Two schools of djing today: Which should you choose?

[Versatek]

There is the vinyl (and simulated) vinyl school,
and there is the cd dj school...

Both are great for what they are. I started as a vinyl dj in the mid nineties and now currently use Traktor scratch because it has let me into the digital world while staying in the feel of vinyl. Which do you prefer and why?

[Versatek]

are there any sites to help you learn more about the art of scratching?

[lujamaris]

id prefer cd dj school..technology is making each time better equipment..
the best equipment used to be vynil but it has improved into cdjs..
more compact, more things, etc.
cdj is the future

[Cloaked]

I think vinyl is the bases for all DJ. If you can mix on vinyl then CD are easy but start on CD's and try vinyl and you have a whole other creature.

[215guy]

i use serato after 8 years on wax n i give it an A+

[jaryan]

vinyl is the most authentic, but too heavy to carry if u travel

[stricklystabby714]

vinyl is OG, but just too expensive. 13-14 bucks a record or 2.99 a track? digital is easier

[houseluv]

i started out using turntables as i was always told that real DJs use vinyl. more recently been using CDJ1000s as theyre far easier to use and have many more functions (looping etc). still got my old technics aswell for when i fancy them

[DJ AZ]

I was debating this when i started, i decided to settle for pioneer cdjs. im so glad i got them and havnt looked back since!!

[tomski]

vinyl is too heavy to carry, my sciatica proves that after 19 years of carrying everything from 7" records and LP's in the early 80's, to 2 bags of 12"s in the 90's.

now i use cd's, although serato is definately gonna be the future sooner rather than later for me, as soon as i get my hands on a mac.

[F-Dub]

Vinyl has many setbacks. Tempo limitations that effect the key of a track. Expensive. Takes up a lot of room and has way more weight. And of course, you're strictly limited to playing a track, no tricks.

CDs are lighter, cheaper, offer more variety for the DJ and basically make every easier.

The only pro that Vinyl holds, is that it's the original. I dont see people giving up their cars to go ride a bike everywhere... way of the future.

[hotmuthafunker]

I've been DJing on vinyl turntables for over 11 years and just over a year on CD decks. I can tell you that DJing vinyl is much more rewarding. There is an energy and intensity that you bring to spinning vinyl that just can't be matched on CD decks. It is much more exciting for the crowd to watch and more exciting to spin. The bass response in the club from vinyl is deeper, fuller, and warmer.

I request now that every club I spin at have vinyl decks. Spinning CDs just gets old. Sure, I love that I don't have to carry as much weight to the gig, but I would rather visit the chiropractor every once and awhile than not get to spin vinyl. Vinyl is where it is at.

I miss going record shopping. I think the last time I went to a record shop was in 2005 or 2006 in Chicago at Gramaphone. I used to work at DMC Records on Melrose in Hollywood in 2002. It was exciting to get first dibs on all the new tracks. I remember record shopping there in 2001 and being so envious of the guys working there. Sure, they didn't have as many club gigs as me, but they had all that vinyl to go through before I ever saw it on the wall!!! So I finally got the nerve to apply and start working there when my scheduled slowed down due to the events of 9/11 and the whole club business slowing down. It was a wonderful and rewarding experience. I am grateful for my time there.

Sure, downloading tracks with the click of the button is nice, but there is something spiritual and rewarding about digging through a crate of records and interacting with all the people in the record store that you don't get online.

I enjoy spinning CDs, but if I had to choose, I would go all vinyl. I like it when I have the freedom to have 4 decks, 2 Technics 1200s and 2 Pioneer CDJ1000s. I haven't really tried Serato except for the CD version, so I can't tell you if I like that. However, I do know it can't be the same as pulling a record off the platter and pumping it in the air as the crowd goes wild!!!

I respect whatever format a DJ chooses to spin on, but at the end of the day, there is a bond that all vinyl DJs share and only they can know about. Like life, energy, and the chakras in our bodies, the platter goes round and round.

[mixedup]

I think that each media has it's own rewards and advantages and am glad to have experience with vinyl, cd, and digital mixing.

For me, as well, it's vinyl all the way to learn with. I love the feel and being able to get hands on with them. I can read the grooves and see whats happening in a tune by the way they've been cut and where the tone arm is on the record as an indicator of where I am in a tune. I love the smell of vinyl and prefer the "Warmth" of the sound....particularly on a big club system.......ANALOG ANALOG ANALOG.....will always PREFER IT.

In actuality now, I prefer my laptop and CD's on a gig for ease of use and the fact that I can have a greater selection with me.

I work out most of my sets at home with my Numark CDX's as they at least have a vinyl on top, ROFL.

Learn to mix with all that you can then you'll be better prepared for just about any situation.

[Dan TRox]

My first was on Cd player and now i'm learnig still on him but i think that play whit vinyl is better because you haven't bmp and you are checking your hearing ;=) In the future i want go to vinyl school . Greets from POLANd ;=)

[jbashta]

with all due respect to vinyl " oldskool " , but wake up everyone, were in 2008...have u even seen what somebody like James Zabeila does on the cdj 1000's n a djm 800 mixer......in a million years can't u get these sounds off an analogue table..can u imagine what difference would there be in live performances?? come on vinyl ppl.....it's 2008