Yer an idiot Manoa
Brussel Sprouts
What is hamstering again?Originally Posted by djlotus
I have the same issue... I have a chocolate left hand. My record control and crossfader control is far superior with my right. Any other (perhaps non-scratching) "work-outs" to help build strength there?
On my forwards, it seems like I push the crossfader to far and so I catch some of the pull back on the record.
DJM-700 | Technics 1210 M5G x 2 | CDJ-900 x 2 | KRK RP6 G2 x 2 - Soundcloud
1-v-1 Battle Record: 1-0 / 1-v-1-v-1 Battle Record: 0-1
@Finnish_Fox - I do reverse the crossfader, but only because it feels more natural to me. Back when I started scratching in the 80s, me and a mate used to scratch on an Amstrad hi-fi. We'd use the balance fader on the front of the hi-fi as a cross-fader and unplug one of the speakers, lol, but even back then it felt natural to me to push the fader away from me for the sound to come on, rather than towards me. As I said in my scratching guide (which I've just reposted in the DJ Techniques section), don't reverse the fader because Qbert does - only do it if that feels natural to you.
A chirp isn't advanced, but it's not the first scratch you should try and learn. Being able to do a clean baby scratch is the starting point for learning the chirp (and several other scratches in fact).
To do a chirp, you do this: -
1. Start with the fader open.
2. Push the record forward and when you hear the sound start to play, close the fader, but carry on moving the record forwards as if you were doing a baby scratch.
3. Pull the record back as if you were doing a baby scratch, and just before you get back to the beginning of the sample, open the fader again.
The record movement is the same as a baby scratch, except you're closing the fader during the middle part of the record movement so all you hear is the very beginning of the sound, then the very beginning of the sound again - but reversed - as you're pulling the record backwards. That's what gives a nice sharp, defined sound compared to a baby scratch.
If you take the sample "fresh", then a baby scratch is basically like this. The "/" represents a change in direction of the record: -
fresh/hserf/fresh/hserf/fresh/hserf
^^So forwards and backwards in a nice smooth movement, but the crossfader is left open all the time.
And a chirp would look like this. The "-" represents silence where the fader is closed and the "/" represents the change in direction: -
fr---/---rf/fr---/---rf/fr---/---rf/
Hopefully that makes sense.
Last edited by Sigma; 04-06-2012 at 07:21 PM.
^ this. A numbered tutorial is exactly what I was looking for.
Have some Shure Whitelabels... should I also get some M447s for scratching?
Last edited by Finnish_Fox; 04-06-2012 at 07:23 PM.
DJM-700 | Technics 1210 M5G x 2 | CDJ-900 x 2 | KRK RP6 G2 x 2 - Soundcloud
1-v-1 Battle Record: 1-0 / 1-v-1-v-1 Battle Record: 0-1
Cheers. I am at level 0, still trying to figure out what is natural to me. I (think) its to not have it reversed as that's how I mess around BUT I am also messing around with zero technique.
I'll check out your guide!
Found the DJ Angelo numbered tutorials... this might help keep me from jumping ahead.A chirp isn't advanced, but it's not the first scratch you should try and learn. Being able to do a clean baby scratch is the starting point for learning the chirp (and several other scratches in fact).
The idea makes sense but my timing is absolute crap - hence the need for (hours and hours of) practice. My baby scratches are not at all the way they sound on vids. Haha. (Also, using my weak left hand to control the vinyl.To do a chirp, you do this: -
1. Start with the fader open.
2. Push the record forward and when you hear the sound start to play, close the fader, but carry on moving the record forwards as if you were doing a baby scratch.
3. Pull the record back as if you were doing a baby scratch, and just before you get back to the beginning of the sample, open the fader again.
The record movement is the same as a baby scratch, except you're closing the fader during the middle part of the record movement so all you hear is the very beginning of the sound, then the very beginning of the sound again - but reversed - as you're pulling the record backwards. That's what gives a nice sharp, defined sound compared to a baby scratch.
Plus, the only battle records I have are doubles of the bionic booger breaks.
