DJ ICEMAN WEIGHS IN ON THE DIGITAL VS VINYL DEBATE

[zorenofzennor]

sorry this is lengthy ...needs to be read from the bottom section up 5 in total starts at hey Ice man ...cheers ZofZ

[zorenofzennor]

so Djs ...wake Up ...If youve got the vlnyl play it ...if youve got Digital equipment use it...and instead of disrespecting your elder DJs ....as if they are all dynosaurs.... .loosen up ...you might find they know a thing or 2 that you dont ....hey ho gotto go and as Don Cornelius would say Peace Love and SOul ... hmmm had a sudden thought ...how many young people who are gonna read this are gonna go ...WHo ? time to learn my brothers .....haha ,,,

[zorenofzennor]

I can speak from experience ...being able to chop up music on the fly using various digital kit ....being able to make Mashups at home to play in my sets ...knowing that No-One ...absolutely NO one has a copy of what im playing gives me a real buzz ...back in the early 80s I would buy Hot tracks and Disconet 12 inches from the states at £25 a go just to have tunes other djs didnt have ....Now I make my own I can even Mashup the mashups ....

[zorenofzennor]

originally the music business didnt want records ...then they didnt want radio stations playing records ...they didnt want drum machines and Synthesizers in the early 80s ....always instead of seeing the benefits ...people kept seeing the negatives ....Having been a Dj Since the mid 70s ...

[zorenofzennor]

I would also suggest as both you and Schies Tv has already stated in another comment , djs if you dont know your history then read ...Last night a DJ Saved My Life ...its a great book and will help everyone understand how the dj and Music has changed the world and all the "nonsense....thrown at djs and recorded music over the years ...

[zorenofzennor]

Hey Ice Man ...Your On the case and definately in the right lane ....in the late 70s in the uk the BIG topic was ...mixing or talking ....and the outcry was unbelievable ...and here we are 30 years on and still debating Vinyl , digital etc .. I remember writing to a Dj magazine back then saying "use whatever works for you " dont be blind to the future....and the ones who wouldnt see just fell by the way side

[drealgeorge]

You don't have to cause to make your Point..

[GMcC1875]

PERIOD

[MichaelBurt13]

you know what im saying...

[rarebeats77]

made some good points here man, I think the main problem with most djs of today is that they are too ignorant, they don't seem to respect the roots of dj culture, its like anyone can dj nowadays with all of the available software, although not against digital, I just think if your a true lover of music and djing, you should at least acknowledge the fact it take tremendous amount of practice and skill to pull off a good set

[PreditaUK]

This is the opinion I wish so many others would take, at least to stop the same boring argument happening over and over again.

I don't claim to be an amazing DJ, but I respect that different people work in different ways.

My first DJ experience was admittedly on a controller, but since, I have gone out and bought vinyl decks, as well as upgrading my digital setup, because I believe it is very important to understand multiple disciplines, as this will give transferable skills

[bownies123]

ONE of the reasons why I started mixing, was because I got so infused and obsessed with the history and the evolution of DJ and Rave culture when I was being lectured on it during my Geography Degree. Ive read around 24 different books on the subjects. But I play vinyl because it makes me happy and comfortable. Its what does it for ME! Plus. People should use the equipment they feel is right for them! A good DJ should be able to read the crowd, take them on a journey. Thats the real skill!

[VinylPusherRecords]

add to this, if you music collection does not exceed Beatport top 100, your a SHIT C#@T! If you think that being a DJ is working when you get the gig then, your a SHIT C@#T! a working DJ works all week on technique, music hunting,etc.the GIG is the Pay off, when you have fun and get paid! A DJ is a full time JOB, A FULL TIME DJ is Not being the friend of a promoter and working for free THATS NOT A JOB THATS BEING YOU SHIT C#@T! And dont get me started if you have blond hair and tits please! OUT!

[armsinmotion]

Word to this guy, use what you got and make it work for you. Same thing with studio equipment, you might have all the money in the world with the latest tech, or you might have a broken old mpc and a tape deck.. just make it work for you. The end justifies the means baby!

[DJTopoX]

AMEN!!!!!!BRO WELL SAID.

[DJTVee]

Real talk .. hopefully others will learn from it! :) Our feature guy @ dj-tv.co.uk

[loganknoll]

fucking right on man

[Paullorainetv]

Ice Ice baby!!! I'm with you 100% amigo

[deejayaudio1]

100% in agreement with you ICEMAN!

