You may recognize the image above, but simply because your brain tells you that the colors and shapes are familiar.  At second glance one can see that although familiar, it is blurred, distorted and “compressed”.  Now what if I were to tell you that unless the music that you listen to is on a CD or vinyl, that the image represents the visual equivalent of the loss of sound wave, or frequency in the music most of us are listening to?

The MP3 format has become the new standard, for both the mobile DJ and the casual music listener. It’s not unusual for a DJ to carry from 500 gigabytes to a terabyte worth of music with them these days in an MP3 format, replacing the cumbersome and laborious CD collection.   In an article published by About.com titled Vinyl vs. CD (a very good read I might add) the author says this;

“It is a strange music world we live in. There has been and is a major upheaval in the way consumers discover, purchase and listen to music. People listening to music on their cell phones and fitting their music collections in their pockets with portable iPods and MP3 players. Digitization, it seems, is the new distribution process for most with file sharing, ring tones, YouTube, iTunes, MySpace, Satellite radio and downloading is the only option for some.”

Although true about digitization being the the new medium for distribution, and ultimate convenience finally being within our grasp (both DJ and consumer), is the sacrifice really worth it?   This brings me to the next article I read regarding the subject (another very interesting read), by John Atkinson, Editor of stereophile magazine titled MP3 vs AAC vs FLAC vs CD which makes this statement:

“The MP3 codec (for COder/DECoder) was developed at the end of the 1980s and adopted as a standard in 1991. As typically used, it reduces the file size for an audio song by a factor of 10; eg, a song that takes up 30MB on a CD takes up only 3MB as an MP3 file. Not only does the 4GB iPod now hold well over 1000 songs, each song takes less than 10 seconds to download on a typical home’s high-speed Internet connection.”

But apparently this is not the first technological “upgrade” that has resulted in us being robbed of some sound quality.  According to Gary Freiberg from Vinyl Record Day – a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of vinyl records – the analog recording (vinyl record) has a wider frequency range than the digital compact disc, and in speaking with him, he agreed it would be fair to say that the compact disc is merely a compression of analog.  It would seem therefore that the loss started back in the 80s when the CD supplanted the vinyl LP record album.

It all seems pretty dismal, but there is still hope.  My first suggestion would be to stop downloading all of that music from iTunes and Amazon, and to start buying CDs again.  Unless of course you are downloading “lossless” digital file formats (WAV files for example are truly CD quality, but take up a great deal more space).    This would take the capacity of your 8GB iPod from 2,000 songs down to about 260 songs (or 26 albums), and I highly doubt anyone will make that sacrifice, so for now we’ll all keep using MP3s.

But technology will improve, storage space will increase, file sizes will shrink and it will all become more easily affordable in the next few years (it always does).  If you own the CD, you can rip the songs in any format you like.  No matter what you may read or hear, the MP3 is not CD quality, but you can at least choose to rip a CD at a higher bit rate than most online downloads offer.  This in itself is a significant improvement in sound.  Eventually, when the storage space in an iPod jumps to the multiple terabyte range, you could conceivably delete MP3s and re-rip your music to a non-compressed file, and re-achieve CD quality.  Or of course you can keep buying inferior MP3s, and perhaps repurchase the larger files when the technology finally catches up with the convenience that is causing us to lose the fullest possible sound in our music.

For now, I’ll keep my CDs.  I maintain control over the bit rate at which my MP3s are created, and when the MP3 goes the way of the dodo bird, I’ll still own the CD master files which I’ll be able to use to create the improved and lossless digital files.    As a DJ, this will allow me to improve my sound quality, without spending the money time and time again… I own the masters.  For those hardcore vinyl and CD enthusiasts, more power to you!  Keep up the good fight!

On the other hand, there are those who say the loss doesn’t take away from their listening pleasure, and for the most part I would tend to agree.  Perhaps on a bazillion dollar home theater surround  system with flux capacitors and warp drives the loss is clear as a bell, but with most music listening these days happening with little headphones, it seems we can still enjoy our tunes without missing a beat .

-Craig

Image reproduced with the permission of Source Interlink Media

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

In today’s uncertain economic times everyone is looking to save money where ever they can. Substituting the entertainment with an iPod has been a media hot spot this year, so let’s consider the possibilities. Let’s start by stating the obvious about both.

The iPod argument:

There is no question that a bride and groom can rent a quality sound system at a reasonable rate, have it delivered or have a friend bring it to the reception and set it up with play lists all programmed on it with folders designed for cocktails, dinner, program in their 1st dance, the father daughter dance, and their favorite party songs to dance to. You need to consider the amount of time creating these folders are going to take and if you have the access to an extensive music library or the cost of downloading these songs off of the internet. The cost of renting a sound system is probably about $200-$300 on average nationally. The costs of adding music to your iPod obviously will vary.

