The Passionate DJ Podcast

Episode 125: Inspiration

David & Company are BACK for 2018! And, for Episode 125, fresh back from our 2 week break, we want to start things off on a positive note and find out what inspires us!

Before we dig in to that, though, we have to address the big CPU vulnerability scare, as it relates to us digital DJs. If you're a Serato user on the Mac platform, you may have heard that Serato DJ is not yet compatible with High Sierra, so you can't update your OS, just yet. However, we did find a Serato Support Forum post that has some details for the upgrade (which patches the Spectre and Meltdown issues), and Serato is, indeed, now compatible with High Sierra. Go to this link for more information!

Also, another vulnerability was mentioned in the tech world, albeit not as widely advertised as the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities, with Western Digital's MyCloud hardware and cloud software. It seems someone intentionally hard-coded a back door in to the MyCloud software. However, if you have one of the affected machines, as long as the firmware is up to date, you should be fine, according to WD.

So, back to the main topic: What inspires YOU? David, Trip, Tony, and Mo go through some of their main points of inspiration, which range from nature to emotionally charged situatiions, exposure to new genres to searching for new music for a gig, festivals and headliners to driving in the car. We can derive inspiration from just about anything we have around us, and it can come from both positive and negative experiences. It's what you DO with that inspiration that really matters.

Speaking of inspiration, the team here at Passionate DJ are inspired to keep making this show better and keep building on the foundation we have, and 2018 is going to be a big year of action, for us. We will be bringing you all the same content you love, but we're also working on a lot of ways to make it better and offer even more. We want you to be an active part of that growth, as the community we serve. One way you can help, is to leave us a review on iTunes! This helps us with visibility within iTunes, and lets us know what you like, and areas we may need to work on.

 

Other links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 97: Disaster Preparedness

Episode 124: New Year's Special 2018

Happy New Year, and all our best to you and yours for 2018, from the Passionate DJ Team!

Strap in, because we're going to go over the industry happenings of 2017, the gear no one could stop talking about, and the stuff our team did throughout the year. We'll also cover some of our favorite moments on the show over the last year, allude to what's on the horizon for us in 2018, and even take a crack at our clairvoyance skills and see if we can speculate what to expect in the next year.

Of course, the big buzz this year was all about the financial and structural integrity of Soundcloud, as a company. Between Chance the Rapper and some former executives from Vimeo getting involved, Soundcloud seems to be sticking around, but things seemed pretty grim, for a while.

Did Denon convince any of you to #ChangeYourRider? They've been the talk of the hardware circles, all year. Love it or hate it, they are coming out swinging against Pioneer, feature-wise...but it's hard to compete with the tenure and relationship Pioneer DJ has with DJs in booths all over the world.

This past year was no time to rest, for the PDJ team. We all attended the Dayton Record Fair, which we've all agreed is one of our new staple events. And, even though most of us didn't see quite as many gigs as we'd like in 2017, we all reflected back to what we were able to do and use that as fuel to push even harder in 2018.

For Tony, it's all about the next stage and the next adventure, but this year 3DMentional put on his birthday show titled "Another Trip Around The Sun", where they were able to bring the one & only Sasha to little ole Dayton, Ohio. Mo has been tearing up the highways traveling for his sons' football games. Trip tore his ACL and had to have surgery, but didn't let that slow him down (much). David reflects back on doing direct support for Sasha with great pride and excitement, but now yearns for more of that feeling behind the decks.

The team also goes over some of our favorite show moments of 2017, including the LIVE video stream of Episode 100, changing our intro theme music, our interviews with DJ Craze and Mixed in Key, as well as DJ Crazy (no relation) from Mo's visit to grandma's in Jamaica. From fan favorites like the Digging For Bedrock episode, or one of our favorites like Pet Peeves, we've got plenty of flashback clips to look back on.

And, let's not forget our good friend Kilma! David and Kilma got caught up on 2017 happenings and 2018 plans, with some fresh new Kilma kuts as the backdrop. Make sure to check out her Soundcloud, website, and YouTube channel  to stay up to date on her comings and goings, as well as plenty of tips to help DJs along in their aspirations!

