DJ/Producer vs Non DJ/Producer

To the dj producers how has djing techniques helped your production? And for the non djs how has not djing hinder your production?

I started as a non dj producer into a dj producer to play out my sets and it`s a big different in quality of beats and ear development for sounds. Especially testing out ideas on a large stage vs in the lab.


Holla back!!

I consider myself as a producer/dj..To have knowledge on trick-mixing and scratching's helpin' me to program unique drum patterns,stabs and basslines.And these are very important if you're on breakbeats' producin'.Plus that when you think as a producer/dj your sound will be more "rough,rugged & raw" hip-hop-for those who produce it though..

not djing has not hindered my production in any way as from the beginning ive learnt about drum programming, synth programming, chords, harmony, rhythm, scales and modes, keys, song structures as well as how to use particular bits of gear, how certain effects are achieved- its this knowledge and only this knowledge that has contributed to my productions...

i also cant imagine there being any difference in my stuff whether i dj'ed or not- in fact as time would be lost by djing my productions would probably get worse or at least not get better.....so i cant tell you how not djing has hindered my production because it hasn't...

i know how to dj but cant see how that would ever help my productions and know enough dj's that if i ever wanted to collaborate it would be more than easy to hook up with my mates, sadly a lot of them really struggle with production...

greg

Dj's always make the best beats....PERIOD!

drumat!c wrote:Dj's always make the best beats....PERIOD!

true that

Primo and JustBlaze for example


but some DJ producers are mad wack, DJclue, Green and some others I don't feel like nammin.

DJing pulled me into producing and as far as my experience goes, beatsmiths who start w/ an MPC that never DJed are few & far between . Not to say that they don't make quality sh!t though . I think starting out DJing is what helps me keep time and what led me to be a sample-head for sure . I wouldn't even wanna make a beat w/o vinyl in there somewhere . One thing I have noticed is that kids who wanna make beats but have never DJed are also more drawn to synth's and end up gettin' an MPC later for drums . I've tried to help a couple of people get started w/ the MPC and the 1st thing I always hear is, "There's no sounds in it when you turn it on ?" and I'd be like, "Hell no, that's the beauty of it ; you start w/ a fresh palette ." . But they weren't feelin' the idea of diggin' through crates and they'd be like "F#ck this, I'll just get a Triton ." . But a lot of the kids whom I've heard their beats who never DJed also seem to have more outside the box beats that aren't as streamlined as a lot of people who did start out DJing and are looking to create a particular sound . F#ck it . It's all music . I don't think someone has to of have had been a DJ to make beats but probably every one of the producers in my Top 10 did .

i hate when someone calls themselves a dj when they aint even got turns or know how to mix beats. all they do is make beats so they think they earn the title.

but i started as a dj and just wanted to start making my own tracks. Djing though helped me understand things like timing and drum programming and how to blend samples. also the way i find new samples to throw on a beat i scratch till i find something that i like. And playing out really gives u a feel for people and how they respond to music. Also its a great promotional tool.

I, same as Binger started as a DJ in Junior High school and went on to making beats (seems like the natural progression). Anyone in Cali remember KGFJ Friday/Saturday night mixmasters? That's back in the day for me.

yo binger hit it on the nose for me too.
i've been spining for 20+ years ;done my on show and spun on college radio and never had any of my music to spin; always someone elses, so producing my own tracks was it for me ;the next level in my dj career, djing has helped me to mix my sounds and add my own scratching although i'm not a scratch bastard hiphop wouldnt be my chicoe of productions; although i started off listening to hip hop before it became commerial, you know you have to start from the roots,
but to me djing has helped alittle, but this production sht is phucking hard when you aint got alick of music knowledge.
it totally different than djing IMHO.

dj e.d.e wrote:a scratch bastard

That was me in highschool with 3 x 1200's and 2 mixers in my room.
I cut like a million lawns, cleaned garages and babysat for like 2 summers
and logged crazy hours doing all of that just so I could get that gear.

I was deep into tricks and turntablism.. Still get loose at my boys crib every now and then but I'm not a DJ anymore.

I started off with drumming (still my forte.)
Then I picked up DJing. Then beat programming.

Definately knowing how to beatmatch will help you know how to deal with loops. I think scratching and cutting helps give you an ear for how to chop beats and stuff.
And it's cool to be able to do your own cuts on your beats.

The DJing helps my beat programming, but not nearly as much as drumming and knowing how to read music does.

I never DJed, although I should, I got the ill mixtapes yo

I started with music, then synths and sound design, mainly analog and software, then I fell in love with the 60. and to this day I prefer it even to the 3000 and 4000, but I already had stuff I was into, and it was Old school analog shit, so the 60 with the 12 bit crunch is kind of a kindred spirit.

I'm sure Djing helps a lot, but I am glad I didn't start that way, too many DJ's I know are ignorant **** and just want to deserve the props they get. present company excluded, yall have had that other level in you all along, which probably made you dope ass DJ's to begin with.

my uncle was a dope dj and taught me the basics of how to mix and scratch, after that I wanted to be a DJ but later said **** DJin and went back to writting music then went on the writting beats. Even though I don't DJ I keept my name Djchronobeats, but who the **** cares no one is gonna have the nerve to come to my face and say "I hate you because you don't Dj and all you do is make synth beats so your not hiphop"

Dj's always make the best beats....PERIOD!

^^^^

not nessecarily true in dance music...in fact dj's often get real producers to come in to do the hard work- from lame cheesy arse djs like sasha (jxl did all his beats) to more respected groups like underworld (emerson was the only dj element in the grouop and the only element who couldnt really write beats), or even drum n bass- goldie cant produce he gets playford to do it all for him...

interesting how things differ between genres...

greg

DjChronoBeats wrote:my uncle was a dope dj and taught me the basics of how to mix and scratch, after that I wanted to be a DJ but later said **** DJin and went back to writting music then went on the writting beats. Even though I don't DJ I keept my name Djchronobeats, but who the **** cares no one is gonna have the nerve to come to my face and say "I hate you because you don't Dj and all you do is make synth beats so your not hiphop"