Historical records (no pun intended) are shown to date all the way back to 1943, as to when a DJ first used 2 turntables at the same time. But in 21st century, with so many emerging technological innovations, where is the art form headed?
 The Phonograph 1877 | In the 1970s, Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc (One of the Grandfathers of Hip-Hop culture) made the decision to follow the technical set-up of the DJs in the Manhattan discotheques. Instead of using one record deck, which would lead to gaps of silence between each record being changed, he would use 2 turntables at the same time, which would enable him to blend the end of one tune into another, therefore keeping the sound of music, a constant. DJ Kool Herc's main sonic recipe was Funk and he would deliberately play the breaks (the standout drum sequences) on a record, having a similar break cued up on the other deck. As one break was finishing on deck A, he could continue another which was cued and ready to go on deck B. He called this styling the 'Merry Go Round' which we now know as beat juggling and it is probably the first official technique of turntablism. |
EMILE BERLINER CREATED THE FIRST RECORD/DISC VERSION CIRCA 1897, ITS PREDECESSOR THE PHONOGRAPH WAS INVENTED IN 1877, 20 YEARS EARLIER.
| With this first impetus of new Djing skills, other DJs became influenced and created a range of new techniques. Then, in 1974, something groundbreaking was invented - the Technics 1210s, the turntable that would become the industry standard that is still used today. With the invention of this new technological high, this now meant, that the technology could finally match the imagination of the head and the artistry of the hands. Skills Lineage
| BEAT JUGGLING  |
Further Advancements
The skills got crazier and DJs even started performing in groups utilising more than two decks. In latter days some DJs would use samplers to semi-compose songs live. But before rushing ahead, we must remember that a second type of deck followed the vinyl player and this invention was going to shake the domination of vinyl as it was designed to play a different format altogether.
THE RISE OF THE COMPACT DISC
In 1982 the CD was invented. 10 years later, after the invention of the domestic CD player, came the first prototype, DJ CD deck. After many innovations on the original concept, the CD deck that exists today, pretty much does everything you can do with a vinyl deck. However with a button system included, many other features that exist on a CD deck, can to do things that you can't do on a vinyl deck or do with ease.
In 1982 the CD was invented. 10 years later, after the invention of the domestic CD player, came the first prototype, DJ CD deck. After many innovations on the original concept, the CD deck that exists today, pretty much does everything you can do with a vinyl deck. However with a button system included, many other features that exist on a CD deck, can to do things that you can't do on a vinyl deck or do with ease.
| CD DECK MIXING | Following the CD deck's invention came the use of laptop computers where 'mock vinyl controllers' were used instead of real records. A DJs musical playlist now came from the laptop itself where all the the music was stored. The use of laptops as the source of music, has allowed DJs to potentially carry 1000s of songs around, without them having to lug heavy bags of records. Some DJs still choose to use vinyl controllers with their laptops because they can still utilise the same skills, others have left vinyl alone altogether and use separate CD decks or all in one mixer/CD combos. Either way they all still require skills. |
Over the years the tools of DJing have changed so much, that there are the arguments over what constitutes real DJing are becoming confused. When the machine does a lot of the work for you and people are pre-recording their sets to then only come and twiddle a few buttons, can you call yourself a true DJ?
With the all-in-one mixer/controllers you can plug in a USB stick into your console/mixer and use that as your playlist...I've even seen mobile phones used as remote controls for mixers.
With the all-in-one mixer/controllers you can plug in a USB stick into your console/mixer and use that as your playlist...I've even seen mobile phones used as remote controls for mixers.
| LAPTOP DJING WITH MOCK VINYL USED | ALL-IN-ONE CONTROLLER WITH LAPTOP |
The newest innovations are tablets, phones and the art of controllerism...
Controllerism is a form of DJing where you remix a track live.
| IPAD MIXING | CONTROLLERISM/LIVE REMIXING |
And the newest invention...The CD-less CD deck, O yes USB-controlled only CD players!
RSS Feed
