Current Events > What the fuck do DJs actually do?

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZLiKs9dvBqw

and speed

every single time i go to a show where a DJ performs, i try and try to figure out what they're actually doing when they turn those little knobs or hit the buttons, because i cannot ever actually hear any discernible difference based on the actions they're taking. i swear most of them use pre-recorded music and just stand up there acting.

I didn't know about this meme but I checked youtube and you can find a bunch of EDM remixes of "WTF do DJ's actually do?".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCIu1HI5RYY

A real DJ is doing quite a bit. But it should be set-up in the corner, part of the party or nightclub... not a $75 experience with douchebags and watered down alcohol

Giant_Aspirin posted...

every single time i go to a show where a DJ performs, i try and try to figure out what they're actually doing when they turn those little knobs or hit the buttons, because i cannot ever actually hear any discernible difference based on the actions they're taking. i swear most of them use pre-recorded music and just stand up there acting.

https://youtu.be/9b-VvAkH8xE

Real answer: real professionals often mix and master the tracks being played to create a playlist and often also write and record. Even if they're not actively doing much other than monitoring audio levels, there was likely a lot of work done ahead of time. They also often pull double duty, like a wedding dj also being the head of ceremonies at the reception.

s0nicfan posted...

there was likely a lot of work done ahead of time.

yeah that's the impression i got. they do all these 'things' to the control board and i hear zero difference in the sound. im not doubting the effort that goes into making the music, just what effect their actions actually have during the performance. they're basically glorified lip syncers when they 'perform'

I figured you're just paying for speakers and a curated playlist lol

Unce unce unce unce

The scale is anything from pressing a button to play a track to live mixing every sound you hear in a completely improvised way.

Just like how "what the fuck do guitar players even do" has the same scale.

This is taken from a YouTube comment.

For those of you wondering what djs actually do and why they're pressing all those buttons:

1. There are very few djs that do indeed remix the song live on stage by spontaneously adding new elements and dialing them in or removing them (as a dj you usually have seperate stems of a track to be able to take out or edit certain elements). However those djs are an exception.

2. Usually when a dj is pushing buttons and tweaking sliders they're preparing the transition to the next song. There are quite some problems that can occur when transitioning such as a difference in bpm and key or just an outro and an intro that don't fit together because of their sound. To solve these differences the dj adjusts these parameters in advance or prepares other workarounds. Also temporary effects like high- and low-pass-filters and subtle changes in the equalizer are reasons to tweak some knobs.

3. And of course there are indeed many djs that don't do anything on stage as they prepared their whole mix beforehand and just push random buttons to look busy just as that girl in the video suspected.

Jupiter posted...

3. And of course there are indeed many djs that don't do anything on stage as they prepared their whole mix beforehand and just push random buttons to look busy just as that girl in the video suspected.

lmao

Depends on the DJ

Most club DJs dont do anything besides blend songs and choose a playlist

Rap DJs can scratch and get more technical blending tracks. its also how most early rap beats were made by blending a drum beat and sample.

Theres DJs who actually produce though like Deadmau5. So you would be listening to their music on a DJ set.

Wave their hand in the air like those lucky japanese cats.

This is a videogame site, and this is why DJ Hero was created.

Jon Hopkins for example mixes live; one of my favorite electronic music producers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8fsMcMY2do