The DJ argument:

A DJ comes completely self contained and already has all of the music, a quality sound system, and years of experience behind him or her. The average cost of a quality DJ nationally can range from $800 to $3,000 dollars. Median price is probably $1,200.00

The defining difference:

Timing, experience, and enrollment in the moment is the difference and in my personal and professional opinion, the defining difference and a deal breaker to consider. A professional DJ with a comprehensive music collection knows when to play what song, and in doing so creates the mood and the energy level appropriate for that moment. They know how to push the crowd musically and verbally to keep that dance floor packed by using their years of experience and training.  Now let’s talk about enrollment. My goal as a master of ceremonies is to not just make an announcement about the evening’s activities but to truly enroll the guests into the moment. This comes from years of experience, training, having a creative mind, and a true desire to make each bride’s wedding day memorable, elegant and fun.

A friend will most likely announce the father daughter dance like this. “And now we would like to invite Karen and her father to dance the daddy daughter dance. “ This is a simple and clear announcement.

I personally would ask the bride and her dad a few questions in advance to learn a bit about them and their relationship and my introduction to that same dance would sound more like this. “On November 9, 1970, life in the KoKoruz house would change as they knew it forever with the arrival of our bride Karen Kathleen KoKoruz to her proud parents Steve and Christine. She was delivered into their lives at 1:20 p.m. at St Mary’s Hospital and weighed 7lbs 6 ounces. The doctor presented Karen to her dad for the very first time. He knew that in the blink of any eye those little tiny fingers that he was holding for the first would later be turned over to the man that she would like to spend the rest of her life with. Today that day has come so please join me in a warm proud round of applause as Karen and her dad share their special father daughter dance.”

I hope that as you read this you got a few goose bumps, perhaps even got a bit emotional as you thought about that special dance with your dad, and most importantly realized that an IPod can never make you or your guests feel that way.

Keith “K.C.” KoKoruz
Founder / Owner
The Keith Christopher Entertainment Group
www.keithchristopher.com



I initially contacted my friend K.C. to co-author an article regarding the iPod vs. DJ concept for another blog.  After reading what he wrote I just couldn’t bring myself to chop it up, with all due credit to the author it stood better on it’s own.  K.C. is one of the most dynamic entertainers I’ve met in my years in this industry, his only shortcoming is that he doesn’t work for Cutting Edge Entertainment here in Philadelphia.  K.C. KoKuruz is the founder of Spinnin’ Discs in Chicago, and has recently moved on to found The Keith Christopher Entertainment Group, and can be contacted at kc@keithchristopher.com

-Craig Sumsky
Director
Cutting Edge Entertainment

To err is human, to forgive divine
~ Alexander Pope

One of the blogs I like to read/follow is OneWed.com’s ‘Savvy Scoop‘. As an owner of a DJ entertainment company in the event business, as well as a blogger myself, it’s important to follow other related blogs and publications to keep up on trends in my industry. A few days ago, I discovered a blog post on the Savvy Scoop that had some (I repeat, “some”) misinformation regarding the wedding DJ’s role and significance at a wedding reception.

Yesterday, I began to craft a response in the form of a blog post to OneWed regarding that specific article. I had already spoken with Chris from The Man Registry (the author of the article in question) who had assured me that it had not been intended to come off that way. Yet still the article stood.

Last night I published my response (click here), and within an hour the blog post on Savvy Scoop had been taken down, and I received a message that Troy – the C.E.O. of OneWed.com – had called, and would very much like to speak with me in regard to the situation. I must say, I was very surprised. I phoned him back but we weren’t able to reconnect again until this morning.

First let me say that Troy is a business person that cares, and more importantly that listens. We spoke and great length, and to summarize in a nutshell he said that my response to his article enabled to see things from the perspective of the DJ (something Chris had said less than 24 hours earlier). Once he re-read the article, he saw how that one sentence was not accurate, and therefore he removed it.

So score one for the DJ right? Unfortunately, no.

I asked Troy to re-post the blog, and to simply strike the sentence in question and provide an annotation that he and I both agreed would be more accurate. He agreed.

Here is a link to the re-posted article
http://www.onewed.com/blog/savvy-scoop/2009/12/02/man-registry-groom%E2%80%99s-contribution-wedding-music

The article itself was pretty good, but the line I had had the issue with really minimized the DJs role at a wedding reception.  An iPod at a wedding reception can in fact play music, but a DJ – or at least a good one – does much more than just make announcements as the offending sentence alluded.

Troy didn’t have to hear me out, and he certainly didn’t need to acquiesce.  He listened, we talked, and I honestly feel that he – as well as the author – did not intend to misinform their readers.  After speaking with Troy I have a new found respect for his website, his blog and his brand.  I believe he truly cares, and his willingness to react by taking down the article and then to reach out to me shows me he is a person of character and empathy.

It takes a very big person to admit a mistake.  I applaud you Troy for your understanding and willingness to publicly correct your mistake.  If your website is any reflection of your character, I predict you will have great success.

Thank you for listening Troy,

-Craig
Cutting Edge Entertainment

www.OneWed.com

‘DJ Brain’ illustration by Sean Gallo Designs

In a series of recent articles by ‘The Man Registry‘ published on the OneWed ‘Savvy Scoop’ blog, the author offers the readers some of what I would call ‘misinformation’. The first article goes on to say things like “Go see your DJ or Band live” (an absurd suggestion, as a DJ has no right to invite perspective clients to someone else’s wedding), where the next article suggests that in choosing an iPod over a DJ or band, the only thing that is sacrificed is the announcer.

