Who is a DJ really? What a DJ should be able to do. The DJ is the modern master of the dance
DJ(English DJ from disc jockey - disc jockey) - a person playing for an audience recorded on audio media musical works. Records and CDs are mainly used as sound media.
The DJ mixes the compositions using turntables or other special equipment if non-vinyl media is used, and he can change the playback speed for a “smooth” mix, use scratches and other sound effects, thereby turning his mix of other musicians’ compositions into an independent piece of music.
Recently, DJs often improvise by playing several songs at the same time, creating remixes (mashups) of the compositions in real time. The highest, final and only goal of a DJ is to encourage people to dance. A good DJ is not at all the one who has good gramophone records, and not the one who knows how to put them together into a long gut, but the one who is able to control the mood of the dancers, turn on the audience, bring them to a state of ecstasy. Continuation
Who is a DJ?
The figure of the techno-house DJ is surrounded by myths in no way to a lesser extent than the figure of a rock guitarist.
DJs in modern understanding This word appeared in the first half of the 70s. It’s not even a matter of what kind of music they played back then (in Jamaica - reggae, in chic New York dance halls - disco, in the Bronx - hip-hop), the whole focus of DJing was and still is that in the hands DJs, well-known gramophone records begin to sound new and produce a completely different effect on the public. Without delving into the subtle differences between DJ technologies, we can say that the main idea was to present music as a continuous sound stream. This stream is collected from dance music - that is, more or less rhythmic - music recorded on vinyl records, which are played one after another without audible joints.
The highest, final and only goal of a DJ is to encourage people to dance. A good DJ is not at all the one who has good gramophone records, and not the one who knows how to put them together into a long gut, but the one who is able to control the mood of the dancers, turn on the audience, bring them to a state of ecstasy. Dancing to DJ music should ideally be ecstatic. Continuation
DJs track music hits and mix them together
DJs are tracking music hits and mix them together. Like a chef who picks just one perfect cherry from each tree for his pie, a DJ condenses the work and talent of hundreds of musicians into one condensed performance. DJs mix all the right things together - that's why we love them so much. And they do it in a way that suits the tastes of the public. When you hear the work of a good DJ, you have the opportunity to encounter a unique performance that is perfectly suited to the moment. Real DJs...
Real DJs don't show off a selection of neat tunes; they carefully consider the time, place and people in front of them and choose something that is perfect at that moment.
This is true organizing skill. dance party and it doesn't come easy. Knowing, finding and understanding music is a process that takes several years. And if you have just started this work, there will be no end to it. In fact, a DJ's real work happens behind the scenes: exploring the stock of dark vinyl records, devouring endless lists and sniffing out the wonders they contain. Playing records is rarely hard work, but doing the research and accumulating music information To do it well involves very hard work. Continuation
DJ - who is he?
At the center of all disco parties - both club and street - he always stands, the king and god of the dance floor DJ. He holds in his hands the energy of dozens, and sometimes hundreds of dancers, and they literally carry their idol in their arms. And high school students writing essays on the epoch-making topic “Who do I want to be” are increasingly drawing the coveted monogram “D” and “J” in their answers. Want to? No problem!
First, let's look at some special professional terms.
Pinwheel, table, spinner- turntable, a device for extracting sound from one or two vinyl records.
Disc, vinyl, plastic- vinyl record.
Seth- the period of time allotted to the DJ to perform his music.
Apple- round paper sticker with information. Sticks in the center of the vinyl.
Envelope- cardboard packaging for storing vinyl.
Needle- The most important part of the pickup mechanism.
Tonearm- A shiny tube leading from the needle to the spinner mechanism. The needle is held on it.
Slipmat- Special gasket between the rotating element.
Peach- lever for controlling the rotation speed of the record, main element, distinguishing a DJ turntable from a regular player.
Remote control, mixer- a mixing console used for mixing and processing various musical segments.
Ears- headphones.
Monitor- a special speaker through which the DJ hears music.
Not a little important!
You've probably wondered more than once: "Who is a DJ?" I'll try to explain.
A DJ is, first and foremost, an artist. And, like any artist, he is an object of attention, worship, imitation, and imitation in everything: in behavior, style, hobbies, preferences. DJ is a cult personality. Modern dance parties in Russia attract up to 50,000 people. All these people come to see and listen to their favorite DJ. With his skill, the DJ immerses a huge crowd in the world he created. For several hours he takes over their thoughts, emotions, and movements. These feelings, like the image of the DJ, remain with listeners for a long time. DJ is a trendsetter of fashion, style and taste. Many DJs sign contracts with fashion labels, perform at fashion shows, and write music for them. Their fans closely monitor the DJ's clothing style, what he drinks, what he listens to, and where he goes. DJ is a leader. It creates a club atmosphere and sets the tone for the party. The DJ feels the spirit of the dance floor and charges the listeners with his energy. DJ is a musician. Continuation
DJ Number Van...
