Props to vinyl beatmatchers...

[LoopCat]

Not to de-rail the thread too much but I think syncing certain styles like house and deep house makes a mix sound a bit sterile compared to mixing by hand especially when listening to a live set. One set that sticks out to last summer was listening to Seth Troxler mixing in Sydney. While he wasn't perfect I really enjoyed the looseness to it, the slight off moments give it a bit of character.

[Toastmaster]

Not to de-rail the thread too much but I think syncing certain styles like house and deep house makes a mix sound a bit sterile compared to mixing by hand especially when listening to a live set. One set that sticks out to last summer was listening to Seth Troxler mixing in Sydney. While he wasn't perfect I really enjoyed the looseness to it, the slight off moments give it a bit of character.

Not a derail at all; this definitely shows how manual beatmatching on vinyl is very important and skilled based. It definitely gives you the feel of a "more human DJ" than just using record Traktor BPMs and phase meters to DJ.

[JesC]

even beatmatching on vinyl vs vinyl DVS is different, ive seen DVS is more forgiving when you nudge the platter. if you do that to vinyl it sounds awful. I still mix on vinyl, but prefer DVS as much of my vinyl its for home use only. damn bloody kids like jacking vinyl at clubs.

[DJ Millenium Falcon]

Listen - beat matching by ear is easy. But you CAN'T learn it quickly. You just have to put in the hours. Your brain has to get rewired from listening to sound as this thing that is in the air, surrounding you, to hearing 2 separate sounds and differentiating between them.

One day, it literally "clicks" and your brain suddenly understands it all as clear as day. It's just like riding a bike - once you can do it, you can't imagine NOT being able to do it.

I disagree. It's never been proven that EVERYONE can learn to mix. For some people they can get pretty efficient after 20 hours practice, 20 weeks or 20 months. No doubt some will never get the hang of it. Speaking for myself, the learning curve is unlike anything else. One week you think it's "clicked", the next week you do a lot of car crash mixing and you realise it hasn't clicked at all.

[DJ Millenium Falcon]

I'm the opposite, I need to be iimmersed in the sound to match properly, If I mix in split cue or with only one earphone on and the other listening to the PA i will match it so it sounds perfect then when I bring it in the match is always off! doesn't matter which ear I use either... maybe my brains wiring is out of whack or something

Same for me, I think both tunes are in sync when I listen to the 2nd deck in my right headphone and the 1st deck in my left ear (speakers), but move the crossfader over and it turns out the 2nd deck needs to be nudged forward. And this is just in my house with the sound not too loud, so it's unlikely that the speakers are delayed.

[zimfella]

even beatmatching on vinyl vs vinyl DVS is different, ive seen DVS is more forgiving when you nudge the platter. if you do that to vinyl it sounds awful. I still mix on vinyl, but prefer DVS as much of my vinyl its for home use only. damn bloody kids like jacking vinyl at clubs.

hmm I've disabled all the help aids with DVS eg phase meter and Bpm readout and using micro deck visual, except for keylock, did not think of disabling that. will have a bash this afternoon, I hear a train wreck coming

[audiolive]

Yep just keep cracking away at it. One day out of no where it will just happen. It takes me about 10 or so bars to lock it up.

[zimfella]

I'm the opposite, I need to be iimmersed in the sound to match properly, If I mix in split cue or with only one earphone on and the other listening to the PA i will match it so it sounds perfect then when I bring it in the match is always off! doesn't matter which ear I use either... maybe my brains wiring is out of whack or something

+1

[Patch]

The speed of sound is your enemy! Especially if your house speakers are particularly far away.

You should always use your headphones as the reference for the main out AND the track you're cueing.

[Toastmaster]

The speed of sound is your enemy! Especially if your house speakers are particularly far away.

You should always use your headphones as the reference for the main out AND the track you're cueing.

This needn't always be done, I think. If you have dedicated monitors for your setup (or are in a club with monitors), they should be able to provide you with sound without a delay (as long as its not 15 feet or more away). I uses my speakers as main out monitors when beatmatching and I've yet to encounter delay (they are about 1.5 - 2 feet away from my head).