had my first go on

[aiden]

It's the bomb. I still think, if budget allows, every starting DJ should at least have a 1 or 2 month period learning to beatmatch on Turntables.

It's also one of the reasons why I want to keep beatmatching on my controllers.

I completely agree. there are too many instances where hitting the sync button isnt an option, to not have a pitch fader (and, be able to use it). example: Coming on after a traditional dj, or fine tuning a track that isnt gridding perfectly, or dropping a track that u havent gridded at all, or having to go to your back-up CDs, etc, etc..

Another reason why i havent put my 12s on craigslist.

anyway, its all been said b4

[BentoSan]

Tap tempo + tempo bending also does the job - its a bit easier than pitchfading too

[B33SON]

It's not hard just practice.

[Yeti]

It can be a pain at times. I started with TTX' and a PCV. Learned on those. Then learned on CDJ 1000s. Now Im getting into the digital world. Still need to decide on a controller. It feels odd still using sync. Im not sure I can give up having a pitch bend nob or jog wheel just yet. I can see the merit and limits of both camps. Only time and preference will tell. Best of luck with the needles!

[djalexlaine]

if ive said it once, ive said it 1000 times.
everyone who considers themselves a DJ needs to learn to beatmatch. it is a foundational skill that every DJ should be able to do.
some people let software to the hard work, i am perfectly ok with that. i used sync all the time. but i also know how to beatmatch.
some people see people like richie hawtin say that he doesnt feel the need to beatmatch anymore and say, well i dont need to know how to do it. but remember, richie hawtin can do that because he is simply moving passed that as the end all and be all of djing into something new.

dont skip foundational skills. they are foundational for a reason. you will be hard pressed to find a successful DJ that doesnt know how to beatmatch.

you can learn with traktor. assign pitch faders and pitch bend buttons and take off the BPM and phase displays and use your ears, not your eyes, to match them.
check this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlB_O...eature=related

[midian]

No, it's not. Really.

You just need to practise.

Ok let me rephrase that. Beat matching FAST and accurately is hard imo.

The concept itself is simple and can be picked up quickly without to much effort.

Same as with guitar you can be taught to bust out a few chords within hours/minutes, being able to play well/fast is a whole new thing... tho guitar is a whole lot more complex,

And yes I do need way more practice.

[R2D2]

if ive said it once, ive said it 1000 times.
everyone who considers themselves a DJ needs to learn to beatmatch. it is a foundational skill that every DJ should be able to do.
some people let software to the hard work, i am perfectly ok with that. i used sync all the time. but i also know how to beatmatch.
some people see people like richie hawtin say that he doesnt feel the need to beatmatch anymore and say, well i dont need to know how to do it. but remember, richie hawtin can do that because he is simply moving passed that as the end all and be all of djing into something new.

dont skip foundational skills. they are foundational for a reason. you will be hard pressed to find a successful DJ that doesnt know how to beatmatch.

you can learn with traktor. assign pitch faders and pitch bend buttons and take off the BPM and phase displays and use your ears, not your eyes, to match them.
check this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlB_O...eature=related

Could not have put it better its a FUNDAMENTAL skill every one starting out should learn even with Traktor !

And the argument of oh I would not have time to apply effects is crap because people like James Zabiela has been messing with effects in the mix while still beatmatching on cdjs for years

Sync is a wonderful thing but you gota learn the basics it will make you a better dj in the long run and its more of a good feeling knowing you just cracked that great mix on your skills alone



Peace

[steveboyett]

beat matching is fk'n hard. [

This must explain why there are so few DJs.

Anyone who can adjust a treadmill to the music he's listening to while he runs can beatmatch. In fact, anyone who does this, already is.

[djalexlaine]

beatmatching is not difficult. its either an art, or a science. if you are any good with math you will get this...
DJing has always been 90% preparation and 10% performance. when you prepare you music, you need to find the BPM. at that point its all about working percentages to determine things. if you have a 127 track and it is at +1% it is running at 128.27. now, say you need to mix in a track that is at 130 BPM. find the percentage difference, 1.3%. bring the 130BPM track down 1.3% and you should be real close to perfectly matched. (I ran the exact numbers, there a variance of .04BPM because of the i was rounding decimal places. that is where the fine turning comes in)

it would be wise to memorize a few of those numbers. what is the percentage difference per BPM?
its not hard, just takes some time.

[DvlsAdvct]

It also doesn't hurt to have a graph key or something.

Top row would be the original BPM. Pick common ones for your sets. Mine would be 110, 115, 120, 124, 125, 128, 130, 134, 145, 138, 140, 145, 148, 150, 152, 155, 160
then your left column will be a pitch change, -8% through 8%, etc. etc., and then the middle shows the amounts. It's a quick and easy way to practice and learn it amounts and stuff.

I think this might hinder improvisational mixing, but if that's not what you're going for than who cares. And it's easy to do that in Excel with formulas.