Traditional House
Progressive House
Tech House
Techno
Electro House
Trance
Electronica

United States
United Kingdom
Germany
Italy
France
Spain
Netherlands

The "club standard" CDJ. Lack of respect for controllerists. Why?

Home :: General Discussion :: The "club standard" CDJ. Lack of respect for controllerists. Why?Reply

The "club standard" CDJ. Lack of respect for controllerists. Why? Posted on: 05.03.2013 by Toya Spor I recently talked to a really skilled / established DJ and producer. I asked him what gear he uses, and he said CDJs. When I told him I used a controller, he laughed then apologized, saying the standard was CDJs or Technics in the clubs/gigs he played at, and that barely anyone ever uses a controller, because no one takes them seriously. He agreed that controllers were good for an introduction to DJing though. Why do CDJs command more respect? Is it because of the lack of sync? (which isnt the case anymore because new CDJs have it, rekordbox, etc..) Are established DJs expected to "pay their way" by buying full CDJ/DJM setups before they're given respect / gigs, even if they can produce the same quality sound with a controller? Do controllers give off some sort of "toy" aura? To me, some of them do, but they are only intended for an introduction anyway. A controller like a Kontrol S4 seems to me like professional gear . I've heard mixes produced on S4s that sound better than guys with CDJ/DJM/Technics/pimp-ass setups. In the end, I believe respect should be given to people who make good sounding music. But I feel like there is this "pay your way" mentality from established DJs who don't want guys with controllers to show them up if their music is better. But I don't have the experience to know for sure. Why aren't controllerists given the same respect as a CDJ/technics user?
Doreen Schurle 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by padi_04 perks of being mods Haha, what I wouldn't give for that little play symbol under my name Saying that, I'd settle for "Reloop Whore" as my title lol.
Addie Engbrecht 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by mdcdesign Not that anyone would DARE argue with you guys I will......well maybe disagree is a better word. I remember when mods used to care......this thread is an abortion. Jus sayin. semi joking btw
Nedra Fresneda 07.03.2013	perks of being mods
Doreen Schurle 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by padi_04 Let's move back on topic peeps. Last thing we need is for a controversial topic to derail into drug talk. +1 Well that makes three of us lol. Not that anyone would DARE argue with you guys, unlike the 8 pages of arguing with my hatred of them :P
Nedra Fresneda 07.03.2013	Let's move back on topic peeps. Last thing we need is for a controversial topic to derail into drug talk. Originally Posted by Karlos Santos I hate CDJ's. They bore the pants off me. +1
Delfina Suedmeyer 07.03.2013	wait how did we go from club standards to cdj vs controllers to popcorn to crystal meth and breaking bad? since were on the topic, "Gatorade me B!TCH"
Ming Devis 07.03.2013	IMO Meth shouldn't be brought in the DJ booth! Nothing annoys me more than some meth head coming into the booth and mething out all over the place. Leave your controller and meth at home!
Doreen Schurle 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by loverocket Meth is some serious shit. It's ruining thousands of kids lives here in the U.S. Really sad stuff. > Yeah but that's because they're all doing really nasty shake'n'bake stuff. It's the same problem as any other drug; it's not the drug itself which screws you up, it's the impurities added (either deliberately or not) during manufacturing.
Jerica Salava 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by mdcdesign If I lived in the US, I'd totally be cooking crystal meth, Breaking Bad-style Meth is some serious shit. It's ruining thousands of kids lives here in the U.S. Really sad stuff. >
Doreen Schurle 07.03.2013	If I lived in the US, I'd totally be cooking crystal meth, Breaking Bad-style
nayit ruiz jaramillo 07.03.2013	I love salted popcorn. LOVE IT but im on a health kick at the moment so its off the menu. Although saying that im bang into Crystal Meth at the moment so my teeth have had it anyway [kidding]
Jerica Salava 07.03.2013	I hate popcorn. It ruins your teeth. >
nayit ruiz jaramillo 07.03.2013	I hate CDJ's. They bore the pants off me.
Danae Dumler 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by Cook Lets all go back to vinyl continues eating popcorn as the world burns Popcorn and vinyl? We'll see if you're still saying that after handling your records with your buttery fingers....
Dione Haimes 07.03.2013	Lets all go back to vinyl continues eating popcorn as the world burns
Lang Abriel 07.03.2013	Its actually hard to picture the DJ industry in 5 years, as shown by this thread....I do not envy product development at Pioneer, NI, Serato, etc...I do still believe DVS will be around in 5 years (the vintage appeal of DVS will still trump CDJs), other than that...the market is up for grabs.
Elvis Woodis 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by makar1 The advantages and disadvantages of CDJs and controllers have been covered extensively in this thread. Please try and contribute with balanced opinions, facts, and questions instead of bringing up more hate... Stop eating popcorn and close this monstrosity of a thread
Alphonso Deitchman 07.03.2013	The advantages and disadvantages of CDJs and controllers have been covered extensively in this thread. Please try and contribute with balanced opinions, facts, and questions instead of bringing up more hate...
