Do you scratch??

[Headphones]

Just asking if anyone here does scratching with their beats, best ways to practice certain scratches, best cross faders/needles to look out for, and do you use what you scratched into your own productions or do you kinda keep that separate?

[LoopmantrA]

I scratch. Wouldn't really consider myself a true scratcher, I don't practice that much + I still use 7" and Numark pt01 scratch, with that stock fader bullshit

Here's one I did way back when I was starting out, I'm much better now, but I rarely record it.

https://soundcloud.com/user-853604300/d ... -spbb256as

Was thinking of throwing in scratch for the previous battle, maybe gonna do for this one, if I find the time though..
These days I'm only using it to pick up samples off very old vinyl, but drenched in fx (delay most of the time), and ofc outside, like in a park or a beach, in combo with the SP - just for creative outdoor beat making and / or practice.
Can't really tell you about some secret tips on gear, except for the standard stuff you probably know yourself, but since I hang around a lot of scratch fanatics, and I like that subculture myself + I've been a bass player / drummer for twenty years now - I can say that the only thing that you need to be aware of is the flow. I practice with as slow beats as possible, though like I said - I don't consider myself a true scratcher, but imho playing over flashy, fast beats, with equally flashy scratching - you'll never be able to tell how good your timing / groove is, but playing it over truly slow beats, man, that's some sweating. Especially when you go for combos
Dunno if you're just starting, or you already have some experience, but always start with basics (baby, cut, stab, chirp) before flaring and crabing all over.
Oh yeah, and go for unconventional. I have five or six scratch records, use them only for safe play, or when I'm bored. Mostly I'll just pick up a record, any record, find the sound I can work with and start improvising. It's harder and more challenging, since most of the standard scratch sounds (aaaah, fresh, scratch, etc) last long. Plus everyone uses it, it's starting to get obnoxious imo
And the sooner you get your hand accustomed to smaller sound lengths, those long ones gonna be a breeze

[Danswift]

^^^^

Good advice, Loop!



I love scratching...I'm certainly no expert by any means but I learned a little bit of cool stuff that my beloved brother mostly taught me.. he was an amazing musician and an absolute demon on the cut,he sadly passed away a few years ago,God rest his soul.

Deeswift 'Stretched Animal Skin Drum' .

https://youtu.be/ktL_NF7j-T0

I know some very talented scratch DJs including Symatic (who's also a member here).and the dudes a fucking beast.. Sy is also one of the guys who runs Cut N Paste records..they make some of the best scratch tools available for anyone who's interested.

https://cutandpasterecords.bigcartel.com/

Here's Sy from a recent scratch battle!

https://youtu.be/NmFhWs63pG0

I need to get some secondhand decks as I really want to get back into mixing vinyl again and I'd also like to try and learn new scratch techniques as it's something that I've never gotten round to investing the time in which I've always kinda regretted...i own a Technics SL-1200 LTD but I would never use that particular deck for cutting on as it's #77 of the 10,000 which were manufactured and I need to keep that baby in as pristine condition as possible!

[Headphones]

Since I’ll have my 1200 & a SP404, I maybe can’t mix records without the 2nd deck, but maybe in the mean time I can practice scratching. My mixer isn’t the greatest, but for now it should do the job(but I think one of the 3 channels is busted).

I will have a cartridge & needle ready to go, but I’m willing to invest in a better one for scratching. Not sure if I should just practice on thrift store records (where if you screw em up you hardly care because they were cheap anyway, or invest in the scratch records that Q-Bert puts out?? Or is that kinda cheating? Anyway, I’ve got to make some space for this basic setup.

[Danswift]

Nah.. It's not 'cheating' to use any of the Q-Bert and DirtStyle records,those things are absolutely made for cutting shit up big time!

Check out records like Bitch Slapped Breaks, Bionic Booger Breaks,Gag Ball Breaks or Toasted Marshmello Feet Breaks etcetera.. they're packed with cool samples you can scratch with.

There's a list of em' here.

https://www.discogs.com/label/5648-Dirt-Style-Records

Just be aware though that the newer pressings apparently aren't as good quality as the originals.. Ive heard quite a few scratch heads mention that the vinyl they've used is a lot thinner than the first run of pressings that were released.

[LoopmantrA]

Nah.. It's not 'cheating' to use any of the Q-Bert and DirtStyle records,those things are absolutely made for cutting shit up big time!
.

Word! I got "Baby superseal 4" by Qbert, fkn hell that shit is dope!
Also "Skratchator" by DJ Bambu & GStyles (threads and needles), "Scratch roulette 45" (mad dope, if it's any record I'd recommend - it would be this one) by Ground original / Fat beats, and "Thunder cuts" by Aeon 7,and few others. But these are my go - to, when I feel like using standard scratch sounds.

