TSP2 Relative Vs Absolute

I just got myself a pair of second hand mk3 1210s this week and my Traktor Scratch Pro 2 Upgrade kit arrives on monday so I have been trying to find out how using traktor is going to be different using timecode as opposed to 2 X1s.

I read up about the 2 timecode modes Absolute and Relative and wanted to find out about which mode people use and why. Here are the pros and cons of each mode as I see them.

Absolute
+ This is just like using real vinyl in the oldschool way (half the reason i got the timecode setup in the first place) you would not have to look at the screen while mixing just when selecting new tracks
+ No need to beatgrid tracks means no prep time
- No loops or Cuepoints
- FX are not synced

Relative
+ Use Loops and Cuepoints
+ FX are synced
- Need to beatgrid tracks
- Need to keep looking at the screen to find out position in track

I think my plan is to use Absolute mode till I am i have improved my rusty vinyl beat matching skills (I learned on vinyl using my mates decks then bought some numark cdjs). When/If I find that i need the cuepoints and loops then i may switch to relative mode.

The main attraction of the absolute mode is to not look at a screen or bpm counter so that i can mix again with my ears. I recently upgraded my cdjs to ndx800s and got traktor with some x1s and all my mixing these days i am looking at accurate bpm counts and being lazy in my beat matching. I have to do it sometimes with my eyes closed just to stop myself looking at the counters.

- FX are always synced to the master tempo
- sample decks are synced to the master tempo
- you'll need to beatgrid tracks if you use fx, auto loops, sample decks or tempo-synced jumps
- you're overthinking things. Set 'absolute mode on lead-in' and all your tracks will start in absolute mode. Traktor will automatically switch to relative mode whenever you loop a track or jump to a cuepoint, because the position of the needle on the record is offset from the position of the mp3.. This is all 'relative mode' means.

Thanks For the clarification.

Would it be possible to not beatgrid tracks and just use manual FX like a filter just for a really simple setup and always stay in absolute mode? This would mean that all traktor was doing was acting as a way to use mp3s as vinyl and do simple filter fx.

Yes. If you don't use beatgrids then you'll be fine doing that.