First came skratchworx, and then it was DJWORX. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s a fully joined up decade and a half of writing decidedly English prose about DJ gear. For on September 3rd 2003, I posted my inaugural story on skratchworx, all about the Pioneer DJM707 and 909 mixers. And the rest is… well an ongoing journey. Today however, I shall allow myself a long lunch topped off with a slice of cake to mark 15 years of DJ journalism.
IN THE BEGINNING
In 2003, CDJs had hit the scene, but Serato Scratch Live wasn’t even a thing until a few months later at NAMM 2004. And then came the whole digital revolution that entirely changed the face of DJing as we knew it.
And now we find ourselves in a mature market, one where anything and everything goes, alongside all the original technology that existed when I kicked off skratchworx. The market has come cull circle, and given what I know about what’s coming, I’m beginning to feel like it’s the exciting days of skratchworx will be happening all over again.
For those that want a walk down memory lane, or indeed feel like checking out what this skratchworx thing was, here’s the monthly archive page that serves as a timeline of DJ technology history. Apologies for any site wonkiness — it’s really old technology now. At some point, I’d love to move it all to a modern platform, but part of me also feels that said wonkiness is part of skratchworx’s continuing appeal.
THE FUTURE
Today is a just minor celebration however — I’ve got images to retouch, articles to write, and a living to earn. But I’ve got a very special 15th birthday thing in progress. There are a few I’s to dot and T’s to cross, ducks to herd into rows, and arms to twist. But when it lands, it’ll be hands down the best thing I’ve ever done in 15 years.
Also, please forgive the excessive “I” language in this post. Today is a celebration of me starting this whole thing off. But the last 15 years has had a huge number of people step up to make skratchworx what it was, and DJWORX what it is, and importantly will be. And everyone will get their name in lights in what’s coming.
I started in the corner of the living room on an original Bondi blue iMac with the support of my family, but it has not been a lonely journey. I’ve made a lot of new friends, as well as people I now consider as my extended family. And without them I couldn’t do what I do now, and will do in the future.
Anyway, lunchtime approaches. A long lunchtime. With cake. And then the really hard work begins.
OVER TO YOU
Some of you will have been around since day one. So what are your memories of the wider Worxworld and industry in general? Are there events that stand out? And what does skratchworx and DJWORX mean to you?
Congrats, ye old geezer! Been down with *worx since the early days and it has been a pleasing to see the bar being steadily raised every year.
I will accept old as it gives me permission to be curmudgeonly and disgraceful.
Like fine rum, some things only grow better with time. 15 years…good, 23 years…even better.
My earliest memory of WORX? Using your review of the Stanton C.324s in my decision to get a pair. I loved those things, and they segwayed into my use of Traktor Scratch. I sold them to help buy my Xone:62. I think my only real frustrations with them was the lofi pitch sensitivity, and the fact the screen only had one brightness setting: eye-melt.
EDIT: here’s that review! http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/c324.php
Then obviously, there was our fateful meeting at The Flappit pub, which brought me into the fold properly. This was my first article for DJWORX! https://djworx.com/review-allen-heath-xonexd20-in-ear-headphones/
Best DJ tech-related site on the internet. Happy 15th anniversary. Keep up the good Worx!
Yes, we are the best. I silenced my imposter syndrome for a split second there. ;)
Congratulations on the 15th birthday to all of the team that make the worx possible. DJworx.com is one of the websites I visit on a daily base to keep up with all the dj related news.
You are one of the “Big Three” about Dj journalism.
Enough said!
Keep up the great work!
Happy Birthday and Congrats for the job done!
the first post from you I remember was about the flop that was the Technics SL-DZ1200 cd player… has it really been that long?
Yes it has. One of the very first things I reported was that the DZ-1200 player and Technics SHMZ1200 mixer had been delayed due to technical issues. I think it was finally released the next year, with the first public demo being done by Paul Dakeyne at PLASA 2004.
Happy Birthday!
My first touch to scratchworx was when I searched to buy my first players –
http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/dn-s1000.php
Since then I visit scratchworx/DJWORX before even I open my mail or facebook every morning :D
Keep up the amazing work and thank you for all these years!
This needs a coffee table book. And congrats of course!
Do you mean like a beautifully printed and bound volume, full of industry leading photography and illustrations that chronicles the key DJ hardware and software releases? But who would buy such a thing?
*raises hand*
Happy 15th!
Skratch(DJ)Worx is never getting old :)
I haven’t been around since the inception of SkratchWorx, but 2006 (12 years) is a good bit of it. It’s been quite impressive to see the positive transformation over that period into the DJWorx we all love today. Mark I actually first found you on youtube scratching like a demon on a numark cdx and a Pio 909 (Gizmo doll in tow). I’ve been following you ever since and will continue being there with you and the DJWorx family on this wonderful journey. Cheers! DJ Ragman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trFXO5zFucQ
Crikey. That video is about 7 minutes too long. And my skills haven’t progressed. It also shows that the Rane Twelve was nailed well over a decade ago.
Happy Birthday Dj Worx! Here’s to another 15 years!
congratulations!!
Skratchworx gave me the helping hand I needed when I first started DJing. Your FS2 vs SSL vs CDX showdown is still to me, one of the best pieces of advice I ever read, from any kind of tech-related blog.
Happy birthday!
Congrats! Happy Born Day!
Congratulations! I’ve been reading *Worx for years and years. And here’s the first article I wrote for the site: http://www.skratchworx.com/reviews/x2.php
Dang, 10 years ago. And yes, I still have my pair of X²s.