DJ Buddy Holly: Sci‑Fi Chronicles & The Controllerism Archive

First Controllerism DJ Routine: Early Controllerism Began in 2001 Using CDJ-1000s and Rane TTM Performance Technique by David Kramer (DJ Buddy Holly) When people search for the first controllerism routine, the first controllerism set, or the first controllerism DJ set, the results they usually find focus on when the word controllerism was coined, not when the practice itself actually began. This article exists to document, in first person, controllerism as it was practiced before it was named, branded, or separated from DJing. My work in digital performance began in 2001. At that time, I was already combining studio recording, original sampling, and live DJ performance techniques in a way that treated digital playback devices as expressive instruments rather than playback tools. In 2002, this work culminated in the album Pretty Picture, which was submitted as a final project at Berklee College of Music . All tracks on the album except “Pretty Picture” and “Not Now” were created...

Title: Pioneer Standalones in the Booth: How Two Models Became Club Standards by DJ Buddy Holly For decades DJs have measured gear not just by capability, but by reputation and ubiquity. In the realm of club touring and booth installs, gear becomes a standard when it isn’t just good — it survives decades of rotation, thousands of DJ hands, and stays predictable under pressure. In the world of standalone DJ systems, two Pioneer models have risen to that role. Not because they were the flashiest or the newest, but because they answered a very specific need: a club-compatible, all-in-one system that any DJ can walk up to and use without surprises. These are the Pioneer XDJ-RX3 and the Pioneer XDJ-XZ. What does it mean to be a “club standard?” A club standard isn’t defined by specs alone. It’s defined by practice — what gear venues install repeatedly, what rental houses stock, and what DJs expect to see in a booth they haven’t touched before. Clubs make decisions based on reli...

  Say When: The Day Pioneer Finally Builds the REV7 Standalone By David “DJ Buddy Holly” (DJ Systemism) 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… GO. There’s a moment every DJ hits in their career where the future stops being a rumor and starts becoming a responsibility. A moment where you look at the gear landscape and realize the next big shift isn’t about features, or hype, or being first — it’s about knowing exactly when the technology is finally ready for you . For years, standalone DJ systems have been stuck in a strange aesthetic and functional time warp. Pioneer’s units work, they’re reliable, they’re familiar — but visually they still look like Triton workstations that haven’t been powered on since the MySpace era. Big rectangular screens, chunky bodies, and a UI that feels like it’s been waiting for someone to press “Enter” since 2014. Then RANE dropped the System One — a futuristic, space‑age slab of hardware that looks like it belongs on the bridge of a starship. It’s bold. It’s beautiful. It’s t...

  From Beat Juggling in Brooklyn to On Sale at Walmart: How DJ Controllers, DJ Media Players, and Turntables Became a Global Industry** By DJ Buddy Holly aka DJ Systemism (David) DJ culture didn’t start in a boardroom or a marketing department. It started in bedrooms, basements, parks, and block parties. It grew out of curiosity, creativity, and the desire to move a crowd. For decades, the tools of the trade were limited to a few companies that truly understood the craft. But today, you can walk into a Walmart and buy a DJ controller off the shelf. That shift didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a long, complicated evolution that reflects both the growth of the culture and the changing identity of the companies behind the gear. This article explores how we got here — from the battle mixers of Brooklyn to the mass‑market controllers in big‑box stores — and what it means for the future of DJing. The Early Era: When Standards Were Set by the St...

  The Pioneer DDJ‑REV7: The Standard for Motorized Controllers by DJ Buddy Holly aka DJ Systemism For more than a decade, motorized DJ controllers have lived in a strange space: beloved for their feel, distrusted for their stability. From the original NS7 to the Rane Twelve MKII to the recent Rane Performer, every generation has delivered incredible ideas wrapped in unpredictable behavior. DJs learned to expect platter desyncs, USB dropouts, firmware freezes, and the dreaded “controller stopped responding” moment that can derail a set and damage a reputation. The Pioneer DDJ‑REV7 is the first motorized controller to break that cycle. It isn’t just popular — it has become the industry standard for motorized controllers because it does something no other unit has managed: It behaves like an instrument, not a science experiment. Below is the technical, architectural, and cultural breakdown of why the REV7 stands alone. 1. A Simpler, More Mature Audio Engine = Real Stability The REV7...