Digital Dismay

It still fascinates me that DJs still spend time debating things like "Vinyl vs CDs" or "going digital versus playing vinyl".

As a lifetime vinyl junkie, I learned on vinyl and respect the art of vinyl and all the things that go with it like crate digging, the artwork, etc. I also realize that to me, vinyl meant more when the music on it meant more. Having classics on vinyl is beautiful, having the newest digital composition in any genre on vinyl doesn't hold the same mystique to me.

Going digital to me is not about economic benefit, convenience, or practicality. Firstly, it's about access and control. As a producer, I want to be able to manipulate audio as it suits me when I'm spinning. I spun vinyl for 20 years, and I don't scratch or do the crazy tricks that turntablist can do so it was pretty much mix, mix, mix, repeat. Traktor (what I use) gives me the ability to loop, manipulate, and effect audio in a way that you just couldn't do the traditional way. Secondly, having access to a vast collection of music in one easily searchable and accessible place makes life less stressful since I always had times when I had forgot or couldn't find a record. You still have to have the same DJ skills as with regular vinyl but you can take it much farther. It's not like you press a button and the computer mixes the playlist for you (although there are programs that will do that).