What will the DJ by like a decade or two from now

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What will the DJ by like a decade or two from now
Posted on: 14.06.2012 by Alonzo Lorren
15 years ago all I needed to do as a DJ was buy a stack of vinyl records in my style of choice, learn to beat match and show up at your gig with a heavy bag full of vinyls and start to mix. There was another guy there working the lights, a sound engineer and later of a guy joined with videos and a video screen.

15 years later the guy with the video screen is no longer needed, because video is now integrated into the DJ software for a seamless integration between sound and video. That also means that now I need to learn how VJ-ing works. (Any one know where the heck you can get videos?)

So fast forward twenty years form now, where do you believe we will be? Does the DJ not only have to mix, make sure killer videos are projected on the screen, but also program all the lights, control the LASER show, make sure the 3D holographic projections of naked girls dance in sync to whatever tune your were playing?

Where will this end? Quite frankly I'm in this for the music, not the lights, not the video. So call me lazy, but I'm not looking forward to the era where the "DJ" is expected to control all of the show elements of a venue or rave.

What do you believe?
Pilar Maure
18.06.2012
Originally Posted by tokenasianguy
It's like I always tell my friend, it doesn't matter whether it's a mix CD or a live DJ set...If it sounds good it sounds good, doesn't matter either way to the audience. Although I do agree that someone who plays a mix set is a fraud by comparison, especially if they don't ever play live and have a DJ career comprised of playing other people's "Mix CD's".

I know a lot of people have a problem with the "sync" feature, but what I find even more puzzling are the people that use controllers like the S2 or S4 and say they don't use sync, or beatgrid their songs because it's "cheating". Well if it was cheating why would they go back to playing records on tech 12's because the tempo faders on controllers are definitely not meant to be "ridden".

I also tell the same friend "the better (and more seamlessly) you DJ, the less people will know that you're doing anything at all".

It's all really ironic.
There was an interesting video from the Amsterdam dance conference this year all about the Sync feature in software. Dave Clarke is on the panel, asked from an audience member about the human touch in Dj'ing. Conclusion to the question was it's sometimes nice to hear a Glitch (not trainwrecking) in a mix the crowd then feel's it's being mixed live. I'm not saying this should be deliberate but I believe that's what a live band plus DJ'ing with vinyl will always have over Digital DJ'ing.
Danae Dumler
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJ KIO
The guitarist would only have to select his pre-recorded chords and let the guitar do the playing for him. However, the rock crowd does not accept that,
I disagree. Plenty of guitar rock is based on a small number of chords and riffs that get stolen and repeated over and over again. Sure, they "play it live," but for any even mediocre guitarist that becomes second nature after a while. I'd say with rock or EDM the percentage of people who really care how skilled a particular musician is or how unique their sound is is pretty small compared to their audience. I'm not convinced it even matters that much to me in most situations to be honest.
Lina Rawie
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJ KIO
That makes me wonder why the crowd accepts that from the DJ.
It depends on the venue, but most people simply don't care. They go out to get high/drunk and dance to songs they know. I can't really hate on a person that DJs because they're motivated by money, cos a lot of people work because money is their prime motivator, but it's a shame from a personal perspective as money has never been a factor for me (which is a good job really, lol) and I got into it cos I love doing it. I love hearing hip-hop mixes put together by a skilled DJ, but it's getting harder and harder to find them.

Regarding your rock crowds comment, I believe it's a bit different. Most people see a DJ as "someone who just plays other peoples' music", whether they just fade from track to track or they do well thought out blends, but you can't really apply that to someone who plays a guitar. Even if a rock band is doing cover versions, the guitarist still has to be able to play his instrument and there are no shortcuts.
Alonzo Lorren
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJSigma
It's really hard to say what DJs will be like in 20 years time. As a hip-hop DJ I have noticed a huge decline in skills/effort put into mixes in the last few years and I put that solely down to people buying digital gear that can do the bulk of the work for them, so a bit of basic phrase matching is all they need ....
You are right, a lazy DJ nowadays can get away by just letting the software work for him. Only has to learn which phrases in his songs library fit well together and make great mixes (believeing EDM here). That makes me wonder why the crowd accepts that from the DJ. I mean I'm sure that music technology could be transferred to guitars as well. The guitarist would only have to select his pre-recorded chords and let the guitar do the playing for him. However, the rock crowd does not accept that, they expect the rock band to play everything life.

So are rock crowds just more intelligent than dance crowds? Or do the dance crowds have no idea that the guy on stage isn't doing anything? Or do they simply not care and just want to hear music to dance to no matter what the source of the music is?

