Category Archives: editorial

DJ Skills: Mixing and Scratching

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As much as I believe you can’t really impart what it takes to be a good DJ from a book, there are some people who insist that books like DJ Skils: Mixing and Scratching are helpful and useful to beginners. So while I can recommend a book like this to newcomers, I do so with the caveat that you really need to get some time behind the decks to learn the basics in practice, not just theory.

With that in mind, this book IS getting rave reviews. You have to recognize the ambition of a book that starts off discussing the earliest record player including the 1857 French invention of the phonoautograph and Edison’s 1877 invention of the wax cylinder phonograph.
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The Orb Dr. Alex Patterson DJ Set

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Alex Patterson is a legend, both behind the DJ decks and the synth rack. He’s a force to be reckoned with and a longtime favorite round here at Turntabling. If you’re an Orb fan, chances are you’ve caught Alex Patterson’s DJ sets at one time or another, but if you haven’t, here’s a nice clip of the Doctor at work.

If you aren’t yet plugged into the goodness that is The Orb, we strongly suggest you pick up a copy of The Orb’s Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld and see what you’ve been missing all this time.

DJ Peter Hook: Beyond New Order

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For fans of New Order, Peter Hook’s solo antics are well known…but have you ever seen Hooky in action as a DJ? He tours semi-regularly, coming to Chicago’s Smart Bar and plenty of other DJ venues around the globe including Melbourne, Argentina, and elsewhere.

There’s a certain segment of the New Order audience quite into Hooky’s non-NO projects like Monaco and Revenge, but it’s unclear (to me, anyway) how many love Peter Hook as a DJ. Here’s a chance to see the man in action behind the decks…does Hooky make the grade? You decide.


Numark Total Computer DJ in a Box

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Aspiring latop DJs, take note…here’s a complete solution from controller to soundsystem interface--AND it’s priced to move. This starter kit is simple to learn–the Numark Total Control mixer is simple to learn. It uses Traktor LE, which is really all you need to get started learning the ropes. That said, be prepared to fork over the cash to upgrade to a full version of Traktor, as you’ll want the extra tools once you’ve mastered the basics.

I can’t vouch for the quality or lack thereof when it comes to the headphones–I only use Sony or Sennheisers. The DJ i/o box is designed to get your signal from the laptop or desktop (shudder) to a mixing board or PA system.

Your signal is run through RCA jacks into the soundboard…don’t expect XLRs out of this package, but again for those getting their feet wet in the DJ world (or DJ podcasting ) this is a nice compact package.

I strongly recommend you use a backup system including CDs and vinyl in case your computer setup tanks for any reason—including system crashes, hard drive failure and other gremlins that can jack up a gig. The Numark Total Computer DJ in a Box itself is quite reliable from my experience with the gear, but your computer’s hard drive may be another story. Don’t rely only on MP3s to get the job done, new DJs…you’ll live to regret it.