Serato really can’t be fucked with.
day
9,612 Posts
So it's been a few months now, and yeah, there's no turning back, batches.
day
9,612 Posts
Comments
Why should I buy serato instead of finalscratch?
Reviews:
http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/showdown/showdown_intro.htm
Videos:
http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/showdown/showdown_media.htm
These cats all endorse it:
How much would the whole setup cost?
How much does a decent laptop cost? Say one that would ONLY be used for DJing?
man, i need to finally get a goddamn powersupply for mine.
i'm sayin', L*FER, i can't get properly faded with my powerbook open next to the tables when my non-dildo-rocking DJ associates are on their sets and not looking out for Dildospotters creeping up to looksee and spill drinks on my computress. To do: buy 9V powersupply tomorrow.
You could buy a cheap PC laptop for like $300-500, used or new don't matter as long as the processor is alright. Add some ram & external harddisk. For only DJing you could get a laptop + serato for $1000-1200.
Yes, just joking. My first listening experience with this nouveau technology was when Diplo & Low Budget were here in Helsinki a while ago. One thing I noticed was that the levels were all over the place. Either too loud or too quiet, didn't keep stable.
Just saying that this was the only problem for me, it just didn't sound as nice as the REAL thing. I don't really even have an attitude problem (maybe just an unconscious one) with this new shit. Maybe Diplo just hadn't learned to roll with this new tech yet, or maybe he was just too drunk to mix it properly, I don't know.
And to answer your claim Day, it can be fucked with, but those doing the fucking seems to be an endangered species who will be shortly run over by the digital era, just a forgotten stage in human evolution.
so serato it is.
thx.
Damn. What kind of processor would I need? (I'm very "atechnical" so forgive me if this is a stupid question.)
Herm
from ttlab:
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Accepts fixed and variable bit rate MP3s, AIFF, WAV and direct from CD. There are no plans to support WMA files at this time.
- The minimum operating system requirements are either a Mac G4, OSX 10.2.8, or a PC P3-700 running Windows XP, either with 128M of ram or more.
co-shizzle. I also noticeed that once.
But I know there's some tool out there that can level all your audiofiles to the same output level.
Maybe a serano-user can elaborate on that?
You can go low with the processor to save money, but make sure to get ~1Gig of ram. That will ensure Serato doesn't crash.
I've been DJing for 15 years.
Serato/Digital DJing does not equate to the end of vinyl.
You do realize you're mixing RECORDS the same way you would normally, right?
There's no hidden tricks (outside of of markers which you could do with tape on reg.vinyl) with this. You're mixing the same, cutting the same and all that.
I can make remixes at my house and play it out the same night. I can play my own music etc., etc.
To me, the real benefit is creativity. I think some people are getting carried away with the whole "this is the end of vinyl" ish. I still dig and play records and I'm sure most other DJs do too.
I used to think "FUCK THAT" when it came to anything other than the norm, but you're really limiting yourself with what's available. Can you imagine if people were like
"yo fuck a telephone, I'll use this string and can. GOTZ TA KEEP IT REAL!"?
No doubt!
Who uses WAV files? and is there much lag time? Or does everyone use their mp3's?
I completely understand that DJ's who play out regularly around the world don't necessarily want carry that carload of records with them everywhere they go. But I also understand the critizism, because at least in these parts, people really have to make an effort to find certain records. I couldn't imagine a rare funk/soul night being run with Serato. That seems almost sacraligious. Also, different music scenes are so much smaller here than there, so it's easier to be a purist. The average Joe or Jane on the dancefloor doesn't really care where the music comes from at all.
And I think that death of vinyl thing can be argued though. How I understand it, when oil runs out and gets more expensive, there is not gonna be any more vinyl. Could be wrong but that seems to be the scenario. While music is being downloaded more and more, gradually the format becomes irrelevant. We are gonna start talking about files instead of records. Software like Serato is gonna make this transition so much easier.
Of course none of this hinders the creativity of the DJ, just keep on doing what you are doing! I'll stick with the records, but that's just me.
Has using Serato affected your vinyl buying?
I'm not talking about raers but new releases.
Are you buying the tracks you don't need to have on vinyl at iTunes?
Digital dj-ing is cool and the future but it will also change the market for so called dj-music. The majority of independent labels that are doing Soul Strut-related music (from Jazzman to Stones Throw) are making a good part of their money from selling 45s and 12"s to DJs. Digital-DJs have no reason to buy their records anymore. I haven't met any Serato-DJ who's buying his files legally and I don't think that it will change. Even if they would it wouldn't make a big difference because the money a label and artist makes from a track sold through iTunes is a joke. Due to the technology there are too many middle-men involved.
So where do you see the future for these kinda labels?
Non-physical music is the future and every collector's nightmare. But how will people know about this hot new soundfile? Maybe labels will turn into pure promo and image-building enterprises. I don't know.
I'm not hating. I'm just curious and want to prepare myself for the future that has already started.
Still it's hard for me to imagine how to get really excted about a new piece of music when I not hold the freshly pressed vinyl platter in my hand.
It will change the way you dj, I have been getting compliments all round a gigs, the punters love it, other djs love to hate they can come back to my house and get schooled on vinyl any time they want so they can fuck off.
Audio Tips:
There is no problem with volume as you should equalise your mp3s first with software such as Mp3gain and you can check when you cue them on the mixer anyhow just like a record, never ever go below 192kbs mp3, 320kbs preferable, rip all records as wav's or Mac equivalent
dont get shit from itunes the quality sucks
"I couldn't imagine a rare funk/soul night being run with Serato."
Damn it Euan, now you got me imagining it too. The Northern Soul geezers are next to follow I guess...
that is up to the person encoding the music. if you rip everything from your records at the same volume and bitrate then it will sound really consistent. if you download everything from all over the place, then your levels will sound inconsistent. you can also adjust the volume for each track within Serato, and it saves the gain in each MP3's profile, so next time you load it, it will be at the volume you played it last time.
as for records, i have only slowed down on stuff i don't really need, like buying the Tony Yayo LP for one song. you can pool with your friends and trade for stuff like that. i also buy a lot more CDs and CD compilations (like Hot 97 #44 or Reggaeton #22 or whatever off the street) than I used to. as a collector it won't change your buying habits but as a dj it will.