{"id":6541,"date":"2014-01-19T18:23:20","date_gmt":"2014-01-19T23:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.videogamedj.com\/?p=6541"},"modified":"2015-08-07T19:08:30","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T23:08:30","slug":"dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Dj CUTMAN&#8217;s MAGFest 2014 Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.magfest.org\" target=\"_blank\">MAGFest<\/a>, for the uninitiated, is the best place on the planet. It\u2019s an acronym for Music and Gaming Festival, held just outside of Washington, DC in Maryland. It\u2019s the largest festival in the world that focuses on video game inspired bands and musicians.<\/p>\n<p>This year was my fifth consecutive year attending <a href=\"http:\/\/www.magfest.org\" target=\"_blank\">MAGFest<\/a>. The music directors offered me an incredible opportunity; to forego my usual hour-long DJ set to program up my own three hour electronic music event on the main stage. For months we bounced ideas back and forth, ultimately landing on a modern spin on a classic format, the DJ Battle.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xF0I9gMXLOw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The battle format is simple enough, each DJ sets up their \u00a0equipment beforehand and creates a short set that exemplifies their style. While this format has existed in hiphop for decades, it&#8217;s rarely seen in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and had never been attempted in the video game music community. With the help of my record label, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gamechops.com\" target=\"_blank\">GameChops<\/a>, I combed through the MAGFest DJ applicants to create an ensemble lineup that would best represent the diversity of EDM \/ VGM performers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.benbriggs.net\" target=\"_blank\">Benjamin Briggs<\/a> &#8211; Electro house producer with a tendency towards chiptunes. Streams video games on Twitch.tv and takes fan-requests for remixes.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.blindhandicap.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">bLiNd<\/a> &#8211; Video game trance remixer with pumping beats and exceptional mixes, bLiNd has been producing for sixteen years.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.grimecraft.com\" target=\"_blank\">Grimecraft<\/a> &#8211; Futuristic trap and bass music producer and a video game developer for Square Enix<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/flexstylemusic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Flexstyle<\/a> &#8211; Overclocked Remixer who\u2019s contributed to countless projects on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ocremix.org\" target=\"_blank\">OCRemix<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.djtotentanz.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Totentanz<\/a> &#8211; World-touring DJ of hardstyle with a classical video game influence.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.djcutman.com\" target=\"_blank\">Dj CUTMAN<\/a> &#8211; That\u2019s me.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6493\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6493\" style=\"width: 194px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.videogamedj.com\/magfests-video-game-dj-battle-goes-down-on-friday-night\/poster-magfest-dj-battle-poster2-small\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-6493\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6493\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/magfests-video-game-dj-battle-goes-down-on-friday-night\/poster-magfest-dj-battle-poster2-small\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small.jpg?fit=825%2C1275&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"825,1275\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1386861989&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MAGFest DJ Battle Poster\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Video Game DJ Battle at MAGfest&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small.jpg?fit=194%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small.jpg?fit=474%2C733&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6493\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videogamedj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small-194x300.jpg?resize=194%2C300\" alt=\"Video Game DJ Battle at MAGfest\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small.jpg?resize=194%2C300&amp;ssl=1 194w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small.jpg?resize=662%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 662w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Poster-MAGFest-DJ-Battle-Poster2-small.jpg?w=825&amp;ssl=1 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6493\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Video Game DJ Battle at MAGfest final poster design<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So I had found the DJs, but preparation didn\u2019t end there. I reached out to renown comic artist <a href=\"http:\/\/thormeister.deviantart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Thor Thorvaldson<\/a> to create illustrated versions of each DJ in the style of a Mega Man character. I used Thor\u2019s artwork to create a quick design like a fighting game\u2019s Character Select screen. There was an incredible response to our artwork, so I adapted it into the poster design you see here. We printed a limited run and hung them up around MAGFest the day of the show.<\/p>\n<p>Taking inspiration from the Chiptune community, which features live circuit-bent visuals, I reached out to Baltimore-based <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pixelseed.com\" target=\"_blank\">Pixel Seed<\/a> to create live visuals for each DJ.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6553\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6553\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.videogamedj.com\/dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap\/img_1271\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-6553\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6553\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap\/img_1271\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?fit=2448%2C3264&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2448,3264\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 5&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1351467346&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.13&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.05&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Pixel Seed&#8217;s live visual rig\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Pixel Seed&#8217;s live visual rig&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?fit=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?fit=474%2C632&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6553\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videogamedj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979-225x300.jpg?resize=225%2C300\" alt=\"Pixel Seed's live visual rig\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?w=948 948w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_1271-e1390167701979.jpg?w=1422 1422w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6553\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pixel Seed&#8217;s live visual rig<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I sent him Thor\u2019s artwork, along with Soundcloud links for each performer. The day of the show, he came backstage with a suitcase. When he opened it up, I was in awe. Video mixers, a hacked nintendo, custom controllers and feedback monitors \u00a0were meticulously arranged in this unsuspecting container. He threw up up on a table, plugged in his powercord and the entire rig illuminated.