The great debate

[feelthecisuM]

I want to start DJIng. Right now I am using ableton to produce and I comfortable in that. Now I am looking to try new fields.
I've read a lot of DJ interview, and watched. I've read forums, seen comments and heard people talk. Now I am conflicted.

Should I learn to beatmatch before I start using sync?
Do I learn the art of basic 2 deck mixing before I move to 4 deck looping? I already know how to mix tracks, key, timing, etc. But should I master 2 deck beatmatching? Or jump in to 4 deck looping?

Please help :S

-cisuM

[VirtualLogic]

Umm, two deck mixing isnt all that simple, you can make it simple but it can also be complex. I learn how to beatmatch after i had learn how to beat grid and press sync, it all depends on if you like to mix on the fly or prepare you tracks an mixes.

[guiltyblade]

IMO I think learning to beat match etc important when starting. Too many people jump into mixing playing without learning this basic step. It helps with your timing and helps grow your ear. That way effects, cuts, cueing in tracks, and other things are done cleanly.

Also if you run into an instance where you software, laptop, controller isn't working, you don't feel SOL. Beat matching isn't everything, by any means, but it can destroy a set and make you look terrible if you don't know how to well. Where as mixing, effects, looping decks, samples, is more a supplementary to a set to enhance it.

[keeb]

Should I learn to beatmatch before I start using sync?
Do I learn the art of basic 2 deck mixing before I move to 4 deck looping?

-cisuM

Don't learn to beatmatch before you start using sync. And don't sync before you learn how to beatmatch. DO BOTH. Sync is a helpful tool for learning what two songs should sound like while beatmatched, but it _only_works_ if you have proper beatgrids set. Don't pigeonhole yourself into only being able to DJ using sync, because if your beatgrids are off or you're not using Traktor/Ableton/VDJ/whatever, you're screwed. Also, beatmatching can be fun believe it or not.

Absolutely learn 2 deck mixing before 4 deck looping. Focusing on two decks will let you learn what music actually works together instead of just throwing everything in at once. Less is more. Four deck looping (like say Richie Hawtin) is a more production-like style of DJing, and will come to you much better after you get the hang of doing it with two.

[MuzicFreq]

Beatmatching? whuts this? lol
I actually have a good ear on BPMs to where I can guess the bpm of trance and get pretty close. But thats also from several years of listening to it.

[jimbob5000]

First step I took back then was (on turntables) to get the same record twice and try to beatmatch that. First at 0% (which is basically a no-brainer if you're not deaf), then at varying random speeds. You could do the same thing with whatever medium you chooose. Beware though that it is tempting to be able to look at a CDJs BPM display or Traktor's sync thingy.
The sync function might indeed help you by hearing how it should sound, but as keeb said, that only works with proper beatgrids.
I always recommend learning manual beatmatching, even if you never plan to use it later on.

[AdamPollard55]

personally, I wouldn't bother. wouldn't time spent beatmatching be better spent working on more advanced DJ skills? (in my opinion it is)

[jprime]

I'd dive right into Ableton DJing since you already have Abe, and worry about learning to beatmatch when the time comes.

[MrPopinjay]

The best thing about learning to beat match is that is really forces you to focus on the basics and forces you to learn to really listen to your music. It helps you develop an ear for it that I feel a lot of DJs these days don't develop since they are too busy being distracted by effects!

By all means, don't stick with it if you don't want to but it's worth doing, if only to expand your ability as a DJ (and for a bit of fun!)

[lethal_pizzle]

this again. again.