I’m often asked by students: why does Qbert scratch in reverse? What they mean is, why is the crossfader in the reverse setting (aka hamster style). Before I get into that, let me break down a few things. Traditionally, DJs use two turntables with a mixer in the middle. The crossfader on the mixer cuts the sound in and out from the right and left turntable by sliding the fader to the right or left.  Scratching (or ‘skratching’ as we like to say at QSU) is the manipulation of a sound on a turntable, pushing the record back and forth in a percussive way to create a new sound. The crossfader is used to cut the sound in and out while manipulating the record, and there’s a whole vocabulary and language for the different scratches and combos (for those interested in learning to speak the skratch language, join QSU!).  

In the ‘regular’ setting, when the crossfader is on the left you hear what’s playing on the left turntable. When the crossfader’s on the right, you hear the right turntable. When it’s in the middle, you hear both turntables. Simply put, left=left and right=right. On the reverse setting, it’s the exact opposite (left=right and right=left). 

So when you watch Qbert (and many others) scratch, you see them cutting the sound in ‘reverse’ (meaning, if Qbert is scratching with his right hand, the crossfader cuts from right to left). This is the infamous hamster style, pioneered by Bay Area DJs such as DJ Quest (not to be confused with THIS hamster style).