Tijs VerWest(aka DJ Tiesto) was born on January 17, 1969 in the Dutch city of Breda. At the age of 12 he was already composing music. At age 14, he played long sets at a local club, The Spock. There were no other DJs in town, so he wasn't influenced by anyone else's style. Isolation from other DJs was, according to Tiesto, useful for him. He could develop his music and himself.
At the beginning of his career, VerWest promoted acid house and some pop music. Was crazy about Madonna's works. Before the release of her albums, dance mixes were already prepared. It was around that time that Madonna's famous hit "Vogue" came out and was one of the songs played at The Spock. Tiesto "brought" trans culture to Holland in 1993, but success came to Tiesto first abroad and only then at home.
Soon Tiesto moved to more famous clubs, where he focused on clubbing and popular music from the Dutch charts. As a result, he settled on house music, a simple hybrid of beats layered with deep bass, and began to create his own musical style.
In this article we will tell you about who a DJ is today and what his responsibilities are.
Time flows, everything changes... And if 30 years ago most children dreamed of becoming a doctor or an astronaut, now children have completely different goals in life and everyone knows who a DJ is. Currently, many young people dream of self-realization in new professions. We talk about one of them in our article. DJs are gaining momentum and more and more young people will try themselves as a DJ.
Before diving into mastering the art of DJing, it is very important to have a good understanding of who a DJ is and what his job is. This is all the more necessary given the incredible number of myths and prejudices that surround the craft of the “man behind the controls.”
In this article, I will try to give you a clear understanding of what a DJ is (and what he is not), debunking a few popular misconceptions about our profession along the way.
Dj: definition and myths
Let's start with the definition of the word "DJ" in the Dictionary:
DJ Dictionary:
BPM (Beats per minute). The number of beats (kick hits) per minute. Indicates the tempo of the track. For example, the tempo of most house tracks is in the 125-132 BPM range.
CBR (Constant bitrate). Constant bitrate. A variant of data encoding (including audio), in which the bitrate does not change throughout the entire file. See also VBR.
EP (Extended play). A release containing several compositions (usually without remixes). It differs from the album in having fewer tracks.
RPM (Revolutions per minute). Literally "number of revolutions per minute." Indicates the rotation speed at which the record was recorded. RPM values include 33, 45 and very rarely 78.
VBR (Variable bitrate). Variable bitrate. A variant of data encoding in which the bitrate can vary from one fragment of a file to another depending on the richness of the audio material. Generally, the audio quality of a VBR MP3 file is better than the audio quality of a CBR file of the same size.
Anti-slip. When the needle is on the rotating plate, the centripetal force pushes it towards the center of the pancake. This force can cause a lot of inconvenience when manipulating the record. The anti-slip mechanism of the pinwheel creates an opposing force that prevents the needle from “sliding” towards the center.
Bit. 1. From English beat – one kick of the drum. Also – a sequence of beats that forms a rhythm. 2. From English. bit – a unit of information equal to one-eighth of a byte. See also Bitrate.
Beatmatching. The process of matching the pitch of one track so that its tempo matches the tempo of another. Usually done by ear.
Bitrate. Information transfer rate, measured in kilobits per second (kbit/s). In digital audio formats such as MP3, a higher bitrate usually corresponds to a lower compression ratio and therefore more high quality. Not to be confused with BPM.
Crap. A vinyl record player has a round rotating platform on which the record is placed.
Barrel. Bass drum in the drum section. It is the kick drum that is responsible for the characteristic “tutsu” in dance music. Anatomy of the sound “tuts”: “tu” is a barrel, “ts” is a cymbal.
Break. The part of a composition in which the kick drum temporarily disappears. As a rule, a break precedes the main or particular culmination of the track, its “explosion”.
Pinwheel. Usually a record player, less often a CD player.
Gate. From English (noise) gate – device or software function, designed to suppress noise during pauses. The gate allows the audio signal to pass through only if its level exceeds a specified threshold, which is usually set by noise level. The gate does not remove noise; when open, it transmits both noise and the desired signal.
Head (head housing). The cartridge with the needle is attached to the head with screws. The head, in turn, is fixed to the tonearm with a fixation nut.
Two. The union of two squares, consisting of 8 clock cycles, or 32 bits.
Jog. A wheel on a professional CD player, the rotation of which during playback mode speeds up or slows down the track depending on the direction of rotation. Allows you to correct the lag or lead of one track from another, as well as find the desired track points with great accuracy. In vinyl emulation mode, it simulates a record on a turntable.
DJ. From English DJ (disc jockey). A person who plays (replays) recorded music for other people.
Dynamic range. In audio engineering, the relationship between signal levels at the loudest and quietest parts of a composition.