Don't forget, we now have merch and an online store, an active Ambassador program that we will be looking to recruit for again in 2018, and TONS of more initiatives we are taking on in the coming year, and looking to involve our community. We're looking to also keep wading deeper in to the video world, and to start generating bonus content for you hardcore Passionate DJs.

Speaking of you, the Passionate DJ community, we can't thank you, enough, for being as supportive, awesome, and engaged as you have been. We are experiencing growth on a consistent basis, and picking up new listeners all the time. You guys are keeping us honest, and on our toes with your questions, comments, and voicemails. Don't stop now! Stay engaged with us, and let's continue to build this awesome community we have going. You truly are why we do what we do, here.

From the bottom of our hearts, here at Passionate DJ, we truly hope you have a safe, happy, and healthy 2018. And remember, we're becoming better DJs, through passion and purpose. Keep on spinning!

(PS -- The outro music for today's episode is an unsigned original from Trip Turlington called "Rise Up" -- Available as a free download from his Soundcloud here!)

Episode 123: Holiday Record Exchange

Happy Holidays to you and yours! It may be cold outside, but David & Co are heating things up with our 2nd annual holiday record exchange!

Last year, we went shopping for a vinyl record exchange with each other, Pick 3 style. And it went over so well, we decided to do it again, this year!

Before we dive in, though, we address a couple of voicemails and emails. Thanks to all of you who keep us engaged, year round. We love getting your questions and comments, so keep them coming!

Among today's picks, we take a little detour from our typical electronic and hip hop roots, to explore a little more of our eclectic musical tastes. Though there's a couple of hip hop classics (it just wouldn't be us if there were none), we dive in to everything else from the 80's, to metal, blues, and even parody diss track, among others.

We truly hope that you all have a great holiday season with your family, friends, and beats! And, we look forward to seeing you back here for our big New Year's Episode, next week! From the bottom of our hearts here, at Passionate DJ, thanks for a great 2017 and an even bigger 2018 on the horizon!

Episode 122: Reflections

The end of 2017 is fast approaching, and the whole gang got together to reflect back on a crazy year!

As we look back on ourselves, in terms of artist development, we discuss our gigs for the year, mixes we did (or didn't do), and what we wanted to do, but missed the mark on. Tony certainly takes the spotlight this year, in the mixes department, with his Mixcloud Top 100 Prog Chart heater, "Lost & Found".

Mo and Tony spent a lot of time on the road, this year, and 3DMentional had one of their biggest years, yet, which led to one of David's most memorable gigs, ever -- doing direct support for Sasha!

For Trip, the majority of the latter half of the year was spent either being injured by a torn ACL in his knee, or recovering from the surgery. And while that definitely presented some challenges and severely limited his ability to play gigs, he was still able to at least crank out one (unreleased) track, this year. Check it out at Trip Turlington – "Rise Up"!

Things have been busy at Passionate DJ, this year, and they're only going to get bigger and better for 2018!

Plus, PRODUCERS: make sure to check out Captain Plugins from our friends at Mixed in Key! This is a product that expands the functionality of Odesi, directly in to your DAW, so you have the power of Odesi to bang out chord progressions and music theory hacks quickly and effectively, integrated in to your workflow, rather than in an external application!

Also, if you've ever wanted to train to play piano and learn music theory, a new product called Melodics might be a great tool for you! Think Guitar Hero, but using your midi keyboard! And, Ableton Live owners get some extra freebies! 

Episode 121: Diving in to Glitch Hop

In this week's episode, the crew is doing another deep dive in to a specific genre. This time, it's Glitch Hop! From its humble roots in the obscure Glitch movement of the 90's, to the bass music heavyweights of today like Bassnectar, Glitch Hop has certainly come in to its own.

To illustrate this, Trip guides us through his experience with the genre, and shares some of his favorite tracks from different time periods, and the crew gives their reactions and thoughts on each track.

If you're into artists like Tipper, Kraddy, Pretty Lights, and The Glitch Mob, this is the episode for you. If you have no idea who these people are, or what Glitch Hop is, we invite you to join us as we jump up and glitch out with Trip.

First, what IS Glitch Hop? -- Start here!

