Do ‘Real’ DJs Use Analogue or Digital Gear?

Real DJs spin with real vinyl…or do they? Guest-blogger Menno from Supa-Dupa Studio explores DJ history to find out how much truth this statement holds and gives his personal opinion on the vinyl versus digital debate.

Back to the ‘80s and ‘90s

Before we can get to brass tacks, we have to travel back in time a few decades. While the first DJs popped up in the 1970s, the art of mixing tracks didn’t properly take off until several years later. Back then, becoming a good DJ took a ton of effort, time and money between buying records and endless beatmatch honing. In the 1990s, the introduction of the CD player, which featured a pitch control, gave DJs the option to do their thing with CDs, even if the options were relatively limited. CD players didn’t allow scratching so they weren’t a viable pick for hip-hop artists. Other DJs stayed faithful to vinyl because they either felt like it sounded better or simply refused to get used to a different deejaying technique. Meanwhile, CDs became the standard among the masses. They were smaller, less fragile and less sensitive than vinyl records, a lot of which disappeared from shops and living rooms and ended up at thrift stores or in landfills.

Do ‘Real’ DJs Use Analogue or Digital Gear?

The New Millennium

The first half of the noughties marked a serious breakthrough in CD usage among DJs, driven by two important developments: the introduction of the Pioneer DJ CDJ-1000 and the internet. Thanks to its turntable-style lay-out and innovative tech, including a master tempo control and adjustable cue point setting, the CDJ-1000 was swiftly embraced by professional DJs. It even played burned CDs — something not every CD player at the time could, allowing DJs to bring self-compiled CDs to the club, loaded with tracks they would spend their days weaving together. What also helped is that, taking a vinyl collection onto a flight as hand luggage just wasn’t an option, CDs are much more portable making life for international Djs much easier. As mentioned, after the turn of the millennium, everyone was now able to download tracks and burn them to CDs. This definitely boosted the DJ craft in terms of popularity as, thanks to the internet, it was now much easier and cheaper to build a large collection of music to work with.

Do ‘Real’ DJs Use Analogue or Digital Gear?

Going Digital

Throughout the 2000s, a lot of DJs either transitioned from vinyl to CDs, or chose to combine both techniques. A select group of DJs, mainly those active in the hip-hop scene, stuck with vinyl. For them, staying true to the analogue medium was a statement. Meanwhile, things were getting increasingly difficult for vinyl aficionados as downloadable music became more and more mainstream — a development that brought in a new evolution: deejaying digitally using a laptop. Software like Serato, Traktor and Virtual DJ enabled DJs to work with digital audio via CD players and DVS (digital vinyl systems), and with the same feel and level of control as you’d get from working with old-school records. Not too long after, the introduction of dedicated DJ controllers did away with the need for a fully-fledged DJ rig, giving even more budding beat-weavers the opportunity to start out small in the comfort of their bedroom.

The Hip-Hop Scene

What’s also interesting about the digital evolution of DJ gear is that in the hip-hop scene, where many hold on to analogue traditions, it’s totally acceptable to run a laptop-plus-Serato/Traktor set-up on stage. In fact, one of hip-hop’s biggest pioneers, Grandmaster Flash, gigs with a laptop. The aversion to digital techniques has a lot to do with the history of deejaying. The time, money and effort it took old-school DJs to hone their craft was suddenly devalued or, depending on how you look at it, gained a welcome boost in efficiency.

Do ‘Real’ DJs Use Analogue or Digital Gear?

The 2010s

In late 2009, Pioneer DJ launched the CDJ-2000. This modernised bit of kit made it possible to play tracks from a USB stick, allowing DJs to replace their CD cases with something much smaller once again. The result? The death (pretty much) of the CD as a viable storage medium for DJs. The digital revolution has turned music into a non-physical product, where MP3 files don’t come with the emotional connection that you can have with records and CDs that you can touch, look at and cherish. This is a driving force behind the vinyl revival that started several years ago. Vinyl is not only an excellent way to convey emotion to a dance floor crowded with music lovers, but a way for DJs to paint themselves as genuine connaisseurs who love their craft and are able to do their thing without any digital perks.

In Sum

These days there are many different digital DJ platforms available across all price ranges. Do you qualify as a real DJ if you don’t use vinyl? You do if you ask me. Claiming otherwise is not just a short-sighted opinion, but a slap in the face of all the DJs who took the profession to the next level using digital techniques. Every new technology opens up new ways to get creative with music. I like to compare it to driving a classic convertible versus a brand-new luxury car. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. That convertible is perfect for a summer Sunday drive, while that modern car has its own perks, like climate control. Both are great options depending on the circumstances. The same goes for the choice between vinyl and digital. In the end, it comes down to personal preferences and subjectivity.

What’s your take in the vinyl versus digital DJ discussion? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!