On Djing...

yeah, numbers just had a huge bump here today. that + approaching winter means less activity than usual.

UK is just back to normal. They don't even ask for a Covid passport, nothing. They've given up. Mind you it does mean a return to dancing but hmmm

so clearly at some point I'll have to convert or re-download all the FLACs that I have if I ever want to use a CDJ system. What file format, bitrate, etc. should I use to get the best combination of sound quality, features, versatility? Note that I am using a Windows PC to manage files, so I don't know if that rules out AIFF or not.

you'll need lots of space but aiff imo. it has a header for metadata, wav doesn't. there are easy to use flac converters out there, i use one called fre:ac. most everything will convert to 16 bit 44.1 khz.i.e. cd quality.

you might want to check the official support for flac on pioneer cdjs though? iirc most of the newer ones do support flac. so it might not be a huge issue depending on where you're thinking about playing.

i would only convert if i knew what i wanted to play on didn't support flac, and then only what i wanted to play for the gig if i were in your shoes, but then i always go for the laziest option when it comes to this kind of thing.

I just use 320kps mp3s. :)))

I'll probably wait on converting files until I know I need it, but I'm definitely going to be downloading more stuff and just want to get whatever is most versatile. It doesn't seem like FLAC is there yet.

like n.b. i'm old & tired, but i enjoy it when theres nights that are built around "so and so is a big obsessive collector of rare [niche genre] records and these are the gems of their collection", which is different from saddo oohing and aahing over their discogs stats, but will also mean that person will spin a... certainly not "better" but "different" set from someone putting together a set in that genre put together via files exclusively. its not 'realer' or more authentic or whatever, but imho just that both approaches each have their own unique capacities to bring out different eccentricities of the DJ & their selections.

― nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Monday, November 8, 2021 10:13 AM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

I have a friend here who used to a do some nights like this here in Philly and let me tell you, this man's record collection is unbelievable, same with his book collection, but that's because that's what he does for a living.

But if it were a funk and soul night, it would be a bit disappointing if it were MP3s being mixed digitally. May as well put a Spotify playlist on
― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Monday, 8 November 2021

No, just run it through tape saturation and a compressor and you've got pseudo-analog emulation and more.

I definitely can play a few different sets, but I haven't gotten many new records in over ten years, so that's a bit of a funny predicament to be in.

UK is just back to normal. They don't even ask for a Covid passport, nothing. They've given up. Mind you it does mean a return to dancing but hmmm

Uh, England, not UK. Covid passports here in Scotland, and Wales. lots of people getting knocked back from clubs here for not having their vaccine passport. but otherwise, back to normal here too.

I'm talking to a bar about doing a night playing private press soft rock and lounge records! Really excited! Has anyone had any luck replacing the Technics 1200 ground wire? I bought my turntables in '95 and they are troopers but the grounds sometimes cause issues.

yes, i have replaced mine just fine (i didn't do it so can't say how to though).

Relevant to the dJ dIsCoUrSe

honestly one of the best dj sets we ever saw was a single deck, no mixing, bit of tension between each tune, felt like an education

— Boomkat.com (@boomkatonline) November 8, 2021

I appreciate that, I am generally in the long fade minimal mix Levan-esque style myself

same. i once saw jah shaka play on a single deck and it was phenomenal. at one point he was in the middle of rolling a massive spliff when the record finished. he paused for a moment and then took the decision that finishing rolling the joint was more pressing than putting the next record on.

see also david mancuso.

I'd like to know what that set was. Used to enjoy the Jamaican elder who would spin reggae 45s in a pub I grew up near. One table and a cheap keyring sound machine which had been amped up somehow so he could press it while changing the record. It was brill

Hah xpost. It wasn't Jah Shaka. I don't think. Maybe?! But this was Hitchin so probably not

oops sorry I meant Mancuso, thank you!

long day at work lol

does anyone else here actually do live FM radio or am I the only one?

