Scratching
DJRELAX
452 Posts
So I've been away from the "turntabilisim" game for a long while, but recently caught Melo D and D Styles on a Internet radio show and they blew my mind.
Been listening/scratching like a motherfucker lately. Listening to my Klams of Deth 12" right now. Scratch music seems to get better as I get older, weird. Maybe it is more accessible to me now to duplicate these scratches, IDK?
So who/what should i be checking for that is relevant? Gonna go see Qbert in November, been more than 10 years since I saw him last, should be fun. Wonder if I will be the old guy there?
Been listening/scratching like a motherfucker lately. Listening to my Klams of Deth 12" right now. Scratch music seems to get better as I get older, weird. Maybe it is more accessible to me now to duplicate these scratches, IDK?
So who/what should i be checking for that is relevant? Gonna go see Qbert in November, been more than 10 years since I saw him last, should be fun. Wonder if I will be the old guy there?
Comments
Check out the Dj Craze video in the Dope thread.
damn man....i musta watched this shit jillions of times already, Sara owns Qbert imho, those stabs are as lethal as Shortkuts, such a dope video to gain inspiration from on so many levels..
I love Craze and all, but there was a lot of buttons being pushed in this video.
^This.
Dem autobahns are some facemelt....
I think that was the point; based off the comedy sample played in the beginning (about button pushing etc.) and what he did after that. I think he was trying to provide an example of someone displaying skill with some of the newest dj equipment. He certainly wasn't trying to appeal to the 'keep it real' heads...
The thing is, that the turntable is a really clumsy instrument. That's why a lot of the old sets are so sloppy. You have to practise craaaaaazy hours to get to that level and it's still musically unlistenable. I think turntablism, or whatever you want to call it, was pretty much taken to its technical limit with Q-Bert and that type of stuff. Then people like D-Styles, Mike Boo and Ricci Rucker did their musical stuff with effect pedals and the sort. That kind of made the scratch solo wanking look dumb and people started to do more compositional stuff with scratching. Then I think a lot of cats just came to the conclusion that it's just easier to learn to play keys, use drum maschines or use the computer to get better results, than banging your head on the wall trying to play the saxophone on a turntable or something and that killed the scene.
There seems to be a bit of a revitalisation in the scratch scene and I think that's great. I think the new Rane mixer with the cupoint buttons looks butt-ugly, but If it inspires these guys to do creative sets more power tothem. I think it's great to see OG dudes like Craze take the stuff further, and if that comes with embracing new technology and breaking "perceived" rules so be it. Also there's nothing inherently wrong with pushing buttons. One could argue that's what playing an instrument is. The point was that "real deejaying" is live.
Personally I'd rather watch/listen to a techno vinyl set or a dj playing reggae 7" or something than watch scratch videos all day but I still enjoy checking this stuff out. The cats out the bag with this digital deejaying technology, so why not use it. Anyone can be a deejay buy buying serato (or more likely a controller nowadays) and torrenting a top-100 list, but you can still stand out if you dedicate yourself, practise and have respect for the craft. That doesn't mean everyone needs to be a scratch deejay, but it's just ridiculous what some of these EDM deejays and new jacks get away with. And I think the point was that there's a difference.
Yeah...I think it's all about knowing if someone is using their equipment as a tool or as a crutch. It's like porn...difficult to define but you know it when you see it. Plus, whenever people get too purist about DJ'ing...I can't help but think 'that is the same line of thinking that people who thought played instruments used against DJ's bitd...if you like it, you like it; get loose.
I think I know what you are talking about and technically, I think he was applying a timed/rhythmic on-off effect to the left deck via the mixer which he could trigger or de trigger...essentially the same thing but a bit different, as well.
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Overall, I dig and agree with everything you say and sincerely appreciate your input on this. I just feel people should do whatever they want and hopefully they are using their gear as a tool and not a crutch.
B/W
Never forget:
I bought Serato about 6 years ago and my controller vinyl feel like 180g.. they're like tombstones to scratch with.
Are there some more "regular" weight control vinyl (normal bendy 12" weight) available? And lets just say I bought them off ebay, how would I know that I am not buying some ol' tombstones again? Is there an identifier in the product description? What should I look for?
Thanks in advance
^this.
Woops, missed that.
Thanks, and agreed.
I still got to say for me it's weird to watch battles with all the new tech. I personally think it's better suited for showcases and live stuff, but it's a new day and age and I don't think there's any other way battles could continue to exist in any remotely popular way.
If we are posting craze sets, this one holds a special place in my heart:
Yeah, I primarily DJ with Serato and all their current vinyl (minus maybe the heavy duty one's like the Obey and Hundred's pressings) are good to go like normal records. *this is where I plug my Serato pressing*
You might also want to update the firmware. It's changed a million times over since '08.
I like the Craze one too, I am a fan of the new technology. Im still rocking a SL1 on a G3 ibook, nice to see what can be done with the new technology. Im a fan of both the old and the new.
Keep them coming. Who are those kids dad in the Qbert video? Insane how dope they both were!
Yeah, it's interesting to see how the technology has kind of fucked up the battles. I think (when it comes to the battles) they should always have an emphasis on just keeping it 2 decks and a mixer....I mean, loop pedals have been around much longer than the serato but no legit battle scene incorporated them into the real battles bitd, that I can think of. For me, the battles will always just be 'look at what this fucking bad ass nerd can do with 2 decks and a mixer...no effects...no looping capabilities...just records'. Thats just me, though...I know this thought process will be eclipsed by the next generation.
Goddammit...where is the facemelt greamlin when you need it?!?
Thanks for the reply Day. Much appreciated!
Damn! I just bought a set of clear control vinyl V2 on Turntablelab. Ill be looking for a new set if they are not up to satisfaction.
I agree about the lag in SSL, thought it was because of my 2004 setup, figure it should better with the newer technology. Am I wrong? How can D Styles hang if not?
So that's where the remixes went!
b/w
As much as I love scratching, for me it's always best as part of a track.
I expect the people who advocate it have no problem with any of those issues.
‘I’m doing it man, look at me i’m doing it!’
Skills!
On a purely scratch-related front, I'm one of the judges for this years Digital Vertigo scratch battle. This is the round that just finished:
Having to pick between Chinmachine & Jesuskut, Jimmy Penguin & Symatic, Chmielix & Dopez, and Biox & Redmist was not an easy undertaking at all.