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Hello, and welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen,
to Clark's Hip-Hop
Turntablist a column for the dj connoisseur. My name is Clark
F. White, p/k/a `DJ Clark,' or just `Clark.' I've been dj’ing
professionally for over ten years, with varying experiences as
a club, mix cd, and radio jock. I've dj'ed in over fifty-five
clubs, countless hotels, two music equipment retailers, a college
radio station, and two commercial radio stations. Therefore, I
feel qualified to help other djs navigate through the seemingly
chaotic diaspora that is turntablism, the art of the dj and scratch
warrior.
In this column, we should expect to interview
legends and trailblazers in the field. Also, anticipate my disclosing
the latest and most fundamental techniques, strategy and experiences
in scratchology, while emphasizing well-rounded gathering of scratch
know ledge. Simply, stay tuned, and expect discussion of how to
become a better turntablist, professional or otherwise.
Let's dive head-first into what may be
the most heated battle in turntablism, at least in mixing (at
least in my world [lol] ). This may seem overly-technical, but
pay close attention, as the
methods taught may change your (dj) life!
Let's tackle the topic of B.P.M's. Next
column, we'll discuss how b.p.m.'s play into the strategy "flow,"
and we'll learn methods of b.p.m. counting. "Why don't I
just play what seems hot? They just want to hear the hits, Man!
" It's deeper than just being a random
human juke-box. B.P.M. is acronymic for "beats per minute."
What does this have to do with dj'ing? Dig this: If a record clocks
at 102 b.p.m.'s, such as Ciara's "Goodies," then I know
I can easily mix it with Ying Yang Twins' "Wait (Rmx)"…
or Lil Mo - "Dem Boyz" or
Zhane - Hey Mr D.J." or S.O.S. Band - "Just Be Good
to Me" or Bobby Brown - "My Prerogative" or whatever
else is at 102 b.p.m., without moving the pitch slider more than
approximately 1%. Then, would I be limited to mixing just records
whose tempo is rounded to the
same b.p.m. mark? No. A good rule is that dj's shouldn't move
the pitch slider outside of +3% and -2%. I try to stay between
+3% and -0%, while old-heads had the +2%/-2% rule, which is fine,
too. What would be the big deal about mixing a record at +6%,
for instance?
Wouldn't it help hype the club crowd?
Rarely, that may be true.
How many times, though, has the club dj
just destroyed the natural pitch and feel of one's favorite tune
by playing it too fast ? The answer to that question is, "Often!"
For a dj to "beat-match" two
records, yet maintain the original feel of a record, I must emphasize
conservative use of the pitch slider. I recommend to those who
would prefer to hear music too sped-up, versus "natural"
Hip-Hop and R&B, to buy an "Alvin & the
Chipmunks Christmas Album." Consult one's local Salvation
Army. In addition, they might have a Bambi "Sing-a-Long"
record on 45!
Note: Records pitched past +3% can sound
sketchy, at best. Obviously, records pitched too far in the negatives
can sound "screwed," too. Well, what about "pitch
correction" on some of the
newer cd turntables, such as on the Pioneer CDJ-1000mkII's? By
definition, don't they help one mix two different records which
are further in b.p.m. than perceivably strict b.p.m. rules (+2%/-
2%, for example) would allow? For instance, couldn't one mix one
record at 90 b.p.m., such as 50 Cent's "In Da Club,"
with one at 100 b.p.m., such as Amerie's "1 Thing,"
without it sounding bad, a la, on a standard turntable without
pitch correction?
Again, I bring a big and resounding "NO!"
(Me sorry.)
One reason it STILL wouldn't sound acceptable
is the inferior quality of the algorithms in the proprietary time
compression/expansion programs in all of the dj mediums I'm aware
that have some form of "pitch correction" as a feature.
The technology is called "time compression/expansion."
For the Pro-Tools (dedicated recording
hardware/software platform) users: have any of you contrasted
the factory Digi TC/E plug-in versus Speed or Serato's Pitch `n
Time? The Digi TC/E plug-in just isn't Pitch `n Time. (Pitch `n
Time has a suggested price around
$799, ya' dig? Serato Scratch reportedly will have a new TC/E
/ "pitch correction" mechanism soon. ) So, why don't
all dj's learn the guidelines of flow and b.p.m.'s, learn how
to mix, and practice.
Then, wouldn't this world would be a better place? Why can't we
all just get along?
If all the dj's in the club could mix,
then would I stand-out?
[Laughs!]
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