Demo CD's

[Drafted]

Demo cd's with mistakes/missed beat matching on them. If you can't do it in your closet where you feel comfortable, How is a promoter suppose to have confindence that you will be able perform in front of crowd? There's a couple cd's that I have been handed that IMO are sloppy, and unprofessional. I'm not slamming demo's, Cause there are some out there that are brilliant, It's just the few that don't cut it. My question is why bother handing them out??

[dabbler]

cuz a lot of dj's think they are better than they actually are. actually, we all do. lol

[Moon]

it's surprising how some mixes that don't live up to the dj's ego gets mad props as well. lol any negative comment dropped means you're gonna get flamed on by people who probably haven't even listened to the mix. lol

WAAAACCCCKKKKK!!

[Chewy]

a demo should be a live recorded full mix .. not just recording a mix or two.. then stopping if it screws up and patching the peices together at the end..

You cant stop your mix when you playing in front of a crowd and fix it.. So if your gonna do a demo then do it all in one shot.. if you cant mix decent for an hour or so then you simply need alot more practice.

[miSsy_chriSsy]

There have been 3 demo CD's in the past month, that Tyson and I have literally thrown out the window in the middle of driving somewhere.

On all 3, the mixes were so horrible we had to fast forward to the next track just so we could listen to the actual song.

If anyone sees their demo CD on the side of Highway 1, i'm really sorry.

But yah, it's like nails on a chalkboard for most people if you can't mix your demo CD prop-ah!

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by Chewy

a demo should be a live recorded full mix .. not just recording a mix or two.. then stopping if it screws up and patching the peices together at the end..

You cant stop your mix when you playing in front of a crowd and fix it.. So if your gonna do a demo then do it all in one shot.. if you cant mix decent for an hour or so then you simply need alot more practice.

i was about to say the same thing/

[firestar]

Originally Posted by miSsy_chriSsy

There have been 3 demo CD's in the past month, that Tyson and I have literally thrown out the window in the middle of driving somewhere.

On all 3, the mixes were so horrible we had to fast forward to the next track just so we could listen to the actual song.

If anyone sees their demo CD on the side of Highway 1, i'm really sorry.

But yah, it's like nails on a chalkboard for most people if you can't mix your demo CD prop-ah!

What do you mean, like straight up trainwrecking? Like not matching the beat at all? And they would give the mix to you as a demo? WTF are people thinking?

[Wood]

well, everybody gotta start somewhere... for sme people, making that CD & handing it out is a big step. it may not get them booked, but it might get them that bit of constructive criticism that will help make their next CD that much better.

Personally i'm much more astounded by some of the CDs that are put out by supposedly professional DJs.... 11, 12 tracks on a full length disc doen NOT make it for me, i don't care what genre you play. My Virgin Digital Player can mix better than that. It's one thing if it's a major release where licensing is a concern, but for an independant mix CD to be so low on content is in-excusable to me. I won't even listen. If i put on a mix CD i wanna hear MIXING, not 5 minutes of track to 30 seconds of overlap.

[matéo]

Yeah theres some crap out there. Who set the bar so low? Everyone makes mistakes and mismatched levels or a little slip up in a 60 minute mix is fine by me but theres kids out there that put out some wackjuice.

That being said! I would love to hear Missy Chrissy and Drafted's demos.

Post em!

[miSsy_chriSsy]

I love mixes with one or two mistakes, because you know the person is a genuine dj ;) everyone makes mistakes, i love hearing it on a professional dj's live mix too - it's just a way of humbling everyone to remember that we're only human.

But seriously, I was flabberghasted to hear the beats not even on, not even close to being matched.... I understand the whole concept of learning through making mix CD's of yourself and so on, it IS the best way to make yourself improve - however, please ask for a few critiques before passing it out to Shy Fx...... <3

[dj_soo]

it's amazing when you actually try to give constructive criticism to your DJ friends on their demo's or CDs - people get really sensitive about their stuff when you try to give them criticism...

I've had CDs given to me where *every* mix was sloppy, slightly (but very noticably) off-time with tons of pitch warping and such and when presented it was touted as "the best mix evar!"

The response when i mentioned the sloppiness? An indignant: "Well, no one's really going to notice that in a live situation"

[G3N3R4L]

Oh totally. I mean I for one just put one out there for criticism, not to be elite

As a newer DJ you gotta take those steps to get over the nervousness and get the feedback on what you may be doing wrong. Problem is no one really takes the time to give constructive criticism back to the creator.


i do see the tendancy for newer djs to overhype themselves, or get thier friends to do it for them (regardless of mix quality). and that's lame.

but i mean instead of flaming the people who give an honest try, give some feedback to help em out.

I totally agree that there is a difference between "CD RELEASE MIX/DEMO" and "Hey check this out and give feedback DEMO"

it would be nice if everyone was magic right when they start out.. but hey that would be boring. :362:


** edit - additional note. FNK is a great community of some really great people with some dope skills. being able to use that to increase skills through feedback and constructive criticism is key. thats whats great. you shouldn't get angry that people might need a little help. =) **

[G3N3R4L]

I do also agree that if you are handing out CDs of your mix at a party or promoting yourself in efforts to be booked and paid.. your shit should be tight.

no excuses. very unprofessional.

