So im using traktor now for about a year and its all I know. I started on it and have never learned to beatmatch, so a few days ago I borrowed a pair of cdjs and a mixer off a friend to have a go and boy did I get a shock!! I never realised how hard it was to beatmatch manually but I actually quite enjoyed it! The plan is to now refine my skills until i can beatmatch proficiently. As a result of this im finding myself mixing better in Traktor! I also believe every dj should know how to beatmatch even if they do use sync because it’ll make you a better dj in the longrun.
If you don’t take the time to EVER learn how to beatmatch, I have no respect for you as a DJ. DJing is a trade/art/craft and one should learn ALL of the tools if they are to be good.
Ya I know mate but just using cds in itself just adds to the authenticity
Ya the hardest thing I find is getting the bpms correct, once you have that done theres only so far you can be out in between the beats. A lot of practice is needed but it shall be worth the effort.
Hmmm I did the oposite. I learned on 1200s and Vynol. Satered DJ’ing at 15, i’m 30 now. Now I merged todays stuff to create a Hybrid style. 1200’s with DVS Traktor and Controllers merging Traktor and Ableton. I am having so much more fun now.
CDJs take the worst aspects of vinyl and digital. You have no idea where in the track you are, the resolution of the pitch sliders are often poor and you have to burn the CDs. I would only recommend them with TSP2 DVS. Get some TTs and a crate of vinyl classics if you really want to learn the trade. Otherwise, stick with digital.
Just my comment on this. I see this mentioned a lot and I just want to say that you should only turn off the current BPM. But keep the track BPM visible.
The reason I say this is even with vinyl you should know the BPM of the track. One of the basic steps of DJ’ing/beatmatching is BPM’ing your records.
Hrtbrkd its not that I think its more fun its just a different kind of challenge, I too prefer getting creative with Traktor using effects and chopping tracks up with cue points and so forth but this just feels like something different! Ya happydan id love to go back and start using some vinyl but i couldnt justify spending all the money on it! But i agree with you on the limitations of the cd decks! Im using the denons DNS-1200 and the pitch faders and bpm counters are very poor!
I was the same way. Went from straight CDJs to CDJs and Traktor. I enjoyed mixing without software, but my mixer was really lacking any sort of fun, experimental fx or filters.
I have since gone back to Traktor ad CDJs, mainly for the FX, but also because I am a cuepoint freak and like to see where I originally marked the points at. I do turn off the phase meter though, which helps keeping you beatmatch.
Would be interested in seeing if those who are on TT and CDJs really do remove the BPM or phase meter…
I doubt they cover the current BPM (that with some system shows BPM down to two decimals) which makes beat matching also a no-brainer with CDJs – as long as you learn how to do any initial adjustments on the jog wheel when you start on the cue and it’s not 1:1 with the original beat position.
But beat matching with no BPM values what-so-ever, that’s true beat matching.
Beatmatching is like hand-cranking a car to make it work. Kinda like juggling minus the cool looking part. Sort of using an abacus to count when you have a computer to your side. If you have the time it is as useful as learning Esperanto. I rather use my time in something waaaay more useful.
I have two ways I DJ: Stanton CD decks with DVS and using two X1s, using sync. My layout for CDJs, I’ve disabled the phase meter and current BPM. You don’t need them if you DJ properly!
EDIT: The problem is, the smallest increment you can get on the CDJ pitch is 0.15 BPM in Traktor. I did some tests when I was convinced the music was either drifting or unable to match.
