Software DJ's Vs. Turntable/CD DJ's? *oh snap!*

All the DJ's out there, upon seeing the title of this post , will probably know that I am treading on eggshells right now and standing the edge of humanity as we know it just by uttering (well, writing) those words, but hear me out.

This is a dillemma that a lot of DJ's have ( though they may choose not to admit it), and for me, it started when I was about to buy my first ( and current) set of gear. Before I begin, let me re-establish what I mean by Software and Turntable/CD Dj'ing.

By software DJ'ing I mean DJ's who use products like this:

                                                                  

                        

  Shown are the "M-Audio X-Ponent Controller" and "Vestax VCL-100"

And, by Turntable /CD Dj's , I mean DJ's who use something like this to DJ:

                                                                      

Now the difference between the Software DJ and Turntable/CD DJ equipment is that on the Software DJ equip, there's usually a "sync" ( or something simillar) button that uses the xompurwe to beatmatch (sync) the music where as on turntables and (MOST) CDJ's, there's only a pitch control and DJ's have to manually sync it using their own ear training and practise.

Now, here in, lies the problem.

In the eyes of a "Software"  DJ, they feel that their system is better because it costs less, they have to spend less time beat matching, which they feel they could use to actually "mix", and there's no small beatmatching mistakes that come along with being a human and not having the precision of a computer to syncronize your beats for you.

In the eyes of a "Purist" DJ whose been using and have started on Turntables and CDJ's, it feels as if software DJ's are the death of the industry and tradition. I mean I'll admit, I certainly thought that way for a long time , just because, to me, beatmaching felt like the most BASIC skill that I had to learn to be called a "DJ" , just like, to be called a human, you must be able to walk ( no offence to mah homies on wheels, just a figure of speech). Other than that, I just couldn't bare to be seen infront of a small clunk of plastic for dj'ing. But anyways this frame of thought always made me think of myself higher than software dj's for the longest time, just because I was able to beatmatch and they weren't , but now I realize that this isn't true. Well, after talking to one of my good friend's "DJ Joshi*Toshi"  that is.

I've come to the realization that ,this huge debate of "SOFTWARE VS TURNTABLE DJ" only exists in the DJ world, and when it comes down to it, the public ( who are the people on the dance floor) could care less. All they care about is, if you can deliver an unforgettable experience for them through the night and can keep the music going without any train wrecks. The snuff of turntable DJ's feeling superior to software DJ's "JUST because they can" beatmatch is fading quickly as technology continues to evolve. Change is coming, and we as DJ's must not be held back by fear of beat counters becoming more advanced, because lets face it, if you're only leaving it to your beatmatching skills to give you an edge over other DJ's, you're not a good DJ at all in the first place because there's certainly MUCH MORE to DJ'ing than just beatmatching

So the moral is:
The Tech(Turntables, CDJ's, or Software) doesn't make the DJ sound good, The DJ makes the Tech sound good.


so all you Dj's that are cowering in disgust by looking at the USB Controllers, take the plunge, and try it out!