Scratching - is it VITAL???????

Anonymous · Guest Member #: -1

Does a DJ, not a producer, NEED to scratch? I have a good cd player capable of playing everything, a great reveiver, I will be getting another of both soon for free. And two really old turntable (10-30 yrs). I know i need a mixer and speakers. Would it be wise to use 1 scratching device and one player. Do I really absolutely need to be able to scratch? How do I scratch?

Nick P · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:43 am

2 10 year old belt-driven turntables won't do...

Neither will the cd players.

Basically, you have nothing you'll need to dj.

You're going to need to learn how to mix long before worrying about doing any scratching. Theres plenty of information on technique in the tutorial section.

Djing is a big investment, and you'll need a pretty good amount of cash. (at the least $500)

that's whats been keeping me out of it so far.

MixzaMixer · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:14 am

you gotta learn how to crawl before u can walk. u gotta learn how to walk before u can run. Get the picture im painting here? its ok though to scratch if you want to. you choice and the style you choose is up to u. make some other dj trick up on ur own where you dont have to sctach anything. but sometimes its fun. roll on Cool

Anonymous · Guest Member #: -1

Ive talked to other DJs b4 and they said I CAN use my cd player and my amp, and I will be able to use the othere. I just need a mixer, speakers, and If i want , turntables.

davehart · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2004 4:21 pm

Scratching has its place. Obviously if your mixing smooth house then there's no need to scratch like a bastard all over the place. For more creative style of mixing which is tagged as 'turtablism' then learning to scratch is an artform.

Best way to start is to pick up a few really crap records you aint to bothered about messing up and grab a pair of decent decks. Just play around and practice moving the vinly around.

Bradz · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2004 4:58 pm

You don't need to be able to scratch from a 'listeners' point of veiw, more dj's its sound crap... but if ur name is Eddie Halliwell, well... Fire it up!!

Nick P · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2004 10:56 pm

Watts · **Posted:** Thu Aug 05, 2004 8:35 am

Halliwell seems quite cheeky when you hear the record he uses to scratch with most of the time. That said, he still good.

Stridr13, you don't NEED to scratch. It depends on what you're mixing, who you're mixing to and what YOU want to do. Hell I've heard a mate scratch a Portland Bill story vinyl into Techno...

I've been mixing for almost 3 years now and haven't touched scratching. Its something that'll take years to master if you want to do it properly.

Anonymous · Guest Member #: -1

Good point.

Viceroy · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:02 pm

Don't forget to check out [i:Vibes] learn to DJ tutorials (look under Tutorials on the navigation bar).

DjTuvano · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:59 am

Why not find someone with some decent tables and get lost trying to catch the rythm, the scratch aspect is what turned me on to it all, mixing just came with the package.

DjBiz · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:47 pm

very few house Dj's scratch any more...Bad Boy Bill, Mistress Barbara and a handfull scratch house...Scratching has a place and a time but now days I find its more in the Urban scene...as a 1994 DMC quarter finalist I havent scratched much in years..but back then to be a Dj you had to scratch...now days just find your mix first...and then broden your horizons.