DJ KIO
Reda Holdsworth
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by photojojo
lol, that was supposed to be this, but given the irony of how it turned out I've not fixed it.

Hang Postman
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by photojojo
lol, that was supposed to be this, but given the irony of how it turned out I've not fixed it.
what a great mod

and everyones forgetting the world wont exist in 15 years! cmon guys!
Leeanna Ayla
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by teambama
hopefully like this.....

Originally Posted by teambama
but will prob be dead like the image link...
lol, that was supposed to be this, but given the irony of how it turned out I've not fixed it.

Antonetta Wikel
19.06.2012		In answer to the OP's question. I'd say they'd be either 10 or 20 years older.
Pilar Maure
18.06.2012
Originally Posted by tokenasianguy
It's like I always tell my friend, it doesn't matter whether it's a mix CD or a live DJ set...If it sounds good it sounds good, doesn't matter either way to the audience. Although I do agree that someone who plays a mix set is a fraud by comparison, especially if they don't ever play live and have a DJ career comprised of playing other people's "Mix CD's".

I know a lot of people have a problem with the "sync" feature, but what I find even more puzzling are the people that use controllers like the S2 or S4 and say they don't use sync, or beatgrid their songs because it's "cheating". Well if it was cheating why would they go back to playing records on tech 12's because the tempo faders on controllers are definitely not meant to be "ridden".

I also tell the same friend "the better (and more seamlessly) you DJ, the less people will know that you're doing anything at all".

It's all really ironic.
There was an interesting video from the Amsterdam dance conference this year all about the Sync feature in software. Dave Clarke is on the panel, asked from an audience member about the human touch in Dj'ing. Conclusion to the question was it's sometimes nice to hear a Glitch (not trainwrecking) in a mix the crowd then feel's it's being mixed live. I'm not saying this should be deliberate but I believe that's what a live band plus DJ'ing with vinyl will always have over Digital DJ'ing.
Darlene Strohbeck
18.06.2012		It's like I always tell my friend, it doesn't matter whether it's a mix CD or a live DJ set...If it sounds good it sounds good, doesn't matter either way to the audience. Although I do agree that someone who plays a mix set is a fraud by comparison, especially if they don't ever play live and have a DJ career comprised of playing other people's "Mix CD's".

I know a lot of people have a problem with the "sync" feature, but what I find even more puzzling are the people that use controllers like the S2 or S4 and say they don't use sync, or beatgrid their songs because it's "cheating". Well if it was cheating why would they go back to playing records on tech 12's because the tempo faders on controllers are definitely not meant to be "ridden".

I also tell the same friend "the better (and more seamlessly) you DJ, the less people will know that you're doing anything at all".

It's all really ironic.
Danae Dumler
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJ KIO
The guitarist would only have to select his pre-recorded chords and let the guitar do the playing for him. However, the rock crowd does not accept that,
I disagree. Plenty of guitar rock is based on a small number of chords and riffs that get stolen and repeated over and over again. Sure, they "play it live," but for any even mediocre guitarist that becomes second nature after a while. I'd say with rock or EDM the percentage of people who really care how skilled a particular musician is or how unique their sound is is pretty small compared to their audience. I'm not convinced it even matters that much to me in most situations to be honest.
Lina Rawie
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJ KIO
That makes me wonder why the crowd accepts that from the DJ.
It depends on the venue, but most people simply don't care. They go out to get high/drunk and dance to songs they know. I can't really hate on a person that DJs because they're motivated by money, cos a lot of people work because money is their prime motivator, but it's a shame from a personal perspective as money has never been a factor for me (which is a good job really, lol) and I got into it cos I love doing it. I love hearing hip-hop mixes put together by a skilled DJ, but it's getting harder and harder to find them.

Regarding your rock crowds comment, I believe it's a bit different. Most people see a DJ as "someone who just plays other peoples' music", whether they just fade from track to track or they do well thought out blends, but you can't really apply that to someone who plays a guitar. Even if a rock band is doing cover versions, the guitarist still has to be able to play his instrument and there are no shortcuts.
Alonzo Lorren
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJSigma
It's really hard to say what DJs will be like in 20 years time. As a hip-hop DJ I have noticed a huge decline in skills/effort put into mixes in the last few years and I put that solely down to people buying digital gear that can do the bulk of the work for them, so a bit of basic phrase matching is all they need ....
You are right, a lazy DJ nowadays can get away by just letting the software work for him. Only has to learn which phrases in his songs library fit well together and make great mixes (believeing EDM here). That makes me wonder why the crowd accepts that from the DJ. I mean I'm sure that music technology could be transferred to guitars as well. The guitarist would only have to select his pre-recorded chords and let the guitar do the playing for him. However, the rock crowd does not accept that, they expect the rock band to play everything life.

