Here is a list and
definitions of digital scratches. We have attempted to credit the creators
of each technique. "Vinyl turntablism has had the last 20+ years
to evolve and has grown due to the contributions and efforts of hundreds
of DJs. Digital scratching or digital turntablism is in its infancy. It
is now up to all digital turntablists to adapt vinyl scratches and create
new digital ones in order for the digital form of this art to grow"
- Gerald Webb aka DJ WWW.
Digital Terms
Echo sample (utilizing
the Pioneer EFX500 effector)
Creator: Hot Toddy
Though the Pioneer EFX 500 was never designed as a sampler,
it can be tricked into acting as one. First set the EFX up on the send
and return of the mixer (it could also be set up in other configurations
but we will use this one for the example). The Beat effects on the left
side of the effector will be used for this trick. Run the desired beat
to be "sampled" into the effector, through the send and return
loop. You can allow the effector to read the BPM of the track to be sampled
or you can tap it in. Once it is established, select the echo effect and
choose the length of the sample in beats. 1/1 will mean a one beat continuous
loop and 4/1 will mean a 4 beat continuous loop etc. The effect depth
knob must be turn to maximum for the loop to be continuous with out fading
out. The effect mix knob should be set between half and � of the
way up. At the start point of your desired loop engage the effect lever
switch to the locked position. This next part is very critical, you must
cut the source input exactly at the desired end point of your loop (if
you are using a Pioneer CD player as the source, I suggest hitting the
cue button to cut the source). If you cut too early there will be a gap
at the end of your loop. If you don't cut precisely at the end point you
will have additional sounds echoing in the loop interfering with the desired
seamless sound. This will take a bit of practice to master. Once you do
you can add additional layers to the loop by overdubbing sounds from the
source into the echo effect.
FSF (fader start fake)
(created for Pioneer mixers and CDJ100, 500 and 700 CD players- 1996)
Creators: Hot Toddy with variations by Gerald 'World Wide' Webb
Cue up to an existing previously scratched sound on a CD
and use the fader start option or cue button to cue that scratch sound.
You can drag the jog wheel of the CD player as you do this to slightly
change the tempo and pitch (master tempo must be turned off to effect
the pitch) of the prerecorded scratch or transform the prerecorded scratch
using the mixers line switch. You are faking scratching live by cueing
the pre-recorder scratch. It's sad, but at the time this was the only
way to get a realistic sounding scratch using CDs.
G-Spin (utilizing
the looping, reloop and loop editing features on the Pioneer CDJ 700 and
500II Limited- 1997)
Creator: Gerald 'World Wide' Webb, the world's first digital turntablist,
aka DJ WWW
This is the first CD based variation of beat juggling or
drumming. Utilizing the Pioneer CD player looping feature, you first set
a loop by pressing the loop in button at your desired loop start point
(it will blink acouple of times) and then hitting the loop out button
at the desired loop end point (both buttons will flash simultaneously).
Next hit the loop start button, while the loop is playing, to enter the
loop edit mode. The loop in button starts flashing rapidly. You then quickly
rotate the jog wheel backwards (counter clockwise), changing the loop
ending point depending on how far back you spin the wheel you get a shorter
loop and/ or a stutter effect. You can then spin the wheel back forward.
By doing so you get different breakdowns and stutters of the looped beat
or sample. The timing on when you spin the wheel back and forth, speed
with which you spin it, and distance (how far back and or forth) the jog
wheel travels is critical to this trick coming off smooth. With practice
you will be able to get all kinds of breakdowns and variations. You can
then either hit the loop in button again to save the new loop end point
or hit the loop out button to exit the editing mode and preserve the original
loop.
MP3 or Ots scratch
(created using OTS Jukebox software- 2000)
Creator: OTS Jukebox
Use the computer mouse, touch pad or trackball to scratch
an MP3 in real time. It is done by choosing the scratch option on the
software and right clicking on the simulated turntable that pops up, as
you hold the right mouse button down and move the mouse up and down you
get a real time scratch that is very realistic. This the first MP3 based
scratch.
Pitch scratch (created
on the Pioneer DJM 500 mixer- 1996)
Creator: Hot Toddy
Utilizing the pitch shift effect on the mixers effects
processor to change the pitch of a sound, while cueing the sound from
the fader start option or cue button of a Pioneer CD player, and poorly
simulate a scratch effect. Set the effect selector to pitch shift and
the effect assign button to the channel your sound to be scratched is
on. Next cue the sample or sound while quickly rotating the effect level
knob. This was the first attempt at real time digital scratching.
Sample scratch (variations
can be done on the Korg Kaoss Pad, Tascam CD302 and Denon Digiscratch
mixers)
Creator: ???
Utilizing the digi-scratch feature on older Denon mixers
the Mixer captures a sample and allows the user manipulate that sample
using a small CD sized wheel on the face of the mixer to poorly simulate
scratch sounds. This can be done with better results utilizing the Korg
Kaoss pad effects unit. There is also a technique for sample based scratching
using the Tascam CD 302 and utilizing the combination of the Pioneer DJM600
Mixer and EFX500 effector (zip sample scratch below). The advantage of
a sample scratch is the ability to capture a sound or phrase live and
immediately scratch it.
Snapping or Snaps
(utilizing the Pioneer CDJ 700, 500II, 100 or any CD player with an instant
start, cue button preview feature, -1998)
Creator: Roonie G
This entails cueing up to a sound or phrase on each CD
player. Then using the CD player cue buttons to play they sounds or samples
in a repetitive rhythm creating a new or unique drum pattern.
