we’re living in a digital age, but most dj’s still prefer to use vinyl records and decks. i’m not a professional dj, and i don’t have any mixing qualities, i appreciate vinyl for its warm sound, esthetic large sleeves and the feeling that you hold something real and perhaps even collectible. especially since the rise of cd-r’s, the compact disc lost much of its appeal for me, it can now be considered more as a disposable article.
for dj’s who want to use digital sound material with the advantages of record decks, there are a few options. there exists a digital cd-deck, which looks a bit like a record deck. it not only has pitch control and the ability to make loops, you can also scratch with it, through physical manipulation of the cd with your hand. a good example is the pioneer cdj-1000.
another option is to use the final scratch system. you use a laptop filled with mp3’s, a mixer and two record-players. on the record-players lie two special blanco vinyl records. when you touch these records, it effects the reproduction of the mp3’s. so you can use all dj techniques, like mixing and scratching, with the physical interface of conventional record players, but the actual music is stored in your computer. some of the (dance) dj’s using this technique are michel de hey, josh wink en jeff mills. a big advantage: it is better for your back, you don’t have to carry heavy cases with records anymore…
time will tell which equipment dj’s will use in 10 years time, i hope that the good old vinyl records will survive for some time…