Hi all!
So, I finally got my new setup - a pair of Pioneer CDJ2000’s and a Pioneer DJM900Nxs mixer. So far, I have to say I’m extremely happy with the new stuff and how it all works. But there’s one problem that I’m dealing with at the moment, and that’s the manual beatmatching. While I’ve been able to improve on that lately, it still takes me some time that I’d rather use for applying effects or doing whatever to the currently playing track. Also, it’s often just slightly off which can sometimes be heard when the 2 songs are playing alongside - and personally, even the slightest clash bothers me. So, for the moment, I’m looking for a way to get more exact syncs in less time. Thus, here are my questions:
Is there any way of beat syncing the CDJ2000’s automatically, without using a software like Traktor and timecode disks?
If not, is there maybe a program that will allow me to select tracks, enter a BPM value and then have the track re-recorded at that BPM? Not an obtimal solution probably, but this way I could ensure all the tracks I want to play in a set have the same BPM until my beat matching skills are fine-tuned enough.
Other than that, are there any other helpful ways of accomplishing a clean and exact beatmatch easily?
Thanks a lot!
Robin
You can always just match the bpm manually and go from there, but whats the use, my advice? Practice practice practice…you can buy the fanciest stuff money can buy, but you still have to have some skills, the machines cant always do it for ya!
Analyze all your tracks with rekordbox and then, use the bpm indicator to adjust the pitch. then check with your ears if it’s ok, and if it’s not, correct it.
But well, you should have learned that before investing like 5.000 €
Hi there,
sorry, it’s 2000’s! Of course, I understand beatmatching requires some training, and I definitely wasn’t planning to ignore that. All I’m looking for is a way to find a temporary solution for this until my skills are good enough, it’s certainly nothing I wanted to give up on. It’s just that as I previously used a software and Midi controller solution for my DJing, I mainly focused on the actual music, mixing techniques, some effects stuff, etc. and mainly had the software do the beatmatching, without spending too much time on the manual process. So, for the moment I’m surely committed to improving my skills in that field, and thus only wanted a temporary solution for the meantime.
Robin
Hi Dope,
good point. However, I have to mention something which I haven’t mentioned here before, but what makes a difference in that case: I am completely blind and use a Mac with Voice Over, a screen reading software built into Mac OS X. Most programs on the Mac are accessible with Voice Over, however Recordbox isn’t, unfortunately. Thus, at the moment I use mp3 files on a USB stick, but have to do the beatmatching with my ears and sense of rythem only. And well, don’t misunderstand my questions here please, it’s not like I’m totally unable to beatmatch and it’s completely off - for the most part, it’s just the amount of time I still need and minor inaccuracies that bother me.
Thanks!
Robin
but surely the whole/main reason for choosing cd’s and doing it manually as opposed to software is to do it manually?
if you resample all your tunes at the exact same bpm you’ll never bother to learn to beat match most likely - only pushing those into phase.
i presume u mean cdj200’s as the cdj2000’s can be linked together and auto sync anyway i thought? to some degree anyway?
i don’t like the look of the cd200’s, but if i had them i’d use them to mix manually. and if i didn’t know how to i’d practice practice practice…
you definately don’t want to be able to hear that the two tunes are out of sync. completely different from people wanting to get the two tunes 100% locked in - according to the digital displays - as it’s how they sound that matters at the end of the day.
tho i do like a subtle phasing going on with the incoming kick drum sometimes - just so you know a transition is happening…
edit: just saw u said 2000’s - very nice… don’t they have some kind of builtin synching capability?
I personally don’t understand why you want a temporary solution to a skill you say you would like to someday master. If you don’t learn it now, the hard way, you may never ever learn it after you find your simpler beatmatching method.
Take a look at youtube videos on beatmatching and keep practicing. At the very least, play two tracks that are produced at the same bpm and practice your timing and get used to nudging the jogs.
I agree that that was quite an investment for something that you may later discover you would rather go back to controllerism. I don’t care what anyone says, playing clean, smooth mixes does take musical ability, and after decades in bands and studios, I can truthfully say not everyone has it even when they really think they do. But I won’t rain on their parade.
Hi zestoi,
thanks for your post and your quick research! Yeah, of course you’re right - simply recording tunes using one specified BPM rate is definitely not optimal, and maybe you’re right about the fact that this could carry me away from training manual beat matching, so it may be better not to touch such a program. Sorry about my typo in my original post! Yep, I do have the CDJ2000’s and they’re interconnected with each other and the mixer using ProLink and a network hub. I also thought they might have sync buttons, but no luck with that - they won’t do that for you as it seems.
Robin
don’t they have some kind of builtin synching capability?
