DJs... What do you think of Ableton laptop DJs?

[djaccel]

My question to the DJs who use vinyl and/or CDJs (I own and use both) is...

What do you think about people who do their sets with Ableton on a laptop?

Am I the only one who gets a little irritated at people actually getting booked playing out who just set warp markers and loops and decide when to cue stuff?

I'm not trying to start any fighting one way or another, I just wanna know how you all feel about that.

[moki]

Might as well watch the computer without the dude in my opinion. I want to see decks.

[wayoftheworld]

i guess its kinda boring watching someone press buttons behind a laptop, but then i dont think most people really care as long as the dance is going off. just depends really. of course the majority of the vinyl only dj's aren't gonna be down.

djing with ableton isn't really at all like traditional djing. for me personally, a good ableton set with a dj that really knows his shit can be wayyy more sonically interesting than a vinyl only set or whatever.

[djaccel]

Yeah, that's true, but everyone I've ever seen or shared a stage with isn't doing anything more than what I stated above. Set markers, cue.

I've spent a long time on the decks honing my skills and seeing someone work tunes together with their bare hands and creativity is something special for me.

[wayoftheworld]

i think the problem arises from two things. first, that it is so damn simple to dj with ableton, almost anyone can do it. and as a result, you get a lot of boring dj sets where the dj doesn't feel the need, or doesn't know how to really push the boundaries of the software. i would definetly prefer a vinyl dj in most cases, you just can't mimic that vinyl warmth on a big system with a laptop. but on the other hand, there's no denying the mindblowing possibilities and potential of an ableton set in the hands who really can push the limits of the software.

and the other problem comes down to comparing djing with ableton to traditional djing. ableton can definetly do the more traditional, 2 song thing well, but any dj who limits theirself to this approach isn't even coming close to pushing the software. what i mean is that: trying to emulate traditional djing with ableton = boring. but a producer/dj who knows his shit can really go off the deep end with ableton in a live context. consider: mixing any number of loops in unusual, non-traditional ways, remixing and recording on the fly into new, launchable clips in front of the audience, throwing in midi, having the whole ableton arsenal of fx to fuck the sound with, follow actions......there's no limits really when you stop comparing ableton to traditional djing, and start seeing it more as a live set. it's a completely different animal

plus i think it's a lil more bearable when the ableton dj is using something like the launchpad or apc or whatever, lots of controller interaction and pretty, flashing lights......a bit more engaging than someone hidden behind a lappy.

[serox]

My question to the DJs who use vinyl and/or CDJs (I own and use both) is...

What do you think about people who do their sets with Ableton on a laptop?

Am I the only one who gets a little irritated at people actually getting booked playing out who just set warp markers and loops and decide when to cue stuff?

I'm not trying to start any fighting one way or another, I just wanna know how you all feel about that.

I cannot stand it.

It is not DJing at all and should just be called a 'laptop set'. I have seen shitloads of people come out of nowhere who download music and use Ableton who have never spent anytime searching for records or practicing mixing. You can teach a monkey to use Ableton live to play mp3s in 30mins.

I know there are some impressive things that can be done but hardly anyone does anything impressive. If you want to play live get some fucking hardware and make ur music live.

[Disco Nutter]

I personally don't care if its Serato, Traktor, Ableton Live, Cd, vinyl or winamp. If the DJ can make me dance then it's ok.

Jason

[fuzionmuse]

I don't care. I use traktor because I want the vinyl feel but the freedom to have ALL my tracks a click away and the benefit of software tricks that I wouldn't have any other way. I don't use Ableton on gigs, and to be honest, have never really figured out how it would be very practical... Who knows...

[deadly_habit]

not this shit again...

[babylonjunkies]

if you're gonna ableton. do something siiick and original. if not, whats the point?

[FSTZ]

3 of my favorite selectas use ableton

dave & dhruva from NYC and Phaded in chitown

they have access to amazing tunes and rock the f**king party

when you are on the dancefloor getting sammiched by multiple chicks

you arent worrying about wtf the dj is playing on

[frank grimes jr.]

Getting paid is getting paid.

I only play vinyl, who give a fuck about the next guy?

[jsills]

if

they have access to amazing tunes and rock the f**king party

when you are on the dancefloor getting sammiched by multiple chicks

you arent worrying about wtf the dj is playing on

i also agree with the cats who think that there needs to be something more interesting than just mixing 2 channels. its cool for mashups, throwing in samples, effects, loops etc. like others have said, that is where an ableton dj is going to shine. obviously its not going to be about their beatmatching skill but rather their track selection and creativity. i totally understand vinyl purism and i like djs who play vinyl but a good party is a good party no matter the format.

[Pedro Sánchez]

not this shit again...

At least one a month in every music forum I read, apart from the ableton forum where it's 'Ableton Users... What do you think of Vinyl DJs?'

[Hurtdeer]

as long as it sounds good man, the only people who really give a shit about the whole thing are other DJs who think things need to be a certain way

i use a laptop because i can't afford decks, nor can i be bothered with paying for dubplates of my own tunes so i can play them. people still dance. it's all gravy.

people who queue stuff without some EQing though, that just sounds awful

[corpu5]

i dont think it matters at all, if the dj's shit, he's shit.....vinyl or software user. I personally dont go to raves just to see decks, i go to see dj mix well, play some bangers and get the crowd pumped by getting involved with the good vibes. Besides....without software like ableton you wont get insane minimixes like this ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKWAsi3EYbc if that went off in a club it would be absolute carnage! it'd also confuse so many people haha, of course you wouldnt mix in real time with a minimix....still sounds sick though

[knobby_roots]

if

they have access to amazing tunes and rock the f**king party

when you are on the dancefloor getting sammiched by multiple chicks

you arent worrying about wtf the dj is playing on

i also agree with the cats who think that there needs to be something more interesting than just mixing 2 channels. its cool for mashups, throwing in samples, effects, loops etc. like others have said, that is where an ableton dj is going to shine. obviously its not going to be about their beatmatching skill but rather their track selection and creativity. i totally understand vinyl purism and i like djs who play vinyl but a good party is a good party no matter the format.

. i hate djs who press play on their tracks on ableton, however, the djs who go up there and get super creative with ableton, sickest shit ive ever seen....bassnectar throws it down with ableton, and he is more busy up there on teh stage than any person i've ever seen spin vinyll.

i.e. z-trip plays vinyll lots of times, which is sick, he's a badass dude, but i honestly have more fun at a bassnectar show when hes playin thru ableton, the oppurtunities are endless with ableton, and when a dj takes it to the max live, it's the coolest thing ever

[steppo]

i personally would never do such a thing but if other people do whatever

[Sharmaji]

3 of my favorite selectas use ableton

dave & dhruva from NYC and Phaded in chitown

they have access to amazing tunes and rock the f**king party

when you are on the dancefloor getting sammiched by multiple chicks

you arent worrying about wtf the dj is playing on

thx bro

yeah i'm sayin, if all you're seeing are weak dj's running tunes w/ no rhyme or reason, ,you've gotta check for some better nights. Ableton's just a tool, as are decks.

[marshy]

I think it totally depends on what their trade is.

Personally i've never DJ'd, not that i don't want to but as a Uni student i don't have the funds for all the equipment plus shelling out for vinyl (I made that thread a few weeks back about producing without any DJing if you remember).

I'm still very tempted to use ableton LE, get a shit cheap controller like a Nocturn and just shift through my library at local events and that. If i enjoy what i'm doing and learn some skills along the way, so be it.

As someone else said, just don't look at it as technically 'DJing'. It's a different form of playing music at an event, it doesn't need to be put under the same label.