Edmund Tremmel 07.03.2013	It's called being a "DJ Snob" and it's sad. It's become a cock measuring exercise and it makes me cringe. I use CDJ and an S4. Depending on what is you're doing, both require the skills. The advantage of a controller is the abilty to be much more creative with your mixing. I remember when all turntablests mocked people who used CDJ...something sounding familiar? Then using the beat counter, then using software, then using this, then using that. Just because you use one or the other and are the best beat matcher in the world...doesn't make you a good DJ, it's about the music you play and when you play it...that's 95% of DJing, nothing else. Some of the best DJs in the world use controllers...go and mock them. When people like Pete Tong have used them, don't be so concerned about what these narrow minded purests believe. To stand still is blinkered and ignorant. I use my CDJs directly into my S4 and into Traktor Pro 2...best of both worlds and it's what I prefer. I don't give a toss what other people believe and neither should anybody else. Nothing will change if we all just follow the people who believe differently. It's like wearing a pink dress because the guy next to you said you should and that's what he likes wearing. Would you then wear a pink dress?...LOL. It's mental and to be honest, CDJs are nothing more than controllers now anyway....Not seeing too many CD wallets these days and plenty of Mac books with Traktor running...errrrrrrrrrrr...hold on a minute :-P
Gilbert Allebach 07.03.2013	I see folks saying controllers are "toys" but nobody has given any technical evidence to back up this opinion. I used to play vinyl and carried 400 pounds of records to my gigs (uphill, both ways). Already paid my dues and am long over what somebody might believe of me appearance wise because I dont have CDJs (or turntables). I remember the days when promoters would say "I will never book an act that uses CDs over vinyl" later it was "I will never book an act that uses a laptop". As this passed so will the debate about the current controllers. Technology has advanced and I will use controllers going forward. The only negative would be that most clubs will use CDJs so you better know how to use them. That dosent mean you need to buy them IMHO
Jerica Salava 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by octostout Yes Pioneer CDJs are horribly overpriced, and not perfect (although i don't know why you hate the dimples so much... that's kind of weird) Because it's a fact that the dimples are useless and they actually create a hazard. If you've ever mixed on another platter (SL-1200's, Traktor S4, Pioneer DDJ-SX, etc.) you realize it's better not have pot holes where you want tactile precision control. It makes me wonder what momos they have designing over there at Pioneer (the "Professional Standard") I have other issues but this thread is already too long. >
Jerica Salava 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by octostout Can we all just agree that this is some joke of a kid playing at shitty bars, and pretending he's got tons of experience...? Then we can laugh him off and go back to talking like big kids. I play on CDJ's and/or timecode Serato when it's the setup that's at the club/party. Nothing easier than showing up at a gig with a USB thumbdrive in your pocket. It also let's me practice outside of Traktor so I can remain proficient and versatile across various platforms. CDJ's (as a stated before) are the best option for multiple DJ's sharing a setup at a venue. That being said, I always feel limited when I don't have Traktor. Yes I can rock the party and raise the roof, etc., but it just feels antiquated to me vs Traktor. So I can understand if a guy who has practiced his set on Traktor for weeks and can pull of some nasty beatmasher builds ups live wants to bring his Vestax VCI-400 Ean Golden Edition to the gig. >
Kathe Stump 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by loverocket After processing all of the highly informative data in this thread, I have come to the final conclusion that the CDJ is superior to any MIDI controller due to it's exceptional backspin capability. I guess we now truly know why it is the "professional standard". > Can we all just agree that this is some joke of a kid playing at shitty bars, and pretending he's got tons of experience...? Then we can laugh him off and go back to talking like big kids.
Erik Hanges 07.03.2013	Originally Posted by octostout CDJs are designed as CDJs. 99% of all DJs who use them as CDJs, and not controllers, would have no use for any more cue points ,and would bitch about the cost they would add. The point you're missing here is that pretty much ALL DJs, regardless of platform, need -at least- the same bare-minimum set of controls. CDJs and mixers are designed to meet these at a very high quality. Since we digital DJs also need this same bare-minimum set of controls, and the version of these controls with the highest quality is already set up at all of our gigs, and it is a massive pain in the ass for everyone to set up a lower-quality version of them, we should be incorporating the CDJs and mixer into our mobile workflows. Yes Pioneer CDJs are horribly overpriced, and not perfect (although i don't know why you hate the dimples so much... that's kind of weird) but they do have very high build quality. You're not going to find a deck of higher quality outside of a 1200. I'm not saying they SHOULD be the standard, or that they're amazing, I'm saying that they are standard right now, so we have to deal with them, and they're not that bad, as long as we don't have to buy them ourselves. Setting up a shitty all-in-one controller at every gig is a bad idea, and everyone looks down on you for good reason, not because they're ignorant assholes who believe everyone should spin on CDs or flash drives, but because there's a better alternative to do EXACTLY what you want, without moving around any gear. This post finds the nail and hits it squarely on the head.
Antonetta Wikel 06.03.2013	Way to stir the pot, protocol.
Toya Spor 06.03.2013	I didn't really expect this thread to reach 100+ posts, but it seems that there are answers all over the place. It seems to really depend on the scene/place people are playing, and the club's mentality. I want to say thanks for the replies, whatever your position was. I just wanted some perspective.
