11/10/2012

What Are The Most Common DJ Terms?

By Tameka Ware


Most people view disc jockeying as a hobby. However, there are those who make a living from it. They take their craft seriously and they do whatever it takes to improve their skill. Since it has become a profession, DJs have developed special language schemes that would easily describe their point. These DJ terms makes it easier to communicate with fellow turntable masters and individuals who are still learning the ropes.

To connect with their audience, the disc jockey world also has words that are used for the same meaning in other aspects. An amp still refers to an amplifier while bass is the term used to describe the music that emanates from the kick drum and bass instruments. Aside from the words with common meaning, there are common terms that DJ's use to mean something else.

If the word "stab" is generally used to describe the act of thrusting a knife into another person, DJ's use it to describe a short sample of sound that is often used in scratching. Likewise, the word "stutter" is associated with the speaking condition wherein certain syllables are repeated before a thought is completely uttered.

In contrast, disc jockeys know that stutter is the repetition of a voice or a drum beat through the cue button or the scratch manuever on CD decks. Then, there is the word "tears" which often comes out of a person's eye in times of grief or sadness. Yet, turntable artists reserve this term for a scratch technique that renders the pull or push effect in a sound.

Outside the terms with double meaning, there are parts of the DJ jargon which are exclusive to the industry. These glossary entries sound so cool that it practically mirrors the cool profession that disc jockeys have. Terms like these often refer to turntable parts and related machines which are enabled to perform tricks that create different beats.

One of the nice-sounding jargons that DJ's use is the Hamster Switch. Upon hearing it for the first time, one would speculate that this is about the apparatus that scientists use on hamsters. However, it refers to the mixer's reverse crossfader. Another interesting term is Kill Switch which sounds like a name of a metal rock band.

Yet, it is the special name for the power buttons for the bass, mid and treble channels. Another term is direct drive which can be mistaken for non-stop round trips. However, it refers to the motor that spins the turntables. Meanwhile, a battle record can be confused with the win-loss record of boxing and MMA athletes.

In contrast, the battle record is a 12-inch vinyl which contains the beats that a DJ often uses. There are a lot of special codes out there and the list grows regularly. Those that have been used here is a small part of the ocean. If you want to expand your horizon on DJ terms, a professional DJ can lend a hand or you can try studying the craft on your own and learn more terminologies as you progress.




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