OK, so you're beatmatched and cued up and cruising along...

[twochordcool]

and you start to bring the fader over or channel fader up and you're committed and there's no going back.

All of a sudden you sense driftage and you need to correct -

(obviously with the pitch control)

Do YOU know for sure which way to correct, + or - ?

How?!

Because, unfortunately for me it's like a crap shoot.

Also, as a DJ, do you think you hear and notice things about your mixes that drive you nuts that probably or most likely are not noticed by your average person on the dancefloor?

And one final thing, I've heard that A list DJ's spend weeks on their compilations - do you think this is because they want to get them just right, and/or because in reality they are mere mortals like the rest of us and have to kick around tunes for hours at a time, in search of tunes that go together perfectly?!

JUST CURIOUS!

[zartan]

Do YOU know for sure which way to correct, + or - ?

yes

[Skandalus]

and you start to bring the fader over or channel fader up and you're committed and there's no going back.

All of a sudden you sense driftage and you need to correct -

(obviously with the pitch control)

Do YOU know for sure which way to correct, + or - ?

How?!

Because, unfortunately for me it's like a crap shoot.

After years of practice that sort of thing becomes second nature. or, well, it shoud (I have known a couple people in my experiences that claim to have been spinning for years, but still have issues with beatmatching :shrug:).

the only advice anyone here is going to give you is to practice.

[RypTide]

and you start to bring the fader over or channel fader up and you're committed and there's no going back.

There's always going back. Being a good DJ means knowing how to recover.

Do YOU know for sure which way to correct, + or - ?

Yes. Takes practice.

Also, as a DJ, do you think you hear and notice things about your mixes that drive you nuts that probably or most likely are not noticed by your average person on the dancefloor?

Yes. You are and will always be your own worst critic.

And one final thing, I've heard that A list DJ's spend weeks on their compilations - do you think this is because they want to get them just right, and/or because in reality they are mere mortals like the rest of us and have to kick around tunes for hours at a time, in search of tunes that go together perfectly?!

Some spend that much time. I find I burn out if I do that, which is probably why I haven't recorded a mix in a long time.

[ramz]

both is good... - is a finger drag on the side of the deck; + is a hearty clockwise twist on the spindle... just remember that vocals and other melodic stuff shows pitch bend worse than anything else, so it's best, usually to adjust the track without melodic stuff going on... Also, I usually use the rule of thumb of adjusting the track where the kick/bassline isn't...

[RypTide]

... just remember that vocals and other melodic stuff shows pitch bend worse than anything else, so it's best, usually to adjust the track without melodic stuff going on...

Course, you could be using CDs with master tempo buttons, which will keep the song in the key it was written without the pitch wiggling. But that can get you in trouble too, of course.

[ramz]

Course, you could be using CDs with master tempo buttons, which will keep the song in the key it was written without the pitch wiggling. But that can get you in trouble too, of course.

my numark TT's have pitch lock and alls I have to say is: holy overrated feature of a deck... I've never actually used it...

[Skandalus]

If you want to be a beatmatching master, you must learn the secret technique called Locking.

[Skandalus]

It involves a wrist watch and magic.

[Master Miguel Lush]

both is good... - is a finger drag on the side of the deck; + is a hearty clockwise twist on the spindle...

yes and no.... i did that a lot, and it can be extremely useful, however it is really dangerous.
after a while i've noticed that the less you touch the plate, record, spindle, the better.
Not all records react equally, neither do needles, turntables, etc. with a shitty tonearm, you try to adjust the record doing that, and it could skip.
the cleanest way for me to fix any little driftage or whatever problem there is is actually playing with the pitch-shifter. you should be able to recognize how much faster/slower your record need to go for it to be synced again, do it with the pitchshifter, and drag it back to where it was: less pitch bending noises, no skipping risk.

[empath]

The answer to all your questions is that you need to practice more.

[ramz]

yes and no.... i did that a lot, and it can be extremely useful, however it is really dangerous.
after a while i've noticed that the less you touch the plate, record, spindle, the better.
Not all records react equally, neither do needles, turntables, etc. with a shitty tonearm, you try to adjust the record doing that, and it could skip.
the cleanest way for me to fix any little driftage or whatever problem there is is actually playing with the pitch-shifter. you should be able to recognize how much faster/slower your record need to go for it to be synced again, do it with the pitchshifter, and drag it back to where it was: less pitch bending noises, no skipping risk.

if you're cueing stuff up, sure... but I don't think that's the way you quick fix in the middle of a mix... just my opinion...

the reality is, however, that eventually, you'll beatmatch, cue, launch, and play the tracks side by side with no adjustment whatsoever after a little while... if it's drifting, it's not beatmatched...

[daniella downs]

Do YOU know for sure which way to correct, + or - ?

in the beginning, no.

with years of practice, yes.

[ramz]

if you're cueing stuff up, sure... but I don't think that's the way you quick fix in the middle of a mix... just my opinion...

quick amendment to what I said... addendum is likely the better word choice... what I can't stand is people that don't have shit beatmatched that wanna try to fix it all by manipulating the plate.... I just wanna scream, "FUCKING MOVE THE PITCH FADER, DUMBASS!"

[twochordcool]

My BIGGEST PROBLEM is, even though I know how to beatmatch, I HAVE NOT figured out how to correct a drifting beatmatch in the CORRECT direction EACH AND EVERY time - so half of my mixes sound worse before they sound better.

And that is COMPLETELY unacceptable, to myself, and anyone that would critique a demo of mine.

Now it might be in how I set up my headphones - I just can't tell which one is doing what for sure - I can hear them coming apart, but I can't say "this one is doing this and that one is doing that".

Can anyone try to explain how they do it - the process - and how to differentiate the records?