DJing CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

[billyz]

I didn't notice a post and didn't get one on my search so I figured I'd ask. Do you prefer cd's to vinyl or any other audio media such as ableton or final scratch and why. Just because doesn't work as an answer either. So I'll start by saying that I enjoy playing my vinyl, but do to the ease of downloading from places like beatport, resonant vibes, and 3 beat to name a few I've found myself smack dab in the digital age. Granted years ago myself and my brother had access to Promo Only cd's when we played at Stealth in Daytona Beach, but used them in limited quantities. But having them there made it possible to learn how to use the denon double deck of that time. Today though I don't have any cd players to my name, and I find myself at friend's houses using whatever they available when able to. So while I love my vinyl and will play it any chance I get, CD's are where it's at for me currently.
Billy

[Miroslav]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

There's been just a bit of debate on this I think it's all been beaten to death...

But that won't stop me from rambling about it (anything to avoid the work I should be doing). I love vinyl, always will. I use all vinyl right now because it's what I started on and I just don't have the time and resources to dedicate to a technology upgrade right now (full time grad student).

But as far as traditional DJing is going, I think it's fairly clear that vinyl is dying out. I expect it will be hard for me to get any of the tracks I'd like on vinyl within say 5 years. The future belongs to CDs and sound files, given the inevitable continued growth of nontraditional DJing (Ableton, etc.)

I plan to make the conversion to CD/sound file after I graduate from school and get a job. I may invest in something Ableton-like, but right now I don't see myself ever fully abandoning my CDJs that I'll get or whatever other technology that will still allow me to maintain the traditional mixing/beatmatching aspect of DJing. For that matter, I don't see myself pitching out my tables and a lot of my vinyl collection, either. It'll always have a lot of value to me, even if it'll be impractical for live performance.

[billyz]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

I have a hard time finding some tracks even now. Stuff that is only released on vinyl or the ever popular "This track is not available for your territory" i love that crap. Beatport is slowly get classics and back catalogs of labels which is nice but it will be a long time before things get converted. And someday I'll start converting what I have to MP3s.

[BureOne]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

I purchased my cdj's last year in March. And i've only purchased about 10 vinyls since then. When before I would easily buy 10-15 every month!!

So now, if the mp3 is available, I'll purchase that instead of the vinyl format. If I can ONLY obtain it through vinyl and its a great piece of music, im buying the vinyl. But now in days, what ISN'T available as mp3?

Obviously mp3's are a lot cheaper, downloadable; no shipping, easier to carry, pretty much instant. Sound quality? hmm, I've actually purchased an mp3 of a track I already had on vinyl, because the vinyl's quality was poor. Might be my needles though. Havent' purchased a new pair of those yellow bananas in about 5 years lol.

But sound quality I give to vinyl. A lot of mp3's I've purchased have a bit too much treble that it can be a bit distorted. With mp3's, its not entirely sure what the sound quality might be.

The only thing I miss from vinyl are the album art/colors. The smell of vinyl after playing them for a good 2 hours, the warm turntables, I swear my bedroom would smell like a record shop.

Overall, I give the edge to technology.

[Miroslav]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

Warning: Crotchety "Old Timer DJ" Sentimental Yammering

Purely from the perspective of the art discipline, I think I'll always love vinyl most. No CD or mp3 will ever replace the joy I had from going to Gramaphone Records in Chicago and making an afternoon of it...never knowing what I'd find, meeting people, making friends...and that feeling of satisfaction when you uncover something really unique that you can hold in your hands. There was some magic in the fact that you COULDN'T just get whatever hit track you wanted. It forced a patient growth in my musical tastes and fostered a real respect for the art. The stuff wasn't so close to being disposable.

I spent years frequenting stores like that, and every minute of it was precious. You don't get that from clicking around on some damn website in your living room.

I'll be moving along to CDs and mp3s because I don't want to be the dinosaur on its way to exctinction. And the changes and opportunities that this will provide will be good; after all, it is ultimately about the sounds and how they make you feel. But that stuff won't replace the intangible value that records had for me.

