DJ Quest
DJ Quest, known to many as "Big Haiti" or "The Haitian Sensation," has built a reputation in the music industry, as one of the most energetic and diverse DJ's to ever touch a set of turntables. Originally, from Brooklyn, New York, many of the Hip-Hop greats who have also originated there have influenced Quest. The NYC flava is reflected in the music that he plays today. As a Florida resident, Quest's repertoire has grown to include southern stylistic influences of the "Dirty South" to create a turntable mixing that stands on its own.
Quest's radio career took off in the mid 90's when he joined WDME 91.7 (Orlando) along with DJ 007 and"G" of the Street Dwellers. Quest later went on to hosting his own show on WPRK 91.5 (Orlando) called "THE HIP-HOP LOCK DOWN featuring local DJ's and new music not heard on commercial stations.
In 2001, Quest made a bold career move by relocating to SW Florida from Central Florida where he became the newest member of the 105.5 The Beat WBTT family. Since 2001, Quest's turntable takeover has garnered him media exposures and features such as: Three live appearances on B.E.T Rap city with Paul Wall, Jadakiss, and David Banner and appearing on Lee Pitts Live TV show. He was noted as a Florida Power in Ozone magazine, with features in Network 40 magazine, R&R magazine, Gazette Haitian feature, noted as one of Central Florida's hottest DJ's by the Orlando Source in 2003 "DIRTY SOUTH DJ OF THE YEAR" nominee and, winning Florida's #1 MIXSHOW DJ honors. Quest has also been featured in XXL, Fort Myers News Press, Tech.Nitions, and Source Magazine. In 2007 he was named 105.5 The Beat #1 host and mixer.
In addition to being one of the hottest mixers/ radio personalities in the Nation Quest is a Co-chair for the Core DJs; the world's largest DJ organization, which includes 280 of the top DJ's worldwide. When Quest is not holding it down on the air or turntables he is in studio. His music production credits are endless including the following radio singles:
Riskay - Who U Creeping With
Sho-Zoe - She Get It
Vonzel Solomon (American Idol) - Can't Move On
Acafool - She's Ready
Smitty - Higher
Dirty Boss - Loose Control
Artist Q&A:
1.) How did you first hear about Open Labs?
I actually ran across a video of Teddy Riley using his Timbo edition If I'm correct and was floored by how he used his so I decided to do some more research on these production stations.
2.) What Production Station do you have?
I have the Neko LX5 "DJ QUEST EDITION" LOL
3.) How has the gear changed your method of work?
I used to be a motif man! I used to lay all my patterns in that machine then dump all the audio into Nuendo. My Neko has opened me up to a whole new world with vst's. I never used to like using them because I always felt that there was always a slight bit of latency with vst's, but this machine is so powerful that its response time is right on point! My motif is sitting in the corner waiting to get mimicked!
4.) What is your production station's primary function, live or studio?
All studio. I might take it out and play it at church or something one day but right now studio work is the main function.
5.) What is your favorite software on the board?
Reaper and Guru with the bump mp are crazy! I always looked at reaper as a cheap generic low cost program but they have really come thru with the latest versions, and Guru with the bump mp is like having and mpc sitting right there on your keyboard!!
6.) How do you use it?
I've used my Neko to produced beats using reaper, I also have protools, Nuendo, and Cubase loaded on it. I also use it to record vocals other then music. I use it to produce a lot of my voice over work for commercials or just drops.
7.) Which kind of equipment have you owned in the past and how do they compare to your Open Labs equipment?
I've gone thru the ASR-10, the Motif, and an mpc and still feel like they don't compare to the freedom my Neko gives me, the possibilities are endless
8.) Has the gear changed the way you write songs?
It hasn't changed the way I write, it just changed and speed up my work flow.
9.) How different is the composition process compared to the standard computer or laptop system?
The speed is incredible on this machine!
10.) Do you think the quality of your production now would be possible with another keyboard?
No! Not at all. I used to crank out great beats on my motif and nuendo but after getting on to this keyboard the other keyboards are sitting against the wall!
11.) Have you had any experience with our Tech Support and how does it rate with you?
Not yet so far I've found all the info I need right on the open labs forum.
12.) What is next for you and your Production Station?
Mo money, Mo money, Mo money!!! Hahaha
Equipment Used:
Purchased NeKo LX5
Artist Links: