being accused of not being a "real DJ" with Ableton

[Verbal]

DJ'ing the art of que'ing up two records and beatmatching using a method of pitch control to sync said two records involves a
certain measure of risk. No two mixes can be the same due to this. Trainwrecks are part of the element of surprise.
Dennis Ferrer
Objektivity Records

Here I thought DJing was playing music for people. Now I find out it's just matching the speed of two records. I've been worried about the not important things this whole time like track selection and seamless mixes.

disc jockey?
–noun
1.a person who conducts a radio broadcast consisting of recorded music, informal talk, commercial announcements, etc.
2.a person who selects, plays, and announces records at a discotheque.

What you do with the music is all that matters, not the equipment used to play it.

[TechnoLover]

I am sorry (not that much) to bring that old post back but I think it can be interesting for some people to read it!

In my opinion, technology (in this case, digital DJing) is a way to go further than with traditional DJing. It gives amazing possibilities and make you able to focus on music and creativity and not only on beatmatching and EQing...
As a vinyl lover, I am always disappointed to see people who have no skills (and, most of the time, no musical background at all) calling them DJs because they made a playlist and just acted as a jukebox on a computer. There is no point at all to use a computer to replace a DJ, but there is a big point if you use it to be creative, to go further.

Anyway, for those who don't know anything about him, Kirk Degiorgio was really modest (and joking, can't understand how you guys didn't get it) : He's one of the most important artist of the whole techno and electro scene on planet earth! He played all over the world and owns one of the best label EVER in the Detroit techno/electro music. As a real techno addict(yeah, that was easy), he's like the pope of techno for me and has been DJing since the 80's... Some kind of techno Mozart
I really think you should take care of what he says and listen to some "As One" stuff

[ian_halsall]

Real djs actually use gramophones with 78s and a huge horn.

[Cowlash]

Real djs actually use gramophones with 78s and a huge horn.

What has being aroused have to do with it?

[ian_halsall]

The huge horn keeps the crowd excited

[The Carpet Cleaner]

Offcourse your not a real dj!
Dj is a disc jokey.
Are you spinning real disc?
So you shouldnt take offense and fuck the hot chicks cause your in the booth.

[ian_halsall]

let's not mention the attraction of old 12 inchers.

[Cowlash]

Are you spinning real disc?

Hard drives have spinning discs inside

[AceLuby]

Offcourse your not a real dj!
Dj is a disc jokey.
Are you spinning real disc?
So you shouldnt take offense and fuck the hot chicks cause your in the booth.

And what's the definition of a 'disc jockey'?

1. a person who conducts a radio broadcast consisting of recorded music, informal talk, commercial announcements, etc.
2. a person who selects, plays, and announces records at a discotheque.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disc+jockey

Nothing about the definition refers to discs and in fact a 'dj' doesn't even have to play music, but I understand that to be exclusive you have to exclude people...

[Donnie]

Can + String + Sewing Needle = Real DJ

[djadonis206]

Given that you can do just about anything to create sound and make people dance to it these days, is it fair to expand the definition of what a DJ is?

I hope so.

[Greeg]

Well, mixing in Ableton IS different. Actually it's not a DJing for me too because it's totally different than typical, classic DJ way. I would call it LJ (Live Jockey ).

Mixing in Ableton gives me totally different feeling than mixing on vinyls, or serato scratch or even basic traktor pro. It's just - the workflow is different, the whole performance is different.

I'm not saying it is good or bad (I love Ableton Live) but it's obvious that mixing in Ableton is different, waaay different. Watching DJ mixing vinyls is always entertaining, watching some guy hitting some button on some boring Midi Controller is not entertaining. What I mean is : thanks to Ableton Live there is much more time available - use it to make a real, nice performance / show not to just recreate classic DJing way.

Also, you can be a bad "classic" DJ, but without a problem you can mix in Ableton. Bad Ableton "DJ", most probably will fail using vinyls.

So yea, Ableton Live makes it easier and different. But of course those who say "you;re not a real DJ" are just kids without any knowledge. I wouldnt call this guy a DJ but it's a very nice performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTx3G6h2 ... r_embedded

[The Carpet Cleaner]

well, up to you then, if you use ableton live, but want to be called a DJ, it's your right.
But personaly, when I play with CDj or a program that mimic this behaviour, I am DJing.
When I use ableton live, I don't feel like Djing. I do a performance.
Doesnt mean it has to be complicated, but still it's different than regular djing.
thats my point of view of course

[andydes]

I think the only problem is no one knows what you're actually doing. Playing your own stuff? Cross fading between tracks? Remixing? Or anything in between.

[taoyoyo]

I guess one question that could be asked here is did anyone think Sasha was any less of a DJ when played out with Live and his customer controller?