[leoninesith]

May me proud bro! I remember back in the day we did a party and use cd player and a tape deck on the mixer we still rock tha house ~Tha MBJ

[tazzzy505]

I know what you're saying

[YesheGyatso]

Fuckin right man!! Fucks today have not a fucking clue

[PopTopRising2013]

True that!!!!! I started out in 1992 making cut and edit remix tapes from CDs on my Moms home stereo, later buying 1 Sanyo servo drive turntable w/ 6% + - pitch, a 2 channel Radio Shack mixer(no EQ) w/ a stiff ass crossfader and hi-jacking the CD player from my Moms system!!! I love all the new toys coming out, truly an awesome time to be a DJ!!!! Thank you,Ice Man!!!! Awesome words!!!! : ))))))

[QBziZ]

most important thing for a dj : love for the music

[xxbouncexx88]

"Stay in your lane" - Amen!

*favorite* *subscribe*

[MasterHak]

much respect for the eye opener bro...thanks

[frequencies2001]

This is Shawn "DJ Bass" Davis! In 1984 I started out Dj'ing With a Boombox And A Technics Sl 23 belt drive...and an AKAI 777 DBX Reel to Reel...I have been thru Vinyl, Cd Minidisc and Now I Use Serato with a pair of Denon S5000 Digital Turntables..I Spin 2-3 times weekly in various locations and since many of my gigs are outdoors, this is the best way for me to go...Check my stats! I Charge EXTRA to bring my Tech 12'sWe Should always try all formats just in case what you like becomes antiquated.

[deviant2k]

and THATS the time I understood what it meant to be a DJ.

[deviant2k]

bigicedog: Arguing about which medium is better is pointless because each person has his or her own preference. However you contradicted yourself about one thing. You expect the newcomers to learn their history and techniques right? Virtual DJ and a fast internet for downloading music does not help in this regard at all. I too started off with virtual DJ like every other kid on the block but the only time I improved as a DJ and picked up new techniques is after I bought turntables. 

[radiofc]

@deviant2k couldn't agree more - I really like VDJ but I adore my TTs and vinyl

[bigicedog]

@radiofc you do realize that virtual dj has a dvs component too right?

[radiofc]

@bigicedog I do indeed sir, bought the control records, configured them (eventually) and I played with them a few times but I still find myself being drawn back to the originals - it's bloody expensive though so I would only buy tunes I really, really like in physical form and for gigs where it's (sadly) not stuff I love but have to play I buy the digital version - let's not get into the argument about compromising one's taste for the audience or we'll be here for an eternity! :)

[bigicedog]

@radiofc no kidding i think too many djs "sell their souls"so to speak.instead of trying to build an audience with the same musical tastes some would rather play the flavors of the month just to get paid. now i understand that some of us HAS to do it to put food on the table and im not knocking that at all ive had to do it to. but some in doing this lose sight of why they became djs. THEIR OWN LOVE OF MUSIC!!

[bigicedog]

@deviant2k you do realize that virtual dj has a dvs component too right?

[Patr999]

I kind of agree with you but the most important part is: Do the crowd have fun and enjoy your gig ?

The crown do not give a shit about if it is vinyl or digital.

Arguing about vinyl vs digital is a little like arguing about driving a manual vs an automatic car transmission.

Oh and please stop saying every 5 words "Ya know what I'm saying" It is anoying and sounds a little retarded.

[djosheen]

real djs rock on anything and everything in the game 1983 on they ain't nothing you can throw at classic guys like us !

[MrTimeNice]

YUP... 3 simple words... Rock the Crowd! I've seen full dance floors & crowds loving it for every type of media out there. To the cat that says he'd rather spend 4 hours on marketing than on DJ skills... that won't last... Even people who are not DJ's will leave the dancefloor when you train wreck every mix & pull terrible selections

[lipton4598]

I like your message dude...

[GTACONOR]

Nice video, although I do think it's a valid point to say that it'd be nice to see more djs on vinyl. I don't care for all the legit dj bull shit bla bla like you said in the vid, but the difference with vinyl and why I think more djs should use it is because it's dying and unless the big players start using it then in 20 years time people aren't even gonna know what a record is

[ProfitMuhammed]

And 128k mp3's sound better than vinyl, vinyl is nearly the vhs of music

[ProfitMuhammed]

no one cares about history, u aint gutta duu cetain tings, real dj's dont need to do everything . Its all bout economics u phatty. I dj for money, id rather spend 4 hours markerting myself than learning dj skills.