Where can we hear your radio show?

www.kwvaradio.org

on now actually, but not live-in-studio cuz COVID

4-6 PM Pacific time

That's us told

What the fuck is so hard bout djing that u guys need to talk abo t it this fucking much

— fka (@angelplaysmusic) November 8, 2021

lol

Is there something I missed? The whole of my Twitter feed seems to be people talking about people who talk about DJing tonight

I used to have a show on KVRX UT's college station with a friend, it was a blast especially with the calls we would get for requests.

really enjoying your show, sleeve. that bitchin bajas was so good and this 'sky ion' track is right up my street. is the rest of the album as good?

yes!! an obscure fave of mine

https://www.discogs.com/release/1416828-Rupert-Randall-Chappelle-Ozone-Music

he was also in a more minimal synth style 80's duo:
https://www.discogs.com/master/1794607-Arthur-Harrison-Rupert-Chappelle-Jobs-For-America

and has a weird Psychodrama connection as well

thanks. new to me - will investigate further.

this Alice Damon too!!

sleeve, I did college and community radio for years. it was my absolute favorite thing to do and i miss it dearly.

i did a community radio show for a few months in moab ut, it was awesome.

I loved doing radio. Was music director of my college station, WOBC in Oberlin and have done a bunch of guest spots on WFMU AND WNYU. I really miss it. When I make mixes at home I get really precious about it and take forever and only do it when invited by someone. Doing a regular live show is such a different feel and vibe. I’ve been lobbying to get a show on The Lot in NYC but apparently no longer have the caché.

I’ve had invites to contribute to other online stations but I just don’t want to record mixes ahead of time. I have to do it live somehow.

otm. ive been on fm for various stations for a lot of years now. when the pandemic hit at my station we all started prerecording our shows at home, but it was just 1000% less fun and i figured out how to patch in live from my home studio as fast as i could. i mean i love making mixes and stuff too, but its a different animal, being live is its own thing. it definitely makes me a better DJ, not being able to fuss over things and having to focus.

Dan, i was station manager at WOBC when i was there, tho i think we know that about each other.

Yeah, when was that again?

I was there from 93-97. I was "freeform music director" second semester of my first year and Music Director the rest of the time.

it became more of a "thing" when i was there— only juniors and seniors had higher-level staff positions.

i was freeform director my sophomore and part of my junior year, then was station manager from winter term junior year to fall of senior year— I basically ran the station while having a nervous breakdown (occasionally documented on this forum!) that fall, then took senior spring off. my final semester was spent as electronic director.

this was exactly ten years after you were there, 03-07.

speaking of college radio, i'm on air at good ol' KTUH FM Honolulu for the next two hours, raising money for the annual pledge drive.

tune in if y'like: http://ktuh.org

Cheeky plug, but as we're talking radio, and I don't often get to do this, I've got a guest mix playing out tonight at 8pm GMT as part of a show by the Back Room on lovesumerradio.com

Shoot, guess I just missed it. U gonna post it on their Mixcloud?

I think it almost certainly will, and if not I'll post it up myself

Since you asked, here it is: https://www.mixcloud.com/charliestoic/ravey-bangers-mix-for-the-back-room-lovesummerradiocom/

fun mix! That Jon Talabot remix is a recent favorite of mine as well

yes, it's great - i believe it was our very own mount4in g0at who got me into it and i try and drop it every chance i get. cheers davey!

so by throwing these parties and connecting with new people here, i've run across this kid whose disco mix is really freaking good. i don't think he's really "trying to dj" but i'm going to ask if he wants to play at the next party we do. i'm going to post the mix here if people don't mind, it isn't like it hasn't gotten plenty of listens but i think it would be funny if suddenly he got 10 new plays from the uk or whatever.

https://soundcloud.com/sam-armend-riz/disco-shoes-on-vinyl-2020mix

i'm djing tonight for the first time since early march of 2020. Benefit for Good Room in NYC. I'm djing with the italomatic party in the smaller "bad room". I'm going double-masked and feel weird about it. Wish me luck.

good luck, dan. i'm sure once you are in about it all you won't feel so weird about it.

Thanks