In 10th grade English, I learned that there are 3 stages to a hero’s quest – Initiation, Separation, and Return. If I am to make an analogy of my quest to learn to DJ and that of a hero, I think after this mix, I’ll officially begin the separation.
I really enjoyed this mix and even got to mix in a track that I have wanted for a while, Like I Do. But I realize that I am in my comfort zone. I am not mixing live, I have a cheat sheet. I’m not using effects or samples. I fade in and out using volume and EQs. I am not venturing into new music. Just EDM at 120 BPM.
I hope it doesn’t sound like I am bashing my own work, I think it is a great mix. But to continue to make mixes at this cadence that sound good, I spend most of my time on the mechanics of the mix (track selection, using existing techniques effectively, and mastering/publishing). I’ve recently thought a lot about the concept of deliberate practice and how I can use it to perform better at things that matter (job, DJing). It is at odds with what I am doing.
So, I am about 1 year into being a DJ. I bought my controller over Labor Day weekend last year. The initiation of my quest was to have fun, learn about the culture, and make some cool mixes. But I think I’m ready for the separation.
Separation to me means become good at DJing. So, I am making some changes. First, I am not saying that I will not publish mixes anymore, but I don’t know when the next one will be completed. In general I will focus my DJing time on skills development in things like beat counting, beat matching, mixing live. Second, I am switching my equipment set up to Rekordbox DJ. I wanted to go to a 4 channel mixer so it felt like a good time to reevaluate which software I was using. At this point, I think they all (Rekordbox DJ, Serator, Traktor, and Virtual DJ) will sufficiently meet my needs. But I wanted to go with a Pioneer controller as they among the best/most generic. that pushed me to either RekordBox DJ or Serator. The controller I went with, the DDJ-1000, is designed for Rekordbox DJ, so that made the decision easy.
So, if you are reading this, thank you! In some form or fashion, I’ll keep you posted as I progress. But for now, Enjoy!
