Turntables - who uses them ??

[ppentertainments]

I know a lot of club dj's still use turntables but how many mobile dj's still use them? To be honest I can't remember the last time I saw a mobile dj with turntables. I came along during the cd era and have never felt the need to use turntables.

The reason for asking is that nearly all dj shops online and on the high street still sell a vast range of turntables so there must be people out there using them still.

[Vectis]

I keep a couple and offer to use them on 80's nights as thats where my personal vinyl collection is strongest; can probably manage a whole gig from vinyl so long as they don't want anything post-1990 :p

Probably used about once a year!

[BeerFunk]

I don't think they still sell popular music on vinyl, so they would only be for retro nights. Even in that case, you may as well just use them for show, with your CD decks hidden underneath :D

I'd imagine nearly all turntable sales are for club DJs, or wannabe DJS who seem to think 'that's what the Pro's use'

[Tom]

you can but record decks (with the arm aswell think) that have a cd slot on them. very sneaky.

[drb]

I still use the SL1200's with Serato Scratch.I think it maintains an artform.I think your punters like's to see their DJ at work.It's a personal opinion but each to their own........

[Danno13]

I don't understand that..... a DJ changing CDs over on cd decks looks more "at work" than one using serato as you never actually change the vinyl!

[ppentertainments]

replies were what I thought they would be - turntables mainly used for show and wannabee dj's.

I thought maybe I was just out of touch !!

[Adam_F]

I'vejust gone back to using turntables for a regular Thursday night gig, and I love it. There's so many modern tracks that can only be bought on vinyl, that never get released on any other format, so if your into the latet genres its great.
I suppose its probably because I work in one of the largest vinyl retailers world wide that I'm still buying it and using it.

[djsteve10]

They have SL1210's installed at a club where i dj at and the Dj that is upstairs uses them and plays retro 80's tracks off them like bananarama and it looks and sounds ace.
Downstairs is alot of dance music and for me the ways of mixing that i do i cannot use them.

[rob1963]

I don't think they still sell popular music on vinyl

No...apart from the two million singles which they sold on vinyl last year!

:rolleyes:

[DazzyD]

We still have 2 London Audio decks (really heavy bases so not the best for mobile work but they do reduce jumping) and 2 technics decks. We use these mostly for rock'n'roll, 60 & 70s nights cos thats the areas where I have most of my vinyl (as well as rock cos I inherited a box of rock LPs from a gig I did in the early 90s).

It's not only vinyl that we still use. We can play vinyl, audio cassette (very rare nowadays), MiniDisc, CDs, LaserDisc (for some karaoke), CDs and now MP3 on the laptop systems. How's that for variety?

[BeerFunk]

No...apart from the two million singles which they sold on vinyl last year!

:rolleyes:
How many of them were Leona Lewis or Sugababes? :rolleyes:

[rob1963]

How many of them were Leona Lewis or Sugababes? :rolleyes:

I have no idea, I just saw a TV report about the massive increase in the popularity of vinyl & I remembered that they said there were 2 million single sales on vinyl last year.

:)

[Corabar Steve]

Out of how many in total?

[DJ James Lake]

I still use 2 Technics SL1210s with Traktor Scratch

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I still have a pair of Numark Belt Drive and suit cases packed with vinal thats been passed down to me from an 60's-80's DJ.
I've took it out on the road once a few years back but now its lying unused in my bedroom where i once used to practice.
Hasn't been touched for years.

[rob1963]

I have no idea, I just saw a TV report about the massive increase in the popularity of vinyl & I remembered that they said there were 2 million single sales on vinyl last year.

:)


Out of how many in total?

I have no idea, Steve.

The point is that 2 million is hardly an insignificant number, and vinyl single sales are increasing all the time. I've recently seen a number of reports highlighting this.

[Corabar Steve]

Can't help wondering where they're getting them from?

Is the 2m UK sales?

[rob1963]

Can't help wondering where they're getting them from?

Is the 2m UK sales?

Steve,

It was either England or the UK...I can't remember which, but when I've seen these reports on TV, I think they've shown specialist shops that only seem to deal in vinyl.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

It always makes me laugh when the younger element of our profession think it's so cool to use turntables.

Been there, done it, carried the very heavy record crates, flightcases and 1210s around for 15 years and won't want to be doing it again.

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I think they've show specialist shops that only seem to deal in vinyl.


There are a few shops like that in Bristol. The old thing they sell is good old Vinyl records. Great for picking up "white labels" and always at good piece. I've bought some "white label" records for as little as 10p:).

[Javlingames]

I still use Technics with my Serato, Love it!! however when im doing a mobile (very rare) I just use the keyboard shortcuts, a few years ago i would never have dreamed of using keyboard shortcuts on any gig but i suppose as i got older and matured as a dj i realised that on mobiles people arnt bothered or impressed with decks, probably the same in the clubs to be honest!! Ultimately its what makes you feel comfortable and i do feel more at home using decks

[theoloyla]

I was one of the last mobile dj's I know round here that was still using vinyl and I gave up about 5 years ago. I used to hump all these cases of records into gigs and most nights would only play a couple of tracks.

