Serato, CDJS, Vinyl, Ableton: DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR 2C!

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:56 am

I certainly haven't seen anyone play vinyl (defined as mostly vinyl with a few CDs of things you can't get on vinyl) since I got back, not that I've been out much.

One of the staunchest pro Vinyl people I know seems to have taken up Serrato.

I'm not saying I really care, but I find it interesting.

aroes · Post by **aroes** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:25 am

i play 100% vinyl

but i don't play out

Post by **fooishbar** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:38 am

jbs wrote:I certainly haven't seen anyone play vinyl (defined as mostly vinyl with a few CDs of things you can't get on vinyl) since I got back, not that I've been out much.

One of the staunchest pro Vinyl people I know seems to have taken up Serrato.

I'm not saying I really care, but I find it interesting.

no-one's fault but your own that you don't come to dubstep nights

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:52 am

So DnB and friends are still representing for the vinyl masses?

dust · Post by **dust** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:52 am

I only play Vinyl.

Well occasionally CDs if the tune isnt out on vinyl, but mostly vinyl.

Post by **fooishbar** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:58 am

jbs wrote:So DnB and friends are still representing for the vinyl masses?

well, i only play vinyl/acetizzate, and ac23/sameo/l-j are all about 99% vinyl ...

FunkyJ · Post by **FunkyJ** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:59 am

If someone would give me a gig, I'd play 100% vinyl...

deviant · Post by **deviant** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:07 pm

I play about 70% vinyl... the rest CDs... I have traktor at home, but I don't use it out...

same o · Post by **same o** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:17 pm

i'd say i play 95% vinyl rest on serato.

but that might start going more towards serato..

Post by **fooishbar** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:22 pm

yeah, i've got serato at home but it stays at home.

Dub Club Melbourne · Post by **Dub Club Melbourne** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:46 pm

The day I stop playing from records will be the day I stop playing music.

as convenient as it may be I don't get my head round this laptop and virtual vinal thing. Its a green light for pirates, doesn't sound as good and looks nerdy. what happen if your computer crashes mid set?

I collect music (not labels) and would much rather own a physical copy rather than a digital file. So I will keep buying my music this way and support the industry.

I give a lot more credit to the DJ or selector who has spent the time and effort to accumulate their music rather than someone who downloaded a set the night before they play a gig.

Call me ole fashioned.

obliveus · Post by **obliveus** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:57 pm

I played 4 hours at Lounge on Saturday night with nothing but vinyl and a few CD's...but I'd also come from a 2 hour set playing off Serato. Still love vinyl and support it...mainly used and 7's being bought though. Go Northside!!!

Soundwise, my ears cant tell the difference. Freedomwise and comfort of transport, I love Serato (but I usually play multiple places in a night). Nestalgiawise, give me vinyl any day.

I'm a collector of anything and any style of music, really. It's why my crates run as deep as they do and I'll never stop buying records. Can only DJ in nightclubs for so long, but my collection will always be there for my boys...so I'll keep supporting vinyl. Got it from my dad, I guess.

Ebay has become a new best friend...just found another 45 of 'The Clapping Song'. YES!!!

Brain · Post by **Brain** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:09 pm

I play mainly vinyl although recently bought some 800s.

I couldn't care less what other people play as long as the tunes are good though. I just enjoy the look, feel and sound of a slab of vinyl.

obliveus wrote:
Ebay has become a new best friend...just found another 45 of 'The Clapping Song'. YES!!!

Dude, I want that record! Will give lots of man love (and money) for it.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:36 pm

Dub Club Melbourne wrote:The day I stop playing from records will be the day I stop playing music.

as convenient as it may be I don't get my head round this laptop and virtual vinal thing. Its a green light for pirates, doesn't sound as good and looks nerdy. what happen if your computer crashes mid set?

I collect music (not labels) and would much rather own a physical copy rather than a digital file. So I will keep buying my music this way and support the industry.

I give a lot more credit to the DJ or selector who has spent the time and effort to accumulate their music rather than someone who downloaded a set the night before they play a gig.

Call me ole fashioned.

Hey ole fashioned,

I'm with you on this 100%.
Even though I'm running out of room and it takes me ages to go through my crates and select a bunch of tunes for a set. Having said that I hardly play out anymore as I prefer to compose my own music at home. So that makes me a hypocrite cause I write in the digital domain but won't play digital downlaods.

