DJ Simple

Who is really a DJ these days and is the art of DJing being lost in the technological era of controllers?

DJ Simple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:43:13 +0000

I recently heard a song titled “Everyone’s a DJ” by the Spankers in which they make references to everyone from their mother to the plumber being a DJ. With advances in technology, more affordable DJ products, internet, streamlined processes for getting music to consumers (i.e.-iTunes, amazon, and other digital media file sharing sites), and even games such as DJ Hero, it’s no wonder why it seems as though EVERYONE is a DJ or wants to be a DJ nowadays. In this blog, I will break down what it is to be a DJ by traditional standards while attempting to un-blur the lines of a DJ versus a controller (or in my opinion a performing artist).

Some things for DJs have not changed from when DJing began, nearly all the way back to the beginning of the 20th century, up until present day. DJs find music and then play that music for an audience. Although, over time, both of those aspects of DJing have evolved. First lets take a look at how DJ’s find their music. Back before CDs, MP3s, or even the internet DJ’s had to scour music stores to find music, which is also known as digging. Typically, DJs would find music on analog mediums such as vinyl records, however there were other mediums such as 8 tracks followed by cassettes. Then came the digital age with CDs followed by MP3s and now many, many, other file formats other than MP3. No matter the medium though, DJs have always had to take the time and effort to find music to present to their audience. Before the digital era, it took a good deal of effort to find music. You couldn’t simply google the song lyrics to find a song. You had to at least know the Artist or song title if you wanted any chance of finding what you were looking for. If you didn’t have any information to go off of, it made the search nearly impossible. Plus you had to take the time and effort to physically go to a music store to find the music. Due in part to the level of difficulty involved in locating music, some DJs took the extra effort to cover the labels on their records in order to keep people from finding out what they were playing. This allowed those DJs to separate themselves from other DJs by having a unique sound. However, these days its near impossible to keep anything hidden in a DJ set with tools like Shazaam and other music recognition software applications. Some DJs will go as far as to post a set list of the songs they used. There are also online streams of DJ sets that list the title and artist of every song being played as it is played.

Not only have digital applications changed how DJs locate music, it has also changed how they acquire music. Aside from purchasing music on your own from music stores, record pools have been a great source for DJs to attain music. For a monthly fee, record pools gather music from multiple record labels and bring the latest and greatest music right to you, as well as music from decades past. Record pools have also adapted to the changing times and now offer digital downloads, along with and in most cases instead of, physical copies of music. The biggest game changer to acquiring music for DJs, in my opinion, has been file sharing. It’s easier than ever for people to amass a collection of music that would easily dwarf some DJs entire record collections. Peer-to-peer file sharing became popular near the turn of the century with sites like Napster and Kazaa. But then instead of being able to find and download individual songs from other users, websites such as Megaupload (which has been shut down) and web applications called BitTorrents such as Vuze, came along that would allow for multiple albums, entire discographies or even hundreds of songs to be shared in a single download. If that didn’t make acquiring music easy enough, there is always the option of buying a portable hard drive and pooling all of your friend’s music onto that drive. One other option is to convert videos posted online into MP3 format for download, so even videos are subject to being pirated for sounds. As the war on piracy continues to rage on, people continue to share files and find new ways to acquire music for free.

What does this easy search and seize method of finding music mean for DJing in the present day and age?

DJs in the past used to guard their music, as some DJs still do but not many, in order to maintain a unique sound which would keep their audience listening. It seems as though, with all of this file sharing going on, everyone would be playing the same music because everyone has or is able to get any music that any other DJ has. If that were the case, then the music alone would not be enough to maintain a unique sound. Fortunately, not every DJ sounds exactly the same, although it can also be said that some DJs are not sounding much different from one another these days. There are still remixes and tracks that are only released on vinyl, as well as artists and tracks that are still undiscovered. There are also a wide variety of music genres from which you may choose to play. You can stick to one specific genre of music or dabble in multiple genres. Also, while everyone has their own opinion on what is and is not good music, there will still be tracks that DJs choose to play or not to play which can separate them from sounding like other DJs that play the same genres of music. I would also like to add that while you may have all the right tracks to play with all of this file sharing, that alone does not make you a great DJ. Being able to read a crowd, knowing what to play, when to play it and even how to mix it are all skills that you WILL NOT ACQUIRE through file sharing. Ultimately, track selection is one key ingredient to becoming a great DJ while the other ingredient is how you deliver that music to your audience.

