ddj-sz – DJ Mocha Love | One of Toronto's Sought-After Mainstream & EDM DJs

No laptops at the DJ booth says club owner says Kenny Summit: Are we transitioning back to CDJs, mixers, and TTs for good? (Part 2)

July 25, 2016 by djmochalove

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So, the second part of the title refers to the transition back to CDJs, mixers, and TTs while ditching controllers. Just the question makes me laugh and I can’t even believe that I asked and am writing about this. Why? This obviously is NEVER going to happen and I will never give controllers up. (Also, I just shelled a couple thousand for the Pioneer DDJ-SZ so I would also feel of bad if I ever thought it was a waste – which I know it is NOT!)

Ok, so this is why. As previously explained in part 1 of this blog post (read it here), as long as a DJ is versatile and can adapt to any DJ equipment or software put in front of him/her, then controllers should not be a problem. I think that they are great if the right one is chosen. The SZ, for example, is very similar to the DJM900 mixer and a pair of CDJs which is pretty much club standard at most large clubs which will allow for me to easily adapt to that equipment. It has two sound cards, it’s an all-in-one, has metal construction, etc. (Read more here.) There is no one I know who would not be impressed by this controller. It’s just awesome.

Unfortunately, some DJs and club owners are just so fixated on the equipment they were trained on and for many, that may be a pair of TTs. I really don’t think there is anything wrong with that and TTs provide great advantages. However, I think that those who are against controllers have got to get with the program! Times are changing and technology improves guys. If anything, should one ban computers, CDJs should be banned/disliked, too. CDJs are in fact “mini” computers that have the same features as a computer without the actual shape of a laptop.

Frankly, I am tired of DJs and other individuals in the industry bashing each other for being “elitist” or “snobs” just because one uses a pair of TTs or CDJs and a DJM or Rane 68 or a “fake” for using a controller. Does driving an automatic car vs. a manual/stick mean that someone is not a real driver? Does a Benz or a BMW get you somewhere differently than would a Toyota? Obviously not! A controller does the same job as would TTs or CDJs. With that being said, it is important to choose quality over what’s the new fad. I recently wrote about the Denon MCX8000 versus the Pioneer DDJ-SZ (read here). In short, although the MCX8000 is stand-alone and has certain features the SZ does not, I believe that the SZ beats the MCX in terms of build and sound quality which is important to please a client while DJing. I find effects to be artificial while knowing how and having the option to use a high-quality controller is more important.

As I explained in the MCX8000/DDJ-SZ blog post, there is a cool factor associated with TTs and CDJs that most controllers do not have. Clients/party-goers may notice a DJ that is using turntables vs. CDJs vs. controllers and be more “impressed” by the TT/CDJ DJ. Aside from that, I think that DJs should just be able to use what they want and whatever they are most comfortable with so that they can perform to the best of their ability – but ONLY IF they know how to use what is placed in front of them in the case that they can’t use the equipment they use on a day-to-day basis.

I hope I was able to convince you towards the latter but what do you think: Still in favour for the TTs/CDJs + Mixer combo or are controllers “ok?”

–DJ Mocha Love (DJML)

Sources:

No laptops at the DJ booth says club owner says Kenny Summit: Are we transitioning back to CDJs, mixers, and TTs for good? (Part 1)

I recently posted a blog explaining my decision to purchase a Pioneer DDJ-SZ controller but before I get into the jist of this blog post, let me tell you that I have no regrets whatsoever.

Over the past few years I have noticed a large increase in young, aspiring DJs who aim to grow their name and brand – I was and still am one of them. The problem does not lie here but rather the main concern is the fact that controllers which are relatively easy to acquire and learn compared to TTs also require minimal setup. Although this is definitely a plus for mobile DJs like myself, there is another group of young DJs who do not really care to learn the intricacies involved in setting-up/taking-down properly and quickly while being adapt to any equipment put in front of them. In other words, not only do many not know to which inputs of a main mixer their controller should be plugged but even more it is true that many are stuck in a box of simply knowing how to use their equipment and that only.

I was fortunate to have met Jason Spanu (DJ Shine), the programmer of Frank Ocean, Nelly Furtado, and Drake who is also a prominent Toronto, Canada techno DJ, producer, and certified Ableton trainer. It was through Jason that I gained interest in wanting to be exposed to a wide range of equipment in including turntables, club-standard mixers, and CDJs. My desire to learn was further fuelled by Corey at The Music Boxx in Toronto where I expanded my DJ skills on the Ableton Push, a variety of controllers, and special effects pads including the Native Instruments Kontrol F1, just to name a few. The point I am trying to get across here is that after receiving advice from Jason to get exposed to all sorts of equipment, I went out and did it. (Also, I know ever to go to red which apparently everyone knows but I still see red/orange so frequently at clubs when watching other DJs perform. Dammit people, understand that sound quality is important, too! Not just the song you’re playing. – DJM-800 anatomy to the left to give controller-only DJs a head-start on club-standard mixers.) I understand that this may not be an easy task but if I could do it as a 16-year-old, knowing nothing about the DJ industry, I think everyone who really wants to can make these connections, get exposed, and push themselves to be the best DJ they can be.

