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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

auflegen

English translation:

to deejay / spin and scratch / rock the turntable / lay down tracks

Added to glossary by Barbara L Pavlik
Nov 26, 2014 12:16
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

auflegen

German to English Other Slang Music DJs
"In einer kleinen Disco im Nachbarort lernt er dann nach und nach das auflegen von den anderen DJs."

Does anyone know if "lay it down" is a slang for putting on a song in deejay lingo? I'm finding some indication that it might be, but there are so many song lyrics mixed in with the google hits that it's hard to sort them out. Thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 the deejay business/how to deejay/he picked it up
3 +2 to mix records
3 +2 how to rock the turntable/spin and scratch/turntablism
3 learning the DJ ropes
3 laying down (the tracks)
Change log

Jan 3, 2019 17:17: Steffen Walter changed "Field (write-in)" from "Music DJ\'s" to "Music DJs"

Discussion

Barbara L Pavlik (asker) Dec 2, 2014:
Rrrrg! It's so hard to award points when there are so many good answers. To avoid any controversy, I'll award the points to Ramey for being the first with a good answer, and send thanks and apologies to everyone else who took the time to give their input.
Yorkshireman Nov 29, 2014:
South of the border... ...down Mexico way - the crazy bandit’s motives were loco!
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 29, 2014:
So keep on track!
Yorkshireman Nov 29, 2014:
Ramey :-) If a DJ gets his hands on them illegally (happens often) - and gets caught - definitely more likely to be railroaded :-)
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 29, 2014:
Yorkshireman So once a deejay gets his hands on the tracks, he's already on the train?
(joking)
Yorkshireman Nov 28, 2014:
To lay down... ... a track is to record one of the multiple tracks that is mixed and edited down in a studio to produce the final song.

For instance, a drum track, vocal track, backing vocals, bass line, lead, solo etc.
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 26, 2014:
Yes you're right!
Barbara L Pavlik (asker) Nov 26, 2014:
Hi Ramey... one step ahead of you... I also opted finally for deejaying in the verb form. Also, I think in the original sentence, "picked it up," etc. could work just as well as deejaying. In the second sentence, it's definitely deejaying.
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 26, 2014:
hi Barbara! You can make sure the term comes in the KOG when you award points for the most useful answer. you can add terms as well, when you enter the term in the glossary.
Djing, deejaying, that's up to you. I often distinguish between the title 'DJ' and the verb deejay(ing). Happy translating!
Barbara L Pavlik (asker) Nov 26, 2014:
Aha... apparently, this is often translated just as "DJing." (for the information of anyone who comes across this term in the future)
http://www.linguee.com/english-german/search?source=auto&que...
Barbara L Pavlik (asker) Nov 26, 2014:
I was also considering something along the lines of what Ramey suggested, such as "he learned the lay of the land from other DJs," but one of the next sentences starts with "Mit 23 hört er mit dem auflegen auf und fing an selbst Musik zu produzieren..." which leads me to believe this is a specific DJ term.

Proposed translations

+2
10 mins
Selected

the deejay business/how to deejay/he picked it up

the other deejays showed him how to do it
he gradually learned from the other deejays
he picked it up from other deejays
he learnied by watching the other deejays

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2014-11-26 12:28:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

he eventually got the hang of deejaying by watching others
and so on.....
Peer comment(s):
agree rikka : your added version
40 mins
Yes, I agree with your agree's selection! Thanks Rikka (my favorite character in Stein und Flöte)
agree Lonnie Legg : w. rikka.
8 hrs
Thanks Lonnie, me, too!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Ramey!"
24 mins

learning the DJ ropes

I also like 'turntablism' for its sheer inventiveness and 'spinning' from the source below:

"DJ Scream was born to make the speakers talk and in some cases scream, hence the professional moniker. Growing up on the Eastside of Atlanta where he split his childhood between the suburbs and the hood, the infamous spinner was given the unique advantage to combine the inspiration of both environments and relate to a diverse audience, which has served him well in a career that spans almost two decades. His dedication to being the best was instilled in him as a youngster. Learning the DJ ropes gorilla-style by way of a used pair of Pioneer turntables, a crate, the fundamentals of turntablism and round-the-clock practicing, DJ Scream’s remarkably well-defined sound, as well as passion for his craft, are just a few of the many reasons why he has become one of the most sought after tour/performance DJs for independent and major recording artists in the game."
http://www.djscreamtv.com/site/about/
Something went wrong...
+2
49 mins

to mix records

this is what is meant here, in my opinion. By watching the others the dude learned how to mix records - it is a pretty basic skill you learn if you desire to be a DJ. The next step is communication and the ability to big yourself up :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 56 mins (2014-11-26 13:12:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

in another context it could be just "playing" - ich lege heute auf - i'm playing tonight
Peer comment(s):
agree oa_xxx (X) : This is what it means imo, but I guess we say "djing" too for playing/performing
30 mins
thank you
agree Andrew Bramhall : yes, mixing records;
31 mins
thank you
neutral Yorkshireman : Too easily confused with mixing tracks, as in the recording process (Tonspuren abmischen) - Possible in the sense of sampling and mixing from records
6 hrs
possibly, but I think this fits quite well considering the next sentence (see discussion) so he stopped mixing records (i.e. other people's tunes) and began to make his own music
Something went wrong...
+2
34 mins

how to rock the turntable/spin and scratch/turntablism

If you want to learn how to rock the turntables, spin records and drop on the ones, then read on to find out how you can become a DJ!

Source: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/6017-becoming-a-dj

How to spin and scratch. more for "house", working with extracts, dubs, sequences to make a personal interpretation of a particular track.

Turntablism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turntablism




--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2014-11-26 12:51:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Also: earn your stripes as a DJ

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 36 mins (2014-11-26 12:53:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and earn your stripes as a turntable jockey

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2014-11-26 20:37:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another: gradually grokked how to rock the house (da house)

(A bit of Heinlein/Bowie in there for cognoscenti)
Peer comment(s):
agree SuzukiBandit
2 hrs
Thanks, SB
agree Donald Jacobson
1 day 10 hrs
Thanks, Donald
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

laying down (the tracks)

DJ's were "laying down the tracks" way before hip-hop even started. Not sure how "down" became "auf", but it's an up-side down world in the field of music sometimes.
Reference:

http://tinyurl.com/lduhkzf

Something went wrong...
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