I can actually hear it in my head... I think I need to work on dexterity with my left hand so I don't manhandle the record and overall timing. Like on my forward scratches, I keep catching the beginning of the pull back after Ive let the sample go.If you take the sample "fresh", then a baby scratch is basically like this. The "/" represents a change in direction of the record: -
fresh/hserf/fresh/hserf/fresh/hserf
^^So forwards and backwards in a nice smooth movement, but the crossfader is left open all the time.
And a chirp would look like this. The "-" represents silence where the fader is closed and the "/" represents the change in direction: -
fr---/---rf/fr---/---rf/fr---/---rf/
Hopefully that makes sense.
That and focusing in on the marker on the record... pretty sloppy. Clearly and issue of practice.
DJM-700 | Technics 1210 M5G x 2 | CDJ-900 x 2 | KRK RP6 G2 x 2 - Soundcloud
1-v-1 Battle Record: 1-0 / 1-v-1-v-1 Battle Record: 0-1
I am from the 70s dj era so I remember all styles and arts, however Now that I DJ for Money I dont bother with scratching, People who pay me just want music, it must be well faded and blended wow almost like a Margarita.
I voted that you're an idiot Manoa, but - if it makes you feel better - I think that I'm a bigger one... I think.
-KLH
Yeah, this is why the baby scratch is the starting point. People assume that a baby scratch is easy, so they might skip practicing it, but it does take some skill to do it nice and cleanly as you want a nice smooth rhythm, but you also have to be accurate so that you don't pull the record back too far, start to lose the sample, or whatever. It's just muscle memory, so it's not a hard scratch to learn - but it still requires you to practice it so you can get it down cleanly and that's why I don't think it's worth moving on to chirps until you can do a nice clean baby scratch.
Also, have you tried scratching with your strong hand on the record? That worked out better for me. At the end of the day, the fader is just either on or off like a switch, while you'll be doing more complex movements with the record, and that's why I think using your strong hand on the record can be better - but not always - cos I know people that cut with their weak hand on the record and they're way better than me. Again, I think it comes down to what feels more natural, so if what you're doing now feels more natural then stick with it and your weak hand will improve with time.
I can vouch that is more difficult than it looks.
I think I'll be on baby's for a bit without moving on, actually.
For the purposes of baby and the basic scratches with basic crossfader (or no crossfader) action, the dominant had would work. It's probably the more complex (i.e. crabs) where I'd find my weak hand be limiting factor on the crossfader. Then again, thats probably so far off in the future that, by then, I may have built strength and coordination in the left hand.Also, have you tried scratching with your strong hand on the record? That worked out better for me. At the end of the day, the fader is just either on or off like a switch, while you'll be doing more complex movements with the record, and that's why I think using your strong hand on the record can be better - but not always - cos I know people that cut with their weak hand on the record and they're way better than me. Again, I think it comes down to what feels more natural, so if what you're doing now feels more natural then stick with it and your weak hand will improve with time.
In your opinion, can you overcome one-handed dominance... at least to a point of decent versatility? I am very right dominant and I think I've just sat back and accepted the fact I have a chocolate left hand and haven't done much to change it.
Also, I'd like to be ambidextrous enough to pull of most basic scratches going either way without having to cross arms so right hand is on left deck while left hand is on crossfader... as for more advanced stuff, I'll just wait and see where my left hand strength is when I get there.
DJM-700 | Technics 1210 M5G x 2 | CDJ-900 x 2 | KRK RP6 G2 x 2 - Soundcloud
1-v-1 Battle Record: 1-0 / 1-v-1-v-1 Battle Record: 0-1
Yeah, for sure. It's just a matter of practice. 90+% of scratch DJs started out with their writing hand being the dominant one by far, so it's something the vast majority have to go through.
I use the DJ Premier/old school Qbert setup like this: -
[mixer] [deck] [deck]
My strong hand is always on the record that way.
But yeah, if you want to keep the mixer in the middle and be well-rounded, you'll need to practice both ways so you're not limited to only cutting on one side or cross-handed (which sucks).
Is it easy to scratch on the far deck?
Cheers... turntable spinning for baby scratch or not when first learning? bass down?
Last edited by Finnish_Fox; 04-06-2012 at 08:14 PM.
DJM-700 | Technics 1210 M5G x 2 | CDJ-900 x 2 | KRK RP6 G2 x 2 - Soundcloud
1-v-1 Battle Record: 1-0 / 1-v-1-v-1 Battle Record: 0-1
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