Just a bit of Friday fun folks, we’re not being serious! However, the video we’ve got for you today is well timed, arriving as it does right after our “serious” article yesterday about how computers are increasingly automating DJing.
“Man and machine,” said DJ CNTRL in yesterday’s piece, quoting futurist Ray Kurzweil, “will merge by 2045.” But by today’s this evidence, it’s happening right now… 
Are computers about to make human DJ's history? And will the dancefloor even notice?
Is the DJ dead, or at least, dying? A bold question for sure, but with dramatic changes taking place in both digital DJ technology and data analytics on the internet, this could be just what’s happening all around us, right now. Could the role we all love really be edging closer to being replaced by our digital DJ sidekick, the computer?
Looking at the state of play in music technology, social media, and data analytics, it’s possible to catch a glimpse of where we might be heading in this brave new world of 21st century DJing – and you may not like what it looks like…
BPM detection... the old way! Luckily, for the iOS DJ there are better tools to use nowadays that go a lot further than counting beats with a hand clicker.
While I was loading tracks into various iOS DJing apps last week, I started wondering if there were apps that could help DJs work out the key and BPM of any music, not just digital files. Why would this be useful? Well, say you’re playing after a CD or vinyl DJ. Wouldn’t it be good to whip out your iPhone and quickly detect the BPM (and even the key) of the last track played, then effortlessly blend your next track in, perfectly harmonically matched and on the beat, as you take over digitally?
Or, if you’re a DJ who plays some music from digital, but you also use CDs and vinyl, wouldn’t it be nice to quickly “key” and BPM an old vinyl tune for easy mixing into your set, without having to rip it and run it through laptop key and BPM/DJ software? Turns out all of this is possible. Let’s look at some of your options:
Want to see hundreds of DJs attempt to break a Guinness World Record? Read on to find out how...
Fancy a Sunday afternoon’s raving, while witnessing hundreds of London’s best DJs attempting to break a Guinness World Record?
We’ve got ten pairs of tickets to give away for the huge #MixInLondon charity event, hosted by Dance Aid and sponsored by Casino.com, at the world-famous Ministry of Sound.
Busy DJ booths can be creative and fun places. If you know and follow the etiquette, you can help to keep them that way. Pic: Flavorpill
When you DJ with other people, you’re on a team, and that team has to play well together in order to perform effectively. The crowd doesn’t really care about the individuals as much as the whole. If all the DJs on a night can make it work as a team, it benefits everyone.
So if you’ve got a gig coming up where there will be lots of other DJs playing (especially where you all have your own gear), and you want to be sure you’re contributing to the whole and not treading on any toes, here are some time-won rules for being a good team player in the DJ booth:
The main screen of Cross DJ For iPad, showing a traditional layout but with a wealth of extra information too.
Ever since MixVibes showed an early iOS version of its well-regarded Cross DJ system at Musikmesse earlier this year, we have been eagerly waiting to bring you this review.
Finally, with the app due to hit the app store shortly, I’ve been able to spend a week of quality time with it. The press release boldly claims it to be the “World’s First Professional DJing App”. Similar claims have been made before by other DJ apps that have often fallen short of expectations. So given that the DJ app market is already competitive, does Cross DJ live up to the hype, and will it stir the competition up?
DJ software: MixedInKey.com
New to Digital DJ Tips? |
Latest DJ Industry News |
What DJ controller? |
Learn to DJ |
Testimonials and Feedback