[DeadAirDj]

Yes, Yes, and uhm, yes. I grew up playing on virtual deejay/vinyl. I grew up learning to beat match by ear. I still only use hardware to this day. You make some valid points bro, you also ramble a lot. True, there are people who do have the capacity to hold much more knowledge about deejaying than i do, but that does not mean the passion is not there. That does not mean the want to know is not there. That does not mean the skill is not there. Lots of the new deejays grow up in the hiphop scene.

[DeadAirDj]

The hiphop scene is dead and looking to Electronica for extensions. The hiphop scene doesn't do much justice for deejays. Bottom line, I have been mixing and mashing for over 10 years and yet to find a dude as passionate as you are. Please keep our fight alive, I do my homework, Juno reactor, pete tong, dj AM(RIP), Quick, BBB, I do my homework.

[bitsanbobs101]

Digital vs Vinyl dispute?? what bollocks,

what about devoting time to exposing something that is a billion times more important than Digital vs vinyl, i.e new world order.

Sodium Fluoride works a charm

[xXDjOdysseyXx]

you know i get what you saying and i use my ns7 like a table i beat match not looking i take old school and respect to my elder djs but i think you can still be just as great on controllers are vinyl dvs are records

[jacobgreenland2011]

You know what im sayin?

[statikeffeck]

KNOWLEDGE iceman!!

[seekabs]

Great video man! I rock Serato, and I've been playing since '84, but I respect ALL forms of talent when it comes to this thing we love. I look at controllerism as a different leg of the same body. The only thing I don't support is the new schoolers who look at us like we need to give it up, and dump our turntables. I also can't co-sign the software doing the work for you. Like you said beat matching should be the first thing learned. I for one welcome the competition!

[jaydanproprecs]

Lololol Realtalk. Stay in your lane haha Love that. I started out on vinyl, i used to cut dubplates aswell but most of the youngers now dont even know what a dubplate is. I now use cds as it suits me as a producer and allows me to quickly finish of a track and play it that night. Its about the performance not the medium when you got history.

[Chebiva]

I just got put in my place.

[granshaman]

Is that a controller behind him?

[bigicedog]

@granshaman yes it is its my vms2

[EltronOfficial]

@granshaman looks like a vestax or numark, could be wrong

[SchiesTV]

This video definately opened my eyes and found myself nodding to every point you made. I just started DJ'ing over the summer but before I even began I made it clear to myself that I would learn the history behind it from those that came before me. First book I picked up was by Frank Broughton and Bill Brewster "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" if anyone is new to DJ'ing pick up this book. Appreciate the video man!

[bigicedog]

@SchiesTV thank you

[edyken77]

@SchiesTV just wondering, as a new dj, were you compelled to learn how to match beats or do you think that is a waste of time?

[SchiesTV]

@edyken77 I wanted to learn everything that I could about DJ'ing when I first started out. I believe that being able to beat match two songs together is absolutely necessary and should be one of the first things you learn. Software can only do so much when syncing two songs together. Although it it is a useful tool and saves time however as I am starting to realize after writing this response...it honestly all comes down to respecting the DJ's that paved the way for us to do what we love to do.

[bigicedog]

@SchiesTV djing is like jeet-kune-do take the basics,and then strip away all the unnecessary techniques,and use only the ones that make sense to you and what you do.you dont need to know a million scratches if your not gonna be a scratch dj. be flexible enough to adapt to new styles ("be water my friend") and always train you body,mind and spirit with constant practice and you will be on your path.

[edyken77]

@SchiesTV hell yea man. If you notice, there is a whole new wave of kids who think that learning how to mix is not really important. I think what happens is they try it once or twice, realize it's hard as fuck, and then notice that you don't have to go through all that if you just buy a controller (which is cheaper than decks/cdjs + mixer). Then they have the gall to say no one cares if you're really mixing. Well what the hell else are you up there doing if you aren't mixing?

[olliebrooke]

@SchiesTV That book is the bible

[playbowplay412]

here my 2 cents i use fucking serato and i love with vinyl and cds so you need to check your fucken self ya i been djing for fucking years it sound like you mad cause you dont have no gigs or you can not afford rane your a fucking hater and ill under cut you to get this fucking paper so dont hate on the next dude its all a hustle step your game up

[bigicedog]

@playbowplay412 like i said do you fam,and trust im not mad at all i have no shortage of gigs.it sounds like your unsure of your skills.a really good dj shouldnt have to undercut another dj,in fact they should be able to command more than the previous dj just on talent alone

[kamin8807]

can i take you to my next club gig interview? you can do all the talking

[CentrebreakDnb]

People like me, who are only starting to get into djing, really need to watch this video to put us in our place. Learning the history behind your hobby is one of the most inportant things. Practicing like hell to be able to by ear beat match anything (within reason) is my main aim so far. Tips?

