Electronic Music 411 - awesomely empty!

07/04/08 + geargasm

I've been thinking about this quite a bit, and what IS DJ'ing really anymore? What's the difference between a performance and dj'ing?

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07/04/08 + Horizons

I am sorry this question does not compute

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07/04/08 + sAMsKi

nope. how do you mean?

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07/04/08 + packetst0rm

Dj'ing isn't really anything like performance for most electronica musicians alot of the guys that I know play live often involve their own instruments. So yes there is quite a difference in my opinion.

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07/04/08 + goguru

My first definition of a DJ : a person who selects and plays prerecorded music for an audience. This person needs a good ear, a good sense of catching the audience's mood, but in my opinion, this type of DJ is not an artist (in the sense of a composer).

Second definition : a person who mixes different loops with some preparation, either with softwares (Live) or turntables. It involves more live work, also a good ear and a sense of creativity, but it is still not pure musical composition in my opinion.

Third one : almost as the second one, but the artist composes the majority or all the loops he uses.

For me, the second and third definitions would be performances and the first one not.

07/04/08 + lematt

sometimes i play my loops using ableton (or traktor even), but sometimes i also dj : it can be with turntables or with my comp using traktor or ableton (sometimes everything, and even a microkorg so i can play some funky stuff).

one thing is sure: i usually have more fun while djing than during pure live sets.

i really love the fact that when i start to dj i really don't know how it's going to evolve 5 minutes later.

i prefer not to talk about the "artist or not" thingie. i think that question is outdated since Marcel Duchamp.

i think keeping an audience on fire during 2 or 4 hours ( being with my own loops or the tracks of other musicians ) is a FUCKING HARD JOB, and i can ensure you that after a 4 hours set i'm as tired (mentally and physically) as after playing the piano during 4 hours.

techno has definitely moved the role of the "dj" or the "musician", there is something happening which is kind of a collective social production involving the organisers, the dj's and the crowd.

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07/04/08 + ricemutt

yeah, well people playing live EM sets for instance are also pretty close to DJ's in what they do, especially if they are following the normal standard of firing loops + tweaking efx. That's just like DJ'ing your own music, really. I personally see my live set as kind of a midpoint between a live band and a DJ. I mean, i'm just standing there, twiddling things, i'm not playing an instrument. But I also plan on bringing some live instruments into my set in the near future, anyhow.

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07/04/08 + j_chot

what I do live is very inbetween live music performance and djing.

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07/04/08 + tylth

what you do live is very inbetween live music performance and porn.

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07/04/08 + tunalicker

goguru said: "My first definition of a DJ : a person who selects and plays prerecorded music for an audience. This person needs a good ear, a good sense of catching the audience's mood, but in my opinion, this type of DJ is not an artist (in the sense of a composer)."

you have only been to crap show where the DJ sucks? I think you've missed the whole point and practice of a proper DJ. this makes me sad...for you.
there is SO much more to it

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07/04/08 + tunalicker

i am defined as a cranky old granpa, so you can just ignore my complaining i guess.

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07/04/08 + curtismayfld

I was just thinking about this.
I dj and I try to use harmonic mixing. It's basically playing songs that are in the same or complementary keys.
That is a musical performance to me, even though Im not using sounds that I made myself.
Anyone else who dj's use this or any other musical system?
Check out the videos of Jeff Mills showing him obliterating the line between dj and performer.

07/05/08 + tunalicker

lots of DJs mix in a progression (increase by semitone or two) or compatible/harmonic frequencies.
At the how weird street fair (san fran) there were great examples of this and other seemless mixing bits. i'm sure other places are just as fun.

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07/06/08 + elronhubbard

even if you do play synths and drum machines live youll stilll get called a DJ.

when a hot chick says it i mostly just agree and say "yes, yes i am a superstar DJ"

but imo nothing beats the fun of firing off your own tracks in all sorts of chopped/remixed fashion on a set of decks, especially if you make hype music like dance/breakcore

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07/07/08 + dkarma

a dj is a disk jockey...one who spins records. everyone dj's its almost passe or cliche to say the least.
everyone wants to be dj dickhead these days and it is getting stale.
the next time i go to "dj night" and hear some asshole on stage push stop on one turntable then push start on the other I'm gonna snap....

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