Event means events, each of which is a holiday!
Corporate and private events, motivational and team-building programs, promotions, btl, pr promotions, conferences, training sessions, business meetings, summits, parties, public events, presentations, exhibitions, festivals, role-playing and business games, sweepstakes, entertainment programs, television and radio shows, as well as other business or private events.
Needle. A diamond stylus that removes vibrations from the record track. Inserted into the cartridge.
Cartridge. In a vinyl record player, a device that converts the vibrations of the needle in the record track into electrical impulses.
Square. A group of 4 clock cycles, consisting, respectively, of 16 bits.
Compressor ( dynamic range). A software function of a sound editor or a special device that amplifies the signal in quiet parts of a composition, but leaves it unchanged in loud parts. This allows, among other things, to increase the perceived loudness of the signal without increasing the peak sound levels.
Crossover. A filter of an audio signal that divides it into frequency bands for further processing, such as equalization.
Crossfader. A horizontal slider on the mixer that allows you to smoothly transition audio between two selected channels.
Line-up This is the schedule for the performer's performance.
Label. Brand or trademark, under which releases are released. As a rule, the label's releases are within the same style, and the label itself collaborates with a certain segment of performers and producers.
Limiter. A device that allows a signal below a certain level to pass without modification, but attenuates the peaks of a stronger signal. It is a type of compressor. In combination with general amplification of the audio signal, it is used in the mastering process to increase the perceived loudness of the composition.
Manager. Is the person who is responsible for the organization.
Mix. A sequence of mixed tracks recorded onto a medium. Unlike a set (live performance), a mix is essentially similar to an album and is initially created for the purpose of further replication.
Monitors. Special columns in close proximity from the DJ, allowing him to hear (“monitor”) the sound going to the dance floor without delays or distortion.
Mashups (mashup, mash-up, mash-up, etc.) came from hip-hop culture, in fact, every mixtape is a mix of mashups. In hip-hop, songs are often released with an instrumental and an acapella. The Cols mix one instrumental with another, while simultaneously playing with acapellas from different tracks.
Locomotive. See Rebeating.
A loop. A looped fragment of a composition. It is specified by two points – start and end.
Rebeating. The drum beat of two tracks that don't sound beat for beat. The sound is perceived as “boo-boom, boo-boom, boo-boom.”
Pitch. A regulator on a professional player that allows you to change the tempo of the track being played. As the tempo changes, the pitch naturally changes as well; hence the name.
Producer. This is, first of all, a person who produces (produces) a certain piece, unique show product. This could be a concert, an album, a musical, a film, a television program, or even, in fact, an entire artist (style, Musical direction, texts, image, car brand, press, TV, scandals).
Release. A collection of tracks released commercially. Examples of releases - album, EP, single.
Remix. Alternative version track, created by adding or removing elements of the composition, superimposing sounds or sound effects on the source material, as well as changing the key, tempo or other parameters of the work.
Re-edit. A version of a track obtained by rearranging parts (excerpts) of the original composition. Unlike a remix, in which the sound of the track changes in one way or another, in a re-edit there is a simple rearrangement of its parts - verses, choruses, breaks, etc.
Mixing. Layering two or more audio tracks on top of each other. It is used in two main senses: a). overlaying one track on another while changing songs in the mix; b). combining audio tracks corresponding to individual instruments of a given composition into a single track.
Set. A DJ performance consisting of a sequence of mixed compositions. Unlike a mix, a set most often means a live performance.
Single. A release containing one composition and several remixes of it. Dance music is released mainly in the form of singles.
Scratching. A turntablism technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a record back and forth on a turntable while manipulating the mixer's crossfader. Well, you understand, right?
Slipmat. A soft pad made of synthetic material, which is placed between the pancake and the plate and is designed to reduce friction between them.
Strobe. Serves to control the speed of rotation of the pancake. By illuminating the strobe marks with intermittent light, the strobe creates the effect of the marks “freezing” at certain pitch positions.
Tact. In dance music, 4/4 time is a group of four kick drum beats, having one downbeat (the first beat) and three downbeats.
Tonearm. A vinyl record player has a hollow metal tube onto which a cartridge with a stylus is attached on one side and a counterweight on the other. The tonearm can be straight or curved in an S shape.
Track. Composition. Also – a track on a record or CD.
Turntablism. The art of manipulating sound and creating music using a record player and mixer.
Fader. The regulator is a slider type (as opposed to, for example, a rotary knob). Typically used to refer to audio channel sliders on a mixer.
Headline. This is the leader in a given musical program or concert or festival. Band, DJ ( solo artist) has a large popularity rating, attracting hundreds (thousands) of people to his concerts, whose name is in the title of the poster. Usually one of the last to appear.