This brings us to the other part of being a DJ in the traditional sense, playing music to an audience. With out getting too detailed I will bring you up to date with the evolution of DJing. When DJing began, there was a long period in which DJs were only on the radio and would simply wait to play a track once the other one was finished. Once discos and dance clubs started to become popular, beat matching was created and became the standard way to play music at parties. DJs would keep the music flowing by mixing from one track to the next instead of waiting for the track to finish playing. Eventually, scratching was invented which brought about Turntablism. This is where things get more complicated. In the traditional sense, DJs would mix songs in an effort to keep a steady beat going for party goers to dance to for the length of the party. Turntablism brought about a new way of mixing while maintaining that steady beat for the audience. This was a new way in which DJs could maintain a unique sound and separate themselves further from other DJs. By scratching a sample in a unique and interesting way on one record while the music played on another record. Once beat juggling was invented, Turntablists began to do what is known as live remixes. This is where they would take two records of the same song (it can also be done with two different songs) and edit the song live by manipulating the records in a way that would change the song from how it sounded originally, to something completely new, while still maintaining that steady beat for people to dance to. This style of live remixing and manipulating music is not a new concept and has been going on since the early 1990s (possibly earlier). Then in the 90′s, once CDs became the popular medium for playing music, CD turntables were created. However, with the onset of the internet and new compressed MP3 format files, playing vinyl was in a sense re-born with the creation of DVS or Digital Vinyl Systems (Serato, Traktor, etc.). Nowadays, there seem to be all sorts of digital DJ controllers that do not require any sort of disc, as CDs or vinyl do. Controllers are the hardware used to operate software programs on your computer through midi. Some have what are called jog wheels while others just have lots of buttons and knobs. DJ Controllers are used in much the same way as old school setups mixing from one track to the next. However, the new controllers have also brought about what is known as Controllerism. Controllerism, in my opinion, is much like Turntablism in the sense that people use their controller to create a live remix of a song, as Turntablists would do with two records, while maintaining that steady beat for party goers to dance to. The big difference between the two being the medium used to create the remix. Controllerists, as well as Turntablists, have also used groups of individual sounds to create entirely new music compositions. Controller DJs have an abundance of options when it comes to choosing a controller with the help of midi-mapping for many software programs that are currently on the market. Not to say that there were any less “toys” on the market for CD or vinyl DJs in the past. What is concerning is how cheaply you can buy decent equipment for becoming a DJ or a controller.

Becoming a DJ seems to have always come at a high price in the past and to some degree it still is rather pricey. My first setup cost me nearly $2000 for a used setup with home stereo speakers, crappy speaker wire and a worse mixer. But believe me when I say I made the most out of it! I can proudly say that over 10 years after that initial purchase I am still using those same USED turntables because they still work like the first day I got them with only very minor repairs. I have since invested (a lot more money) in a lot more equipment (much better speakers, cables, and mixers). I eventually spent another $550 to get Serato Scratch Live which is the Digital Vinyl Software (DVS) I mentioned earlier. I also purchased some new toys to enhance my set up like effects processors and midi controllers but this blog isn’t about me now is it. Previously, it was necessary to buy, at a minimum, a pair of turntables (CD or vinyl) along with a mixer, headphones, and cartridges if you bought vinyl turntables. This could cost anywhere from as low as $1000 for a used set up of questionable quality to as much as $3000 (and higher in some cases) for all brand new equipment. This doesn’t include audio equipment like a microphone, speakers, cables, or lights (if you chose to be a mobile DJ). Currently, you could buy a laptop, a cheap DJ software and be able to play and mix songs just from your laptop. Although, mixing with these programs and your mouse alone can be difficult even for experienced DJs. Which is why it is recommended to buy a controller of some sort at least to accompany your DJ software. With advances in technology, new cheaper DJ controllers are being developed and marketed on the regular. You can buy a laptop for under $500. I’ve seen a DJ controller as cheap as $120 and you can buy some cheap headphones or even ear buds for probably $20 or less. DJ Controllers usually come bundled with some sort of DJ software as well, which can save you some more money. Although the better controllers on the market can cost as much as $500-$1000 but compared to spending the same amount on just one new CD/vinyl turntable, it’s easy to see why laptops and controllers are becoming so popular. As you can see, it is a considerably cheaper investment to get started into DJing today than it has been in the past which is just more ammunition for the argument that ANYONE can be a DJ these days.

