Have sorted what to do about mixes. Both mine, and yours. I'll re-encode all the mixes I still have on MD (I think Recession 1,2 and the tutorial have now gone forever...) into MP3 and re-upload them for you to listen to. But, more importantly, having tentatively suggested to people that they upload their mixes to my site for me to listen to - I'm now inviting all those who aren't sure if their stuff is working or not to get in touch, I'll send you the upload details, and we'll sort something out.
I'm not saying I'll host peoples mixes forever or anything, but at least it's a way to know if your groove is working or not.
There's a new diary up here too. Sparky's been tapping away at the keys for the past few months, letting everyone see how he's getting on with his mixing. I'll get him to upload an MP3 soon so we can all hear how good he beat-matching REALLY is!!
Finally on all the site info, I guess things have come full circle. This site's been here since late 1997 - and I've had over 1,000,000 hits since it's been here. Many people have asked to borrow info that's here - and I've gladly let people use it, as long as it was made clear where it came from. Well, I got an email the other day suggesting that I ripped off the two year old "How to be a Dj Properly" book to make this site. Now, I've no way of knowing if they used me as a resource (though I do get a credit at the end I think) - but how funny's that?
Anyway, there's an introduction to why I made this site below, either scroll down, or use the nav bars at the top.
Hehe, click it, if you're a fan of Kevin Smith stuff like me, you'll love all this.
Before I continue let me tell you why I'm doing this.
I wanted help. Actually, I was trying to find some hints and tips on the net one day, and apart from some really basic stuff, the only help was a guy called DJ Lighty, whose page was easy to read and real helpful. So I decided to put my 15 free Mb of web space to use, and try my own advice page.
I've listed all of the sources used for this page at the end, where no-one'll look! Most have links to their pages so you can view them yourself. Everyone I list has a wealth of information, so check 'em out too, if you get a moment.
By now, you're thinking one of two things, 1) How long until I get to the information (about 200 words) and 2) If there is already a wealth of information on the web, why did I make another one. Well.....
The first reason is that all the sites I've visited are extremely useful, but didn't have all of the things I was looking for, or things I knew, which I thought I could try to pass on. So instead of asking them to include the stuff I knew, I thought, what the hell, and decided to try my own. But the real reason is next.
A while ago, I was bored and getting a bit dispirited about my progress in the Dj'ing world. This was before I had access to the net, so I thought I'd send off for one of those teaching 'things' you find advertised in DJ magazine and other such productions. I'm not going to say which one in case they read this and are vindictive, but let's just say I thought they would help me master my mixes (There's a clue for you).
At this point may I stress that this publication would be good for someone who had just bought four records, two turntables, and thought, bugger it, I'll be a DJ. It's very basic, almost insulting, and cost £12 for the privilege.
So this is where my problem occurred. The ad in the mags claimed that it would give you the knowledge to mix like a professional, that it was complied by the best Dj's around the world, and would open up a whole new world to the budding DJ. Bollocks.
What I got out of it, was that someone sat down with a friend who had just started Dj'ing, and thought, "Hey, we could screw some people out of £12 if we write this piece of crap down." As I said, the stuff they put in is all correct, and would be helpful, but they've mislead the reader into thinking that it would give the existing DJ a hand up.
If they had put, "For the beginner who isn't too sure how to get started, and wants a small introduction into more advanced areas of Dj'ing" I would have been okay with it. But the whole "For every DJ, now matter how good," bit, just pissed me off when I got it.
What I actually got through the post, was twelve limp pages of one-sided badly printed A4 paper, with HUGE writing on it, and a very biased attitude. They start off by saying that only Technics' SL1200 decks will do. Ok, they are considered the industry standard, but that's not exactly right, especially for the techniques they're explaining. What then followed were things like "If deck A is running behind deck B, speed it up a little, and if deck A is running ahead of deck B, slow it down." I say this later on in this site, but I HAVE aimed that section at complete beginners.
They also say that if there is a lack of monitoring when playing live, just move the crossfader into the middle, to see if you are in time. Ok, that's one way to do it - if you want to suck that is. I'm sure there is a 'special' way of moving it into the middle using the channel faders, so that no-one can tell, but at least tell people what THAT is, especially me, I can't think of a situation where I'd blunt the crossfader into the middle, just to see if I'm in time, I'd get fired!! (I say more about this subject in the PLAYING LIVE section.)
And finally, (because I'm beginning to bore myself now) the section on how to scratch is incredible, I almost wet myself laughing. Here's how they teach you to scratch "Stop deck 2 with your hand (on the first beat), move the cross-fader in the center position, scratch away. Release deck 2 (still on the first beat), as deck 1 is on the first beat." and that's it. No mention as to choosing the part of the tune to scratch with, how the speed you scratch at, changes the pitch, changing the feel of the scratch, nothing about using the cross-fader in the scratch to break things up, in fact, if you were a complete beginner (which they claim they cater for) who knew nothing about mixing, you'd be left thinking "Yeah, but what's scratching."
Truthfully, I'm bitter about the fact I wasted that money on that pile of crap, which is why this scathing editorial has gone on so long. But I just had to vent, and prevent any other poor sucker buying this pish!!!
It does go into the 'spiritual side' of Dj'ing, helping you keep your head when things go wrong, which is of some help - but that's not worth £12!!
The truth is, I just want to help people, and maybe leave a legacy for the future, so I can look back at this site, and realise I did know something worth sharing. I just got this mail from a guy, and I think it sums up why I made the site:
Recess, just mailing to say thanks for the site man.
I have been playing around with mixing for 2yrs give or take and believe it or not (mainly out of laziness) have never mastered beat matching.or anything else.
someone recomended a book to me but couldnt remember the name of it and said they saw it on the tidy msg board and I should search thru and find it. I did, but I also found ur site so thought I would give it a look (this was at 9am, while I was working) I finished reading it at about 1.
When I left work at half 1 I came straight home and got straight on my mates decks and off I went. It's now 1620 and the only time I have taken my headphones off is to write this, and thats cos im using cd's and have looped the mix so I dont lose it and I have made more progress in this 3hrs or so than ever before, mainly because if u approach anyone about it these days they either cannot be bothered, or laugh at u.
Ur site is informitive, easy to understand and not patronizing. thank you, im now inspired to get off my arse and get practising alot more (i kinda lost intrst when I wasnt gettin anywhere) and get my citronic pd-1's (purchased 3 months ago from my mates cousin but never set up-lack of space) up and moving.
thank u
wilty