Hook. A bright and memorable passage, riff or phrase of a composition. Usually short, one or two bars long. The hook is often contained within the chorus.
Spindle (central spindle, axis). The hole of the plate is aligned with it when installing it on the pancake.
Equalizer. A device or software function that allows you to change (even out) the amplitude-frequency characteristic of an audio signal. Allows you to adjust the signal level depending on the frequency - for example, enhance the bass or weaken the high frequencies.
Expander (dynamic range). A device or computer program function designed to expand the dynamic range of an audio signal. It has the opposite principle of operation to the compressor.
Apple. Sticker in the central part of the record. Typically contains information about the release: label, artist, track list, etc.
DJ. a person who plays (replays) recorded music for other people. That's it, no more and no less. Read this sentence carefully again. As you can see, it doesn't say a word about the fact that the DJ creates music, or that he can scratch, or that a real DJ necessarily plays vinyl records. In general, it seems to me that most of the myths associated with the DJ profession are associated with the third word in this definition: “plays.” IN English language the word “play” in relation to the work of a disc jockey is usually used in the sense of “playing” or “playing” music. In Russian, as a result of a literal translation, this word is incorrectly perceived in the sense of “perform.” Meanwhile, the DJ plays music (and most often someone else’s), and does not perform it, as a pianist or violinist does. Of course, there are different ways to play tracks for an audience. You can simply turn on the next song after the previous one has ended. You can also supplement tracks with sound effects, make smooth transitions between them without pauses, overlay excerpts of different compositions on top of each other, or, ultimately, scratch them. Wherein final result may be so different from the original material that it is appropriate to talk about playing turntables as playing a musical instrument (as, for example, in the case of turntablism). Yet the essence of what a DJ does remains the same: he plays music.
Of course, the same person can write music himself. But this is already beyond the powers of the DJ. And the one who writes music, in “ developed countries"It's common to call him a producer. In our country, many people use this word to imagine a guy with money who is responsible for promotion. That is, many people call the wrong people by the wrong titles. The attribution of the properties of a producer to a DJ probably developed due to the fact that many producers are also DJs and at the same time call themselves DJs. In this state of affairs, it is difficult not to be imbued with the idea that the authors of the music are exclusively DJs. What makes everything worse is how individual units of creativity (for example, files) are designed. It is unlikely that uninitiated people will have doubts about the authorship after reading a title like “DJ Vip - Super Puper Mega Bass”. And not a drop of information about the real author. The example is exaggerated. There are a lot of variations: the track was in the DJ’s mix, the track is a remix, etc. It’s not far from “DJs” to “producers.” How can one not consider a producer a rich guy if here and there this word is heard in the main positions in the credits of the most popular films? In the dictionary you can see the translation of the word “producer” - to produce. Even if this word is completely devoid of romance, but it most accurately expresses the primacy in creative process(in the process of creation, if you like).
A producer is, first of all, a person who produces (produces) some unique show product. It could be a concert, an album, a musical, a film, a television program, and even, in fact, an entire artist (style, musical direction, lyrics, image, car brand, press, TV, scandals). The main thing a producer should have is not money ( often, he does not have enough of them) but intuitive KNOWLEDGE, based on many years of EXPERIENCE - what will be in demand by the public and how to convince them (the public) that his artist (film, musical, show) is exactly what he wants she waited all these years.
Very often, the producer, realizing that his charges are not coping with the task, writes the music and lyrics himself, stands at the mixing console in the studio and even replays the parts instead of the musicians - members of the group being produced. Unlike a DJ, the boundaries of such a “profession” as “producer” are blurred. For example, he may or may not be a sound engineer, cameraman, drummer, etc. But he is the one who determines what the result will be. It’s not for nothing that film reviews write that directors follow the producers’ lead. This is such an important position. But the range is much deeper than the surface of rich guys. Absolutely anyone can be a producer. Have you written your first track, recorded your first song yourself, shot a video (even on a mobile phone)? You are a producer. Justice is not on last place. The average listener does not bother checking the authorship. Two letters have been “used up” over the past ten years. As a result, the letters lost their meaning. But they could clearly indicate that the person presented in the title is not the author of the track. Everyone would know that DJs are in clubs, not CDs. And, having seen a couple of letters on the disk, I became interested not only in the compiler, but also by real authors. After all, the efforts of DJs are not always comparable to the efforts of producers.
In the West, DJs are usually divided into three main categories: radio DJs, mobile DJs and club DJs. The work of representatives of each of these categories has its own characteristics.
Radio DJs typically have to do a lot of talking: taking calls from listeners, interspersing the music with news or stories about artists - all this, of course, in addition to playing music on air. (The latter, by the way, is more typical for original radio shows. Those tracks that you hear on the radio every day are 90% the result of the work of program directors who compile playlists for weeks in advance.). Radio DJs, as a rule, practically do not interfere with the original sound of the compositions and most often play “album” or “radio” versions of tracks, the duration of which does not exceed 4 minutes.