<\/p>\n<p>As the DJ battle approached, my heart pounded through my chest. Thankfully, \u00a0MAGFest has a brilliant stage-manager affectionally referred to as \u201cAngel\u201d and an on-point security team who kept everything running smoothly. With low-light and a restless crowd, we hooked up all six DJs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6567\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6567\" style=\"width: 474px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.videogamedj.com\/dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap\/img_4887edit\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-6567\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6567\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap\/img_4887edit\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?fit=4272%2C2190&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4272,2190\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS REBEL T3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1388800427&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Setting up\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;DJs set up for the Video Game DJ Battle&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Dj CUTMAN, bLiNd, Ben Briggs, Grimecraft, Totentanz and Flexstyle set up their rigs with help from the stage-hands.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?fit=300%2C153&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?fit=474%2C243&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-6567\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videogamedj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit-1024x524.jpg?resize=474%2C242\" alt=\"DJs set up for the Video Game DJ Battle\" width=\"474\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?resize=1024%2C524&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?resize=300%2C153&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?w=948 948w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/IMG_4887edit.jpg?w=1422 1422w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dj CUTMAN, bLiNd, Ben Briggs, Grimecraft, Totentanz and Flexstyle set up their rigs with help from the stage-hands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pixel Seed was hooked into the massive 31ft projector screen, testing his glittering visuals and super-imposing Thor\u2019s artwork. We had only a few minutes to perform what I call the \u201cDJ Soundcheck\u201d, where everyone gets about ten seconds of sound while the crowd cheered and egged us on to begin. Once we were all sound-checked, Pixel Seed was in position, we all went back stage to get ready to roll.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/f5Wov1ieI0w\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Once the Video Game DJ Battle began, it was a flash. bLiNd performed with guest MC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rivalrivalrival\" target=\"_blank\">A_Rival<\/a>, a talented rapper and veteran remixer from San Francisco. Grimecraft also brought some surprises, a character MC known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/djdrwily\" target=\"_blank\">DJ Dr Wily<\/a>, 50 inflatable dolphins, and an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iM0dbwLgV48\" target=\"_blank\">eight foot long Orca whale<\/a> were unleashed on the crowd. The DJ battle was streamed live on Twitch.tv, but during the night the convention center&#8217;s network crashed and the stream was cut off. Thanks to Will Strouse and Robert Swackhamer of 8BitX Radio Network, we were able to recover nearly all the footage and upload it to YouTube.<\/p>\n<p>The Video Game DJ Battle ended up being the highest attended event of MAGFest 2014, with 2,200 attendees at the concert and over 1,500 people streaming on Twitch.<\/p>\n<p>Watch the entire Video Game DJ Battle from MAGFest 2014<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IJKDceoVB6E?list=PLBsm_SagFMmf52ZdazNZ05Be07EerTjtN\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Each DJ uploaded a clean \u201cstudio\u201d version of their set onto Soundcloud for posterity.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/playlists\/20612540&amp;color=e6000e&amp;auto_play=false&amp;show_artwork=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>MAGFest is a hive of positive energy, from their 24-hour a day free-play arcade, to the multitude of blogs and game studios covering the event, doing interviews, and producing content in and around MAGFest. I was happy to see my Philly friends from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.j1studios.com\" target=\"_blank\">J1 Studios<\/a> conducting interviews of some of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gamechops.com\/artists\/\" target=\"_blank\">GameChops<\/a> members and other radical personalities attending MAGFest.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nGjqfLM6xKk?list=PLBsm_SagFMmdT8YFesKXLtsrKppxVJT-e\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>One of the beautiful things about MAGFest is it straddles the line between all-out 4-day long party, and a serious reflective space for those who choose to dedicate their life to the things that they love. I had an opportunity to talk candidly with a young radio DJ by the name of Game Boy about my experiences running a label and putting together the DJ battle.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/127791129&amp;color=e6000e&amp;auto_play=false&amp;show_artwork=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Lastly, I have an archived version of the four GameChops&#8217; DJs battle sets recorded live, complete with the tremendous energy of the room.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/129338495&amp;color=e6000e&amp;auto_play=false&amp;show_artwork=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Thanks for reading my recap, Let me know what you think in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MAGFest, for the uninitiated, is the best place on the planet. It\u2019s an acronym for Music and Gaming Festival, held just outside of Washington, DC in Maryland. It\u2019s the largest festival in the world that focuses on video game inspired bands and musicians. This year was my fifth consecutive year attending MAGFest. The music directors &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/dj-cutman-magfest-2014-recap\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Dj CUTMAN&#8217;s MAGFest 2014 Recap<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10,4227,3177,1506,1758,4229,33,77,2611,55,327],"tags":[57,1834,1819,199,4291,588,3537,16,3539,3538,2604,1056,3541,3540,3583,3585,3130,244,281,3584,468],"class_list":["post-6541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chiptune-music","category-conventions","category-dance-music","category-events","category-features","category-festivals","category-game-music-vgm","category-gaming","category-mixes-music","category-music","category-videos","tag-8bit","tag-ben-briggs","tag-benjamin-briggs","tag-blind","tag-chiptune-music","tag-chiptunes","tag-dj-battle","tag-dj-cutman","tag-dj-totentanz","tag-flexstyle","tag-grimecraft","tag-magfest","tag-magfest-12","tag-magfest-2014","tag-retrogaming","tag-totentanz","tag-twitch","tag-video","tag-video-game-dj","tag-video-game-dj-battle","tag-youtube"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Dj-CUTMAN-Post-MAG-Recap1.jpg?fit=1260%2C840&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6541"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7297,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6541\/revisions\/7297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamechops.com\/vgdj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}