What does all of this mean for the present day DJ and where do we draw the line between a DJ and a Controller?

Fortunately for present day DJs that have been in this game for a while, the skills required to be a great DJ do not come boxed up in the new DJ controllers or bundled with the included software. These skills are studied, practiced, and sharpened over the course of your career and only get better as you continue to practice and learn. That isn’t meant to discourage new and aspiring DJs from following their dreams. It is meant to educate you and make you aware of the work that you will have to put in depending on the level of success you desire to reach. The best suggestion I have for new and aspiring DJs is to find a DJ that does what you want to be able to do and try to become their student. You can buy the most expensive equipment on the market that all of the best DJs are using but it will not make you one of the best DJs. It has been my experience that a dope DJ will be a dope DJ no matter what medium they are using (vinyl, CD, DVS, or controller).

As far as the DJs vs Controllers, I have a great deal of respect for the creativity involved in Controllerism but in my opinion they are not DJs either fundamentally or in the traditional sense of what it means to be a DJ. I think it is easy to draw the line between the two but the line is blurred by Controllerists that promote themselves as DJs or a lack of awareness by the general public in knowing the difference between the two. Controllerists from my own experience and research generally aim to manipulate sound and songs using their controllers to create completely new musical compositions and remix other people’s music. People that use controllers to simply play music and mix from one track to the next are DJs and not controllers. I also want to take a moment to re-visit my previous statement that Controllerists are similar to Turntablists. I personally love to scratch and beat juggle, however I would not qualify myself as a Turntablist (just yet) as I have not put together or performed too many of my own Turntablist sets. I am more of a DJ and less of a Turntablist because I incorporate Turntablist techniques into my DJ sets. I enjoy the creativity and have a lot of respect for the skill involved in Turntablism and Controllerism. Allow me to further explain the fundamental differences between being a DJ and being a Turntablist/Controllerist though. True, all three essentially are performers and entertain a crowd of people, however the main difference lies in the fact that DJs simply mix two songs together (sometimes three or for songs depending on the setup but they are still mixing and blending pre-recorded songs) while Turntablists/Controllerists are making entirely new compositions of music much like a producer would do. I think it is safe to say that music producers are not considered to be DJs but there are music producers that also DJ. Therefore, Turntablists/Controllerists are performers that perform their own musical creation much like a producer but they do it live on stage in front of an audience. DJs on the other hand generally mix together other people’s pre-recorded music. Yes there are some instances in which DJs will play their own music in a mix as well but they are still “DJing” when they do so. Additionally, I feel as though the line between the DJs and Turntablists gets blurred easier than that between DJs and Controllerists simply because a Turntablist can jump back and forth between performing their own live music composition to simply mixing pre-recorded tracks. If a Turntablist performs an original music composition of their own though, I would consider them to be only a Turntablist for the performance and not DJ. That is not to say they are not a DJ and this can be confusing which I think is why people generally just think of Turntablists as DJs because I still have yet to meet a Turntablist that is ONLY a Turntablist and not a DJ. Controllerists on the other hand (from my own observations) tend to stick to trying to make live remixes and original music compositions much like producers. If anything I would say true Turntablists and Controllerists are on a level above the DJ because of the higher level of skill involved for both.

What all of this boils down to is that a “real” DJ is a person that finds music and plays that music for an audience. There are many different types of DJs, as well as, many different mediums on the market these days for DJs to present music to their audience, however it is the DJ’s discretion as to which medium to use. If you just enjoy sharing music with people and want to go the cheap route, you can be another laptop DJ just playing one song after another without trying to mix them together. Just be aware that you probably won’t be considered a very good DJ and don’t expect to be a superstar. If you desire turntable trickery, you could be a Turntablist rocking all sorts of scratching and beat juggling techniques to create live mash-ups and remixes. If your more of a tech head or gamer, you may choose to be a Controllerist mashing all kinds of buttons and tweaking knobs to making amazingly creative remixes and live music compositions. You could also choose to be an Electronic Dance Music DJ which requires a finely tuned ear for mastery of beat matching. Expect to put in a lot of time practicing your craft for things like Turntablism and Controllerism but even beat matching can take a good deal of time to master. Keep in mind, the genre of music you wish to play, the style in which you choose to play the music, the amount of time and effort you are willing to put in, and your bank account balance will generally dictate what kind of setup you will end up with. Although with all of the new products hitting the market these days you are not as limited in your selection as you would have been 5 or 10 years ago. Additionally, the art of DJing has not been lost, it has evolved and in some ways it has been redefined. Essentially, DJing is still no different today than it was over a century ago. It is one person’s desire to play what they consider good music for other people who share the same taste in music. I have seen DJs play hour-long pre-recorded mixes with the press of a button, Turntablist style DJ sets performed on controllers with jog wheels, and controllers made of lunch boxes and arcade game buttons so you’re only limited to your own ambition, imagination, and funds when it comes to what you can do with music these days. DJing can still be an art if you choose to make it an art but don’t carry yourself like your DJ Shadow, Q-Bert, David Guetta, Paul Oakenfold, or Ean Golden if you are only using a laptop and not using any sort of skill in presenting the music to your audience besides pressing the play button. Yes you are still a DJ and ultimately how you obtain your music and how you play that music is your choice to make, just keep it in perspective, stay humble, and continue to learn and grow.