And, in case you weren't aware, Trip creates some Glitch Hop that has gotten some attention, in its own right. Our theme music is actually his remix of Evol Intent's "Middle of the Night", and he's had a remix he did for Krafty Kuts released on Funk and Filth's label when he was a runner up in a remix contest. One of his Glitch Hop studio mixes earned him a spot on a major show for Self Diploma in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Below are some links to check out:

The mix that started it all, for Trip - Special shout out to Jack Sheets (aka Mister Shifter)!

Some Trip Turlington Remixes:
Krafty Kuts - "Work That Body" (Trip Turlington Remix)
Evol Intent - "Middle of the Night" (Trip Turlington Remix) - aka the Passionate DJ Podcast Theme Song!
Steve Aoki, Chris Lake, and Tumajo featuring Kid Ink - Delirious (Trip Turlington's "Bone-In" Remix)

A Glitch Hop mix by Trip Turlington!

More artists to check out, if you want to explore more, on your own!

Beats Antique
Beat Fatigue
Blunt Instrument
Cheshire
Disprove
Freddy Todd
Getter
Griz
ill-esha
Joe Ford
K Lab
KOAN Sound
K Theory
Love & Light
Mochipet
Mr. Bill
Opiuo
Pretty Lights
Samples
Si Begg
Subvert
Tantric Decks
2 Fingers (Amon Tobin, especially)
Xenflex

And there's SO MANY MORE. This is only intended to be a primer list. Get out there and explore!

Episode 120: Know Thy Cables

Introducing, for Episode 120: Arguably, the driest, most nerdy, technical discussion we've had, yet! :-D

Today's episode consists of CABLES. Specifically, all of the cables you may, or may not, run in to as a DJ.

Here, we go through the differences between digital and analog signals, as well as balanced and unbalanced connections. We also get a little in to what it means to have a dirty power source, and what noise and interference are, as well as how to combat it.

The Cables!

• RCA
• XLR
• TRS/TS
• S/PDIF & ADAT
• MIDI
• USB
• Ethernet
• Power Cables
• Proprietary Cables

Some parting thoughts, to keep in mind as you use and look for cables:

• There's a lot of hype out there around what a cable is made with. Do your research and make sure the company's reputation and manufacturing standards are as high as their marketing strategy. Often, a cable with a basic shielding that was made well will actually perform better than others with colorful jackets and gold plated tips, and cost a fraction of the price.
• Length matters - The longer a signal has to travel, the more that it takes to get it to its destination, and the more opportunity it has to pick up unwanted noise. Keep those connections as short as possible!
• Remember that going from a low grade connection to a higher quality connection does not necessarily mean you've "upgraded" the connection. Mind the source and targets, and the required connection types. Ultimately, especially for a show, you have to make connections however you have to, but don't fool yourself in to thinking you've changed the quality of a connection with a connection adapter!

Episode 119: Spicing Up Your DJ Mixes

Ever wonder what you can do to set YOUR mix apart from everyone else's? If you answered YES, then pay attention to Episode 119!

David, Trip, Tony, and Mo touch on several ways to bring something unique to a set or studio mix:

• Create a diagram or story arc, while utilizing a design, such as a Ramp, Hill, Smile, or Waves to keep the listener interested.
  
  
• Mix harmonically! You don't have to be a music theory genius, but mixing within compatible harmonics is an easy way to pull off a lot of things that would be harder to do, otherwise. (Check out Mixed In Key for a leading example of key detection software).
  
  
• Use more subtle transitions for a more cohesive listening experience. (Great for mashups)
  
  
• Push and Pull: Use restraint and patience… but then deliver! Being able to control energy levels to convey a desired meaning, message, or feeling in a studio mix is just as crucial as reading a live crowd!
  
  
• Changing up your genres is a guaranteed way to get everyone's attention. Just BE CAREFUL when doing this, as it can also be a quick way to kill a vibe, if not done correctly.
  
  
• Spontaneity and Mixing Under Pressure (ie, throw yourself under the bus). Among the many ways to do this, tagging/B2B is one of the best ways to push your comfort zone, which then allows you to learn new techniques from someone else.
  
  
• Mix for yourself (without a plan). Record it, and examine for what you like and don't like, and pay that forward in to the next mix you put out for public consumption.
  
