CD or VINYL?
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Please, please, please, please -- do NOT ask this question on the
forum. Alt.music.makers.dj experienced its first VERY ugly and painfully long
flamewar with this subject. You'll probably get more flames than answers for
asking the question.

There are basically four things to consider when deciding this:

1. What do you already have?
If you have a large quantity of CDs, moving to vinyl probably isn't
the best of choice. There are very few reasons to abandon a large
quantity of CDs. The same is true if you already have a lot of vinyl
and few CDs. Buying a CD player is probably not the best choice right
now.

However, don't let this isolate you from the other in the future.
There is always room for a DJ who can work with both mediums.

2. Style
Some styles are easier to get on one medium than another. This is
especially true of underground dance music. If you find yourself
spinning a lot of rave oriented material, you may have to move to
vinyl simply because most new releases come out on vinyl first. On the
other hand, if you are spinning a lot of Top-40 type material, you'll
probably find most of your selection is easiest to get on CD. Every
style has their own preference of medium. Choose the one that best
suits what you want to do.

3. Availability
This ties in very closely with style. My only comment with regards to
availability is that -- you can always find it on either vinyl or CD.
It may be harder to find Ace of Base on vinyl than on CD, but it is
out there if you look hard enough.

4. Mixing style
This is where most people get separated in the issue of Vinyl vs. CDs.
Each has their own benefit. Here is what Jim (jtmixer@aol.com) had to
say on it:

"Lets see someone sample as cleanly and start as quickly as a c.d!
Sure, you can't scratch, but that's what the turntables are for. Be
more talented, use both. There a lot of times when I can't get
something on c.d. and have to resort to vinyl, and vice versa. But
there are advantages to both, so why aren't more people willing to
take advantage of that???

o You can have more precise mixes with c.d.'s, so that is an
advantage.
o You can scratch with vinyl, so that is an advantage.
o You can do instant starts with c.d.'s, so that is an advantage.
o You can do spinbacks with vinyl, so that is an advantage.
o You can sample a sound and cue back up in an instant with c.d.'s
o You can hit the stop button on the turntable, so that is an
advantage.
o You can fit far more c.d.'s in on spot, so that is an advantage.
o You can find some really cool tunes on vinyl that aren't on c.d.
o You can find a wider variety on c.d., so that is an advantage.
o You can cue up a record faster, so that is an advantage.
o You can see the precise time left/advanced on a c.d.,
o You can.......

Where the hell is this going????? No where. Use both and appreciate
advantages from both. The only person who wins in this argument is
the one who has mastered both, and is happy with both."

And to sum it all up, Al Weltha (alsmusic@netins.net) said:

"The heated debate between the pro-CD and pro-vinyl factions over
which is better has all the merit of people who argue over
whether their beer tastes great or is less filling. ie: Whatever
floats your boat works!"

"It's a 'style thing.' If you have a preference, GREAT! Use it! If
you don't, then maybe you should TRY a couple of different options
before you make up your mind. Your personal solution may depend on
the tools you have available. People can often learn a lot by trying
something new. "