Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

Totally. The technology we choose for the mix must be a choice and not an obligation. I'm going into traditionnal way because I think there's a time for everything, if things are going good and that I would have a different way of seeing the mix, I'll probably go into digital. But i'm not already to that question.

I remind you that the target of this topic was to choose between M5G or Mk2 and only 2 guys answered to that :p

However the progress of this topic is really interesting, it's informative to have so many advices about the new mixing technologies.:cool:

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

WRONG! I started djing in 1991 and have had gigs off an on since then, all of them playing strictly vinyl. I'm assuming I was djing in front of crowds before you were old enough to go to clubs. Vinyl is awesome. In fact i've got a few thousand pieces of the stuff to prove my love. As I said before, for the person just getting into it at this late stage, the options are broad and choosing to go the vinyl route is mired in a classical tradition and tainted by the luddites position that mixing with software is less real than manipulating vinyl. There's nothing "magic" about manipulating vinyl. In fact, if you're a good dj, you don't have to touch the record at all. The best beat-matchers ride the pitch control, if they have to adjust the tempo. Touching the record or the platter is asking for trouble and a sign of an out-of-control dj.

Vinyl is expensive, limited in availabilty and extremely heavy. If the person asking for advice wants to be "cool" and a "real dj" then that means they should go old school and buy two turntables and start saving money for vinyl. It's impossibly expensive to keep current with vinyl unless you're getting paid to dj a several times a month. My next gig will involve vinyl and Traktor and probably some CD's to try to curb the "boring dude with a laptop" stigma. Even though my mixes are better than 90 percent of the jacks using vinyl only, i'll still have to prove myself when the apple logo lights up. Choosing the vinyl route for a starting point in 2006 is antiquated in my opinion. It's wanting to be accepted and feel like the old school. It's essentially an ego thing, as i mentioned before. It's certainly not about wanting to be the best Dj you can be. Unless you're eyeing Qbert as a role model, you'll be better off in the long run if you embrace the new technology today, rather than tomorrow. You don't have to slump behind the laptop screen and click a mouse. There are no rules limiting your presence behind the mixer. If the tunes are hot and you've got a good attitude, the crowd will support you. Have you ever seen Thomas Fehlmann live? Skinny old man behind a G4 Powerbook who has the crowd eating out of his hands 5 minutes into his set. Is it because he's "manipulating vinyl"? Hell no, it's his attitude and killer sounds. Ever seen a boring Dj use vinyl? Just making a point that it's not the tools you use, it's...uh...how you use them. Cliche but true.

12"s cost appx. 10 USD. For that you get 1 maybe 2 tracks you can play. MP3's are everywhere and generally can be had for no money. I have enough online resources to find every track I want without having to pay a penny. I do have 2 technics for encoding old vinyl and some new stuff i have to have because i'm a collector (Villalobos' Ascho EP). It's your choice ultimately, but in my eyes, vinyl dj'ing has gone as far as it can go and digital mixing is the way forward.

good luck no matter what you choose.

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

qbert isn't the only one. dj craze adopted FS as well (see an introduction here). and i know that amon tobin who's touring with FS gear as well.

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

I think I'm fucking lost in my choices now. The facts you say are really true and I don't really know what to do. I'm not poor but hell yes, vinyls are expensive... and heavy.

I'm going to reevaluate the situation...

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

I would like to humbly suggest that there are other reasons besides ego, but I'm not the authority that BLD is.

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

well obviously digital dj'ing is cheaper if you only play shit you download for free. way to support the scene that gives you all these free tracks you're cashing in on.

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

way to go, biz! :rolleyes:

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

as anyone who knows me can attest, i spend more than 300 USD per month on music. Some vinyl, mostly CD's, mostly used. How much do you spend a month on music? Just because I download a ton of music, doesn't mean i'm not supporting the scene. I'd be willing to believe there aren't many people on this site, bar MattVal and couple others who dedicate as much of their wages to buying music.

should i not download the scandanavian 12"s that get pressed in copies of less than 5000 and never appear at my local shops? should i only play things i can buy in the shops? i don't know where you guys live but a majority of the things i want don't appear in my local racks and when they do, they're very expensive. i guarantee you I support independent artists as much or more than any other poster on this board. swing by my place and i'll show you my collection of actual store bought cd's and vinyl....then we'll marvel at my immaculately tagged and organized digital collection.

i'll put on the tea.

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

singles are now being released in digital format (as either mp3s, wav files, etc). some cost less than their 12" equivalent, some cost about the same as the 12" version (such as if you were downloading from a UK site)...minus the cost of shipping/driving around town looking for it.

not all of the tracks you might be looking for will be available in digital format.

Re: Technics: Mk2 or M5G
 

Oh well then I'll answer that too....

That detent on the MK2's is totally whack and annoying. Get something without it. Be it a used M3D if yer on a budget or spring for the m5g.