While performing as an amateur or professional DJ is nothing new, there’s no doubt that since the 1980s when it became popular times and technology have moved on in leaps and bounds. Developments in style, sound and genre have meant that for many becoming a DJ is a highly esteemed occupation, whether it is in a club or working in your own right making music.
The Early days of Electronic Music
Back in the early 1980s when electronic music was firmly starting to replace genres like progressive rock and punk, DJs were beginning to try their hand at releasing their own compositions and mixes or remixes of existing songs and tracks.
Bands like Kraftwerk built their own synthesisers and drum machines to begin with. House music, which had its origins in Chicago, saw the advent of DJs and musicians using reel-to-reel tapes, mixers and drum machines to add special effects to what they were doing.
Turntables with vinyl records were used for a brand new sound called “scratching”, which basically involved moving a vinyl record back and forth on the turntable whilst operating the cross-fader. This added a brand new dynamic to an already eclectic and innovative sound.
During the 1990s, electronic and house music branched out into the Acid House movement, which saw a vast rise in the popularity of DJs, many of whom became famous in their own right, hosting club nights and releasing their own albums.
A major development was the fact that CDs began to replace vinyl. Specially constructed CD mixers began to replace vinyl turntables, though some DJs to this day use them as a means of playing music and there are more and more specialist vinyl outlets cropping up and down the country.
Digital revolution
Into the twenty first century, music genres became more complex with the rise of Dubstep, Drum and Bass, Garage and Trance music, which came across from Germany.
One of the biggest developments was the introduction of the MP3, which was fast replacing earlier audio formats.
The Eigar Labs MPFan F10 was the first of its kind, allowing DJs to have unprecedented control and access to their music via specially coded CDs. Nowadays, there are special licences that DJs can buy which enable them to use their hard drives to play music rather than transporting an enormous CD or vinyl collection around with them, though vinyl and CDs do to an extent still retain some popularity.
Author Bio: Daley works with UDMDJ in helping people find the best DJ equipment on the market. He also enjoys handing out tips for people to help find great hobbies and interests for them.