Buffalo Sabres and Unyts Host Community Blood Drive at First Niagara Center with DJ Simple February 20th

DJ Simple — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:24:45 +0000

Buffalo Sabres and Unyts Present:

Community Blood Drive

First Niagara Center

Monday, February 20, 2012, 10 am–5 pm

1 Seymour Knox Plaza
Buffalo, 14203

The first 200 people to present to donate

will receive an Exclusive Donate Life Sabres Cap donated by New Era

There will also be Sabres give-a-ways, autograph signings from Sabres Alumni,

Kid’s Zone Activity Table, Food Trucks, & DJ Simple providing music!

Follow #SabresBloodDrive

Being more ambitious in 2012

DJ Simple — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:04:35 +0000

With the new year comes new resolutions for most people. I am not one to normally make a resolution just because it is the new year. I like to continuously evaluate things and try to make improvements as necessary for growth and improvement. However, I took time at the end of 2011 to reflect on the year as a whole and while hard work and dedication were not lacking I realized one thing I could improve on is ambition. I may have worked hard on raising my skill level as both a dancer and a DJ but what I did not put enough effort into was grabbing every available opportunity to show off these skills. So, in 2012, I have set new goals that will push me to not only continue to strive for new levels of skill as a DJ, as well as a dancer, but to share those skills with the world by putting out new mixes, making videos, entering more competitions, and traveling to new places. When I say I want to be more ambitious in 2012, it could also be said that I want to be more adventurous. I have already been to many places and done many things but if you do not continue to try new things, go to new places, or meet new people, then you will eventually lose motivation, lack inspiration, and ultimately become stagnant as an artist. I would also like to add that being more ambitious (or adventurous) does not only have to apply to artists looking to grow. I think that most people making a resolution at the onset of a new year are simply trying to do the same, be more ambitious by doing things like getting to the gym more often to loose those extra pounds, trying to find a new job, or getting back to school. If you are one of those people like myself trying to be more ambitious in 2012, let me offer a little bit of advice, find ways to renew that ambition throughout the year so that way when 2013 rolls around you won’t find yourself making the same resolution all over again because by definition insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again, but expecting different results! Stay motivated, stay inspired, and keep growing so you can find new things to over come and make a new resolution for the next new year! KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at 3rd Base Friday Dec. 16th!!

DJ Simple — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:15:50 +0000

You can catch DJ Simple every Friday at 3rd Base HOWEVER, we wanted to do something special for the holiday season SOOOOO grab that UGLY ASS sweater your grandma, mom, sister, cousin, or in-laws bought you and wear it to 3rd Base on Friday December 16th. That awful piece of fabric called a sweater might actually do you some good for once…..We always have great drink specials but my main man Justin Pitts has some treats up his ugly christmas sweater sleeve for this party!! See you there in your Ugliest Christmas Sweater!!!!

Where: 3rd Base 3264 Main st. Buffalo NY 14216

When: Friday December 16th 2011 from 11pm until 4am

How Much: NO COVER!!!! 21 and up only

Check the FB EVENT PAGE here: http://www.facebook.com/events/288229664554421/

Like Simple on FB too http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-Simple/74898687471

DJ Simple’s NEW MIX “The Dancing Game”

DJ Simple — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:04:27 +0000

This new mix is sure to get people moving!!! It’s perfect for a house party, pre-gaming (for anything), or if you just want something to jam out too. This mix covers a lot of ground but in a very well thought out way. DJ Simple’s new mix will take listeners on a journey through sound from high tempo up beat dance grooves to slow bouncy hip hop and even the crunchy wah-wahs of dubstep. If you want a better alternative than just playing your iPod at your next party…..Keep it Simple and play “The Dancing Game.”