Cubist · Post by **Cubist** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:56 pm

Same. If I stopped playing Records I'd stop DJ'ing.

a1studmuffin · Post by **a1studmuffin** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:17 pm

I'm in it for the music, not the format, but whatever...

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:31 pm

Vinyl snobbery really makes me laugh. I just dont get it. I dont remember people crying about VHS when DVD was introduced, in fact quite the opposite.

We're one of the few labels in Breaks that still produce the stuff, but its just product to me. If it wasn't selling, I wouldn't be wasting my money making it.

The music contained therein is whats important, whatever style it may be, whatever format it may be on.

Lil MiSbreaks · Post by **Lil MiSbreaks** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:36 pm

I used to think that, but at the end of the day, most people in a dance floor cant tell the difference, nor do they care, and I came to think it was more about playing the best music I could find, not the best music I could find on vinyl.

Vinyl is more fun for me yeah, but I look at gigs as playing music to other people, not for myself.

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:41 pm

I dont even think that the death of vinyl kills dubplate culture either because thats really been extemporised by digital anyway.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:13 pm

a1studmuffin wrote:I'm in it for the music, not the format, but whatever...

I used to love to collect records... but you know what, I can buy a track I want online for a fraction of the price of vinyl (try $1.50 v $20), legally. Now this is enough of an incentive for me to do the majority of my purchases in the digital realm these days. Not to mention the fact that I don't have to buy album fillers - just the killers.

My preference these days - CD's. Then convert to MP3. That way I still have the tangible, physical CD with artwork - along with the convenience of the MP3 for my digital DJ'ing. And CD's are ridiculously cheap, especially at Dixon's, Second Spin etc.

Sustain · Post by **Sustain** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:35 pm

ipod imo

Lephrenic · Post by **Lephrenic** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:43 pm

What's a vinyl?

quiet roar · Post by **quiet roar** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:23 pm

Vinyl rules!!!

BEATS INC. · Post by **BEATS INC.** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:32 pm

Im with all you vinyl junkies. Give me a hit of sweet black plastic anyday!

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:21 pm

Thread fa1L. back to analaogue vs digital argument - so sick of it.

Post by **fooishbar** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:41 pm

youthful_implants wrote:I dont even think that the death of vinyl kills dubplate culture either because thats really been extemporised by digital anyway.

not really. it's dead easy to show up with 200GB of tunes on serato and smack it, but not quite as easy to show up with 16,000 dubplates. the expense/weight/wait/etc all adds up and means you've got to want it.

amzie · Post by **amzie** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:12 pm

Vinyl sales have been increasing over the past two years...tis not dead yet.

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:09 pm

fooishbar wrote:
youthful_implants wrote:I dont even think that the death of vinyl kills dubplate culture either because thats really been extemporised by digital anyway.
not really. it's dead easy to show up with 200GB of tunes on serato and smack it, but not quite as easy to show up with 16,000 dubplates. the expense/weight/wait/etc all adds up and means you've got to want it.

I meant it figuratively, which means that people playing laptop sets often of their own material are an extension of the heart of dubplate culture.

you dont need vinyl to do it.

Maldee · Post by **Maldee** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:14 am

Dub Club Melbourne wrote:The day I stop playing from records will be the day I stop playing music.

as convenient as it may be I don't get my head round this laptop and virtual vinal thing. Its a green light for pirates, doesn't sound as good and looks nerdy. what happen if your computer crashes mid set?

I collect music (not labels) and would much rather own a physical copy rather than a digital file. So I will keep buying my music this way and support the industry.

I give a lot more credit to the DJ or selector who has spent the time and effort to accumulate their music rather than someone who downloaded a set the night before they play a gig.

Call me ole fashioned.

100% with you Dub Club!!!

Sustain · Post by **Sustain** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:24 am

amzie wrote:Vinyl sales have been increasing over the past two years...tis not dead yet.

biggest vinyl record last year was new radiohead (free in digital on the net)

2nd was Abbey Road!

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:25 am

Back to the question - heres another one - reckon that the cafe/bar loungy gigs are easier to have all vinyl sets for, compared to playing 'dance' gigs? I know if im playing a downtempo/classics sort of set I can happily play mostly, if not all vinyl. but for newer stuff like a jungle/core set sticking to vinyl is pointlessly limiting and usually inferior quality, given back-yard standards of pressings

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:20 am

fooishbar wrote:it's dead easy to show up with 200GB of tunes on serato and smack it, but not quite as easy to show up with 16,000 dubplates. the expense/weight/wait/etc all adds up and means you've got to want it.