@headphones yo, I'm not trying to lure you to our darkside of portablists, but I think you ought to check out the portable turntables as well. Some wicked things are happening on the market lately, new models introduced, and with all the pimping accessories people build and sell, you can make a beast out of it! Jesse Dean been doing some serious pimping shit, tonearm, headshell, fader and all for the numark pt01 scratch for example.
https://jessedeancustoms.com/

here's this guy in Hungary - Bihari design - dude makes all sort of sick stuff for turntables, with accent on portable turntables ofc.
http://bihari.bigcartel.com/


I mean, I know the love for Technics, don't get me wrong there ain't no tt quite like it. But these things, with a bit of investment, can sound amazing, plus you put them in a backpack and just take off with it wherever. Plus, you don't need a mixer /phono, and powerbank does the job beautifully (I use 10.000 mAh on my Numark,18 hours of continuous playing I think, easily)


Did I say that I DIDN'T want to lure you over to the darkside?
Shiet, mah bad xD

[Headphones]

I got the Vestax Handytrax portable turntable. I’m thinking of selling it, but if I keep it, I guess I can play things at 78 (which 1200s don’t as far as I know), and it is dope to have the rca outs. I just wish it sounded better. But scratching with it? It does have its own cross fader. I’ll be buying slip mats eventually, so I’ll try it.

[LoopmantrA]

Oh, vestax is good man. There are some sick mods out there, be sure to check it out!
https://youtu.be/HqVYz9WZ4yg
Solidcutz did a platter, but it's still a bit pricey though
https://youtu.be/4VhUJ6IdwRg

And scratching on it?
People do wonders bro!
Check it out on YouTube, some sick cuts. It's harder, yeah, since it's 7" and it's supposed to be handled more gently than the regular tt - but, if it's only for scratching, and occasionally sampling - that's cool. People been moding them with gold plated tone arms and shure m44-7 stylus, that's like more expensive than the turntable itself xD

I just meant, if it's only for scratching, or practicing scratching, and since you already have it - bit of modding, and you're good to go

[LoopmantrA]

Deeswift 'Stretched Animal Skin Drum' .

https://youtu.be/ktL_NF7j-T0

Here's Sy from a recent scratch battle!

https://youtu.be/NmFhWs63pG0

Yo, this is SICK! Mad skills, both of them

[Danswift]

This is one of my favourite scratch mixes.

"Don't forget the droids"...

Deeswift & Awkward 'Treach Mix Part 1'
https://youtu.be/nO4cPXEHVWs

Deeswift & Awkward 'Treach Mix Part 2'
https://youtu.be/filt58OfAJo

[Ill Green]

I usually hire a DJ for scratching but my last album I did it myself, with the help of a Numark CDJ and my SP606.

I'm no wheels of steel DJ, but I managed to sample my best cuts onto several pads and used the auto panning effect. Some cuts I left as Gate and some as oneshots and I add them as the beat plays.

There are plenty of tutorials on youtube on how to produce scratching on samplers.

[plexxsounds]

Another scratch-a-holic here. Been cutting for a long time but
just recently I've started testing Traktor DVS with my Z2 mixer.
Great for juggling etc. I also got big love for some Vestax mixers
I also got a Numark pt01 scratch with Jesse Dean fader installed.
Had a few good sessions in the parks this summer.

Besides just scratching I try to make some kind of layered scratch compositions/beats - they usually end up being just loops though.

I'm also in a turntablism band consisting of 3 guys. We're not that active
all the time.... You can check our sounds at soundcloud - they're mostly
very raw session recordins: https://soundcloud.com/turunsaha

Once back in 2010 I was in Berlin and we had a nice cut session
with Wax Inspektor himself.

[LoopmantrA]

I also got a Numark pt01 scratch with Jesse Dean fader installed.

Hey man, honest question here - how are you liking that fader Jesse makes? Is it really worth the price? Seems a tad much (60€ + shipment for me as well), and I know CJ Scratch released his pt01 fader too, it's half the price I think...
Would've probably go for Jesse's either way, it's just that the price tag combined with shipment... That's killing me. Really seems too much... Guess I gotta wait a bit more..

Glad to see more portablists I'm no flashy scratcher by no means, but I love the culture man.

[Danswift]

Q-Bert 'Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik' (1998)

A side

https://youtu.be/611RjDPw36U

B side

https://youtu.be/f_SvUWDnRlY

[LoopmantrA]

Q-Bert 'Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik' (1998)

A side

https://youtu.be/611RjDPw36U

B side

https://youtu.be/f_SvUWDnRlY

Baaah that's sick.
Q-Bert is a fkn alien man, he's to a scratching community what Tony Hawk is to the skating community
I also love Kid Koala, that dude is a WIZARD! Totally suits me, since he's more into treating turntable like a instrument, not just for simply scratching, but for some wicked riffs too. That project of his, Deltron 3030, with Del The Funky Homosapian and Dan the Automator also rips