I don't use decks anymore

[Dirty Beats]

I've been djing a long time, nearly 14 years. Started with 1200's, then CDJ's, I'll even use a controller from time to time. My software choice is Serato Scratch Live.

I've only recently in the past few years started doing club gigs and the transitions between DJ's and decks (either 2000's or 1200's) was always a fucking nightmare and inevitably always a problem.
Then there was also the problem of bad 1200's.. Tone arms, needles, records, etc. There was just so much that could go wrong and ALWAYS did.

At some point, I can't remember when exactly, I started practicing at home on internal mode. I would adjust my tempo on the keyboard and then adjust my pitch also using the keyboard.
I would use the "1" key and the "6" key to find my starting que's or my other que's if needed. I would loop in Scratch Live... And for the type of music I play, Electro and Progressive house.. I'm not scratching or doing any fancy shannigans. I straight up just play music.

Now, I never go into a gig and have any problems. I bring my own Serato box, with my own cables. The only thing I need is my laptop, headphones and my box. I ask for two channels on the mixer and I work entirely off my laptop. I also find that working pitch with the laptop keys vs. the wheel on a 1200 or 2000, I'm actually much more accurate and tight.

I don't want to go traktor just because I work off my laptop... I love Scratch Live and have been using it for years.

But lately I've had a few dj's open or close after me and when they have problems with there tech, I just remember to thank myself for not having these issues anymore.

I also don't worry about anyone bumping the CDJ's or turntables or some drink idiot pressing something etc. It takes almost 96% of the problems out of the equation. And I used to have a lot of problems!!!!

Just thought I'd share... And it's actually really fun working off the laptop!

Oh yeah, and I don't use a keyboard layout for Scratch Live... I know my keyboard functionality perfectly..

[contra]

I can respect that, but I have no clue how you can do it. I'm way too hands on and need to tweak knobs and faders constantly.

And I gotta admit, I'm getting sick of my Techs too. It's so nice not having to nudge the platter every time you need to adjust a track. All you have to do is beatmatch and then you can focus on fx and eqing.

[ben mills]

Word.

In these days, the thing that matters most is the sound that comes out.

However, until the day I die I will contend that part of being a DJ is putting on a presentation and adding to the atmosphere of the gig beyond just music. 1200s do that better than anything else. When people think "DJ" they think turntables. And they will think that forever. When was the last time any of us saw a commercial with a DJ in it that was using CDJs or a controller? Never.

That may change - but not for a long, long time.

[broshades]

I'd think I could do this, but I would need at least one of those korg nano controls or something. at least a few knobs and a couple faders. Props on having a slick setup though, you're like a backpack away from any gig you'd ever need

[Pri yon Joni]

I've been djing a long time, nearly 14 years. Started with 1200's, then CDJ's, I'll even use a controller from time to time. My software choice is Serato Scratch Live.

I've only recently in the past few years started doing club gigs and the transitions between DJ's and decks (either 2000's or 1200's) was always a fucking nightmare and inevitably always a problem.
Then there was also the problem of bad 1200's.. Tone arms, needles, records, etc. There was just so much that could go wrong and ALWAYS did.

At some point, I can't remember when exactly, I started practicing at home on internal mode. I would adjust my tempo on the keyboard and then adjust my pitch also using the keyboard.
I would use the "1" key and the "6" key to find my starting que's or my other que's if needed. I would loop in Scratch Live... And for the type of music I play, Electro and Progressive house.. I'm not scratching or doing any fancy shannigans. I straight up just play music.

Now, I never go into a gig and have any problems. I bring my own Serato box, with my own cables. The only thing I need is my laptop, headphones and my box. I ask for two channels on the mixer and I work entirely off my laptop. I also find that working pitch with the laptop keys vs. the wheel on a 1200 or 2000, I'm actually much more accurate and tight.

I don't want to go traktor just because I work off my laptop... I love Scratch Live and have been using it for years.

But lately I've had a few dj's open or close after me and when they have problems with there tech, I just remember to thank myself for not having these issues anymore.

I also don't worry about anyone bumping the CDJ's or turntables or some drink idiot pressing something etc. It takes almost 96% of the problems out of the equation. And I used to have a lot of problems!!!!

Just thought I'd share... And it's actually really fun working off the laptop!

Oh yeah, and I don't use a keyboard layout for Scratch Live... I know my keyboard functionality perfectly..

What you are doing is pretty difficult, and takes courage considering the judgement of other DJ's. If you are playing music, and rockin that crowd, that's all that matters. DJing is about playing music, not about playing on just decks.

[KLH]

When was the last time any of us saw a commercial with a DJ in it that was using CDJs or a controller? Never. That may change - but not for a long, long time.

Well hell has frozen over. I've seen more commercials and TV shows with controllers and CDJs than TTs over the last year. The NS7 was shown in an Marshalls ad! CDJs are now seen on stage (America's Got Talent)! Times have , in fact, changed.

TTs are cool, but the younger crowd (<20yo) rarely knows what they are.

-KLH

[Dirty Beats]

Just to be clear, I'm still using the MIXER!!!
I still have my nobs and my faders and my gains, etc.

I just don't use a CDJ2000 or SL1200.

So my setup is, Laptop -> Serato Box -> Mixer.
In the serato box, there is no input other than the USB.

Mostly I use 10 keys:
T and Y for left pitch
G and H for Right pitch
E and R for left tempo
D and F for right tempo

then "1" to bring up my first cue on left deck
then "6" to bring up my first cue on right deck

I'll use some of the ' and ] keys to release loops and the space bar which bring me to a screen that gives me my BPM down to the 1/10 of a second.
Then a delicately seam my basses into each other with the pitch.

There some other lesser keys I use too... But not so much.

And I never have any problems anymore... If you ever do a gig with anything broken... It's a great way to play.

[contra]

I think we all know for scratching there's no substitute for tt's, but for mix dj's there's really no advantage to having turntables at all.

[Wakka]

Coming into a forum full of DJs and admit something like that takes some balls. +rep to you sir.

[drumpusher]

Nah man, this place used to be full of DJs. There are still a few xenophobic elitist asshats around though.