[pwnsaucepwny]

Dude. The transcribe audio for this video is absolutely hilarious. I'm not hatin' on you at all, Iceman, it's just funny as fuck

[bigicedog]

@pwnsaucepwny nawwhutinsayin?

[bcroninuk]

I love the digital dj stuff. I started back in oooo 96 or so. Vinyls, then cds now mp3s. Got a controller and its my fave. My set up of 1210s, cd decks, mixer took up a lot of space. My controller sits on my lap (well on a desk). The crowd does not care what you use, nor how you beat match (old skool use your ears or press the sync button), all they care about is your music choice and the mix itself. I do not think I would ever go back to vinyl, carrying boxes around etc.

[DigitalDJTips]

You've kept it real, you had me nodding in agreement beginning to end.

[bigicedog]

@DigitalDJTips thank you sorry for all the cursing(its the new yorker in me coming out LOL)

[gadget609]

i feel u dogg i've been in it to win it since 86

[JungleChemist]

#REALNESS

[ThesisOriginals]

Most Djs Don't break new record by hot indie or local artist and radio dj are just on the air personalites

[dronken]

one two one two.. yes yes iceman tellin it like it is my man

[P2theJ85]

True that. Who gives a fuck. And for the youngens... Just practice :) thanks ice dog ima go play with my mpc right now bitches!

[twist8705]

It's DJ Carmine checkin in. Very respectable video dude. Even though I'm a turntable/serato guy, I agree. Use what you are comfortable with. With 30 years , I do believe you should be able to rock on what you want to. The only time I don't like when cats come in all digital are the new cats like you mentioned. The ones who don't want to learn anything. The ones who just get VDJ one day and the next day they are in the club undercutting. Other than that, rock on whatever you rock on.

[PreposterousMusic]

"Vinyl - Its all we had" HAD

[1984JammyG]

Well said mate! :)

[bigicedog]

1 DISLIKE!! I GOT MY FIRST HATER ON THIS VID LOL. WELCOME

[tidykris]

its only shit no-name dj's who complain about this anyway, if your a good dj then you know this argument is just bullshit!! Big up iceman and like you said: if your rocking the crowd, thats al that matters!!

[LNDLmikey]

Respect.. Well said big man

[crugga]

Great video.

I'd still rather play vinyl but a lot of new music that I wanna play isnt getting a vinyl release. Anything pre 2003 though will always be vinyl, just something about playing it I dont feel from cds. As it goes ive got my trusty 1995 1200s as well as some cdjs.

Just cant beat the buzz of finding a tune in a charity shop or boot fair for no money that youve been hunting down for years. I did read infact that 90% of music made isnt available other than vinyl.

[ianjohn05]

Amen!

Been DJing since 1988. Not as long as you. I was a vinyl DJ since 2008. In 2008 I moved from California to Moscow, Russia and moved to Serato because I could only bring so many records at a time from one side of the planet to the other. The problem today is fewer and fewer labels are pressing vinyl.

I did how ever find a niche market here in Moscow playing 90s parties. And yea, those parties are 100 %Pure vinyl.

Rock on!

[LizardDuke]

yes... I know what you are saying... stop asking !

[djondeck00]

Real talk, I agree 100%

[dmediamond]

Tell it like it is Ice! Here in DC, there's a ton of so called dj's here, hell for that matter, some are even on radio and do not, I repeat, do not deserve to be called a dj. I had to share this video with a few. This is a topic discussed all of the time. Spin on bruh! Salute!

[maniacalone80]

A lot of wisdom in your statement......I've seen so-called disc jockeys today that come in with 1200's with all the trimmings........and still be considered "ill prepared".

[edyken77]

Love it - learn your history!

[groovindj]

Respect to the Iceman!

[TheCybertrash]

Big ups Iceman, refreshing to see someone from a hip-hop background with a little more "modern" perspective on the entire controllers vs vinyl debacle, most hip-hop guys seem to be of the "vinyl or die" variety. Enjoying your vids, keep it up!