Mobile DJs, or DJs for hire, are the guys you see playing at weddings, corporate events or school discos. Such DJs have own set equipment that they bring with them and install at parties. The nature of the events at which mobile DJs play requires them to have huge collection music of various genres. Sound manipulation is present in the work of these versatile DJs, but in a limited amount due to the variety of styles that they have to play. Mobile DJs have to speak into a microphone a little: most often they voice congratulations from guests and “dedications” of tracks.
Finally, as the name suggests, club DJs play at parties in nightclubs. This category of profession has the greatest touch of glamor and legends associated with it. The specifics of club parties require a clear stylistic focus, and therefore many club DJs position themselves within one or two styles of dance music. This in turn gives them greater freedom to manipulate the material being played, some aspects of which (such as mixing) are considered mandatory in clubs.
Producer categories.
Theater producer
Music producer(there is also a record or sound track producer)
Game Producer (in the industry) computer games)
film producer or television producer, which can be divided into:
Associate Producer - Performs limited producing duties under the direction of a producer.
Coordinating Producer - coordinates the work of several producers.
Co-Producer - Serves as a producer along with the other co-producers on the team.
Executive producer - supervises the work of other producers; sometimes initiates the production, but usually controls the creative and business aspects of the production (leaving a certain amount of creativity to the director).
Line Producer- manages the work of staff, regulates technological issues, budget, work schedule and does not interfere in the creative process.
General Producer - Inspects (usually under the direction of the executive producer) the work of other producers.
Since “Secrets” is primarily devoted to the craft of a club disc jockey, I want to talk about the work of this category of professionals in a little more detail. Like his other colleagues, the club DJ essentially plays - one after another - recorded songs. At the same time he:
- It is not limited in the choice of media and can play tracks from vinyl records, CDs or even flash memory cards;
- Skillfully superimposes the beginning of each next track onto the end of the previous one in order to avoid pauses between them and make transitions as unnoticeable as possible;
- Can add sound effects or excerpts from other compositions to tracks.
CD vs vinyl
The first question you will face when choosing equipment is whether to buy turntables or CD players. (There are other, more exotic options, but these two are the most common). The choice of player type, in turn, will determine on what media your music collection will be formed. To begin with, I will voice a simple truth that will be central to resolving the issue. For guests on the dance floor, it does not matter what you play on: records, CDs, iPods, from a laptop or a reel-to-reel tape recorder - as long as you play quality music , which gives them pleasure. Having understood this simple fact, it becomes clear that the choice between one or another medium is made on your, the DJ's, side of the console. Music on which media is more accessible? What is more practical, vinyl or CD? Which media is more convenient to manipulate? Where is the better sound?
Practicality
One CD contains 2.5-3 times more sound than a typical record - and this despite the fact that the disc is many times lighter and more compact (“compact disc” - they didn’t come up with that by chance, right?). It’s easy to feel the difference firsthand by carrying a case with 60-80 layers to a party and back. I guarantee that after one such experiment you will look with envy at your colleagues with a CD case and headphones in one hand. Things get even more complicated when you become famous. When flying from one city to another, records have to be checked into luggage, where various troubles can happen to them - they can be beaten or simply stolen. The CD case, on the other hand, can be taken with you as hand luggage. And even if something happens to the CD along the way, you have copies of all the discs on your computer (I hope), and your music is safe. Finally, the sound from the record is read mechanically using 19th century technology. In addition to the fact that this leads to wear of both the record and the stylus of the player, you also need to regularly clean the records from dust and dirt that accumulates on them. Not to mention the fact that in clubs and outdoor areas special measures have to be taken to ensure that the needle on the record does not jump under the influence of bass from the speakers.
Sound quality
When CDs were still new, there was a popular belief among audiophiles that their sound quality was inferior to vinyl. Even now there are people who talk about the unique “depth” and “velvety” of analog sound. Their opponents say that the issue is a special frequency response of the sound from the record, which distorts the original sound in a special (albeit pleasant) way. In any case, there is nothing magical about the clicks and hisses of vinyl, and if you remember that dance music, released on records, is still initially created and mastered digitally, then the question of sound quality can be considered closed.
Note: We are, of course, talking about CD-quality sound, not MP3 tracks recorded on a CD. MP3 is by definition a lossy audio compression standard, so degradation in quality is inevitable. On the other hand, this loss in practice is often not as noticeable as the hiss of a record.
