Just wondering what does everyone prefer using on your CDJ's, Serato etc. or just CD's? I much prefer using CD's I had Torq for a while but got rid of it...I think going through CD's just makes it a little more enjoyable

I still love CDs because I know where my songs are.

I use SSL and I'm pretty sure I'll never go back.

1) I love to be able to use vinyl again. I'm not a vinyl purist, I just love vinyl. I stopped carrying it for a couple of reasons, one was that it was getting hard to find here and two was that it was heavy. Which leads me to number 2...
2) My CD case is ginormous and huge. It weighs 250 pounds, has 6 compartments, two handles, 1200 CDs and wheels. I have no desire to carry it around anymore; stairs are a bitch. Two hard drives (one's a backup) is so much nicer than that thing.
3) I like the ability to "insta-find" the song I want. No more searching through my CD's, even if I DO know exactly where it is. Software is faster, which gives me more time to focus on the mix, or the selection, or the crowd.

That said, I still carry some CD's, because I still don't quite trust SSL, even though it hasn't crashed on me once in the 8 months I've been using it (but it's not just SSL I don't trust; I don't trust that my hard drives or my machine won't randomly pack it in at a show, which HAS happened to me). This is my one niggling little thing about the whole "going all-digital" process that I haven't been able to shake yet.

-r-

CD's are still my 1st pick but the more I use Traktor the more I like it.

i still prefer cds. i use the 400's, for now, and only go to the usb stick to play something on my laptop when a request comes in that's not in my 100 cd notebook (which is not common - mobile or club).

CDs and some SW. I carry 500-600 discs with an average of 20 tracks per disc. Yes it's to much, but when a client suddenly wants a Slayer track or Gypsy Kings, or Harry Chapin; you have to deliver.

Off topic, but I wonder when DJs will start to DJ from their online libraries with a lappy and wireless DSL line at a gig?

I have brought my external HD to a few gigs and it is a pain in the back side, that would be a lot better.

quote:

Originally posted by djjay:
Off topic, but I wonder when DJs will start to DJ from their online libraries with a lappy and wireless DSL line at a gig?

Probably not in our DJ lifetimes. Without paying a buttload of money for reliability, the 'net just can't deliver 100% uptime on a budget.

-r-

quote:

Originally posted by PeterMichael:
i still prefer cds. i use the 400's, for now, and only go to the usb stick to play something on my laptop when a request comes in that's not in my 100 cd notebook (which is not common - mobile or club).

I actually prefer Vinyl but unfortunately the fact of my comeback and losing many crates of Vinyl due too divorce and going from a house to house to live at I am force to start all over with CD's/Digital now. That is why I love my CDJ-400 makes it so much easy for me to start all over again.

I found that generally I prefer to mix on CDJ's. I still buy vinyl and have some 1210's hooked up. But they generally never get used, except for the oldskool friends of mine that refuse to learn how to mix on a cdj.

As I produce music as well I find that with the CDJ I can quickly burn off a copy and test mix it, session on my other system (non-reference) and get an idea how the tune really sounds.

quote:

Originally posted by djjay:
Off topic, but I wonder when DJs will start to DJ from their online libraries with a lappy and wireless DSL line at a gig?

The booth at work is getting re-built and a broadband line is being installed for just that reason.

Guys, i have started woith CDJs this year after using vinyl for about 10 years. I think the CDJs are excellent but still love my vinyl. I have about 700-800 vinyls but haven't bothered converting them over. I'm downloading new stuff for cd and reckon i can always pull out my vinyl if i need a particular tune. I find that CDJs hold the pitch a little better than vinyl decks but then again, i have rrally old Technics SL 1200s that have been played to death!

Any thoughts on the cd/vinyl transition? Personally i'm not all that bothered about all this looping nonsense, i just like mixing good tunes!

Serato....

I'm starting to really love the simplicity of Mixmeister Fusion.

<shudder> Personally, it's not my style. I find it difficult to work with because it lacks the control I'm used to.

A lot of DJs seem to like Mixmeister for it's mixing set-up and playlist function. I will change a track on the fly a lot so a playlist is not helpful for me....

I only use cds and since they're all lightscribed - which takes 30min per disc - I hope they don't go out of style anytime soon.

I use Mixmeister only for its printable library function. However, I make a few modifications to the library catagories and use a piano to key the tracks. The advantage: I have a printable list of all my tracks, in any order I choose (bpm,key,alfabetical etc), and have room left over to include intro/outro's, breaks etc.

I go with a coding system on my CDs and then implement this into iTunes which I use as a database. Then if I am looking for a song I type in some info to iTunes, get the result, get the code and then easily find the numerically ordered CD.

I will also change a track on the fly but more often than not, it occurs because I found another track that would be more suitable in the playlist.

Coding is useful only if you have your CDs in books and it's too much of a pain to reorganize them in alphabetical order. If you use sleeves it's easier to keep them alpha and find by disc name.

i had a question to contiue this.. Do you think it matters if your playing events w/ a software or just w/ your cds? in terms of respect from the crowd and getting gigs?