[Bevvy Swift]

given the fact that any idiot with the proper recording gear could record a flawless mix one track at a time, i think the purpose of demos has gone straight out the window.
ive been playing out for a little over a year, and i have yet to record a demo. live performances speak for themselves imo. thankfully i was lucky enough to get a chance to prove myself without a demo.

[cubed]

^who are you again?

[nabs]

I have been trying to make a CD Mix/Demo for a long ass time. The problem is im very attention to detailic, So if there is even one little mistake i scrap it. I have been doing this for over a month now.

But i agree there is a difference between Demo CD and "hey listen to this and tell me what im doing wrong" mix. in any case New dj's, like me, should always take constuctive critisism, and try to apply it.

I know how it can be when new Dj's think their hot shit and nobody can tell them what to do, i know newbie dj's like that, and they are CRAP. As for me, i usually take in the critism and make my stuff better.

I play for my friends sometimes for fun, and they tell me if a mix was bad or good, i dont get mad and kick em out of my house if they say it was bad, lol, i try to improve. If you cant play around a crowd of your friends, you got nothing.

[Bevvy Swift]

your daddy

ivee come home to pay your mom some child support money, then im out

edit -for cubed

[G3N3R4L]

Originally Posted by Cheez

given the fact that any idiot with the proper recording gear could record a flawless mix one track at a time, i think the purpose of demos has gone straight out the window.
ive been playing out for a little over a year, and i have yet to record a demo. live performances speak for themselves imo. thankfully i was lucky enough to get a chance to prove myself without a demo.

Totally agree with the fact that if it's not a Live mix (recorded or played out) its not worth anything. (feedback or booking equally)

The computer mixes can be done by anyone anytime. the demos that come out for feedback and growing skill definately should be the raw one off live recordings.

If someone sat down to record a demo that would be for promotional purposes i would expect something in the lines of a studio work that again was mixed live.

Djs are basically (for the most part, except for you producers/djs) playing other peoples work. showcasing the mixing and trackselection is all we are really are trying to show. doing that on a computer track by track takes away 90% of the purpose of the demo.

If you can get booked without a demo, GOOD ON YOU. you save yourself a ton of stress and flaming trying to get up there.

[TrixX]

kinda tricky........i guess i have a lot of respect for up and coming dj's! if they're willing to put it out there and take that step than all the power to them. i'm not gonna hate 'cause there's a couple mistakes.

i'd way rather hear a mix with a few mistakes than some totally flawless computer edited, set that someones practiced for like 8 weeks straight!

most people i know get a chance to play 'cause their friends throw parties not 'cause their mix is good! and most mixes i get are from well established djs already.

but i do agree to an extent........if its that noticebly horrible......why hand it out??? i'm sure if dozens of people notice the mistakes, the dj making it does too.

*erase mix* *re-record*.........a little extra effort never hurt anyone
and dabbler.........LOL....damn egos :)

[TrixX]

i agree on the live mix too :)

b.traits put herself out there for her mix........although a couple mishaps.....the shit is bumpin'........girls got talent for sure

[Digital Over]

Originally Posted by Chewy

a demo should be a live recorded full mix .. not just recording a mix or two.. then stopping if it screws up and patching the peices together at the end..

You cant stop your mix when you playing in front of a crowd and fix it.. So if your gonna do a demo then do it all in one shot.. if you cant mix decent for an hour or so then you simply need alot more practice.

Totally agreed as well. People can't expect every single bloody mix to be 100% flawless, where's the humanity in that? If someone accidently messes up a mix, (providing its not consistant), whatever, at least you're safe from being sent to the DJ assembly line of robots... beepp booo beep.

[Drafted]

Originally Posted by matéo

That being said! I would love to hear Drafted's demos.

Post em!

As soon as i feel qualified to record one you'll be the first to get it. Until then, you'll have to catch a live performance

[miSsy_chriSsy]

^^ he's a superstar :)

seriously talented i tell you!!!! only been doing it 2 years too... LOOK OUT!! :202:

[Drafted]

Originally Posted by Chewy

a demo should be a live recorded full mix .. not just recording a mix or two.. then stopping if it screws up and patching the peices together at the end..

You cant stop your mix when you playing in front of a crowd and fix it.. So if your gonna do a demo then do it all in one shot.. if you cant mix decent for an hour or so then you simply need alot more practice.

Fully agreed. This should have been in my original post. I wasnt telling people to cut and paste, just trying to tell them to stay on point for an hour. Plus there's way less pressure when you're sitting at home in front of your comp, then when you're in front of a crowd of peers/dj's. So mistakes in front of crowd can be written off as nervousness instead of at home which just shows lack of skillz

[mux]

I like listening to flawless studio mixes when I work, because they flow together well and I can ignore them and focus on the shit I have to concentrate on.

I won't book someone based on a studio mix. I see studio mixes as a demo of someone's studio mixing skills, which IMHO has absolutely nothing to do with their ability to rock a dancefloor.

I've stopped making studio demos. I'm shit in the studio anyway. :)