Availability of music. With the development of the Internet, the issue of accessibility of digital music is somehow awkward to even touch upon. And it’s not about pirated sites and services that allow users to download tracks to MP3. The trend is that more and more labels are offering their tracks for paid download. As a result, everyone wins: DJs get fresh music faster, and labels eliminate the costs associated with having to release physical releases. At the same time, record stores, even in large cities, can usually be counted on one hand. For example, in Kyiv there are no such records at all and the only way to buy records is to order them by mail from Europe. Considering the high cost - $10-12 per record (plus shipping costs), as well as the shipping time, it’s difficult to talk about availability.
Ease of sound manipulation
If so far everything has clearly spoken in favor of the CD, then from this point on, read more carefully. With the advent of the Pioneer CDJ-1000 player - the first CD player with high-quality vinyl emulation - players came close to turntables in terms of tactile control over sound. But still not so much that real scratch warriors abandoned records in their favor (no matter how Pioneer advertising brochures hinted to the contrary). On the other hand, for general mixing, the functionality of CD players was sufficient even before the CDJ-1000 appeared. So if you are not going to seriously engage in turntablism, then you don’t have to worry about controlling the sound. In addition, modern CD players allow you to do tricks (such as looping sections of a track) that are impossible on records without additional equipment.
Glamor
There are exceptions to every rule. Yes, music is important to guests much more than where you play it from. At the same time, in public consciousness The DJ-record connection is still so strong that it cannot be completely ignored. I don’t know what’s the matter here - the high cost of records, their less availability (and therefore “elitism”?) or something else, but often on a subconscious level people associate playing from records with best quality music and the DJ himself. As a result, until recently, playing from records itself aroused greater respect not only from guests on the dance floor, but even from promoters and art directors of clubs (verified). Now the situation seems to be leveling out, especially as everyone more stars are abandoning vinyl in favor of digital sound. The moment of glamor cannot be underestimated. Girls definitely find records sexier!
Results
Both records and digital media have their pros and cons. If you thought I was singing the praises of CDs, I’m not, especially considering that vinyl is still my main medium (girls, girls!). It's just that, as sad as it is, I think that progress is moving forward and records are becoming obsolete. A good DJ shouldn't be bothered by this; his main asset is his musical taste and ability to create the right mood on the dance floor.
Music that is played club DJ, also has its own characteristics. On the dance floors of nightclubs, special, extended versions of dance tracks are usually played, which are produced specifically for DJs. So, if the radio (aka album) version of a composition lasts 3-4 minutes, then for the DJ version of the same track 6-8 minutes is common. Of course, the three listed categories of DJs are only an approximate division. A club DJ can have his own radio show, during which he plays dance tracks on the air as he usually does in a club. And the mobile DJ whose performance you saw today at your friend’s birthday party may be a resident DJ of one of the clubs. In any case, I hope that after reading this article your understanding of the work of a DJ is much clearer. As you can see, the work of a disc jockey is by no means a sealed secret, but an occupation quite accessible to understanding. I make it even more understandable and tangible. Do not stop!
Material taken from search engines.
During times Soviet Union children dreamed of becoming astronauts and police officers, now they want to be DJs. Let's look at this profession and talk about who a DJ is and what he does.
The word DJ itself is a derivative of the phrase disc jockey (English “disc jockey”, i.e. playing discs), which today has been reduced to just two letters DJ. From the word “DJ” comes the name of what he actually does – “DJing” (English DJing, i.e. the work of a DJ).
The result of a DJ’s work is a “mix”, i.e. a composition of music that sounds without interruption, smoothly moving from one topic to another. The basis for the mix is a musical recording, which is processed by a DJ and given a new independent sound.
Full DJ performance, i.e. what a dj does, his program is a “set”. A set may include performances by several DJs. Separate competitions are held for DJs, where they compete in their skills, this is called a “battle”.
Types of DJ
There is a conventional division of DJs into 3 types:
- radio DJ
- mobile DJ
- club DJ
The work of a radio DJ is based mainly on communication with radio listeners, which alternates with news and music. Musical compositions are presented, as a rule, unchanged, with the exception of original radio shows, where the presenter builds his program entirely around the music and performers.
A mobile DJ performs at some event: corporate party, wedding, school disco. At his own disposal he has everything necessary for work: equipment, a collection of music CDs. His performance comes down, as a rule, to organizing recreation in general, and not just to playing musical compositions.
A club DJ works permanently in a club and, for the most part, has his own individual style. The compositions he uses differ from the original ones in their processing and can sound twice as long.
But such a division is conditional, because Many DJs combine their activities, and only a few are pure representatives of the species.
Who is DJ?
DJ (eng. DJ, DeeJay, Disc-Jockey) is a person responsible for musical accompaniment entertainment events, in other words, a person playing music, no matter where - a street dance floor, night club, restaurant or radio broadcast.
The main goal of a professional DJ is not only the ability to play music, but also to bring a positive mood to the audience, using various means, but more on these means later. First, let's define the term why these people are called DJs.