So are rock crowds just more intelligent than dance crowds? Or do the dance crowds have no idea that the guy on stage isn't doing anything? Or do they simply not care and just want to hear music to dance to no matter what the source of the music is?

DJ KIO
Lina Rawie
16.06.2012		It's really hard to say what DJs will be like in 20 years time. As a hip-hop DJ I have noticed a huge decline in skills/effort put into mixes in the last few years and I put that solely down to people buying digital gear that can do the bulk of the work for them, so a bit of basic phrase matching is all they need - levels and beatmatching are done for them, and they forget about scratching, juggling etc. I don't blame the gear though - it's simply made it easier for lame fuckers to call themselves DJs - while only a tiny percentage use the new features it offers to take DJing to that next level.

I guess I expect it to get even worse as technology replaces more of the skills a DJ would do manually, whether it's phrase matching or song selection. The easier it becomes, the worse the lame to good ratio gets.
Reda Holdsworth
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by photojojo
lol, that was supposed to be this, but given the irony of how it turned out I've not fixed it.

Hang Postman
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by photojojo
lol, that was supposed to be this, but given the irony of how it turned out I've not fixed it.
what a great mod

and everyones forgetting the world wont exist in 15 years! cmon guys!
Leeanna Ayla
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by teambama
hopefully like this.....

Originally Posted by teambama
but will prob be dead like the image link...
lol, that was supposed to be this, but given the irony of how it turned out I've not fixed it.

Reda Holdsworth
16.06.2012		but will prob be dead like the image link...
Reda Holdsworth
16.06.2012		hopefully like this.....

Jonathan Chiuchiolo
16.06.2012		@dj kio...

"cough"vdjcanalreadydoallofthatnow"cough"

excuse me that was a big cough...

the problem with videos is it stops people dancing if there is something to watch, especially music videos... abstract things that blend into their surroundings are great though... but this sort of stuff is for touring dj's with big production budgets or mobile dj's who have to entertain people who are too shy to dance.

but if you want your mind blown watch amon tobins projection mapping on youtube... it will blow your mind! thats the future of productions
Darlene Strohbeck
15.06.2012		I haven't read this thread, but I believe in terms of "straight mixing" once DJ software becomes more intuitive, it'll be able to mix seamlessly, recognizing wave patterns and coming in at just the right time. Think about the software "DJay" for the iPad, except not crappy. I believe cue point juggling and APC mashing will still be around, but I don't believe it's long before DJ software figures out how to mix itself and seamlessly at that. There's still the aspect of "mixing in key" which I believe a piece of software should still be able to do provided the key is attached to the metadata...But track selection will still be subjective and most likely better from human control.
Alonzo Lorren
15.06.2012		It's good to read that I'm not the only one being sceptic about incorporating video and who knows what into my set. Indeed, let me handle the music and let other guys do what they are good at. I can surely imagine running data lines to the VJ and lights guy with exact data on each beat, kick, high hat, key board note, etc. that is being played so others can use that for perfect integration into a full show, just as long as my job remains with the music.

That makes me wonder why DJ software companies are trying to include video into the DJ software. Surely if Traktor can do it then Serato wants to follow and vice versa, to keep out competing each other. But IMHO it would make more sense developing something like Serato Video as a stand alone application that can be used as such by VJ, but does seamlessly work together with Serato DJ software. So then the video could start exploring music or the DJ could start exploring video. Modular standalone software seems to me a better product. In fact, that could be extended to lights software and holographic naked girls software as well, but modular and all working together on either on laptop (or whatever we are using twenty years from now) or on multiple laptops where each artist uses its own laptop with some from of hyperspace neutrino data link or whatever.

Eins
Onie Sarandos
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by photojojo
...dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
Ghostbusters. So awesome, #2. I actually drop this reference all the time-unfortunately, people seem to get it only about 10% of the time. sigh.
Onie Sarandos
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJKeyWee


The very first thing I thought of when i saw the op was this. So awesome.
Brunilda Kora
16.06.2012		In the future - the DJ will become more of a composer. The technology is there now (Ableton Live) but attitudes need to change. It takes a lot more concentration and skill to DJ in the way that Ableton Live allows you to - and it's a slow road.

We're only just completely understanding what is possible. Like I said, attitudes are slowly changing.
Johnsie Kingrea
16.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJ KIO
15 years ago all I needed to do as a DJ was buy a stack of vinyl records in my style of choice, learn to beat match and show up at your gig with a heavy bag full of vinyls and start to mix. There was another guy there working the lights, a sound engineer and later of a guy joined with videos and a video screen.