With that being said, I am still a big fan of controllers and I will always be. I am excited to start using the DDJ-SZ! On the other hand, as I just explained, I am not stuck in a box of just knowing my equipment and nothing else. While playing on the Traktor S4 which I owned for a few years, my curious personality always got me asking questions to other DJs who were setting up beside me to learn how unfamiliar equipment worked. I also continue to get my hands on CDJs and Technics every now and then so I don’t lose the skills I have built. This allows me to be more versatile and play on any equipment put in front of me, whether it be a club owned by Kenny Summit or anyone else. It’s this that I am sure Summit is trying to get across.

In the interview MagneticMag.com conducted with Summit, the question of would Summit let a DJ like Louie Vega play on whatever he wanted implying a controller, too. Summit responded saying, “If Louie wants to play on a fuckin Commodore 64 at this club, he is more than welcome to. We’re banning the idiots that don’t know how to use them. Obviously, DJs like Louie or Kenny Dope or ANY seasoned veteran are welcome to use whatever the hell they want to use. This ban on laptops is a more like a ban on the people who can’t bother to learn how to be a real professional and learn how to setup and break down their equipment without ANY disturbance in the night. But yeah, I’d actually ask Louie to use USBs or vinyl and if he said NO, I’d be like “alright.” lol.”

In short, all of you young aspiring DJs reading this, find a way to try everything out, make connections, and be adaptable to any situation in which you are placed. Not only will this make you a better DJ but also one who will be more respected by big names in the DJ community.

What do you think? Is being adaptable and versatile sufficient to countering the argument of no laptops in the DJ booth?

–DJ Mocha Love (DJML)

Sources:

Choosing The Right DJ Controller: DDJ-SZ vs. DDJ-RZ vs. MCX8000

June 21, 2016 by djmochalove

Equipment

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Note: The image above of the three controllers does not accurately represent relative size. The MCX8000 is actually quite smaller than the DDJ SZ or RZ while the SZ/RZ are of the same size.

Who doesn’t love new DJ equipment? Choosing a new DJ toy may be fun at times yet there are many challenges in choosing the right one including cost, preference, finding the best fit, industry standards, and the equipment’s “cool factor.”

Before I get into choosing the perfect controller, let me tell you why I am making the switch.

It has often been quoted that a pair of turntables such as Technics 1200s trump CDJs and that controllers have the lowest cool factor. I would say that I agree with this contention.

My very first controller, the Vestax Spin, was a great toy – literally. The Spin was a step-up from being the dreaded laptop DJ but it wasn’t really all that special. If I ever brought the Vestax Spin to a nightclub, I would definitely be ridiculed. Nevertheless, it helped to establish me as a young, aspiring DJ. Unfortunately, although Vestax build-quality was good, the company declared bankruptcy in Q4 of 2014, predominantly due to fierce competition and the 2014 Japanese recession.

The Traktor S4 provided a lot more than the Spin with the 4-channel mixer, special FX, a larger interface, hot cues, and more versatile looping functions, just to name a few, and this is why I made the switch. Back in 2011, the S4 was up to its present-time standards used by several club DJs and Traktor was – and still is – one of the leading DJ programs used by pro DJs around the world. The S4 gave me an opportunity to be very mobile and setup/take-down really quick because of its compact nature allowing for portability – especially important for someone without a car.

Although I definitely enjoyed spinning on my Vestax Spin when I first started DJing and on my Traktor S4 for the past few years while building my DJ brand, I always felt that I had a “minority” controller when setting up beside the Nexus DJM + CDJ2000 or the Rane 68 + Technics 1200 setups. Also, I have always been asked by many colleagues as to why I am not using Serato, which many believe to be is the club standard. I do not completely agree because where Serato has its advantages, Traktor is versatile in many different ways including having special FX that Serato does not (and the list goes on). Instead, it is important for me to be well-versed in software that is used universally.

Ok, so now that we know why I am choosing to make the switch, the next question is which controller I am using… and yes, I am choosing a controller because I want something that I can carry around in one case – CDJs or TTs + a mixer would mean three flight cases or one really heavy one. (A workout would be nice but I am an aspiring medical doctor, not an aspiring bodybuilder.)

Since it is almost universally-accepted that controllers having the lowest cool factor, I made sure to choose a controller that was not only a contender in terms of size but also one that had features similar to having an actual Pioneer DJM900 or Rane 68 and with the same functionality of a pair of Pioneer CDJs.

I narrowed it down to three options: (1) Pioneer DDJ-SZ; (2) Pioneer DDJ-RZ; and (3) Denon MCX8000. All three controllers have a four-channel mixer and are constructed with metal.

