VIDEO: How to Carl Cox with a PLAYdifferently Model 1

The Model 1 is a mixer in its own class. So it's only natural that it would become a fixture for some VIP DJs. Carl Cox demonstrates how he uses it.

VIDEO: How to Carl Cox with a PLAYdifferently Model 1

Sometimes a product comes along that turns even the seasoned professional’s heads. One such product is the PLAYdifferently Model 1. Basically the brainchild of Techno overlord Richie Hawtin, this left thinking mixer has turned the heads of almost everyone that has come into contact with it (holding one even coaxed a smile out of our Dan). And it seems that the legendary Carl Cox has taken quite a liking to the Model 1, to a point where it’s a permanent part of his setup.

In this video. Carl walks us through how the Model 1 has shaped his setup, and the techniques he uses when playing. It’s a short but cool glimpse into seeing how a VIP DJ works — I certainly learned a few things watching it.

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Mark Settle
Mark Settle

The old Editor of DJWORX - you can now find Mark at WORXLAB

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21 Comments

  2. very interesting, he basically uses the CDJ’s only for jog/pitch purposes then… I hope NI comes with a controller that has pitch and jog but also the screen functionality

          • Even worst than that, you can hit play and quntization will take care of the right moment. It lost freshness but gained accuracy.
            Since commercial crowds usually don’t give a f##k about the skill we can rant or adapt to it. We can also educate in the process but it gets harder when you have to pay bills. Capitalism f##ks the Art.

            • Honestly.. I think the commercial crowds do.. They lost something too.. Like.. I’m done ranting.. many years past it.. and hey.. the culture moved on from me too.. I mean.. honestly.. We as DJs can have what we want.. and Capitalism also was solely responsible for creating the tools that many of us love.. I could preach and preach and preach until I’m blue in the face.. but.. Why? It won’t get me any closer to having a pair of decks again.. and.. the happiness I got from getting two tracks to align was always private.. The more capitalism makes the art safe.. and the environment safe.. the less it will be recognizable to those who remember what it was..

              I don’t think it lost freshness.. I don’t think any accuracy was gained.. If you can’t see what is being pushed.. if you don’t know when things are off… How do you have anything to judge against when things are SO good?

              what I meant about “sort of the right moment” is that depending on your quantization level you can be quantized to a bar or a beat on some software and if you don’t know which Q level you’re at.. the software might wait a bar to start playing when you wanted it to start playing inside that beat. I don’t quantize to bars.. because quantizing towards a beat is the closest I can come to “throwing” the beat on time..

              I mean.. I could turn off quantize and sync.. but I don’t have decks anymore (honestly my mixer needs her power supply replaced so I haven’t even been able to do that lately) so whats the point? What do I care if people don’t know what they are missing?

              They can have their nicely packaged safe music festivals with djs being overpaid to underwhelm..

              I’ll keep my fond memories of raves in dirty warehouses in sketchy parts of town listening to DJs that were working their asses off to keep tracks in alignment on decks that had seen much and had the battle scars to prove it.

                • I’m not sure I understood the comment, but I think I understand the sentiment.. :)

                  I hope I can afford decks someday.. It’s a nice dream to play around with but.. It’s hard to worry about when your mixer is in pieces in several places and you’ve just been pushed out of your home by toxic roommates..

                  On the other hand.. I may be recently homeless.. But the future has never seemed to look brighter to me. I tried my best at the path I wanted for myself and it didn’t work out. But I couldn’t care less because the person I care most about in the world stuck with me when it counted the most.

                  Fuck it. I’d honestly rather be in an electronic/punk witch band with my girlfriend than a DJ anyway. :)

    • Saw him at Tribal Sessions, in Sankeys MCR, back when it was still three turntables and a mixer. That was one of the messiest nights I’ve ever had in my life, which is always a good sign about how good it was. Damn. That must be nearly 15 years ago…

      • Every chance I got to see him live there was a flight issue or some other reason he had to cancel.. Nothing on him…. Just really want to hear his work in person. I think the couple of chances I had to see him were about.. well.. yeah.. a long time ago.. another life..

        • whats so special about seeing him?.. he is just playing simple edm tunes that basically all sound the same in synq.
          his appearance is just somewhat different than your average joe wich catches more attention.

          its not the music or skills but the name that draws most attention.

              • The man was literally there at the Big [Dance Music] Bang. His right pinky has more knowledge and skill with DJing and dance music than all of us put together. And unlike a lot of DJs from that era, he still puts every effort into the scene, both with DJing and with the culture. To say “so what?” either shows your ignorance of the scene, or you were too young to understand the impact he’s had. He’s also known as the nicest person in the industry. Never stops smiling, Always looking like he’s grateful for his place. He’s earned his stripes yet never stops trying.

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