(Click here to see OneWed’s blog post)

Now considering that DJs and bands pay OneWed to advertise, is it really wise for OneWed to publish articles diminishing the value of professional entertainment/entertainers at a wedding reception?  Doesn’t seem like OneWed is looking out for it’s advertisers.

But in regard to the article…

When Aunt Rose comes up and requests a jitterbug, will the iPod somehow know just the song to play? Or maybe the random groomsman knows, and he can pull it up… after having three vodka tonics, or assuming he knows what a jitterbug is in the first place.  Or maybe the iPod can look at the dance floor and see it’s time to change it up a bit because some of the older folks have sat down for dessert and it’s a great time to play a mix of newer music for the younger guests still dancing?

I could go on, but why? I’ve talked about iPods in previous blog posts, and can see the merit in them from a budgetary perspective… but that’s all.  Heck, why not save money on the bartender as well and just set up a keg in the corner?

The bottom line really is, if you want to have entertainment at your wedding, then hire entertainment.  Both bands and DJs bring a lot more to a wedding reception than just making the announcements. An experienced DJ vs. an iPod can make all the difference in the success of your event.

Since coming across this article I expressed my sentiments to OneWed, who went on to shift the blame to The Man Registry, claiming that they were not the authors of the article.  This was disappointing, as OneWed forgets that it is published on their blog, and hence is an endorsement in itself.  As far as The Man Registry goes – a website geared more to grooms and groomsmen – I’ve always found their site to be a great resource in the past, so I’ll just write this off as a hiccup.  Chris from The Man Registry contacted me by email today, and although I told him I would be posting a response to his article, he did see my points and I found him to be quite affable. Thank you Chris.

-Craig

The Man Registry – www.themanregistry.com

‘DJ Brain’ illustration by Sean Gallo Designs

I just finished an interesting two-part article written by Elizabeth Oakes at Examiner.com titled “An iPod Wedding: Should I Or Shouldn’t I” (See article here – Part One and Part Two).

I must say I agree with much (but not all) of what she says, as I have had first hand experience helping out a few iPod brides, where in nine out of ten cases, the bride ended up hiring our DJ service.

Now don’t get me wrong, as I can certainly see the merit of an iPod being the music source at a wedding reception that is more of a cocktail party with fewer guests at a smaller facility, but at a larger reception I see obstacles which just cannot be overcome by an iPod.  What I hope to do in this article is to paint a bigger picture, without using scare tactics.

Scenario One: A bride calls me and explains that her wedding is three weeks away.  She and her groom have put together a play list on their iPod, but just realized they hadn’t thought of how they would amplify it so that their one hundred and fifty plus guests could hear the music, as well as a microphone so their best man could make the necessary announcements.  I gave her our price to rent such a system, including drop off, set up, break down and pick up, and she then asked how much it would be to just hire a DJ with all of that included… the difference was nominal.  She then asked what it would cost for her to buy the same equipment, and I explained that the powered speakers (powerful enough to handle that size crowd), speaker poles and decent cordless microphone would run her in the ballpark of $2,000.00, but she quickly nixed that idea, not just for cost but because she didn’t want to deal with shopping for sound equipment much less the set-up and break down.  She called the next day and hired a DJ.

Scenario Two: A bride calls me, and in this scenario decides to contract us to provide the amplification system for her iPod wedding.  Afterward, she phones me and asks what it would have cost for her to have just hired a DJ. My curiosity getting the best of me, I ask why and she goes on to explain that although the cocktail hour and dinner went well, when it came time for dancing she felt that she could have used a DJ to help play the right selections in a better order, and that she, the groom, and several of the bridal party ended up fielding requests and having to play DJ, and that she would have preferred just enjoying the evening.  She then went on to say that the best man, who had agreed to make the needed announcements and essentially play ‘MC’ for the night got a little inappropriate after he had had several drinks.  When I told her what a DJ would have cost, she was quiet at first, and then said she should have just spent the extra money.

Scenario Three: A bride and groom have a small dinner party at a restaurant and have no expectations for dancing as there isn’t a dance floor.  The facility has a house system that allows them to hook in their iPod and play music through the ceiling speakers.  No fuss, no cost, everyone wins.

There are certainly many more scenario possibilities, as these are just three that stand out in my mind.  Like any other decision regarding your wedding I think this just requires careful thought and consideration.   In regards to Ms. Oakes reference to DJs struggling to compete with iPods and technology, we certainly haven’t felt that pinch at Cutting Edge Entertainment, and nor have any of the other DJs I speak to.  What I fail to grasp is the hype of the iPod.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPod, but I don’t see how it differs from a bride and groom choosing CDs they burned themselves for a wedding four years ago, or cassette tapes they made themselves for a wedding ten to fifteen years ago.  In each case it amounts to a ‘do it yourself’ music program, which has its pros and cons no matter what the technology.

-Craig

www.cuttingedgedjs.com