Let’s start with the RZ. This controller does not natively support so many DJ programs because Pioneer is trying to build a brand for RekordBox. This means that the RZ was primarily designed with the objective of promoting RekordBox over all other DJ software to streamline. This is not surprising since any company – Pioneer in this case – would want to promote their own product above any competitor’s products. Unfortunately, the RZ has post-fader effects while the SZ does not – this doesn’t really matter though because of the Sound Color FX that they both have which makes the “overused” Echo FX an option. Aside from this post-fader functionality however, the RZ has similar – if not the exact same – layout and functionality as the SZ. The Pioneer DDJ-RZ is out.

Now to compare the MCX8000 to the DDJ-SZ. What really draws me to the MCX8000 is the stand-alone functionality of the controller and the “cool factor” associated with the display screens on it. However, this is a questionable option considering it will definitely be more difficult to search for tracks on a small screen. Even more, Pioneer is a great example of a well-trusted DJ supplier going towards laptop controllers rather than stand-alone.

The DDJ-SZ has been tried and tested and Pioneer is like the Apple of DJ equipment. Denon itself is more likely to disappear than any Pioneer-produced device because of Pioneer’s established and trusted line of products – products found in almost every club while you would be lucky to guest perform at ten clubs and seen one Denon product. The DJM-style mixer attached to the SZ, the non-mirrored, CDJ layout decks, and native compatibility with Rekordbox, Serato DJ, Virtual DJ, djay Pro, Mix8Deck, and Traktor Pro 2 (which I am accustomed to using) makes it a strong contender. To build on the argument of mirrored decks, should one be scratching comfortably, the pitch control on the left side of the MCX8000 gets in the way of the jog wheel and hitting this could throw a mix off and be a point of embarrassment in a high-energy nightclub, especially for other club promoters who might be watching me. On that point, I really don’t need a hundred drunk people running up on the stage or booing me. The SZ also has jog wheels around 202 mm while the MCX has jog wheels of about 140 mm. Part of the reason behind a larger controller is not just because I want a bigger, cooler controller; the jog wheels of the S4 were so small that it made scratching a bit annoying. The SZ is definitely an upgrade from that and much larger than the MCX platters – a point for the DDJ-SZ. Also, I always plan on using a laptop which means that the added functionality of the MCX being standalone is something I would rarely use.

On the point of laptops, the SZ has two sound cards and thus dual-laptop input which will allow for seamless transitions between two DJs. With the layout of the SZ being similar to club-standard CDJs, there should be no worry in another DJ being able to quickly navigate his or her way through the controller while using whatever DJ software they feel comfortable with (as long as the proper mapping is downloaded, of course). So let’s say you’re a Traktor DJ but your colleague is a Serato DJ, there should be no problem in both of you being able to DJ using the same controller, saving the need to have two setups for DJs who work together with different music specialties and software comfortability.

Another argument I found was that the MCX8000 was smaller than the SZ making it much more portable. However, although the SZ may be a bit larger, the weight remains similar with the SZ weighing in at 22.92 lbs and the MCX8000 at 18.39 lbs. I really don’t see a big difference here, especially with the new Pioneer DDJ-SZ-specific flight cases having roller wheels.

Ok, now if you’re thinking oh I want the SZ now but it is 2.5 years old so a new DDJ-SZ2 controller is bound to come out soon, you don’t really have much to worry about. Why? Well, with Pioneer releasing its own line of RekordBox controllers including the DDJ-RX and DDJ-RZ, the focus will be on these two controllers rather than the SZ. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because you will still get the same level of excellent customer and technical support from Pioneer.

In terms of price, the MCX8000 retails for $1599 CAD/$1299 USD while the DDJ-SZ can be purchased for $2829 CAD/$1997 USD. Now, you may ask if it is really worth paying nearly $1200 CAD/$700 USD for the SZ over the MCX8000. I really do believe that you get what you pay for and not only as previously mentioned has the SZ been tried and tested while being up to industry standards whereas the MCX8000 is very new and has already been found to have freezing and latency issues, the mirrored layout, and unstable Engine software. (Side note: it has been possible to pick up a new SZ in the US for even cheaper and I actually purchased mine bundled with a Pioneer-branded flight case, all-inclusive from The DJ Hookup.) For those of you who I have not convinced otherwise, although these MCX issues can hopefully be fixed with firmware updates such as the upcoming Engine 1.6, it is not really something I would want when picking up a controller that I want to use properly right out of the box.

I hope that this post outlined the pros and cons to each controller and why I ended up choosing the Pioneer DDJ-SZ.

What do you guys think? Are you convinced? What would you have chosen?

–DJ Mocha Love (DJML)

Special thanks to deejdave and Ragman for helping me out with this decision!

Stay tuned for the next blog post coming out on July 12th, 2016! Topic: The fate of DJ controllers… Are TTs and CDJs going to make controllers obsolete?