Perceptions ?

[Kernow]

Following on from the very long thread about public perception of what we do.

I wonder how many of us, even if occasionally, appear to be doing something highly technical when in fact doing nothing ?

I'll be the first to hold my hands up and admit to pressing buttons or tweaking jog wheels, (all of which are disabled from affecting the output ;)) when all is running smoothly, just for effect ?

Am I totally alone ? :confused: ;) :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Am I totally alone ? :confused: ;) :D

No. ;)

[DiscoTed]

Nope

[BeerFunk]

Na, I usually just stand there, with my arms folded :D

[A1DL]

Google "DFA knob" ;)

[DiscoTed]

Google "DFA knob" ;)

The commonly known does :Censored: all knob :D

[Kernow]

Am I totally alone ? :confused: ;) :D


No. ;)


Nope

Nor it seems in my honesty :)

Thanks Guys :thumbs_up:

[NKR]

Nope. Thats why they put so many buttons and knobs on stuff.

[MagicMusic]

When I was first learning to mix vinyl, I developed this strange expressive over exaggeration of everything - even the tiniest eq adjustment.

I don't know where the hell I picked it up from but now it comes as second nature and I don't even realise i'm doing it!

I'm sure people must look at me say to their pals "Check the state of him!"

I think its a nervous energy thing but I do it even when I'm messing about in the studio on my own!

:lol:

[simonp]

When I was first learning to mix vinyl, I developed this strange expressive over exaggeration of everything - even the tiniest eq adjustment.

I don't know where the hell I picked it up from but now it comes as second nature and I don't even realise i'm doing it!

I'm sure people must look at me say to their pals "Check the state of him!"

I think its a nervous energy thing but I do it even when I'm messing about in the studio on my own!

:lol:

Snap - I do all of the over exaggeration knob twiddling and don't even know I'm doing it :lol:

[Sapphire Disco]

Snap - I do all of the over exaggeration knob twiddling and don't even know I'm doing it :lol:

What behind the deck stand :D

[Penfold42]

Google "DFA knob" ;)

LMAO....:D ....bit like RTFM.....:eek:

Twiddle here but only if required - if I feel the sound is not right otherwise no.
I just watch the dance floor and wave my magic.....:p :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I must admit that I don't tend to stand there twiddling my knob but every now and then I will fiddle (or make out that I am fiddling), with the knobs on the mixer to make it look like I am busy, rather than just standing there smiling.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

At mobile do's yes.

In the pub/club, nope. If im playing with my knobs its to do daft things with the sound ;)

[paull]

Definately not.

Although I am getting on a bit, I thought I would go to Ibiza and see how some of the guys out there do things, not just in the clubs, but the bars as well.

I regularly saw big name DJ's making out they were putting in affects and mixing tracks, when it was actualy already on the CD, they were just moving there arms about putting on a show.

Also most of them had Laptops!!!!!!!! Carl Cox, Calvin Harris etc.

Some of the massive names have everything pitched to 128 bpm so they can have more time to put on a visual show.

[Javlingames]

How did you know everything was pitched to 128bpm?

[Kernow]

How did you know everything was pitched to 128bpm?

:offtopic: ;)

Thanks for all your replies so far :thumbs_up:

On the whole, I think it reinforces my view that as long as we promote the impression that DJ'ing is highly technical and complicated (even if it sometimes isn't ;) ) we do far more to preserve the image of the DJ as a skilled professional. We also discourage, to quote Catherine Tate, the "I can do that :confused: " attitude which leads to so much dissapointment among clients when they find themselves faced with 'wannabes" and "quick buckers", with no real understanding of how to do it properly.

[rob1963]

every now and then I will fiddle (or make out that I am fiddling), with the knobs on the mixer to make it look like I am busy, rather than just standing there smiling.

Same here.

The other thing I do several times in the evening it to look up at my pinspots, then look down at the amp, put my hand on one of the gain controls & pretend to turn it up a bit (even though it's already on maximum & obviously has nothing to do with lighting control). I then look at the pinspots again as if I'm checking to see if they now look better, even though I haven't done anything!

:shrug:

[gaza]

Same here.

The other thing I do several times in the evening it to look up at my pinspots, then look down at the amp, put my hand on one of the gain controls & pretend to turn it up a bit (even though it's already on maximum & obviously has nothing to do with lighting control). I then look at the pinspots again as if I'm checking to see if they now look better, even though I haven't done anything!

:shrug:


Are you feeling ok Rob:eek:

[Kernow]

I sometimes slide the fader on an unconnected mixer channel and walk to the far end of the dancefloor, cupping each ear alternately, smiling, and walking back to the decks. :D

[rob1963]

Are you feeling ok Rob:eek:

Very well thank you!

Just giving an honest answer to the question posed in this thread, which I've only just caught up with.

:D :D :D

[A1DL]

I sometimes slide the fader on an unconnected mixer channel and walk to the far end of the dancefloor, cupping each ear alternately, smiling, and walking back to the decks. :D


ummm...why? :confused:


The DFA knob is usually for the benefit of musos/vox when they ask for their (probably already too loud) mons to be turned up further.

"can I have more guitar in my monitor, buddy?"
"sure" (turning DFA knob and thinking "I don't suppose I can have more talent in my wedge?") ;) :)

[paull]

I asked about the the 128bpm as they did not seem to have to make any real adjustment to tracks that I new were at normally at slower / faster speeds. At places like Pacha, they use a drum machine to sync to and have the same beat that underpins a whole set bringing it in at the end of breaks.

Not something you would normally employ at a Family wedding, but the principle of giving a show is still the same.

[Javlingames]

I asked about the the 128bpm as they did not seem to have to make any real adjustment to tracks that I new were at normally at slower / faster speeds. At places like Pacha, they use a drum machine to sync to and have the same beat that underpins a whole set bringing it in at the end of breaks.

Not something you would normally employ at a Family wedding, but the principle of giving a show is still the same.

Do they really? wow

[Kernow]

ummm...why? :confused:

Because it creates the perception, or if you prefer illusion, that if I, as a professional, am happy with the setup, then so should they be ;)

And it works !!! :D

[paull]

is there a reason for the sarcasm, I have upset you in some way?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think you need to quote who you are talking to otherwise it gets a tad confusing.

[andyw]

I think you need to quote who you are talking to otherwise it gets a tad confusing.
who you talking too:sofa: sorry couldn't resist
when i first read the question i thought how silly, but when looking back i think i do turn the odd knob and play with sliders when punters are around

[Javlingames]

is there a reason for the sarcasm, I have upset you in some way?

You havnt upset me in anyway im just shocked that the club dj's in pacha rely on a drum machine which they turn off for each breakdown. It sounds like more effort doing that than just mixing the tracks together seamlessly.

[paull]

Hi Javingames

Thank you

Yes I was suprised. But it was very effective and acted as a sort of common thread to the various tracks and samples being played and also between the DJ's that played. Like you say it is a lot of effort, which is why I imagine they do a lot of the work in the studio before hand sort as setting the BPM to 128 and other edits so that it allows them time to showboat and sound awesome in a club environment.

[Excalibur]

Well sorry folks, but I don't twiddle anything for effect. If I twiddle anything, it damn well needs twiddling.;)

You lot must be way better than me, cos I usually don't have that much spare time! ( And if I do, and can get a signal, I'm on here seeing what's ocurring ) ;) :D