[sleah]

I don't think they still sell popular music on vinyl, so they would only be for retro nights. Even in that case, you may as well just use them for show, with your CD decks hidden underneath :D

I'd imagine nearly all turntable sales are for club DJs, or wannabe DJS who seem to think 'that's what the Pro's use'


It always makes me laugh when the younger element of our profession think it's so cool to use turntables.

Been there, done it, carried the very heavy record crates, flightcases and 1210s around for 15 years and won't want to be doing it again.

Funny isn't it? I know a couple of bedroom wannabe's who seem to think turntables are the only way to go.....:confused: But then they are playing very specific types of music.


I take on board using turntables for retro nights - interesting idea:)
But for me it would go against all the reasons I went digital. For me it's to do with what digital has to offer, not simply moving forward for the sake of it.
I'd drag out the twindeck for decorative value - no problem!
But I'd rather not give a crappy sounding, track skipping night, unless we wanted that *real* nostalig feel:D

[Mission]

audio cassette (very rare nowadays)

This is the future and you can varnish it any shade you want :D

http://www.filter27.com/archives/_images/2006/casette_dj.jpg

[sleah]

I was one of the last mobile dj's I know round here that was still using vinyl and I gave up about 5 years ago. I used to hump all these cases of records into gigs and most nights would only play a couple of tracks.

You gave up vinyl 5 years ago? Cool:cool: I gave up CD's about 4 years ago:D


This is the future and you can varnish it any shade you want :D

http://www.filter27.com/archives/_images/2006/casette_dj.jpg

Been there..... used the odd cassette on gigs back before CD-R, in fact, before CD:eek:

[drb]

I don't understand that..... a DJ changing CDs over on cd decks looks more "at work" than one using serato as you never actually change the vinyl!

You are quite right Danno.Also with serato and cd decks the punters can't see what you are about to play(how annoying is that when you "cued up" and they bend over the rig to see what's coming next!).
After 25 years of lugging records i had to go "digital" as such.I have used the Pioneers but it's just that i am used to controlling vinyl better.

[flatliners]

vinal is gonna be virtuly non existant in about 8-10 years because the companys that press the vinal carnt get the parts for there old equipment

[Corabar Steve]

vinal is gonna be virtuly non existant in about 8-10 years because the companys that press the vinal carnt get the parts for there old equipmentVinyl might last a little longer if people knew how to spell it :sj: :sarc:

[steveparadox]

I was at a wedding at christmas at Morley Hayes in Derby and the resident DJ was using an old twin deck. He played a couple of records on it throughout the night, but I think he was mainly using the console as the amp and mixer. Speakers were very old fashioned to, they looked like they were from the 70s and sounded very weak (not very clear and no bass).

You can buy vinyl 7" singles from HMV. Not alot of choice, seems to be mainly indies type music.

[Andy Westcott]

I got rid of my last deck in December last year, and that was to make room for another twin CD deck.

Here are two pictures of the coffin. First with the one remaining deck, and the second as it is now:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/hosting/coffin.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/hosting/coffin1.jpg

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I bet that's a monster to carry!

[sleah]

Dual dual CD players eh? Move over Judge Joules.......

[BeerFunk]

Dual dual CD players eh? Move over Judge Joules.......
Yes, that setup has baffled me! :confused:

[Andy Westcott]

Why?
Main decks, plus backup all wired to go.

Also, haven't you ever needed to have a third CD cued up 'just in case'?

For example, you are playing music in the normal manner to the guests, but need that special CD cued and ready for when the birthday girl enters her surprise party.

Do I really need to defend having 4 CD decks to fellow DJs??

[Corabar Steve]

No. I use 4 MP3 decks

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Why?
Main decks, plus backup all wired to go.

Also, haven't you ever needed to have a third CD cued up 'just in case'?

For example, you are playing music in the normal manner to the guests, but need that special CD cued and ready for when the birthday girl enters her surprise party.

Do I really need to defend having 4 CD decks to fellow DJs??

I think it was more the fact that there were 2 x doubles Andy.

I think instant backup is a very good idea.

[Corabar Steve]

All our DJs use 2 Twin CD players, but not toploaders

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

All our DJs use 2 Twin CD players, but not toploaders

Have Toploader got CD players then?

:taxi:

[Corabar Steve]

Yeah, the chap that used to be married to Gail Porter had loads.

[BeerFunk]

Why?
Main decks, plus backup all wired to go.

Also, haven't you ever needed to have a third CD cued up 'just in case'?

For example, you are playing music in the normal manner to the guests, but need that special CD cued and ready for when the birthday girl enters her surprise party.

Do I really need to defend having 4 CD decks to fellow DJs??
Woah, I wasn't criticising or anything Andy! There are no right or wrong setups (well, there are a few wrong setups, but only in the extreme cases!).

I personally don't see the point in having a big flightcase like that, purely to accommodate a backup system. Still, if it works for you, then that's the only thing that matters! :)