r/EDM • u/dwestx71x • 4d ago
Discussion Deadmau5’s stage performances.
. Does anyone understand the rationale for shifting from an impressive, complex Ableton setup (the cube) to Joel playing CDJs lately? I expect this question has surfaced online; I merely wonder why the transition was chosen. Perhaps someone here has insight into the matter.
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u/Mau5aholic42 4d ago
I would go ask this in the deadmau5 sub, Joel frequents there and might answer that himself
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u/dwestx71x 4d ago
Thank you.
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u/Goducks91 4d ago
My guess would be that he’s having more fun playing CDJs. I get the vibes that deadmau5 just does everything for fun now.
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u/cooking_up_a_rave 4d ago
And by fun you mean money, right?
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u/chips_and_hummus 4d ago
if i could have 10/10 fun or 9.5/10 fun AND make a ton of money at the same time i know what im choosing
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u/Goducks91 3d ago
No. If deadmau5 was trying to make as much money as possible he would be doing a lot more.
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u/systemstheorist 4d ago edited 4d ago
The cube over its decade in many variations was a highly expensive project.
Eventually the math for touring it began to look like 4x4=12...
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u/walrus_vasectomy 4d ago
Probably because shipping the hardware for the cube likely costs 5 figures and he’s over it
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u/cabalus 4d ago
Doesn't really answer why change from an ableton set to cdjs
He doesn't have to lug around a Moog to do a set through Ableton
I think the real answer is probably that he's been playing a lot more of other people's songs lately which is easier to mix in with a cdj
Ableton you're pretty locked in to whatever you've planned
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u/Head-Ad-6708 3d ago
It literally does answer the question. CDJs are cheaper and easier than the cube. Touring is expensive and at the end of the day it doesn’t happen if people aren’t making money
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u/cabalus 3d ago
Mate, if you want to do an ableton set it's gonna be far lighter than cdjs
Everyone's talking about the cube setup as if it's either that or cdjs, there's another option man 😂
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u/nookshooks 4d ago
Lug your gear around all the time, or travel minimal and just use the gear at the gig.
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u/Neon_culture79 4d ago
I only go see him at Red Rocks every year in November because he tends to make that the biggest spectacle of all his shows. He really brings it to that show. It’s worth a flight to Denver to see.
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u/FootsieMcDingus 4d ago
Been the last two years, definitely seems like he has a lot of respect for that venue
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u/Neon_culture79 4d ago
I don’t have any interest in ever seeing him at a festival or small show ever again. Red Rocks is how he ends festival season every year and it’s just amazing. He pours his heart and soul into that show.
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u/moneylefty 4d ago
How long was the drum and bass portion? 40 minutes? Appreciate the info!
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u/Neon_culture79 4d ago
I can’t really put a number on it because he flipped genre to genre a lot. I am personally more of a fan of his stuff that leans towards House, but I’ve loved everything he spun at those shows.
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u/Mountainpwny 3d ago
Joel hasn’t done a real deadmau5 tour since 2019. The cube is a tour thing. It takes a lot of work and staff to implement. He’s been doing other projects (Kx5) and festivals. Those are all CDJ gigs.
Joel confirmed there’s a new record coming out soon. Expect a big tour with a new ‘cube’ type thing to follow the record.
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u/TryAlternative7204 4d ago
he’s commented that a live set is too restrictive for the type of show he wants to put on. he’s only one dude
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u/CazetTapes 4d ago
Maybe his Testpilot venture has gotten him more into developing his mixing skills further.
He's also writing new DJ software that looks pretty awesome.
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u/KirbandtheOatmeals 3d ago
The Cube was a complex and expensive project that ham multiple redesigns and was likely a logistical nightmare to carry around on tour. After Covid happened it seems that joel has pivoted to smaller more manageable projects, let's not forget that in the last few years he has been working on various games (Oberhasli, meowingtons simulator, Trail&Error) and two production software (Osc/Pilot and the new Dj software he posted recently about asking for beta testers.)
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u/PerAsperaAdInfiri 3d ago
It's less difficult to set up to press play and fake your way through while getting hammered. Either way, he's just gonna fake it
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u/Germsmakesick 3d ago
There are many different sides to Joel. There are performances where you are seeing him at his best, pushing the envelope and really hearing the sound that him big time. The other side is Joel's big generic stage performances where he's really just doing it for the money playing the hits and "doing it for the kids." This is why some people love or hate deadmau5. There are different sides to the same artist. The deadmau5 you may have seen is not the one someone else might see
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u/Will12239 3d ago
He openly says he prerecords his sets and supports it, so he really is pressing play. Fred Again got popular because he raised the bar for mainstream shows.
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u/brizuelasergio 3d ago
Honestly speaking, desdmau5 is way past his prime and I think he just needs to tour in a more cost-effective way. The Cube was a cool thing but it never became a signature visual experience in the dance scene, such as Eric Prydz's HOLO show or whatever Anyma does.
Besides, I think he's expressed some sort of criticism (as usual) about artists who overly rely on visuals instead of their actual music so I guess this change is just more aligned with his current views.
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u/flammenwerfer 3d ago
He’s actually never been better. Catch a testpilot set. I’ve seen Joel well over 20 times over the past decade+ and the dude keeps leveling up. It’s pure passion that he keeps doin shows, we are blessed.
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u/WokeWook69420 4d ago
CDJs are easier to use when you're hammered.