>>_:CODE IN ACTION

:CODE is online at www.codetv.net
With pictures, episode history, :CODE shop and more.

Episode 3 featuring Jerry Bonham, Ms. E, Praxis and Mark Popple is on the air.

Sunday, February 1st, 2:30pm
Comcast Channel 28, San Francisco

:CODE TV crew will be taping live this weekend!

Friday, January 30th
Lunatix, 550 Barneveld, SF

>>_SHAKE IT LIKE A POLAROID PICTURE

If OutKast's single "Hey Ya!" were somehow implanted to play in my head on continuous loop I don't think I'd entirely mind. If that song were food, I'd eat it. If it were clothes, I'd wear it. If it's on 12", I'll buy it.

When I'm not playing out at clubs, I sometimes listen to CDs but actually listen to the radio more. And across the whole dial at that. I go on jags with certain styles. First, it was R&B and classic soul for about one-and-a-half years. Then it was over two years with tough classic rock. "One-oh-seven-point-seven The Bone. Classic rock that rocks." Indeed. It was over a year before I realized the classic rock style featured on my most favorite station was a perfect match in beats-per-minute and attitude problem to banging techno. There's a hybrid genre in that idea somewhere.

>>_AND THEN IT JUST GETS COOLER

Chicks on drum machines. Great song, too bad they don't credit it or make it available. Thanks to John Carney.

>>_SEEKING AUDIO REMASTERING

I'm looking to hire someone to remaster my next mix CD. Please email me if you're skilled and up to the job. It's a live set, with a recording of the crowd chat and cheers to blend in with the direct recording so it's a tricky one with a final product that will be well worth it!

>>_WIKKA WIKKA

I've finally, finally begun working on scratching. It's a lot more fun, and less frustratring, than I imagined it would be--mostly because I have some great people explaining it to me. I have baby scratches down solid and everything but the fastest forwards down, too. Years of creative mix DJing has given me pretty sure hands. The more I have to use the crossfader along with scratching the record the harder it gets but so far so good. You may see more creative style coming into my sets soon. Sweet.

>>_GET SMART, AGENT 86

Get smart about your mixing. Class dates and times for the upcoming semester have been posted to the norcalDJMPA website.

>>_THE RETURN OF "CUE & A"
("Cue & A" is syndicated on the Sister SF website.)

QUESTION: Are a lot of DJ CDs done completely live or are a lot using a lot of computer editing and perfecting?

ANSWER: Nearly all DJ CDs are have some amount of computer editing and perfecting, known as post-production. Especially with the proliferation of easy to use and affordable audio editing software for the PC or Mac.

At the minimum, because the volume throughout a set can vary widely, many DJs correct the volume on the recorded mix to stay even throughout. A definite benefit to the listener. In the most extreme cases, most commonly used by licensed mix CDs on major labels, recorded mixes are post-produced using every possible tool to craft the "perfect" mix from the recording. I've event heard of cases where each turntable is separately recorded, so that the two tracks can be perfectly overlayed in the studio.

QUESTION: How much should you stress on the production of a CD used only for the purpose of getting a gig?

ANSWER: If your mixes are clean, not perfect--but clean, and you've recorded at a good loud level throughout with a good EQ balance, you should be fine. My most important advice (and I cannot stress this enough!) is to not let your waiting for a flawless mix get in the way of recording and putting out a mix. I can count dozens of DJs who were determined to release only a flawless mix, only to wait so long that they never put anything out. Now, will that get you a gig?