this week’s deck discoveries
I’m back after a busy week, that keeps getting busier. Earthdance rocked, and I’m proud to say Revolutionists threw down serious! Also, who would have ever thought my partner’s in crime would be busting out on the mic so well!
Getting ready for tomorrow at Radha and formulating fall shows and winter website additions. Got in fewer practice hours this week, but maintained at least a daily approach, with the exception of one day, which was devoted to The Spinning Drum.
So the most ground breaking thing I learned this week is that the Vestax 08 is out. And the future is fader indeed. The 08 is a MIDJ- meaning musical instrument for djaying, a term Vestax is coining for their new line, and it has fader eqs. Thus far it is one of the main factors that has me on Allen&Heath over the scratch musician’s traditional Vestax tool. The highly responsive curve control on the main faders, which in themselves offer greater blending ability, also keeps me in the A&H world. Can’t wait to try the 08 though, and will be check, check, ch, ch, checking it out when it arrives at a local gear store.
So why is fader on the eqs so important? ONE HANDED EQING. Means you can eq a blend while the other works the main fader, or volume, or simply waves in the air. Whatever! IT’S FREE.
What else? Well you can only EQ YOUR SCRATCHING, as all you need, yes I’ll say it again, is ONE HAND!
Vestax saw this, of course, which is one reason along with the space saving advantage that Vestax put it on the 07 in the first place. Yes, it freaked some djs out, but those who got used it saw the advantage. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely anti-knob; however, think …you don’t have a crossknob, you have a crossfader. For finesses faders rule.
now to technique….
Week’s best practice tip, well actually a reminder: breathe remember to breathe. Reminds me of my vocal coach in high school, but she was right. Fundamentally, this is the main give away of a mature player of any musical instrument. We’ve all watched in wonder at some virtuoso who moves with sublime ease all over their instrument. Like a veteran lover with a long-term partner, relaxed performance means many long hours in the bedroom practicing, and reflects a more intimate relationship between the player and his or her medium.
Remember to breathe, good words of advice all round. Certainly I’ve awoken from a scratch trance, with my mouth shut, body tensed, wondering how I didn’t pass out from lack of oxygen. But anyways, it’s been confirmed that one can mix two records, scratch and breathe all at the same time. It’s been done and not just at the DMCs.
Breathing equals pace, equals space.
Breathing gives the track a chance to breathe as well, and makes for a more polished piece. Always remember music needs silence for it to be music, and for the artist who takes a breath and offers space, he or she realizes for true artistry seeing or hearing what shouldn’t be there is as important as seeing or hearing what should.
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