The history of the abbreviation DJ.
In order to understand why the person providing musical accompaniment is called a DJ, you need to take a short excursion into.
In 1934 the first time the word disc jockey was used by an American commentator Walter Winchell. Walter used the term discjockey (a combination of 2 words "disc", which refers to vinyl records, and “jockey”, who is the operator of the machine (player)), this term was uttered to the address of the radio presenter, at that time the presenter was Martin Block, the first DJ to become a star. Later, this phrase will be shortened to the familiar abbreviation DJ, from which a new derivative phrase will appear, i.e. .
Later, with development music industry and audio technology, this term began to be used in various fields creative musical activity. Several different directions have emerged.
Studio DJ.
Professional upper class working in recording studios.
A studio DJ creates mashups for recording and duplicating audio products on digital and analogue media.
These people are able to breathe new life into boring hits, creating new arrangements and. Therefore, record labels and musical groups often turn to studio DJs. Nowadays, with the development computer technology and programs, for this work it has become enough to have a PC or laptop and have the skills to work with them. Even for writing music, musical instruments and expensive studio equipment is no longer needed.
Radio DJ.
Unlike club DJs and those working in the studio, a radio DJ has a different way of presenting material. He doesn't need to mix the tracks in , because... they are not needed on the radio. However, a radio DJ must be a sociable person, preferably with a sense of humor, and easily conduct monologues between songs and dialogues with listeners. Because Radio programs are broadcast live. A radio DJ must be prepared for any surprises and be able to get out of any situation with dignity, the main thing is that there is no silence on the air. Also, a radio DJ must also have the technical skills to work with recordings of music tracks and adjusting the sound level.
Hip-Hop DJ.
this is a participant musical group. Its task is to play a beat assembled from different loops and. The first DJ to play Hip-Hop style was DJ Kool Herc. Kool Herk used two vinyl players, they had the same record, from which only the instrumental fragment of the composition was taken, while when it ended on one player, the other was turned on immediately, and this created the impression of one continuous composition, which was accompanied by rap reading.
In Hip Hop groups, rap is done by EM C (English MC) a. In the early 80s, in the Soviet Union, Alexander Astrov was the first to rap to the instrumental passages of foreign performers. Later, other disc jockeys took up this initiative. This was the beginning of the emergence of Russian rap. DJs in the West often mixed or rapped and combined it with different types of music. As a result of such experiments, new styles emerged.
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“The highest musicality in the field of thought,” said Bohr Niels Henrik David. Everyone knows that not a single university graduates DJs, because they are not made, but born. DJing is a lifestyle. He is a “taster” and a pioneer of a new sound, and the atmosphere of the event or even the morning mood of the drivers depends only on him, because often the DJ is able to smooth out the tension caused by traffic jams.
Historical aspect
Such an interesting profession originated in 1906. How did this happen? During the Christmas holidays, Reginald A Fessenden broadcast not standard coded signals (as was usually the case), but actual music and speech, which caused absolute delight among the audience. Thus, the famous American commentator Walter Winchell became the first to introduce the term “disc jockey” to society, which was directly related to radio host Martin Block, the first DJ who later became a star. Later, the concept of DJ began to be used in society to denote the presented term. In addition, this phrase is the original root of the term “DJing,” which explains the activity of a DJ. Thus, sounds and music became the main aspect of this profession. DJ mixes different compositions into a pleasant and high-quality complex using special equipment. For a successful career in the music field, you certainly need creative inclinations, Availability good taste and serious preparation in the relevant field.
The front side of the profession
As it turned out, the work of a DJ consists of tracking, collecting and combining (mixing) musical compositions and their individual parts. These operations must be performed so that during a dance party or going on the radio, he can select the most suitable ones from a variety of audio recordings and provide them for public listening, because the specific situation and specifics of the event can be fully determined and brightened by well-chosen music. DJing is not an easy job, as some people think at first glance. But society is only familiar with front side medals. A huge part of his work takes place behind the scenes. entertainment programs and beyond the scenes of atmospheric dance halls. around the world, they practice identifying and listening to an incredible number of speakers, getting to know a wide variety of melodies and, accordingly, their performers, familiarizing themselves with endless public polls, chart results and other musical information, and, of course, scrupulously working with all sorts of materials used in further creative work. ways.
Technical aspect of the profession
As noted earlier, it involves direct mixing of various musical fragments. Here, the master is required to have absolute knowledge of technology, mastery of the appropriate techniques and skills in working with professional equipment (sampler, turn table, and so on). Naturally, with the advent of CD players, the work of DJs has become significantly easier and has expanded significantly in terms of capabilities (quickly changing the speed of recordings and creating even the most unusual musical effects). Despite such a significant revolution, professional DJs still believe that there are no discoveries or miracles scientific progress unable to become a suitable alternative to the familiar and tried-and-true vinyl records. They are inclined to believe that even the most virtuoso technical technique It won't help if the music is boring or poorly chosen. It's important to note that best djs peace learned not only to mix compositions, but also to correctly say what is the most important aspect this area, because it is very important to qualitatively and successfully “eclipse” the pause between musical creations.
