Eva Irwin, AKA Moody Eva, has been spinning since she was 16 in 1993, when a DJ friend showed her how to use turntables. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she raved full time from 1994-1996, enjoying what she says is the "golden age" of music in SF. When she lived in Hawaii, she was the only female DJ playing out there. Upon moving back to California she was made General Manager of LiveDJs.com, a 24-hour live online DJ streaming website. Alongside Cameron (aka: Shortbus), she co-started the record label Big Popsicle.

She soon learned how to make music by paying for private lessons and pressed her first song to vinyl 5 months later. She has released a total of 7 songs and licensed 4 of them.

Now based in San Diego, Irwin also is actively podcasting and her podcast is downloaded over 30 times a day. After the podcast took off she started throwing her own parties. Her desire to involve as many people as possible created a family called "SD Voltron" that is still growing.

Since 1993, Moody Eva has released 56 different mix CD's using analog (handing them out) and digital (podcast) methods.

Irwin took some time to chat with Gearwire about vinyl, digital and her choices for live mixing software—among other things. First on the agenda was vinyl.

“I am a vinyl DJ. Although I can't wait to be able to afford a CDJ so I can play my original tunes,” says Irwin “Technics all the way. Numarks and Gemini's are just not as accurate. Yes you can play records on all of them but Technics are hands down the most accurate record mixing instruments available.”

And unlike other who espouse some vague nostalgia as the reason for preferring vinyl (a sort of “it is cooler dude” attitude) Irwin has a very specific reason.

“The thing about laptop DJs is this-- once they convert all their vinyl to MP3, then they actually stop practicing their mixing. It's like they no longer practice their own craft and they usually lose that little spark that makes you want to go mix in front of people,” says Irwin. “The worst is when a laptop DJ who used to be phenomenal at mixing gets back on the turntables and train wrecks the whole time. It's super sad to watch. Also, no one wants to go to a party and watch someone checking their email on stage. That's what it looks like. Until you can play a computer blindfolded, I don't want to mix on one. I ABSOLUTELY CAN mix on a Technics turntable blindfolded and that is because it's a real live musical instrument, not a software program.”

Irwin says that if they ever stop making vinyl she will use CDs but that MP3s do not thrill her due to their, generally, poor audio quality.

“ I can literally hear it when I'm on the dance floor, so I'll mix CD audio, not MP3's.” says Irwin. Irwin cannot say enough about Technics turntables.

“Still the best piece of gear I have. SERIOUSLY. I use Reason, Live and ProTools to produce music. I want to switch completely to Live, but I'm not a ninja yet.” Says Irwin.

When asked if there is any particular piece of gear she wants but doesn’t yet have she explodes.

“I am a DJ, which in other languages means ‘one who drools over pro audio gear’. I want a Pioneer CDJ, I'll take the 800 or the 1000. Both are tried and tested among DJs that you can hammer on them and they just keep on trucking. Also, the "grabbing" sensation is very true to life on them,” she says. “I really, really want a Rane Rotary Empath mixer, because I am a sucker for the rotary knobs and the Rane sound. If money was no object I would get the top of the line Urei mixer. Of course I eventually want Serato, but it's not at the top of my list. It's not even really on the list-- it's a maybe. I am waiting on that. I am currently saving up for a Neumann microphone, but I might get a Blue instead.”