Turntablism Scratching

in 1970s in south bronx, young teen dj named grand wizzard theodore (right) invented dj scratch technique. other djs, grandmaster flash, took technique higher levels.

modern scratching techniques made possible invention of direct-drive turntables, led emergence of turntablism. belt-drive turntables unsuitable scratching, since had slow start-up time, , prone wear-and-tear , breakage, belt break backspinning or scratching. first direct-drive turntable invented shuichi obata, engineer @ matsushita (now panasonic), based in osaka, japan. eliminated belts, , instead employed motor directly drive platter on vinyl record rests. in 1969, matsushita released sp-10, first direct-drive turntable on market, , first in influential technics series of turntables.

in 1970s, hip hop musicians , club djs began use specialized turntable equipment move record , forth, creating percussive sounds , effects– scratching –to entertain dance floor audiences. whereas 1940s-1960s radio djs had used back-cueing while listening sounds through headphones, without audience hearing, scratching, dj intentionally lets audience hear sounds being created manipulating record on turntable, directing output turntable sound reinforcement system audience can hear sounds. scratching developed hip hop djs new york city such grand wizard theodore, described scratching as, nothing back-cueing hear in ear before push [the recorded sound] out crowd. developed technique when experimenting technics sl-1200, direct-drive turntable released matsushita in 1972, when found motor continue spin @ correct rpm if dj wiggled record , forth on platter. afrika bambaataa made similar discovery sl-1200 in 1970s. technics sl-1200 went on become used turntable next several decades.

jamaican-born dj kool herc, immigrated new york city, influenced development of scratching. kool herc developed break-beat djing, breaks of funk songs—being danceable part, featuring percussion—were isolated , repeated purpose of all-night dance parties. influenced jamaican dub music, , developed turntable techniques using technics sl-1100, released in 1971, due strong motor, durability, , fidelity.

although previous artists such writer , poet william s. burroughs had experimented idea of manipulating reel-to-reel tape manually make sounds, 1950s recording, sound piece ), vinyl scratching element of hip hop pioneered idea of making sound integral , rhythmic part of music instead of uncontrolled noise. scratching related scrubbing (in terms of audio editing , production) when reels of open reel-to-reel tape deck (typically 1/4 inch magnetic audio tape) gently rotated , forth while playback head live , amplified, in order isolate specific spot on tape editing cut made. in 2010s, both scratching , scrubbing can done on digital audio workstations (daws) equipped these techniques.

christian marclay 1 of earliest musicians scratch outside hip hop. in mid-1970s, marclay used gramophone records , turntables musical instruments create sound collages. developed turntable sounds independently of hip hop djs. although little-known mainstream audiences, marclay has been described influential turntable figure outside hip hop , unwitting inventor of turntablism.

in 1981 grandmaster flash released song adventures of grandmaster flash on wheels of steel notable use of many dj scratching techniques. first commercial recording produced entirely using turntables. in 1982, malcolm mclaren & world s famous supreme team released single buffalo gals , juxtaposing extensive scratching calls square dancing, and, in 1983, ep, d ya scratchin ?, entirely focused on scratching. 1983 release prominently feature scratching herbie hancock s grammy award-winning single rockit . song performed live @ 1984 grammy awards, , in documentary film scratch, performance cited many 1980s-era djs first exposure scratching. street sounds electro compilation series started in 1983 notable examples of scratching. notable piece few dollars more bill laswell-michael beinhorn band material, released on 12 single in japan , containing scratch performed grand mixer dxt, pioneer of scratching.