Which DJ skills are most important for you

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What's most important for you?

Beatmatching
10
11%
Track selection
73
81%
Other skills
7
8%
 
Total votes: 90

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patrick bateman
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Which DJ skills are most important for you

Post by patrick bateman »

1. Beatmatching
2. Track selection
3. Other skills

I know this is only 2 of many skills needed to be a good DJ, but I think these 2 are the core basics one needs.

Also feel free to comment what other skills you think are essential for a DJ, and of course also skills that are a nice add-on and makes that particular DJ your fave one.
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Post by patrick bateman »

I have to think again closely about my own answer, because if a DJ plays some really good tracks, then the beatmatching doesn't necessarily have to be 100% perfect, but on the other hand, a DJ can really ruin a night with poor beatmatching skills.
The same goes for bad track selection, even if the DJ is technically a genius.
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Post by Opuswerk »

you would indeed need a bit more than 2 skills.
I suppose as long as poor beatmatching skills don't lead to a complete trainwreck, the set can be pretty good too....
Maybe the poll isn't the best solution for such a discussion. it could be done by having a list of skills people would note from 1 to 10?
such as:
  • beatmatching: xx/10
    track selecting: xx/10
    crowd reading: xx/10
    crowd interacting: xx/10
    equing: xx/10
    mix ins: xx/10
    mix outs: xx/10
    variety of styles: xx/10
    ....
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Post by New Guy »

Theres only one factor that determines if a DJ is good.
He has to be chosen by God! -urk
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Post by Opuswerk »

New Guy wrote:Theres only one factor that determines if a DJ is good.
He has to be chosen by God! -urk
Amen!
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Post by PsyTox »

New Guy wrote:Theres only one factor that determines if a DJ is good.
He has to be chosen by God! -urk
Leaves the debate. Who's God, Hawtin or Villalobos or Tiesto.

Fin the poll pretty hard to answer. The best dj simply can do it all. Masters beatmatching, selects perfect tunes, uses the efx where needed and has presence behind the decks. And if he's really really good, he can produce his own music that is just as good.

Villalobos, Weatherall and Carola being fine examples for me. Many dj's can do a few of these "requirements", but only the rare few can combine all of these.
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Post by Del »

The way I’ve always saw it was;

sh!t tracks + sh!t mixing = sh!t DJ (Hell of a lot of “DJs”)
sh!t tracks + Great mixing = sh!t DJ (Lots of DJ’s)
Great tracks + sh!t mixing = Good DJ (eg. Mike Huckaby, Move D)
Great Tracks + Great mixing = Excellent DJ (eg. Ricardo Villalobos, Donato Dozzy)

Also, I think it’s important to mention that there’s a difference between plain old beat matching and ‘mixing’. Sometimes a fade in can be just as or more effective. Once you learn to beat match the next step is mastrering the mix which takes more into account that simply tempo or bpm.
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Post by Rochey »

My favorite DJ is Magda who's beatmatching isn't the greatest, but saying that it's still rare that she stuffs 1.

So I would lean towards track selection, however what I think is also a factor look at a list of your favorite DJs. if you played every single song they played you probably wouldn't like all of them it's how the DJ has presented them be that due to reading a crowd or "how" they have mixed it. That doesn't mean that it sounds good because it's in time, but the part of the song they are using & maybe combinig it with another or using effects.

A bad song can sound good mixed by a good DJ is that bad track selection or good track selection because that DJ know's they can make it sound good?
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