DJ as a pioneer of a new sound
An important aspect of the DJ profession is the master’s ability to stir up public interest, which never allows one to stand in one place, remaining hostage to a standard and so boring melody, song or one rhythm. Thus, the master of this field can rightfully be called a musical preacher, because over a huge period of time of the existence of the professional category (more than fifty years), it was the DJ who processed the first rhythm and blues, and then rock and roll. In addition, the presented creations were broadcast even despite strong opposition from conservatives. An interesting fact is that it was the radio DJ who brought out today’s very well-known styles, including disco, techno, house or hip-hop. Thus, in modern times, DJ skills determine the direction of popular clubs and radio stations. In addition, the names famous figures of this category (for example, Groove) are on a par with the names of our pop stars.
DJ is the modern master of dance!
It is important to note that DJ activities have long been not limited to minor clubs. Thus, the sites of large-scale concert halls and even the largest stadiums are being actively developed. Moreover, the most famous performers Today they often order remixes of their songs from professionals. No one will argue that today it is impossible to imagine a single youth event, festival or competition without a DJ, because the master of music can not only control the public mood, but also make speeches with sincerity.
DJing is not just a profession, but a way of life. As a rule, it is related to young people, because often, due to a non-standard work schedule, there is practically no time left for sleep. You need to play at night, when the clubs where the event is taking place are open and crowded. disco. DJ- a man, of course, “burning” with his work, because if his soul were not so passionate about music, it is unlikely that he would work to the detriment of his daily routine.
Personal qualities of a DJ
Of course, in addition to professional skills and knowledge, the main ones of which are knowledge musical styles and specialized equipment, the ability to mix tracks, experience in cutting music, high-quality equipment setup, holding entertainment events, the availability of musical data and creative imagination, a radio DJ must have a number of personal qualities that will help maximize the productivity of his activities and, of course, his general mood. It would be advisable to include competent and pleasant speech, good diction, developed taste preferences for aesthetics, the ability to speak beautifully, as well as to formulate one’s thoughts very clearly, a good sense of humor, taste in music, energy, sociability and, of course, consistency. All these qualities will help the DJ to fully realize his potential and truly charge the audience with positive energy.
Employment issue
The modern public is particularly diverse, and a DJ is a person who needs to clearly capture their mood and create a festive atmosphere. Of course, a specialist in this field must have an excellent understanding of music, know what is popular at the moment, and what was most widespread, for example, in the 90s. It is important to note that in large cities the number of DJs is increasing every year. And this is not surprising, because young people find this work quite interesting and very profitable. Moreover, a good specialist in this field, capable of not only performing professional operations with high quality, but also getting pleasure from it, will undoubtedly be in demand. have very good earnings. They are invited to various events and paid for every hour of work. In addition, in restaurants and other public institutions there is a separate rate for workers in the profession in question. A nightclub resident receives a smaller amount per hour of activity than an invited guest. However, this work is based on permanent conditions and a fixed salary.
Universities do not produce DJs
It is important to note that the DJ profession is not taught in universities and colleges. Therefore, to become familiar with this area of knowledge, it is necessary to undergo training independently or through specialized courses. It was noted above that operating in a nightclub requires skills in working with a variety of media (both standard and innovative). In addition, absolute computer knowledge in terms of music mixing is important. The DJ must have his own equipment, especially if we're talking about about servicing thematic events of a private nature (weddings, anniversaries, graduations, specific parties, corporate events, and so on). A music specialist also needs to periodically select a personal library. These should not only be tracks that suit the taste of the DJ himself, but also those that are fully capable of satisfying a wide audience. Professionals note that the most important thing for a professional is good musical ear and But these qualities can be developed independently!
Specifics of the profession
Like any type of activity, musical field has its pros and cons. Thus, in the process of working as a DJ, the main advantages are the opportunity to start a career at almost any age (which is why 16-year-old DJs today are far from uncommon), the exclusion of “old” DJs in this area (for some, the hobby becomes uninteresting, while others turn him into his life's work), interesting life, because a DJ can constantly travel, make new acquaintances, fans, and most importantly - fruitfully do his job. The profession also has a number of disadvantages, among which the following are quite significant: work at night (but for some this is a plus), unhealthy atmosphere in clubs (loud music, a lot of smoke, not always friendly visitors, severe fatigue at the end of the shift and so on), as well as the need to have your own equipment, but decent equipment costs a lot of money. But there is also a latent plus in the last point: the equipment can be rented out!