Does not translate to dancefloor success.

This argument is almost as old as the people peddling it.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:23 pm

Maldee wrote:
Dub Club Melbourne wrote:The day I stop playing from records will be the day I stop playing music.

as convenient as it may be I don't get my head round this laptop and virtual vinal thing. Its a green light for pirates, doesn't sound as good and looks nerdy. what happen if your computer crashes mid set?

I collect music (not labels) and would much rather own a physical copy rather than a digital file. So I will keep buying my music this way and support the industry.

I give a lot more credit to the DJ or selector who has spent the time and effort to accumulate their music rather than someone who downloaded a set the night before they play a gig.

Call me ole fashioned.
100% with you Dub Club!!!

Busting out the new name?

Maldee · Post by **Maldee** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:12 pm

Blaxter wrote:
Maldee wrote:
Dub Club Melbourne wrote:The day I stop playing from records will be the day I stop playing music.

as convenient as it may be I don't get my head round this laptop and virtual vinal thing. Its a green light for pirates, doesn't sound as good and looks nerdy. what happen if your computer crashes mid set?

I collect music (not labels) and would much rather own a physical copy rather than a digital file. So I will keep buying my music this way and support the industry.

I give a lot more credit to the DJ or selector who has spent the time and effort to accumulate their music rather than someone who downloaded a set the night before they play a gig.

Call me ole fashioned.
100% with you Dub Club!!!
Busting out the new name?

New name new time my friend!

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:17 pm

Depends on the cheapest format available for me. Ie if it's an old tune only on vinyl, I'll buy it. If it's only on vinyl, I'll buy it. If I can buy it on MP3 or vinyl, I'll buy MP3.

Mysty · Post by **Mysty** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:11 pm

i only play vinyl

serato etc can be good though as you save lotsa $$ and get access to so many tunes straight away, and ones that will never be pressed - which is a big thing

....but nothing will ever come close to sounding, looking, and feeling like vinyl. The thrill of new peice of vinyl is about as good as it gets

Post by **fooishbar** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:54 pm

Direkt wrote:
fooishbar wrote:it's dead easy to show up with 200GB of tunes on serato and smack it, but not quite as easy to show up with 16,000 dubplates. the expense/weight/wait/etc all adds up and means you've got to want it.
Does not translate to dancefloor success.

This argument is almost as old as the people peddling it.

i didn't say it did translate to dancefloor success ... it was purely a comment on how people acquire stuff, rather than what makes people go OMG DJ DIREKT HE'S SO DREAMY.

obliveus · Post by **obliveus** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:45 pm

fooishbar wrote:OMG DJ DIREKT HE'S SO DREAMY.

I've said that so many times before. Ishbar knows...

Andrez · Post by **Andrez** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:39 am

I play everything - vinyl, CD-Rs, laptop, iPod, dictaphone, FM tuner. All works together; it's how you use the tools that matters.

fLAW · Post by **fLAW** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:23 pm

do u think more people are opting for serato or cd decks because functions such as looping and bookmarking cue-points mean that there is more room to concentrate on the creative, musical aspect of the mix..?

i was initially shocked to see spectrasoul playing a set on d&btv not using the metalheadz-slipmatted technics in front of them, but instead mixing with cds! but they are superb musicians - their production is always incredible, so i guess they can have the right to choose how they wanna play live these days....

what worries me about serato is that how likely is it that you will be able to get ALL the tunes you want in AIFF or WAV.? Much debate has been raised about playing mp3's on a club system, they say mp3's sound shit in comparisson... :/ could spell problems

quiet roar · Post by **quiet roar** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:27 pm

amzie wrote:Vinyl sales have been increasing over the past two years...tis not dead yet.

True, and gaining in popularity all the time.

There are only so many people that actually buy music nowadays, and out of the ones that do, a good proportion will choose vinyl over cd.

