For those using CDJs…
Do you cue up your track, then hit play/pause and play again when you are ready to bring in your track, or do you keep your hand on the platter where you have it cued, ready to play, and just let it go like you would with a TT?
I am trying to experiment with the platter and didn’t know if that was a common way, since I am new to external mixing.
Hand on the platter, vinyl mode
Hand on the platter, then let it go (or back & forth then go) Like a TT for me if I need to use CDJs
Really? Do you find the accuracy of landing the track better than hitting the play button that way?
I thought everyone was going to say, “use the Fu^&ing button, that’s what it’s there for” haha
load a track, drop a cue point by tapping loop in and just use the top of the platter when im ready to play the track.
I tap but i had controllers first so that’s what I’m used to I guess..
Same here. Trying to figure out which is better or more comfortable.
Probably because I’d work with TT so much… says 29 years now, it’s kind of second nature. BUT it’s only with TT & CDJs… play when using any controllers.
I don’t know I suppose in my mind timing your whole hand/wrist/arm to move and drop in time is harder than just tapping a couple of times and then tap in time..
but then again using the platter you probably have more feel and is more fluent.. either way practice is the only way. I still have to concentrate on tapping after over a year!
for me i use the buttons on CDJs but it really doesnt matter what ppl use…its personal preference.
I prefer to use the buttons as i dont have to hold the platter and can be using both hands either working efx or eqs then quickly press/drop the new tune. I have tried using the platter but found it too labour intensive, hahaha but im sure that was just me
Few of my mates love to use the platter and claim it is more natural when beatmatching. Whatever floats your boat really 
I always cue by hand, to a fault probably. I would imagine it’s easier to cue with the play/pause button.
top of the platter, but thats because i came from vinyl. I got mates who just use the play button and ive seen plenty of other DJ’s do it. Its just personal prefference. Whatever feels more comfortable for you i guess.
Here is an unrelated question:
Using CDJs, either with Timecode CD or HID mode like I have been using, I came across a small hiccup.
Beatmatching manually is a skill I am still learning, I can do it near perfect without Traktor, and with it, it makes it tons easier, since I can see the BPM as well as phase meter.
But the pitch control within Traktor is only so precise. Say I play a tune at 128, want to mix in another which is normally 127. I increase the tempo on deck B, but can only get it to 127.99 or 128.04. Now you would think that 127.99 is damn accurate, but I can see the phase meter slowly going out of sync. What is the solution? Keep tapping the jog wheel to keep it in time?
you shouldn’t have to nudge that much for .01 difference.. I’m usually lazy and just get it within .50 or so when mixing and then nudge when needed.
I’d say .01 would stay pretty accurate over mixing 16bars or so.. depends how long you’re mixing it for
i just have the cue point where i want it and tap cue with the beat then drop hit play and drop it in…
I learned on CDJ’s… I tapped the cue. I often bumped the plate forward or backwards when I lifted off to release the track, which threw it off just a little bit.
usually id just bump the platters, thats what there there for, but if ur really annoyed about it, you can go into traktors preferences and change the pitch sensitivity/resolution yourself. If your mixing within the same sort of BPM range and not doing anything too whack, id go with 8%, then you can further adjust the increments, but i cant remember exactly how… i remember when i was using my timecode vynils i managed to fix this, but havent used them in a while. When i get a chance to set them up again ill let you know, coz for vynil, drift is already an issue, so its good for the bpm to be as accurate as possible.
always set with a cue point then use the cue button to start then press play while holding the cue button. I started on controllers first too, so I just find that more natural to me personally, I wouldn’t feel very comfortable putting my hand on the platter and letting it go.
Thank you for the replies, and as for this, what do you all think?
just nudge it man, if you keep trying to get it exactly the same bpm for each mix your gonna waste a lot of time.