[billyz]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

I think deep down anyone who is or has collected vinyl has that soft spot in there heart that gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling when it comes to playing and listening to a record! It happens to me all the time, I'll bust out a track or two just to listen to something different and before I know it 3 hours have passed. I don't get that with mp3s. I miss taking a day and just record shopping, whether its at The Drop Shop or some little hole in the wall that you happen to pass while on your way to somewhere else. Its tangable! And while lugging around a flight case can be a pain when playing it still gives me some satisfaction. Besides I still have a problem with walking into a club to play and just have a small cd portfolio, it just doesn't feel right.

Thank you for the replies so far, I hope others decide to put there two cents in as well. I look forward to chatting some more.

[Ultra Vibe]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

CDJ's is where its at. You have so much more capability in almost every aspect. Better sound quality and cheaper music as well. Unless your a pure turntableist I dont see vinyl sticking around too much longer.

[day_for_night]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

^
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better sound quality than vinyl?? i don't think so...

[Jenks]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

^
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better sound quality than vinyl?? i don't think so...

+1

[billyz]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

CDJ's is where its at. You have so much more capability in almost every aspect. Better sound quality and cheaper music as well. Unless your a pure turntableist I dont see vinyl sticking around too much longer.

Vinyl is now more than ever being fazed out, I still believe it will be a while before its truely not pressed. When you have groups like Green Day who have stuff being pressed and available at Hot Topics, shows a nostalgia for vinyl. Being pressed to a record is a goal for most artists, the ability to get gold or even platinum records. You don't hear that about a cd, hell they come in the colors of gold, silver, white, black so anyone can have a gold cd. As for sound quality well that debate can be heated. My grandfather(rest his soul) used to tell me that cd's had the notes cut off, and I never quite understood it till a read an article or watched a show somewhere and it explained that because of the almost sterile conditions of making a cd(thru EQing and digital aspects) that the headroom you get with vinyl is not there in a cd. So their cut off. So the only sound quality I know of may be the lack of snaps and crackles, but that is about it. I've even heard productions that have put that(snaps and crackles) back into the recordings.

[kalin]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

snaps & crackles >>> just get GruvGlide

[jeffrey collins]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

I stay away from those Promo Only cd's as most I have seen are mostly filled with crappy songs.

I've been fully on cd's for quite a while...no reason to go back to vinyl...as I have nothing recent on it.

[Jenks]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

Still a LOT of labels i can't get digitally, and won't ever be able to. Plus, if it's good, being a collector, i'd rather have the vinyl than a file. Records > cds...but I play both..

[jeffrey collins]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

yes we know that from looking at your sweet ass set up dude. LOL

[Ultra Vibe]

Re: CD's vs Vinyl and Why!

Vinyl is now more than ever being fazed out, I still believe it will be a while before its truely not pressed. When you have groups like Green Day who have stuff being pressed and available at Hot Topics, shows a nostalgia for vinyl. Being pressed to a record is a goal for most artists, the ability to get gold or even platinum records. You don't hear that about a cd, hell they come in the colors of gold, silver, white, black so anyone can have a gold cd. As for sound quality well that debate can be heated. My grandfather(rest his soul) used to tell me that cd's had the notes cut off, and I never quite understood it till a read an article or watched a show somewhere and it explained that because of the almost sterile conditions of making a cd(thru EQing and digital aspects) that the headroom you get with vinyl is not there in a cd. So their cut off. So the only sound quality I know of may be the lack of snaps and crackles, but that is about it. I've even heard productions that have put that(snaps and crackles) back into the recordings.

Ok great, so having your music pressed to vinyl is a fantastic accomplishment and makes for a good collector item, noone is debating that. The topic of this thread has more to do with what you use personally to mix with and why. As I havd said before, cd's give you much more capibility then vinyl. Are you debating that?

Look, all im saying is pick any of the top international DJs - 99% of them are using CDJs. There is a reason for this. If its good enough for Sasha its good enough for me.