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:49 pm

Vinyl sales have only disproportionally increased in general due to the glut of indie bands releasing 7" AFAIK

Not in dance music, where vinyl sales are lower than ever across the board and vinyl labels of 20 years+ are giving up the medium or drastically reducing the numbers pressed.

obliveus · Post by **obliveus** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:42 pm

fLAW wrote:do u think more people are opting for serato or cd decks because functions such as looping and bookmarking cue-points mean that there is more room to concentrate on the creative, musical aspect of the mix..?

what worries me about serato is that how likely is it that you will be able to get ALL the tunes you want in AIFF or WAV.? Much debate has been raised about playing mp3's on a club system, they say mp3's sound shit in comparisson... :/ could spell problems

Honestly, I play Serato now just cuz of the ease of transport and greater variety of music at my disposal. Period!

Anyone that knows me knows that I always carried 3 large bags/crates of recs, plus a bag of 7's to every gig I played for a solid 6-7 years. My back's a mess because of it...and I would know. It's not about creativity for me, but I'm a hack. I play to the crowd always, so always bring a lot with me just in case the vibe isn't what I expected. I have no pretensions and just do what I do covering any style...barring country or Top 40. Serato assists with this greatly for me, because the amount of music at my disposal is magnified so great (which also brings with it problems of choice...a potentially bad side of it).

Sound wise, very few systems I play on make that much a difference in the sound quality between 320 mp3's vs wav files vs vinyl vs CD's anyways. I know there is a difference and still love vinyl sound the best, but I still get punters coming up to me all the time when I'm playing Serato saying stuff like "It's great yer still playin those old records..."

Very few can tell the difference and obviously they dont notice any sound differences.

Then again, I play more lounges n bars and not proper nightclubs. So Serato works for what I do. Not trying to speak for anyone else, but I know a few that tour with it and if they give it the thumbs it, then that's good enough for me. When I did gigs in Sydney last year, despite the one venue where there was a stuff up (luckily I brought 7's and CD's), Serato worked and sounded just fine everywhere else.

I love it...but I'll still keep buying vinyl. My collection is my pride and joy...after my children!

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:53 pm

fLAW wrote:Much debate has been raised about playing mp3's on a club system, they say mp3's sound shit in comparisson... :/ could spell problems

yeah by people who don't know what they're talking about.

a properly mastered digital WAV or 320 mp3 will be indistinguishable from a properly mastered piece of vinyl on a club system. And I mean the same tune obviously.

ctoafn_DMZ · Post by **ctoafn_DMZ** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:15 pm

Made switch to CDJ's 1 year ago and love them. Enjoy mixing on them more than the 1200's. Sure it doesnt have the same feel but I enjoy being able to get into the mix quick with the cue button and being able to cary around a massive arsenal of tunes.

As for the difference in sound, nearly every international I've seen over the last few years plays on CD's these days and nobody in the crowd gives a stuff, I certainly cant tell the difference.

A good tunes is a good tune no matter how its played.

EDIT - And I pay for every single tune I play buy using Beatport/Juno/Tracitdown (except for exclusives that I get my hands on)

Cubist · Post by **Cubist** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:59 pm

youthful_implants wrote:
fLAW wrote:Much debate has been raised about playing mp3's on a club system, they say mp3's sound shit in comparisson... :/ could spell problems
yeah by people who don't know what they're talking about.

a properly mastered digital WAV or 320 mp3 will be indistinguishable from a properly mastered piece of vinyl on a club system. And I mean the same tune obviously.

Blah, blah, blah, blah...

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:12 pm

I know its boring, but boy some people just dont know.

Post by **fooishbar** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:36 pm

ctoafn_DMZ wrote:A good tunes is a good tune no matter how its played.

beginning and end of the thread really.

Cubist · Post by **Cubist** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:55 pm

Poor Cubist is at home goin crazy with the Flu...But the fact is that CD's will sound better in most Clubs because some clubs use shit needles, shit 1200's and shit mixers. Therefore, a signal from a CD will be pure and clean and simple. But, Vinyl sounds better than CD.

Post by **fooishbar** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:12 pm

Cubist wrote:Poor Cubist is at home goin crazy with the Flu...But the fact is that CD's will sound better in most Clubs because some clubs use shit needles, shit 1200's and shit mixers. Therefore, a signal from a CD will be pure and clean and simple. But, Vinyl sounds better than CD.

if all of the above is true, then you're probably playing on a shit system anyway, so it doesn't really matter

heartical hifi melbourne's only soundsystem brap