  
• Mind your technical details, such as EQing and gain staging (Check out Platinum Notes for another piece of great software by Mixed In Key that normalizes the gains of your audio library).
  
  
• Put some effort in to the packaging & attractive album art (Check out Canva to get started, if you're not super-handy with graphics and Photoshop)
  
  
• Give the listener some context to relate to the message you are trying to convey.
  
  
• Think of creative ways to share rather than add to the noise!

All of this, and MORE to listen to, as we bash on the last of our turkey leftovers, with eyes toward the upcoming holiday season!

Episode 118: Thanks for the Advice

In Episode 118, we started with a show outline, and had a plan.

But, sometimes you have to deviate from the plan. What started out as some solid advice from PDJ Ambassador DJ Brains, turned in us going deep in to a tangent on each of the points proposed in his voicemail message.

Some of the points we discuss:

- That feeling of being overwhelmed, or getting lost, or losing motivation.
- Overcoming the frustration of what "being a DJ" means across different groups of DJs.
- The difference between technology as an augmentation of skill, versus relying on it, exclusively, for your artistry.

Mo Dingo also rejoins us in the studio after being on the road for his sons' football season, and we chat about our Thanksgiving plans, and some things we are thankful for :)

Episode 117: Ask Us Anything (Part 2)

Now that we are all back together for Episode 117, this seemed like a great time to do another "Ask Us Anything" episode...aka our take on #AMA. And, you guys came up with some great stuff!

Before we get started, Trip gets to drop a "toldjaso" on the crew upon learning about Pulselocker closing their doors very abruptly, leaving a lot of DJs hanging out to dry.

• Matt See is converting vinyl to digital, and cleaning up digital files, asking for the most efficient and least soul-sucking way to manage those files.
  
  
• DJ Big Block left us a voicemail about a crashing laptop situation, asking for the best road to recovery, as it is causing issues during his gigs.
  
  
• og10speed is struggling to keep his weekend residency fresh.
  
  
• Tom Reed, one of our Ambassadors, asks what our ideal bookings are, and what would be the worst?
  
  
• Andrea left us a voicemail, wondering where to start DJing, and find a mentor that will stay patient and help her harness her love for music.
  
  
• Brian James aka The Engineer, also an Ambassador, wants to know who was the first DJ we saw that influenced us to become DJs, ourselves?
  
  
• basssnakemusic is currently debating between gear and software he likes and the gear and software that is more "industry standard".

We wrap up the episode with some great advice for beginner DJs from a couple of our Ambassadors. Don't forget that we have merch available in the Passionate DJ Merch Store!

...and if you liked this episode's outro music (Trip Turlington's remix of Nicmor's "Resistance"), you can pick that up at Beatport, courtesy of Base Industry Records!

Episode 116: Fall 2017 Bulletin

It's November! Time for us to get caught up on the seasonal updates with our Fall 2017 Bulletin!

• First, we respond to a voicemail from Avery looking for some clarity on DJ terminology.
  
  
• Thank a Veteran! (United States holiday - Veteran's Day)
  
  
• Pioneer DJS-1000: A totally different piece of gear from Pioneer, focusing on sample based performing, allowing a new way for DJs to create loops, textures, and songs on the fly, or create projects ahead of time and play them "live", while integrating with Pioneer's Pro DJ Link.
  
  
• XDJ-RX2: The next iteration of Pioneer's WILDLY popular completely standalone Rekordbox DJ controller.
  
  
• Reloop Touch - Touch screen controller for Virtual DJ, also includes video mixing at a very reasonable price.
  
  
• Pioneer & TC Supply developed a new protocol over Pro DJ Link to send relevant song and track information to integrate with VJ software, such as Show Control.
  
  
• MixCloud & Warner Music Group strike a deal, leaving many guessing what is to come, since the communication coming from MixCloud does NOT indicate any resemblance to the $9.99/month subscription services already on the market.
  
  
• Berlin nightclub Liquid Sky bans turntables and CDJs to promote alternative styles and technologies for DJ performances.
  
  
• Rusko announces he is cancer-free!
  
  
• Seth Troxler pledges $10k at UMF, which convinced other headliners and the festival organizers to raise money for hurricane relief.