digitalism...

[travism]

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finally got my trigger finger and it's tight!!! controlling traktor, ableton & even garageband is perty easy... still learning the ableton though. i started this thread to compare notes and ideas in digital dj-ing, producing & remixing from everyone who has experienced the digitalism. i know of some members here using software & hardware when it comes to producing, remixing or even mixing music. feel free to post anything on this topic here so we can discuss the next wave of dj-ing... here's to the future boys & girls! cheers!!

[CooLes]

Congratulations on your Trigger Finger Travis. Have you tried it live yet? Played two sets at MDC last night with a pair of Stanton S 450 CD decks with fellow mugger zChris. Still missed the tighter control I get with the Numark USB mixer paired with the PowerBook and Traktor. Originally wanted to get Evolution's X-Session controller but might opt for the Kontroller DJ instead. These USB controllers are fast replacing their analog counterparts IMHO. And looks like I prefer bringing my own gear if and when I go out on gigs.

[travism]

congrats on your first gig lester... please extend my congrats to zchris too. i heard the new stantons aren't that great when compared to the pioneer cdj1000s and denon s3000s. but you gotta work with what is infront of you. you can bring your own equipment but you may break your back in the process... hehehehehe.
the x-session controller looks good too but the kontrol dj is way better. the only problem is the kontrol dj is hella expensive!!! paolo maralit, a local dj who uses traktor too, is planning to get one... i still have to see your numark in action though. you might wanna check out the "maven"... this is sasha's controller for ableton live which he lugs around with him. he rarely uses the typical set up now. or check out the allen & heath 3D... that's nice! hehehe
i'll try to swing by for the next mug meeting and bring my trigger finger... maybe you, me & zchris could jam as a collective! to the future my friend! cheers!

[zChris]

congrats to lester for surviving his first gig. i must say, he actually did ok for a first timer! i remember my first gig some time ago and it sounded way worse than his set last night!

the stantons were not that bad. mdc has two pairs, the s450 that we used and a pair of C304 units. both are not bad for basic mixing, particularly if you use just pitch control and the pitch bend buttons to beatmatch, then it really doesnt matter. same with the denon s3000 (which i used in a cebu event last week). i agree though that they are no match to the cdj1000s (lucky i use a pair at home). meanwhile, i have a pair of technics dz1200s cd players on loan from a friend that borrowed my 1000s. not bad but takes some getting used to.

lester and i were talking about traktor last night. and i was saying that i did try it at home one night. the mixes were pretty good but it was just so boring! press a couple of buttons and everything is all set! the software is pretty amazing, though. i guess final scratch is still the best balance between technology and old school dj technique. as an aside, i saw a scratch amp for final scratch 2.0 in the main room of mdc. i understand that it belongs to dondon, one of the owners. i've never seen it in action, though.

i checked out the trigger finger on the m audio site. looks pretty cool. cant wait to see it in action!

the three of us should jam sometime. just tell me where and when!

[travism]

hehehe i agree with you on the traktor dj being a little too easy but... that's where the creativity comes in. anyone can learn to use the program or dj but it's up to him or her how he performs with it. i try to bring in break beat into my sets and, using traktor may become tricky. the sync buttons is very misleading. (especially if you cross genre...) i use traktor to dj but i try to use it to as a sampler... innovation is hard but satisfying.
i'm working with brian cua on a electronic project. we've already done a couple of remixes and we're planning to do some originals soon. but we are more focused on performing live... intresting how to incorporate a dj and a producer in one act, but let's see how it goes.
i was invited to play mdc again by mon maramba & i told him that if ever i do, i'll use dondon's FS2 scratch amp with my traktor. but till then, i'm icthing to play with my trigger finger along side you both... hehehehe maybe the next mug meeting then? cheers!!!

[zChris]

@travism

I suppose thats why I'll never by a pro DJ. You're absolutely right, anyone can mix and anyone can come by the latest and greatest material, but thats where the creativity comes in. I was watching this B movie called Hey DJ, and in an interview with Judge Jules, he was saying that a good way to make it big as a DJ is to produce your own tunes. Unfortunately, I'm not that patient nor that creative.

In any case, I understand that Brian uses Ableton Live on his Powerbook (?) for live sets. He was playing in Komiks for a while (which is how I met Marcelo, the owner). Dunno if he is still playing there now. Your project should be pretty cool, and I look forward to watching you guys sometime. On another note, would it be possible to use some of your remix projects in my sets? Patch has a Deep/Funky remix that he made (using Live as well, I think, but dunno if on a Mac) of some Gary V classics, which I'm trying to work into my sets. Would be good to play locally produced music and promote local talent.

On Traktor, you're right, the mixes are pretty good with a constant beat. Brekbeat will probably wreck havok on the app. Thats where the Trigger Finger should be cool, bring some real pitch control feel to the software.

With all this digital DJ discussion, I'm tempted to download some acapellas and samples, hook up the Powerbook to the mixer, and play around a bit. Maybe in the next couple of weeks....

[travism]

hahaha curiousity leads to creativity my friend. i'll give you a remix that me and brian did when i see you. lester is asking for one too. brian uses ableton live in his performances but is slowly learning traktor where as me naman, i'm learning ableton through him & i'm teaching him traktor. whew... that was a tongue twister! hehehe patch just used garageband and soundtrack to put the gary v song together but he is slowly learning ableton din... i was there when he was doing a rough edit of it. i'm meeting with him tomorrow night to put the trigger through the paces... hehehe
try and get the movie "it's all gone pete tong" it's a helluva laugh! i have a dvd. i'll give you a copy. i started this thread for people like us who are intrested in macs & music to exchange opinions & ideas... hopefully it'll encourage more muggers to come out and share.
cheers chris!

[travism]

err...lend you my dvd. also think if we can encorporate live visuals and instruments into our dj sets. the future looks limitless hehehe cheers!!!

[zChris]

speaking of visuals, i've was playing around with arkaos vj for a while. wasnt playing around much so dont really know how to make it work well. who does your visuals and what apps do they use?

[travism]

for me? none... but a friend of mine, who is a fellow mugger, mond is starting to get his hands dirty with arkaos too. i've only seen the live "vj-ing" in mdc... i'll try to take a sneek peak into their set up when i get to go there again. hehehe