[bboyjin777]

I agree (Thumbs up)!

[D0ITT0IT]

Thanks for making this. As a DJ of only 2 years, I'm glad to see a veteran not belittle me for using Traktor. I'm so passionate about this music and what I do, and when I get thrown under the bus with every other noob DJ who thinks DJing is pressing play on iTunes, it sucks. But thanks for making this again, time to go practice some more.

[thequikness420]

@D0ITT0IT Lol mate you have no right to be calling anyone a noob DJ you've only been at it 2 years.... Maybe this attitude towards people is why your always getting thrown under the bus :P

[johnnystormofficial]

Great video man so true, I'm a young seventeen year old producer and DJ. I have mad respect for the older guys who have been doing this longer then I am, I know they have more knowledge then I do so I look up to these guys. Personally I use traktor and a controller to DJ with and I'm comfortable with it, also I'm going to be getting a Akai LP8 soon which I will be using to DJ with soon as well. But I just wanted to say, great video man I'm subbing.

[asonic01]

You are RIGHT!! On the FKNG MONEY!!!!! Invest your time in your work instead of wasting it on hatting others

[DJDannyBoy631]

Lovin this, your opinion makes sense and seems like more facts than opinion, and this is comin from a 21 year old Serato user who started on vinyl when I was 16...Respect man ha your videos r awesome

[DareUtoLoveMusicMore]

(if you're a real DJ)"You should be able to go out there and beat on a fucking box and make the crowd jump" HAHAHA priceless dude. Well said!

[DJPsychoDTM]

Big Ice....I got your back.

Coming from another 30 year vet....

Some of these new jacks need a diaper and a pacifier....stop being babies and LEARN YOUR CRAFT!!!!

[TheKermit3131]

I think in the past, just getting and the vinyl weeded out a lot of the pricks. You had to be truly commited to spend that money and time to get a collection before you have the skills to make it pay for itself. And to get those limited white lables you had to deserve it. But on the flip side, we will probably end up with more great DJs we will just have more pricks to watch out for.

[bigicedog]

@TheKermit3131 now as far as getting music the playing field is level,so now you have to step up the creativity in how you play that music,this is where we separate the good djs from the bad ones

[TheKermit3131]

@bigicedog I agree, and thanks for all the vape advice, you and Grimm are my go to guys.

[BrenCford]

It depends on the arena; most people don't want to hear on the fly mashups, fx and etc, there is an audience who appreciate a DJ's bag of tricks which is primarily other DJ's and some DJ enthusiasts, for the most part DJ'ing is not about the DJ but the guests, they want to hear their favoirite hits the way nature intended, not mashed, not at +6% pitch etc. In reality the best skill a DJ can have is good track selection based on reading a crowd.

[crugga]

@BrenCford

The best djs imo are rarely the most technically gifted, they just play the right tunes at the right time.

I think what comes with experience is that you become your own as a dj, kids just imitate badly and try and sound like there idol, usually badly.

[edyken77]

@crugga exactly! The ones who find that right track for the current mood. Overlooked aspect of DJing for sure! There are those that know how to read and react to a crowd, and then there are those who sort of ignore the crowd and think playing 4 tracks at once and playing with the loops and faders constantly is what makes a DJ good.

[thequikness420]

@BrenCford Lol i always play at +6% pitch... :(

[thudrumble]

Haha! Thumbs up!

[ChoeKonit]

"I deserve my dues"

"Before you can call yourself a DJ there are certain things you gotta know, you gotta do"

MAD fucking love and respect for this dude!! Bro, I'm sharing this shit!! Please send it as a response to my video and put a soundcloud link or something in your description, I wanna check you out. After 30 years (even though you do look 24 haha) You could probably teach most of us a thing or 12.

(I want to hit gig theft in another video)

"Our Goal as DJs is to rock a fucking crowd"

[bigicedog]

@ChoeKonit thank you for the love i already posted it as a video response on your vid.

[jhenry248]

woosah my brother..LOL! good vid.

[DJbizzum]

dude your 23 to 24 years old max, how you been rocking it for 30 years, i still see your womb sack behind you for gods sake.

lol, my firend you look amazing then for your age, i seriously thought you where 22 to 24 years old. keep it rocking

[bigicedog]

@DJbizzum thank you. actually ill be 39 this year



[DJbizzum]

@bigicedog how can a fetus be 39 , lol like i said not a day over 24, keep on rockin. loving your vids