as my car has no record player LOL.

[102455]

I still have a total of four Technics SL1200's here, but really only for the ability to play any of my 7", 12" or albums from the 70s and 80s.

Some of it has been ripped, but a lot more hasn't (because it's so time consuming). I'm certainly not selling it, so the turntables have to stay so I can carry on using it.

It'll probably only ever get played when I want to rip something. I've never had anyone ask me to DJ "vinyl only", although I could if anyone wanted me to do it.

[Stromkraft]

I've never had anyone ask me to DJ "vinyl only", although I could if anyone wanted me to do it.

I never understood how "vinyl only" is a quality in itself, not even if you're scratch artist. And TimeCode records are made from Vinyl. Does that count, I wonder.

[locojohn]

I've never had anyone ask me to DJ "vinyl only", although I could if anyone wanted me to do it.

I never understood how "vinyl only" is a quality in itself, not even if you're scratch artist. And TimeCode records are made from Vinyl. Does that count, I wonder.

Nobody mentioned the word "quality". I assume 102455 meant it's just a different way to play music and that he hasn't been asked to play music from vinyl.

Andrejs

[Stromkraft]

Nobody mentioned the word "quality". I assume 102455 meant it's just a different way to play music and that he hasn't been asked to play music from vinyl. :)

I'm sorry. I should perhaps have mentioned that I referred to those that market certain nights as "vinyl-only" and not 102455, who doesn't seem to be in the "vinyl-only" camp. Clearly there are people that think that "vinyl-only" guarantees a certain quality. Of course there are characteristics of both vinyl sound and how you can mix and do mix records when all you can use is vinyl, so it's given there are differences. My focus was more on the quality of experience for the audience. I can say, as vinyl DJing is close to become a lost art, compared to the nighties, I've heard enough DJs attempt to DJ with vinyl that clearly are not skilled enough, or focused enough, to be convincing.

Personally I think like a Vinyl DJ when playing digitally myself, but I also make use of the digital perks when I want them. I do love TimeCode control as the uniqueness of that type of hand-on control is unsurpassed as far as I'm concerned. I never like CDJs and I stopped using CDs when I took up DJing once upon a time.

[locojohn]

I'm sorry. I should perhaps have mentioned that I referred to those that market certain nights as "vinyl-only" and not 102455, who doesn't seem to be in the "vinyl-only" camp. Clearly there are people that think that "vinyl-only" guarantees a certain quality.

I play regularly on vinyl-only nights in a few local venues. They are not called vinyl-only nights though, they just ask me and my friend to come and play some vinyl records. I don't think this is because they believe in quality of the sound coming from turntables, rather that they want their audience to appreciate the difference, that's just it I think.

My focus was more on the quality of experience for the audience. I can say, as vinyl DJing is close to become a lost art, compared to the nighties, I've heard enough DJs attempt to DJ with vinyl that clearly are not skilled enough, or focused enough, to be convincing.

Indeed, but the more you play the more skilled you are getting. I started relatively not so long ago – in 2014, so I am still learning about all the odds related to mixing tracks nicely... But I think I am much better at that than when I just started. I would encourage everyone interested in playing vinyl records to try that out!

Personally I think like a Vinyl DJ when playing digitally myself, but I also make use of the digital perks when I want them. I do love TimeCode control as the uniqueness of that type of hand-on control is unsurpassed as far as I'm concerned.

Sure, and kudos on that! This is just another way to play music and the only real difference I see is that DSP is involved, so the sound is a little different! Not saying it's worse!

Andrejs

[Stromkraft]

I play regularly on vinyl-only nights in a few local venues. They are not called vinyl-only nights though, they just ask me and my friend to come and play some vinyl records. I don't think this is because they believe in quality of the sound coming from turntables, rather that they want their audience to appreciate the difference, that's just it I think.

I think it's about the magic of the unknown as illustrated in the intro of this song Kerri Chandler - Mommy What's a record. Talking of the unknown, just maybe 7 years ago I met two very smart and well travelled female "ravers" in their mid thirties that had no idea how, i e with what instruments, their beloved dance music was made or even that computers could be involved. Go figure.

[Angstrom]

"ravers" in their mid thirties that had no idea how, i e with what instruments, their beloved dance music was made or even that computers could be involved. Go figure.

I've experienced this often and I often think about it when I'm engaged in nerd talk where some Producer is insisting that VCOs are the only acceptable analog oscillator, or that some other really nuanced distinction between comparable sounds is of vital importance.
I think 90% of all listeners just don't care if it's a carefully patched handcrafted modular, a VST patch, ... or just the first preset loaded up from the DAWs crappy factory sample pack. Audience members just say "I like this song, it's got a good beat, it makes me feel ... happy, sad, dancey" and often the sound quality, lyrics, and origins are of little interest to them. I've tried to explain the concept of "sounds good/sounds terrible" to people and it's like I'm describing a carburettor to a fish. It's of no interest and no importance to them. Shitty speakers and awful files are perfectly fine to most people.

The 10% of people who really do care about the subtle technological nuances in music making are a whole different sort of audience, they are interested in engineering solutions, technological elegance as evidenced by outcomes. Quite different. Like appreciating a superbike because it's very well engineered and goes fast - versus a punter who looks to the functional solution it might offer (will it get me to work quicker?)

Producers say "oh the audience might not know that's a 96khz recording of a real VCO, but they can hear the difference". But they really can't, they respond to music like they respond to Instagram filters. If it seems vintagey then that will do to establish mood, and if it's an Arturia Minimoog played on a 128kbps Mp3 then that's perfectly acceptable to do that job for most punters.

[locojohn]

Getting back to playing vinyl topic – I personally noticed that in some particular places music from turntables through analogue mixer (A&H Xone:92 in that case) basically sounded better than when someone played digital music from Pioneer CD decks in the same room. We noticed that the analog setup improved some of the acoustic issues that were more evident when using digital setup. The room was far from perfect though. Maybe it was a lousy mixer, I don't know. But several people noticed general improvement in sound. But I really don't mean to raise another digital vs analogue debate.