Zip scratch (utilizing
the Pioneer EFX-500 Effector- 1998)
Creator: Gerald 'World Wide' Webb, the world's first digital turntablist,
aka DJ WWW
In choosing your sample to scratch, it will help if it
is at least 2 seconds in length. Run the CD player's channel through the
EFX-500 (directly or through the send and return on the pioneer mixers).
On the right side (digital jog break) of the efx-500 select the zip effect,
turn the effect level knob to full (right) and engage the effects on button.
Using the cue button (or fader start option) quickly cue the sample for
different interims while pulling the effects wheel to the left (back wards)
Depending on how fast and far you spin the wheel back (as well as how
fast or slow you hit the cue button) you will get different drag effects
that sound just like vinyl drag scratches. With practice you can get very
intricate and complicated scratches using this technique including transforms,
crab and baby scratches. This was the first real time digital scratch
and the first to sound like true vinyl scratching.
Layered zip scratch (utilizing the Pioneer EFX-500 Effector- 1998)
Creator: Gerald 'World Wide' Webb, the world's first digital turntablist,
aka DJ WWW
Same as the zip scratch except adding another effect or
layer by utilizing the left side (beat effects) of the Pioneer EFX-500
Effector. Different variations include the Zip-echo, zip-flange, zip-delay,
zip cut and (auto-transform). You can add the second effect to the whole
sample or select to add it to any EQ combination of highs, mids and lows.
Zip sample scratch
(utilizing the Pioneer DJM600 mixer and EFX-500 Effector- 1999)
Creator: Gerald 'World Wide' Webb, the world's first digital turntablist,
aka DJ WWW
Same as the zip scratch except utilizing the sampler and
fader start feature of the DJM600. Set the EFX500 up between your mixer
out put and your amplifier, not on the send and return. Record a sample
on the DJM600's sampler, assign the cross fader to the sampler. You can
make this more complex by layering a second effect to the samples as described
in the layered zip scratch above. The draw back to this technique is the
EFX unit must be set up on the mixer output instead of the send and return
loop. So any sound coming out of the mixer in addition to the sample,
like a break beat, would be changed by the zip effect. I am sure future
mixers will allow sampling and effects on independent buses.
Vinyl Terms
BABY
Creator: Grand Wizard Theodore
A baby scratch is simply pushing and pulling the record
back and forth in a rhythmic motion. This is the foundation of all scratching.
DRAG
Creator: Grand Wizard Theodore
A drag scratch is moving the record slow forward or slow
back.
SCRIBBLE
Creator: Grandmaster Flash
A scribble is done the same way as a baby scratch, but
faster.
FORWARDS/BACKWARDS
Creator: Grandwizard Theodore
Forwards are achieved by taking a sound, letting it play
forward, turning your fader off, bringing the sound back, and doing it
over again.
CHOPS
Creator:
Chops are like forwards, but you do not let go of the record
when you push forward.
TRANSFORMER
Creator: Dj Spinbad
A transform scratch is done by moving the crossfader to a rhythm and at
the same time dragging the record back and or forth.
CHIRPS
Creator: DJ Jazzy Jeff
Chirps are done by starting with your fader open, pulling
the sound backwards, closing the fader, opening the fader and pushing
the sound forward. The hands should move roughly at the same time. The
goal is to catch a piece of the sound on the forward and back motions.
ECHOES
Creator: Skratch Piklz???
Echoes are done by doing forwards on the upfader, and fading
out slowly.
REVERSES
You can do most of the skratches mentioned about not only
in forward, but in reverse. Such as reverse echoes, reverse transformations
and reverse drops.
TEARS
Creator:
This scratch is similar to a one hand pat, except the goal is to create
pauses to the record while keeping the hand placed on the record. A tear
is done by moving the record forward or backwards in pausing increments.
SIMPLE DRUMMING
Creator: Grandmaster Flash (cutting Bob Jams records)
Drumming is to manually arrange the samples by using different
scratch techniques to create a percussive rhythm.
LAZER
Creator: ?
The lazer is done by flinging the record fast forward or
fast backwards. It is usually done with one finger to have the leverage
to fling quick.
RUBS
Creator: ?
A rub uses the same technique as a hydroplane, except the
difference is you control the record with the other hand by bringing it
back or forward.
FLARE
Creator: DJ Flare
This scratch is done by turning on the fader, moving the
sound forward, turning the fader off and on quick, continue moving the
record forward, moving the record back, turning the sound off and on quickly,
and continue to bring it to the beginning of the sound. Repeat those steps.
The difference between this and a transform is that you are clicking and
letting the sound play on both sides of the click.
ORBIT
An orbit is NOT a scratch. It is a description of any fader
scratch that is done the same way forward as it is back. For example,
a 2 click orbit is 2 clicks forward, 2 clicks back. A 3 click orbit is
a 3 clicks forward and 3 clicks back.
2 CLICK ORBIT
Creator: DJ Disk
The 2 click orbit is the same thing as a 2 click flare,
except it is done with 2 clicks back.
CHIRP FLARE
Creator: Dstyles
These are done by alternating between a 1 click flare and
a chirp.
2 CLICK FLARE LAZER
ORBIT
Creator: DJ Disk
This is done by combining a lazer scratch with a 2 click flare orbit.
UPFADER 2 CLICK ORBIT
Creator: DJ Qbert
This technique is the same as a 2 click Flare Orbit, except it is done
on the upfader.
CRAB
Creator: DJ Qbert
This scratch is done by brushing all 4 fingers on the crossfader
to create a rapid cutting effect.
ADVANCED DRUMMING
Creator: Grandmaster Flash (cutting Bob Jams records)
Drumming is to manually arrange the samples by using different
scratch techniques to create a percussive rhythm.
Edited by XXplosive
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