Updated Essay

Technology and What it Means for DJ Culture
Fin Desmond
301025737

In my thesis I aim to investigate how the production and development of DJ equipment including turntables, mixers, music format etc, have evolved and influenced the electronic music scene in terms of culture, credibility and sociality. A major concern in the DJ industry these days is that with the rise of digital technology, certain elements of traditional DJ skill & culture are slowly dying, and with these elements so is the integrity the scene. Some example of areas where people are concerned are; the replacement of vinyl records with CDs, functions on DJ equipment which take away the skill of
DJing, the development of computer software which allows people to DJ using computers with the aid of digital functions not present in the analog world. However with these advances in music technology, many argue that it is healthy for making progress. I want to look into the reasons why people are for and against these changes, what these changes are, what they mean, and what the outcome may be for future generations of DJs and audiences.

INTRO:
Technology is always evolving. Things are invented and produced only to be surpassed by successive products with more advanced technology. Music is no exception. With the invention of the phonograph by Thomas Edison in 1877 (Shapiro, 2000) electronic music made its first appearance and has come a long way since then. First it was vinyl records, then came magnetic tape housed in cassettes in the 50s, in the 80s compact discs were the latest and best, today there are numerous digital formats such as mp3, that are becoming the standard medium for music. Along with these developments, go all the devices used to produce, record, project, and enhance music.

HISTORY OF FIRST DJS
The first DJs started out playing records on turntables, mixing one song into the next with the help of a mixer. A mixer is a device which allows a DJ to hear sound from one source on headphones, while the sound from another source can be played out loud through speakers and lets the DJ “mix” between the two audio sources. There are many ways of mixing songs together, and the capabilities of the mixer determine how a DJ can achieve this. Mixers have developed a great deal, and now have many functions that allow DJs to manipulate songs.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD DJ:
There are an infinite number of things a DJ can do with his tunes with the technology available today. However, many argue that if a DJ is any good all he needs are the basics; two decks and a mixer, no added aids to make them sound better. A quality DJ can keep the dance floor packed by selecting the right tunes and mixing them well.

DEVELOPMENT1 – CDJs:
One of the first big developments of DJ equipment since Technics made the SP-10 turntable, was the invention of the CD turntable (CDJ). A CDJ is a device DJs can use to play CD’s as if they were records on a turntable. The possibilities this provided had many impacts on the DJ scene and became and still is the cause for much controversy. CDJs created new and exciting possibilities, but one cannot ignore their negative effects as well. On the plus, DJs could now carry a lot more music, not having to lug around a crate of records would have been a relief to many. They could pick from a much larger and diverse range of songs to play, giving more possibilities to DJ sets and performances. Buying songs became a lot cheaper as CDs are much more affordable than vinyl, and with the internet people were able to download songs for a fraction of the price. However with this new freedom there are many debateable issues.

DEV2 – MIXERS
DEV3 – DJ SOFTWARE (serato etc)
DEV4 – VJing
DEV5 – PRODUCTION SOFTWARE
DEV6 – PRESENT/FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

The technology available today gives anybody who can afford it, the ability to be a DJ. This can be seen as positive as more people are embracing the culture, and the more people embrace it the more it can develop and head in new directions. However there is an integrity that must be maintained and a tradition that must be respected.

So where do you draw the line? When does a DJ stop being a DJ, where does technology take over? There are many factors and opinions to take into consideration. Personally, and from a DJs point of view, I feel a DJ should be in control at all times to be considered a true DJ. Once a device starts to do things that a DJ should do himself, an element is taken away and the DJ becomes less impressive. There is the point that these devices let the DJ focus less on the basics such as beat matching and cueing, and therefore allow them to show their skills in more complex ways and put on a better show. But to me the basics are essential and appreciated, and when a DJ can pull off amazing mixes or perform stunning tricks, as well as doing everything else behind the scenes, that is much more exciting.

One must also think from the audiences point of view. The aim of a DJ is to please the crowd, and new technology provides the opportunity to do this in new and exciting ways.


Bibliography

Shapiro, Peter “Modulations - A History of Electronic Music” Caipirinha Productions, Inc., 2000.
Belle-Fortune, Brian. "All Crews - Journeys Through Jungle/Drum & Bass Culture" 2004.
Broughton, Frank & Bill Brewster. "How to DJ Properly" 2002.
Prochak, Tim "How to Remix" 2001.