“Pretty much all modern DJ software has stem separation, but having good quality stem separation is a different conversation.” – An interview with DJ PDot
In our latest artist interview, DJ PDot discusses his musical influences and inspiration, how his DJ setup has evolved over the years, and the positive effect his content has had on his DJ career. He also explains how he harnesses the power of modern DJ technology in his sets, particularly the ability to separate stems on the fly without a laptop. This is made possible thanks to zplane’s STEMS algorithm, as found in the Engine DJ and Algoriddim djay software platforms. Read on to find out about all this and much more.
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is DJ PDot. I’m a DJ from Las Vegas, originally from LA. I’ve been here for pretty much the last decade. I DJ full-time in clubs, bars, and lounges, and I also make DJ-related content for social media.
Talk us through your earliest introduction to music.
I grew up in a household where music was really important. My mom and dad are huge music lovers, so we were always listening to music in the car and at home. Music was a big part of my life growing up, and as I got older, I discovered more and more music that I loved.
My mom was really into R&B, Soul, and all kinds of Motown stuff, as well as 80s pop, people like Whitney Houston. My dad was really into Classic Rock like The Beatles, Eagles, Seals & Crofts, Hollow Notes, and so on.
And how did your interest in music become an interest in DJing?
I grew up in LA where you spend a lot of time in the car, so radio is really popular. When I was growing up, there were two really big Hip Hop radio stations that I listened to a lot. Hearing DJs mix live on the radio just really stuck with me. I’d heard live mixing by legends such as The Beat Junkies, who are now heroes of mine. Those kinds of experiences just stuck with me.
What was your first DJ setup, and what are you using now?
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Right now, I’ve got two Pioneer PLX turntables at home, along with a Rane Seventy A-Trak Edition mixer. I use this setup together with either Serato or Algoriddim DJ Pro 5. If I’m not using this, I use the Denon SC5000s instead of the turntables, or the Rane Performer controller.
What kind of features and functionality mean the most to you as a modern DJ?
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For me, the number one priority with DJ software is music organization. I’m a stickler for having my music organized in a very specific way. I need to be able to not only have crates or playlists, but also be able to sort through all of that information really quickly.
Number two would have to be the ability to plug into different kit quickly and easily. So if I’m using the Rane mixer setup I have right now, I need to be able to plug my laptop in, and for the software to just work. Having to do too much setting up slows down the process, and makes me want to do something else.
Finally, really good stem separation is important to me and the way I DJ. Pretty much all modern DJ software has stem separation, but having good quality stem separation is a different conversation. There are definitely some that are better than others.
At home, I mostly use Serato’s inbuilt stem separation, but last year I moved to playing on USB sticks for a lot of my gigs. So when Denon added stem separation via the Engine DJ platform, I was super excited to have standalone stem separation. This means I can leave my laptop at home and still create mixes using stem separation.
How are you using stem separation in your mixes?
I do a lot of quick mixing and wordplay. Good quality stem separation allows me to isolate parts of a track, whether that’s looping a vocal or taking the drums from one track and laying it over another to give it a different vibe.
Stem separation gives me a lot more creative possibilities in my mixing and opens up a lot of doors when it comes to quick mixing and wordplay. Even being able to create an acapella or instrumental and lay it over something else gives me the kind of flexibility that we dreamed of 10 or 15 years ago.
Is there anything you think is missing from today’s DJ tech offering?
Number one for me would be some type of universal music library software. If you’ve ever used different DJ software at the same time, managing your DJ library from one software to another can be a headache. There is third-party software designed for this purpose, but it would be great if there were some kind of standard. Kind of like how ID3 tags became standard in the MP3 files we play. This would allow for more DJs to try different softwar,e which could fuel more creativity.
In your video, You Can’t Be JUST a DJ…, you discuss the need to wear many hats to be a successful DJ. Do you find that your content creation and Dirty Dozen series open up more DJ opportunities to you?
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Definitely. People contact me through my email or socials because of my content, but in person too. Helping other DJs through my videos has opened up other opportunities for me. When I meet people in person it’s not such a cold interaction as they feel like they know me in some way. This has definitely helped me to get other gigs and develop relationships with other DJs and brands, which is what has fueled my career until now.
What advice would you give up-and-coming producers near the start of their careers who are keen to grow and evolve?
The biggest piece of advice that I would give to new DJs is to be open-minded. Not just with music, but with other DJs, events, and venues. Especially when you’re starting, try to consume as much as you can. Not just content-wise, but going out, interacting, and networking with other people. Just immerse yourself in the DJ culture and don’t have any preconceived notions of how things will be.
You have to be open to meeting people and listening to them play. If you show that kind of enthusiasm for events and different DJs, they can reciprocate that energy. Some DJs can be quite protective about the craft, which can come across as standoffish. I take the complete opposite approach and it’s definitely helped me over the years.
Are there any artists or DJs that you’ve been listening to recently that you want to share with us?
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When I first got my first turntables, I was big into turntablism so I really respect people like Invisibl Skratch Piklz, The Beat Junkies, Executioners and all those guys.
As I started going out to raves in my teen years, I got introduced to more types of music than just Hip-Hop and R&B. I was listening to dance music from people like Benny Benassi and Moby. Today, hearing any DJ is inspiring for me, but because of the open format style of DJing I do now, I enjoy listening to really creative DJs like Miles Medina, Four Color Zack, Arcade.
Then there’s the guys I DJ with regularly like Andy SURNAME and JDHD. They’re great DJs and every time I hear them, I get inspired and want to get back to practicing, because that makes me feel like I need to step up.
Thanks to DJ PDot for taking the time to chat with us. You can stay up to date with him by following his Instagram or YouTube accounts.