All djs should be making mash-ups.

[Rek_Aviles]

Now that you can buy a pair of CDJs with automatic beat sync , manually beat matching is a thing of the past or will be soon.

With that said, the only thing we have left to set us apart is creativity. Not that it wasn't before, but learning to beatmatch weeded out the less talented or impatient djs. Since that's no longer the case, we need to get creative and come up with quality bootlegs to compete.

If you are a dj / producer, able to create your owns sounds and put together a track, then you have nothing to worry about. For those who can't make a beat to save their lives,... go chop up a few tracks and piece them together.



I'm I wrong in thinking this way? Yes there are EQ and mixing techniques that a person will still need to work on, but matching the tempo was always the hardest step. no?

[DJNR]

I do my mashups or bootlegs live without sync anyways

[Sigma]

I agree with you about creativity, but I don't think it necessarily has to come from mash-ups.

The problems are twofold IMO: -

1. Making DJing easier attracts people that are less likely to be creative.
2. For various reasons, a lot of people have the attitude of "if you're playing the songs people know, nothing else you do matters" which makes them not want to try new things.

I think you're kind of preaching to the choir and banging your head against a brick wall at the same time. Creative people are gonna be creative regardless, but I think it's very hard to inspire creativity in people who don't have that spark.

[drop1]

I always thought doing live mashups was just part of djing. I was and am still dumbfounded about why people make such a big deal about it now. I mean thats kinda just what we do right, mix tracks together.

[miX_]

I think people have differing opinions as to what a 'mash-up' is. Some people think playing 2 songs with eachother is a mashup. I don't know if I think that way.. that's just mixing. The 'mashups' I make are laying pop acapellas over d&b tracks... it seems to be working to great effect.

edit; Here's a dubstep example I did a while ago.
http://soundcloud.com/thisismix/ed-s...f-thought-feat

[Rek_Aviles]

I do my mashups or bootlegs live without sync anyways

but that's my point. Unless you're doing some detailed mashes, jumping to different points in the song(s), that's no longer a skill you can brag about. A newcomer using VDJ and a laptop can easily match 2 hit tracks together, live.

[Rek_Aviles]

I always thought doing live mashups was just part of djing. I was and am still dumbfounded about why people make such a big deal about it now. I mean thats kinda just what we do right, mix tracks together.

I don't mean the type where you here vocals come in during a break. That was always and should always be done live. The mashups I mean are a bit more involved then just 2 songs playing together. The good ones that are popping up now, take a bit of work to make.

It's basically chopping the tracks up and rearranging them to make a new. Sounds* simple but there's some skill needed.

I think people have differing opinions as to what a 'mash-up' is. Some people think playing 2 songs with eachother is a mashup. I don't know if I think that way.. that's just mixing. The 'mashups' I make are laying pop acapellas over d&b tracks... it seems to be working to great effect.

You're right. And if its just messing with vocals, it should be done live.

[login]

I am the only one who thinks music selection is still important? that one good track after another is enough to rock a party?

Digging still takes a whole lot of time.

[Rek_Aviles]

I think you're kind of preaching to the choir and banging your head against a brick wall at the same time. Creative people are gonna be creative regardless, but I think it's very hard to inspire creativity in people who don't have that spark.

I don't know. There are plenty who don't see the point in making these "mashups" as a way to get ahead. They can quickly set you apart and you don't have to be a producer to get into it.

I do agree with what you said above. Creative ppl will do creative things to move ahead.

[Rek_Aviles]

I am the only one who thinks music selection is still important? that one good track after another is enough to rock a party?

Digging still takes a whole lot of time.

It is, you're not the only one. Most of us will say the same, but the average listener doesn't care.

On top of that, you have too many tools now to help you select the perfect track, like MixedInKey. And too many blogs spoon feeding you the most popular tracks.