Highly successful DJ and producer Dennis Ferrer posted this rant to his Facebook page a short while ago, condemning “push-button dj’ing” and auto-beatmatchers:

“Push-button dj’ing or “Controller-ism” I suppose is the term for it now. Every time I see this happen when I arrive at an establishment I cringe. Why? Well here it goes….”

“When I see someone up on stage with just a pad controller and a laptop I sorta see this as taking the piss on every aspiring dj out there. Look. We get paid to play records…this is true…it’s just not that serious..BUT to those who put in hard work..who take pride in their craft..this is just BULLSHIT. You’re being lazy and you’re crapping on everything that legitimizes our business. This reeks of being afraid of risks….such as train-wrecking because it just might wind up on youtube etc. AND this is coming from someone who came up as a producer and HAD to learn how to dj so I’ve really got no business saying this. LMAO!

Technology nowadays is mind-blowing…but so is 5 grams of blow…..It doesn’t mean you should do it..right?!”

He took the time to read through and answer the huge backlash of comments and tweets defending controllerism that followed his post, and decided to post a clarification, after a series of conversations via social media channels with a number of people, including myself.

“IF you have 120 loops half of them your own records and the other half of them totally unrecognizable. Manipulate them live..add fx..play some synths via triggering the pads THEN that is called a LIVE show….Props to you!”