15 years later the guy with the video screen is no longer needed, because video is now integrated into the DJ software for a seamless integration between sound and video. That also means that now I need to learn how VJ-ing works. (Any one know where the heck you can get videos?)

So fast forward twenty years form now, where do you believe we will be? Does the DJ not only have to mix, make sure killer videos are projected on the screen, but also program all the lights, control the LASER show, make sure the 3D holographic projections of naked girls dance in sync to whatever tune your were playing?

Where will this end? Quite frankly I'm in this for the music, not the lights, not the video. So call me lazy, but I'm not looking forward to the era where the "DJ" is expected to control all of the show elements of a venue or rave.

What do you believe?
That would be a horrible day to see all these functions rolled into one. The jack of all trades, master of none saying rings true here. You could learn how to do lights, video, dj, and break dance all at the same time but more then likely it will result in mediocrity for all those areas. Instead each of those jobs should be left to the person who is an absolute pro at it. A dj will have a better idea for what song to play and a vjay will be able to enhance that song through video, same with the lighting guy. The extra cost is well worth it. This also leaves you to be the best in whatever area you specialize in.

Although I've looked into incorporating vj elements into my set it just would be another distraction for me. I'd rather find a great vj that has the same style.
Leeanna Ayla
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by Otacon
Then when the final show is played, the resting beatmatching DJ's emerge from their slumber in the dark depths of the ocean to once again reek havoc on the decks, and it shall be a glorious occasion.
And everybody will be given pen and paper to hand write notes to the people three rows over. Of course half of the notes will go to the wrong person and mayhem will ensue. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
Kamala Temple
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by BuRdTuRd
Robots.
Originally Posted by photojojo
+1 on Wickity Wickity.
Erich Vallabhaneni
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by deevey
Not extinct my friend, just resting ...


Kinda like Godzilla
Then when the final show is played, the resting beatmatching DJ's emerge from their slumber in the dark depths of the ocean to once again reek havoc on the decks, and it shall be a glorious occasion.
Leeanna Ayla
15.06.2012
Random X
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by DJKeyWee



Rolanda Clodfelder
15.06.2012
Originally Posted by synthet1c
so it will be exactly like it is now sync dj's will be the dinosaurs while us beatmatching dj's will be extinct ;p
Not extinct my friend, just resting ...



Kinda like Godzilla
Jonathan Chiuchiolo
15.06.2012		It will probably be a bunch of oldschool sync dj's whining about the new mind control devices, and how your not a real dj unless you beatgrid your tracks... so it will be exactly like it is now sync dj's will be the dinosaurs while us beatmatching dj's will be extinct ;p
Rolanda Clodfelder
15.06.2012
There was another guy there working the lights, a sound engineer and later of a guy joined with videos and a video screen.

15 years later the guy with the video screen is no longer needed, because video is now integrated into the DJ software for a seamless integration between sound and video. That also means that now I need to learn how VJ-ing works. (Any one know where the heck you can get videos?)
IMHO unless you are simply playing the actual music videos from the songs (you can get them from iTunes BTW) ... VJing should be left in the hands of a visual artist.

99% of DJ's I know of don't have the slightest notion of how to run a lighting rig PROPERLY or project visuals that reflect the music he's playing in any kind of decent manner.

A DJ should focus on the music and not be worrying about whats on the screens or coming out of the ceiling anyhow - if a club won't hire a lighting guy (if the rig is any good whatsoever) they are just being cheap.

20 years from now - well, someone will still need to pick the records no matter what. The videos, naked lady projections, and lights might have some semblance of decent artificial intelligence / frequency or music detection behind them BUT will still need to be programmed with the settings for that in advance by the Visuals guy unless the club are gonna be happy with random factory programmed shit happening.

Its a bit like voice recognition dictation - remember how we were all told how awesome and easy it was back in the mid 90's. Till today even its bullshit! Manual correction afterwards is needed every time. Hiring proper typist to do it from a recording is STILL a way more efficient and more error free way to put together any kind of decent document :roll eyes:

Technology changes, Jobs change, people adapt or get left behind.

my 2 cents - cya in 20 years.
Danae Dumler
15.06.2012		http://www.djranking s.com/2010/03/3...of-dj-control/

"I was sick to death of breaking my back carrying this pair of control CDs to every gig!"
Kamala Temple
15.06.2012		Robots.
Lisa Lochotzki
15.06.2012


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