Itchy... crabs?

[X-Gote]

Anyone else into scratching? I am trying to perfect my crab scratch. Ive found I get the best result on most mixers when I point my wrist out, elbow up and focus my tension on oposite corners of the crossfader knob ( I guess its a nob huh?). I can get some really good clicks, but my biggest problem is cutting on to a volume that makes my sound defined (if that makes sense?). Anyone else tell me what the secrect is? Mixer with a rounded crossfader knob and shorter yield better results? Ive been at it for quite a while. The mixer I use for killing records is a pcv-003

[X-Gote]

Well I did a little investigative work and I asked Ariel what the big deal was, definately my shitty pcv-003 mixer. I was going to install a hampster switch on it but instead I found myself sitting on some extra cash from a contract job this month and I went and got me one of these:

sk-6f /w focus fader (http://www.stantonmagnetics.com/stingray/mixers_sk6f.asp)

Their is no resistance at all and its got a crossfader curve adjustment knob that lets you change the cut point.. only works if you have a standard fader though. The focus fader that is installed by default is very sharp. They claim that its the latest evolution in technology but I pulled it out and looked at it a bit and its no more advanced then your typical mouse.. still cool though. For the money it feels better then any vestax mixer I ever touched. Im not a serious scratch or hip hop dj but like anything, I agree that scratching is only like frosting on the cake and you will get sick if you try to eat too much frosting :monkey

never put salt in your eyes.

[Preecha]

That mixer doesnt look too bad. I dunno how much I like Stantons. I love Vestax for real...

[Pureform]

check this site out. very informative with links to tons of other scratch sites. have fun!:up
www.scratchdj.com

[Pureform]

This should help too.

The crab scratch was invented by DJ Qbert as a variation on DJ Excel's "twiddle." It seems that the two met up in Japan for the Vestax DJ competition in 1995 and Excel was asking Qbert how to flare. When he showed Qbert how he thought the flare was done he was actually doing the twiddle instead by using his thumb as a spring and "twiddling" the fader with 2 fingers. After this meeting, Qbert took the idea back to San Francisco with him and after showing the scratch to DJ Disk, he ended up creating a move that utilized all 3 to 4 fingers and thus the crab was born. Later in 1995, while the DMC USA finals were being held in San Francisco, a group of djs and judges which included The Beat Junkies, The X-Men (now called the X-ecutioners), and the rest of ISP among others got together for what would later be know as the "Famous Warehouse Session" at Yoga Frogs old mobile DJ warehouse. It was at this session that Qbert shared the new scratch.

While the name "crab" seems self explanatory since it makes your hand look like a crab when you curl all of your fingers to perform it, according to Qbert the name originated elswhere. Apparently, he and Mixmaster Mike had just returned from Beirut, Lebanon around the same time that he invented it where they were served crepes one night after a show. He said that when the people over their pronounced crepes, it sounded more like "cccccreb" and since he thought it was funny, he used it to name the "cccccreb" scratch which everyone now pronounces as the crab.

To do a crab scratch you quickly rub/tap the fader knob with 3 or 4 different fingers in sequence starting with the pinkie or ring finger while using the thumb as a spring to cut the fader back out after each tap (or in if you scratch hamster style). The result is much like a 3 or 4 tap transform (or a 3 or 4 click flare if you scratch hamster style) only much quicker than you could probably do with one finger. Many DJs find this move easier or more comfortable to perform hamster style by bouncing the fader off of the side of the fader slot, but the move can be performed both normal and hamster. As with orbits, crabs can be performed once as a single distinct move, or sequenced to produce a cyclical neverending type of crab sound.

[The Ariel]

yep...get to the sklatchin guys. I wish Jimmi was on the forum. That guy has
tons of skratch knowledge that would be an awesome thing to share with the rest of us on the forum. One thing that I know you should learn are flares. Those are tricky to learn, but sound well, when applied properly. Ok, time go meet vase

-Ariel:king

[X-Gote]

That one saturday at Jason's, I asked Jimi what the big deal was. At first I thought the fader bounced from your thumb, but he explained that it stays on at all times with just the right tension. I gots no problem doing them crabbies but now I really want to get better about doing them continously. More time indoors will help! I know I would fuck it up if I had to do it front of a crowd though hehe. Much thanks to Jimi for the advice!

My mixer! I ended playing with a vestax (despite jimi's advice), after my stanton started freaking out for some unknown reason, I took it back and decided to go with the Vestax pmc-05 pro ][ since it felt a little better for the mixing end of things and had more eq options. I definately want to get a stanton with a v2 Focus fader once they are more available (if they ever are). Right now Stanton only puts them with the sk-2f Limited Edition which costs an insane ammount that I don't need to spend for having a mixer at home.

[X-Gote]

I can usualy chain 2-3 crabs one direction then fake it with regular twiching, then my arm falls off hehe. What is the secrect to going the other way? Here is how to suck (see attachment).

[The Ariel]

hehehe....ya...practice them klabbies!!!:D

[Mantis Claw]

Hey guys, I have found that the key to being consistant with crabbing is to practice very slow, as is for doing anything well.
It's not just a matter of thumb tension but actually thumb responciveness. By going slow, you can build this responciveness (I know I am murdering the spelling). But don't get too caught up on the crab. I would suggest working on your record hand coordination. Start from there and you will be building a solid foundation.:slayer

[Pook]

For those into scratchin', check out "Scratch" (http://www.scratchmovie.com). It's a film released this last WMC all about, you guessed it, scratch DJs (aka turntablists).

[X-Gote]

It was an excellent documentary! I saw it at the arts theatre on mill. That last scene in it was crazy! You couldn't even see q-berts hands! I think its a must see even if you are not into scratching.

[X-Gote]

The 2nd installment, much anticipated release, subconscious promo. :rotfl

crabs for sale (http://www.chromatics.net/X-Suck 2 (crabs for sale).mp3)