backtothefront

Maschine is superb, very much erring on the production side of things, particular the Studio version you mention. But no reason why you can’t use it to add to your DJ sets, only thing I would say is the Studio is significantly bigger than Maschine MkII and if you’re planning to use it at gigs, I’d say a Mikro might even be best. Personlly I’d go with Maschine MkII, best of both worlds.

Maschine software integrates pretty well with Logic Pro X (which I also use), however I often find I’ll work in Maschine standlone and then bounce and head over to Logic to keep CPU work down.

Kontrol S4 here, depending on what I’m doing:

Studio Mix: 2 channels for digital mixing, the other 2 channels are hooked up to the 1210’s for straight vinyl.
Radio Shows: 2 channels for digital mixing, 1 ch for mic, 1 ch for voiceovers/3rd track cue.
Gigs: 4 channels available for digital mixing – very rarely 4 ch mixing, 3 tops, 4th for accapella use.

I must admit I find having four dedicated channels very useful indeed and if someone starting out can afford a 4 ch controller/mixer, I would suggest it – cost effective in the longer term imho.

I recently picked up Maschine to complement my very modest production suite and have to say it’s brilliant. I’ve not integrated with Traktor/S4 yet, so I can’t comment on that side of things. I also agree with DJam, I would only go with the Maschine if you intend to use it heavily for production, as you can do everything point n click in the DAW, albeit not as tactile.

Thing is; for quite a few clubs the standard setup is still very much CDJ’s and maybe Technics TTs as well, hopefully newer booths have been designed to accomodate controllers/other kit but this is not always the case – I believe forward thinking venues should implement additional space when renovating their booths. Also venues may be relunctant to allow DJ’s to turn up with various types of controller and simply plug in to a spare house mixer channel. I’m not saying this is right, but it is common in my experience, despite it being an easy task to do.

Also in terms of playing preprepared sets, I’d include digital DJing alongside CDJs – it’s just as easy, just play a pre recorded digital audio file.

Again, absolutely agree! Think you and me Shuga are from the same mindset! 🙂 None of my DJing peers use or refer to ‘EDM’ at all, and as you suggest, I think this is more to do with the underground scene. At the risk of sounding dismissive, if I was to use the term ‘EDM’ within the scenes I’m involved in and on my radio shows – It would not be taking seriously at all. But each to their own 🙂

Shuga*Foot, post: 37434, member: 2922 wrote: I came across this documentary on YouTube on the history of house music.

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Probably the most thorough walkthrough of house from the early days to raves. In two hours I don’t think I heard the term EDM once. It’s house music!! All night long!!! wuomp wuomp … check it.

atom12v, post: 37436, member: 1423 wrote: Not seen this video yet, contrary to house music EDM is not a genre. House music evolve from the disco era.
EDM was the term giving to electronic music produce for club that includes disco, house, techno and so on.
EDM now = house, techno, dupstep, trance and all those genres and sub genres and “anything somebody call music now a day” LOL.

Not quite correct, the reason ‘EDM’ did not appear in the above video is because it is relatively new term for Dance Music. It came about roughly 3 or 4 years ago when Dance Music eventually went mainstream in the US.

Personally I can’t stand the term and for me it represents the following genres, which coincide with the genres that ‘went big’ in the US: Electro House, Dubstep (sorry I mean, Brostep – far removed from the origins of Dubstep) and mainstream, TOP40 Dance Music.

As Terry said, Technics are holding their prices, mainly because they have been discontinued, however there are a lot of Techs out there, lots and lots in fact, BUT in various states of condition! You might be able to save some cash and get some that require maintenance (can get most parts on eBay for eg and look at YouTube for tutorials) or send them away. But they are definitely are worth the investment – I’ve had my pair since 1994 and never had a problem and require very little maintenance.

adit, post: 35677, member: 2099 wrote: not to patronize you but please don’t trust beatport’s genre labeling at all. maybe 75% of stuff labeled deep house are not deep house.

Agree with this, try Traxsource, for me it’s the best site for Deep/Soulful House music.

Also OP, don’t fall in to the trap of thinking that with DJing you should always be busy, tweaking fx, mixing in and out every couple of minutes etc, especially with Deep House – it would be too disjointed. Subtle layering and gentler transitions and raise the energy levels over a longer time period. As someone else said above, house heads will lap this up and appreciate the nuances of the mixing 🙂

On a wider point, I’ve noticed a general trend in the last few years of DJ’s thinking they need to be constantly hard at it, I suspect this is partly down to the Youtube 10min mixes of manic button bashing/fx/cutting tracks, which although impressive, it is completely different to a club environment in my opinion. I guess it all depends on the club/crowd/country possibly too.