The Evolution of the Modern DJ
Soon after radio was invented and became the primary source of entertainment in millions of homes, the disc jockeys at local radio stations became household names in their respective communities. Many of the DJs exercised a great deal of influence over consumers' musical preferences and could make an obscure recording a regional and eventually a national hit. Popular DJs, such as Alan Freed, Wolfman Jack and Dick Clark influenced generations of listeners and could help musical acts become superstars seemingly overnight. DJs eventually became hits in popular nightclubs and now are promoted as heavily as popular musical acts when they appear at many trendy clubs.
â?– Vinyl Still Has Its Place DJs once only played vinyl records, usually singles and eventually albums on FM stations. But modern DJs now rely on digitized music that can be replayed precisely from one point to another. Audio courses have helped many DJs to learn how to use portable equipment similar to what can be found in many professional recording studios. But vinyl records continue to have a prominent place for DJs, particularly those involved in hip hop, to produce their own unique interpretations of modern hits as well as classics from other eras.
â?– The Right Gear Makes A Big Difference While there is no official DJ school one can attend, there are many courses that focus on recording and editing music and video that can help people master the skills necessary to be a successful modern DJ. A good audio school can help an aspiring DJ to learn the tools of the trade and eventually master them while developing his or her own unique way of presenting music and mixing new renditions that can remake former hits into new ones on the club circuit.
❖ Types of Gear Modern DJs Employ: • High-quality headphones to help eliminate background noise • Music mixer to produce and replay reworked songs and music • Turntables for spinning records to accompany mixed music • Amplifier to drive room-filling sound • High-quality speakers and cables to accurately reproduce sound
â?– Digital Audio Equipment is the Norm Taking audio courses helps aspiring DJs master modern audio tools to take existing music and remix it with the newest types of digital recording and editing audio gear. If there were an official DJ school, its textbooks would teach DJs how to use digital equipment, such as sound mixers and computer programs, to produce new music from existing artists. It also would teach how to set up equipment for live events and fill large rooms with high-quality sound reproduction.
â?– DJs as Music Artists The modern DJ is as much of an artist as any musical act and can help musicians from years ago find a new audience. Acts like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic are among the most sampled of any and have found new generations of listeners thanks to the sampling of many DJs. But knowing how to recreate new music by remixing the works of others into entirely new sounds and songs is an art in itself.
Sources: http://www.smartdj.com/American-DJ.htm http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Evolution-of-the-Modern-DJ&id=8198858