I love my vinyl - I really do - but a lack of storage space and spinal issues are forcing me to re-evaluate the future of my DJing methods. This leaves me sad - not only because of the loss of it’s comforting and superior analogue warmth, the sleek frisson of its motion under my fingers or the nostalgia of it’s crackle, but also for a fundamental aspect that up until now I’ve found central to my mixing style.-
My main problem with MP3s is that you don’t get the same instinctive inspiration going through lists of files as you do rifling through vinyl where sleeve work can conjure up emotions, personal memories and surprising ideas - especially if u mix different styles of music. A lot of this comes from going to record shops (which are sadly dying out) and I find it much harder to maintain the same level of eclectic discovery surfing web shops. Everything seems a lot more rigidly categorized and I think this is often the case on our own hard drives - Tech-House/Electro-House/Tribal House etc - Tho this helps to a point it’s also divisive and music is no longer just music. We tend to buy albums less and often miss out on the quality of subtle and slow- burning tracks.
I hope there are some vinylosaurs out there who agree. Let’s mourn together fam. sniff! :crying:
I feel the same. I bought a xone1d and played with traktor but it is not the same. I can’t get into it, it feels alien and not fun. I would never mix with mp3 as it sounds poor (would only use wav) but you just can’t beat picking up a 12 and slapping it on a deck and using skill to match those beats.
u can get good quality with a MP3 with a high Bit Ratio . I was using ableton to Dj but u guys are right the Feel of the vinyl is something that i miss alot Djing . last gig i Djed in CD DJs and somehow in the midle of my set the dam CD DJ ate my CD . Grrrr
i miss the feel of Vinyl seriously !!
I bought my last new 12" last summer. The only vinyl I’m buying now is from Discogs’ sellers. You’ll soon get over any “issues” you may have when you see your bank balance. I used to be out at least £70 a week on vinyl, I’m nowhere near that now and I’m happier knowing that the producer is taking a much fairer share. The one thing I do miss is actual record shopping, especially when travelling; but realistically that just means I have more time now for other things.
£8 for a euro 12" + P&P can **** off.
If you want the warmth still, don’t mix with MP3, mix with .WAV.
It’s WAV that is burned onto vinyl, so you’re effectivly playing the same thing with your vinyls, just without the analogue sound, crackles and loss of quality after multiple plays.
Yeah, and they’re still cheaper than vinyl and only take up HDD space. And they load into Ableton much more quickly.
i used to love going to my record shop. they would tell me when they were getting deliveries, or they would keep the “special ones” under the counter for me you dont get that on the net. i do miss the days of hanging around the shop
ahh the good old days. one thing i dont miss about vinyl is every week for gigs i would drop 100-200 dollars fron Juno or global groove. I dont dj out anymore but would probably only spend 40 bucks.
i also just recently moved and one of the worst things about that is that i have to move all my vinyl. this time i actually made two stacks and am getting rid of one. i dont think i could every throw away all of it. it has to much meaning to me. dont think ill ever record it on to my hard drive.
i use serato so i can trick myself into thinking im using actual vinyl
Ahh good old days of vinyl where I would spend all my money on the bu***ers 
sadly i have to say that i haven’t spun for any longer than 1 hour at a time since going to digital setup, back when playing vinyl i would play all day and night if a session took me.
I remember that i wanted to Trade Records or buys it from other Djs because sometimes u bought stuff that no one else had. and that was like having a secret weapon in the Dance Floor. really good ****
I never call myself a DJ as if ever I do mix, it’s only a bit of fun, and totally aside from my production, but that said, I can still totally relate.
Whilst it’s not vinyl, I can still remember certain purchases I made when I was younger, like the first time I ever heard “I Don’t Wanna Loose My Way” by Dreamcatcher using HMV’s built into the wall try before you buy CD Players, I had the same feeling and emotion with certain other musical (and sometimes other) purchases. but I never get that feeling when browsing through Beatport/Juno 
Man what a bunch of moany old dinosaurs
Most of the mentioned downsides to MP3 mixing are just nostalgia, and as for the so say lower quality I can only say that most people think they notice but would probably not get much more than 50% (ie guessing) if given an AB test against vinyl/wav/mp3.
I interviewed Kutski recently and he catagorically said playing mp3s at clubs is fine, he does it, loads of others do too. Also a lot of people play these precious wavs/records through average sound systems at home, so many weak links in the chain.
Aaaaaaaanyway. Further to all that, I think there has never been a more exciting time to be a DJ. Digital DJing blows the doors of possibility wiiiiiiide open. Just mixing from one tune to another is vanilla now days. With serato/ableton/the bridge and midi DJ controllers you can do so much, and the opportunity to really do something different is so huge it’s unreal (just sadly often no one takes it).
Other advantages are obviously being able to play your own tunes without needing a dub plate etc. no need to lug records about that then get warped/scratched/worn/stolen. Tracks are much cheaper etc, the list goes on.
There are downsides too, like more junk music etc, but over all I definitely think it’s a great time to be a DJ now if you want to do something exciting and new. Sure the old skool 2 turntables & vinyl vibe is pure, but things have to progress eventually.
No one would want to go back to using Cubase an Atari and an amen break as standard!
[quote]squareoff (11/06/2010)[hr]I love my vinyl - I really do - but a lack of storage space and spinal issues are forcing me to re-evaluate the future of my DJing methods. This leaves me sad - not only because of the loss of it’s comforting and superior analogue warmth, the sleek frisson of its motion under my fingers or the nostalgia of it’s crackle, but also for a fundamental aspect that up until now I’ve found central to my mixing style.-
My main problem with MP3s is that you don’t get the same instinctive inspiration going through lists of files as you do rifling through vinyl where sleeve work can conjure up emotions, personal memories and surprising ideas - especially if u mix different styles of music. A lot of this comes from going to record shops (which are sadly dying out) and I find it much harder to maintain the same level of eclectic discovery surfing web shops. Everything seems a lot more rigidly categorized and I think this is often the case on our own hard drives - Tech-House/Electro-House/Tribal House etc - Tho this helps to a point it’s also divisive and music is no longer just music. We tend to buy albums less and often miss out on the quality of subtle and slow- burning tracks.
I hope there are some vinylosaurs out there who agree. Let’s mourn together fam. sniff! :crying:[/quote]
I have always loved my vinyl. I still collect vinyl to this day and if I get a chance to DJ out somewhere I try and make sure 1210’s are available.
I can DJ well on any medium, but nothing comes close to vinyl.
Some think I’m mad, but hey I’m happy!
I was never so glad to see Serato arrive on the scene… it means all them mp3 that couldn’t make it onto a set at home (I don’t own CDJs) now have the chance to be aired 