Ming Devis 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by Shishdisma An SD card or USB stick is a Hell of a lot smaller and reliable than a laptop or tablet. Yes. But they will still do the exact same thing as a controller sync phase meter etc and people will use tablets as all that gets more reliable as I said before. My point was the whole CDJ's are for the big boys thing will be irrelevent in the not too distant future
Nancey Inderlied 06.03.2013	The CDJ-2000 already has a 6" display on each deck, considering even the 900's dot matrix is more than enough to rip through a library, Im not sure how much more you could really want.
Jerica Salava 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by Shishdisma An SD card or USB stick is a Hell of a lot smaller and reliable than a laptop or tablet. Maybe the CDJ 5000 will have a 10 inch retina display. >
Nancey Inderlied 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by LoopCat Give it another 5 or so years and the majority of clubs will have sync capable CDJ's and 99% of people will have moved away from CD's all together and will probably use advance HID or maybe wireless from tablets or laptops when its more reliable and easy making CDJ's basically big expensive controllers anyway. An SD card or USB stick is a Hell of a lot smaller and reliable than a laptop or tablet.
Ming Devis 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by KS2 Guessing most people have said it already. Controllers will never take over cdjs/vinyl. There's no reason they would. The only advantage is portability and there's no need for that, because the setup is already there waiting for you at gigs. If someone wants to add a midifighter type controller then the option is there but that's a bit different. As are live shows. If you can afford a decent midi controller to DJ with you can afford some second hand CDJs anyway. CDJs command a lot more respect because its more of a challenge and skill to learn regular DJing on. Simple as that. Give it another 5 or so years and the majority of clubs will have sync capable CDJ's and 99% of people will have moved away from CD's all together and will probably use advance HID or maybe wireless from tablets or laptops when its more reliable and easy making CDJ's basically big expensive controllers anyway.
Latina Samon 06.03.2013	Guessing most people have said it already. Controllers will never take over cdjs/vinyl. There's no reason they would. The only advantage is portability and there's no need for that, because the setup is already there waiting for you at gigs. If someone wants to add a midifighter type controller then the option is there but that's a bit different. As are live shows. If you can afford a decent midi controller to DJ with you can afford some second hand CDJs anyway. CDJs command a lot more respect because its more of a challenge and skill to learn regular DJing on. Simple as that.
Rachael Tureson 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by makar1 If you can beatmatch by ear you should be able to do this too. solves my worries then thanks muchly
Rachael Tureson 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by loverocket After processing all of the highly informative data in this thread, I have come to the final conclusion that the CDJ is superior to any MIDI controller due to it's exceptional backspin capability. I guess we now truly know why it is the "professional standard". > tumblr_inline_mh26euxc6L1r04hqq.jpg
Jerica Salava 06.03.2013	After processing all of the highly informative data in this thread, I have come to the final conclusion that the CDJ is superior to any MIDI controller due to it's exceptional backspin capability. I guess we now truly know why it is the "professional standard". >
Alphonso Deitchman 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by thesalivationarmy i know some people who legit have never owned cdjs but still rolled up at the club and played/made it work- which i guess is how you learn anyway If you can beatmatch by ear you should be able to do this too.
Rachael Tureson 06.03.2013	eh im not touching this debate, i just meant i would hate for my first time w new gear to be happening out somewhere, but at the same time can't justify dropping the 2k on a new setup when tbqh traktor + midi has a lot to show me still i know some people who legit have never owned cdjs but still rolled up at the club and played/made it work- which i guess is how you learn anyway wasnt sure i had the b̶a̶l̶l̶s̶ ovaries to do the same also Originally Posted by Janky Wow, i guess the entire genre of D&B and its DJs are not worthy. not to mention reggae dancehall afrobeats etc side eye
Emerson Crist 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by joemanton If you backspin you don't deserve to be behind a pair of CDJ's. Wow, i guess the entire genre of D&B and its DJs are not worthy.
Lang Abriel 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by makar1 The main difference is the lack of sync, phase meter, and zoomed in waveform. If you can mix well on Traktor with those disabled you should be fine. Funny that this whole argument more or less stems around those three things...ppl won't explicitly state it but its hard to deny. This thread is epic and the number of ppl that miss sarcasm tend to show their inexperience with dj'ing. Not saying its a good or bad thing, but the sarcasm check is usually how i read through these threads.
Alphonso Deitchman 06.03.2013	Originally Posted by thesalivationarmy are there any of you who play cdjs at clubs and don't have that as a home setup, if so, how do you get your practice on- what was the context in which you played cdjs for the first time etc The main difference is the lack of sync, phase meter, and zoomed in waveform. If you can mix well on Traktor with those disabled you should be fine.

<< Back to General Discussion Reply

Copyright 2012-2023 DJRANKINGS.ORG n.g.o. Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan	Created by Ajaxel CMS
Terms & Privacy

The best DJ in Guatemala is:

The "club standard" CDJ. Lack of respect for controllerists. Why?