Go to the Music tab to listen to the new mix. You can even download it FOR FREE!!!!

Don’t forget to Like DJ Simple on Facebook and Follow him on Twitter @DJ_Simple

You can catch DJ Simple LIVE EVERY FRIDAY AT 3RD BASE!!!!!!!! 21 and over only and NO COVER ALL NIGHT!!!

New Music Tab added to the Site

DJ Simple — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:49:31 +0000

For those of you returning to the website you’ll notice a new tab on the home page. The Music tab has been added to allow my fans and new comers to the DJ Simple website an opportunity to listen to what DJ Simple has to offer. This new page also gives you the opportunity to walk away with something as well. You can download DJ Simple mixes, remixes, and mash-ups from this new page. Instructions for downloading are included at the bottom of the Music page. Enjoy the tunes, leave feedback, share with friends, and thanks again for your support!

Beer Pong Madness II October 1st at Dingen’s with DJ Simple

DJ Simple — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:47:57 +0000

BEER PONG MADNESS II (We doin’ it again!!!)
Sat. October 1st
8pm – Midnight
@ Dingen’s Bar & Grill

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dingens-Bar-Grill/10150127698535230

Cost:
$25 – entry into tourney, draft and well drinks from 8pm – midnight
$20 – draft and well drinks from 8pm – midnight

Prize:
1st – $500
2nd – You get your money back.

DJ Simple spinnin the 1′s and 2′s AGAIN!

10-cup beer pong tourney
Single elimination
Best out of 3 – Finals
32 team bracket
Same rules as last time

Any Questions/Sign up online on the Facebook page!

THE RETURN OF DJ SIMPLE

DJ Simple — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:39:57 +0000

There has been a long silence from DJ Simple but duty called and he answered. After serving his country in Afghanistan Simple will be making his long awaited return to the turntables. Battle @ Buffalo patrons will be happy to know that Simple will be back to do what he does best! He would also like to show some love and appreciation to his friends DJ Cutler and Manny for holdin’ it down at the battles in his absence. DJ Simple will also be making a return to Buffalo’s Club scene with a weekly friday night spot at 3rd Base beginning on 16 September. Can’t get enough of Simple? Join the email list to stay up to date with when and where Simple will be playing and get exclusive goodies and deals like free DJ Simple mash-ups & remixes, be the first to hear DJ Simple’s latest mixes, and more!! To get on the mailing list, send an email to info@DJSimple.com and write “I want to keep it Simple!”

Keep it Simple by following him on twitter/facebook/or checking his website:

Twitter – www.Twitter.com/DJ_Simple

Facebook – www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-Simple/74898687471

Website – www.DJSimple.com

LISTEN TO DJ SIMPLE’S LATEST MIX “FUNKY UNIQUE NEW (F.U.N.)”

DJ Simple — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:53:10 +0000

DJ Simple aims to create a fun party atmosphere for everyone in attendance while remaining unique in his track selection and mixing style. This mix is guaranteed FUN! The only thing that would be better than playing this mix at your next party would be to have Simple himself rocking the crowd!

THE MIX IS POSTED ON TWO SITES MIXCLOUD AND SOUNDCLOUD:

MIXCLOUD LINK

SOUNDCLOUD LINK

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR PLEASE SHARE THESE LINKS WITH OTHER PEOPLE, LEAVE COMMENTS, AND CLICK THE LIKE/FAVORITE BUTTONS. YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!! FOR BOOKING: INFO@DJSIMPLE.COM

NEW DJ SIMPLE REMIX OF KERI HILSON’S PRETTY GIRL ROCK!!!!

DJ Simple — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 23:13:47 +0000

Just wanted to share a little something with everyone in order to give people an idea of what to expect on the upcoming mix. This is a remix I made for this mix. This is only a taste of what is yet to come. I have a lot of great music I want to share on this mix and right now I’m mainly working on the best way to put all of these songs together so the entire mix flows well from start to finish. There will be some great club bangers on this mix and hopefully a few more of my own remixes. You can check out the new track on Soundcloud.com, here is the link to my page on SoundCloud.

http://soundcloud.com/djsimple/pretty-girl-break-dj-simple