Mixer's w/BPM counters - TranceAddict Forums

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- DJ Booth
-- Mixer's w/BPM counters

Posted by harcourt on Sep-11-2001 04:05:

Mixer's w/BPM counters

I've noticed a fair amount of the higher end mixers (the DJM500/600 come to mind) have digital BPM read outs. Would having a mixer with a BPM meter be beneficial or would you consider it almost "cheating"? Is it useful once you've learned how to beat match, so if it's there it's handy, or is it pretty much useless? Those of you without a BPM meter, how do you know how fast your set is playing at? You want 145BPM, well do you actually start counting and figure it out in your head, how is it you guage it without a BPM meter?

I'm detail oriented.

Posted by DJ Rob Noli on Sep-11-2001 04:19:

Yeh, I consider those mixers cheating...I even want to put tape over the beat lights on my mixer because its cheating to me. The skill is in the ear, but personally I don't actually count the bpm's, I just play the track and see whatever speed I'm feeling the most.

Posted by VoiDeT on Sep-11-2001 06:48:

yea, i reckon BPM mixers are cheatin as you say. but i reckon they don't help as much as instincts!, i reckon it'd be easier to feel the beat yourself, and yea, so forget about BPM mixers.....And BPM can't tell you the start of the bar, so yea, you can't rely on them heavily, so don't go for them! it's not worth it.....Dj'ing is not about what someone else tells you, you express it yourself! so use your own methods, ok i am done......but if you want BPM mixer get it, just tryin to tell ya you shouldn't rely on it

Posted by Pjotr G on Sep-11-2001 09:10:

BPM counters are for fake ass DJ's

and besides i'd like to see a BPM counter match beats during a breakdown! a good DJ can, a bpm counter can't do anything without a 4/4 kick (i reckon)

Posted by Transcemi on Sep-11-2001 22:23:

Well mixers w/bpm counters sometimes are very good mixers like pioneer mixers but the bpm counter is a shit for several reasons.
The bpm counters are not exact, try it by playing two tracks with the same bpm and they won't feet one with the other. But I also think that a good DJ don't use bpm conters, real dj's mix by ear.
If you se bpm counter you will not be able to mix in a club or a party that doesn't use that kind of eqipment.
so try mixing by ear and you will see that it is easy and it is much more funny

PLUR

Posted by harcourt on Sep-12-2001 03:40:

Sheesh, you all *ASS*-umed I was going out to get or wanted to get a BPM counter or mixer with a BPM counter. I just asked about them, nothing more.

and no, I got a mixer without a bpm meter, I didn't want one. I was just curious as there usefullness since they ARE on some mixers.

Posted by Veldrid on Sep-13-2001 18:44:

BPM counters are shit. I went to some shitty ass club that just opened near me. I got there and all these people were raving about this DJ. I went up to the booth and was watching and checking to see if he brought his own gear ( and he did). I noticed a BPM counter. BAH!! So anyways about 40 mins later his tracks got way off beat. I went over there and the ******s BPM had broke and he couldn't beat match. It was funny as hell the club closed 2 weeks later.

Posted by dj alonzo on Sep-13-2001 19:03:

BPM Readers are just a toy.. they doesn't help, they can only do harm to your mixing skills!

And most of the Hi-End mixers don't have BPM readers.. just the Pioneer DJM-500/600 and the Roland DJ-2000... all the others (Allen&Heath, Rane, Vestax, Rodec, Ecler etc..) doesn't have any BPM readers because the ppl who buy it are professional, and true pro dj's don't need BPM readers.

Posted by Irios on Sep-14-2001 06:08:

bpm displays are just for displaying the current bpm... nothing else.

i.e. ....even if both tracks show the same bpm, there might still be some difference in the actual bpm (most bpm displays can only show the bpm with an accuracy of 0.5). There's NO WAY you're gonna make a succesful transition even if the bpm differs just 0.1 bpm

Posted by DJ Flipstream on Sep-14-2001 07:34:

quote:
And most of the Hi-End mixers don't have BPM readers.. just the Pioneer DJM-500/600 and the Roland DJ-2000... all the others (Allen&Heath, Rane, Vestax, Rodec, Ecler etc..) doesn't have any BPM readers because the ppl who buy it are professional, and true pro dj's don't need BPM readers.

That's why Paul Van Dyk helped develop and only uses the Pioneer - DJM-600..

Not saying he uses the beatcounter....but with all the new songs he plays all the time, it doesn't hurt.

Posted by Pjotr G on Sep-14-2001 10:43:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ Flipstream

Not saying he uses the beatcounter....but with all the new songs he plays all the time, it doesn't hurt.

The problem with playing new vinyls is not the beatmatching, that goes the same for every record, the problem is knowing where the breaks start, when the bassline kicks in and that stuff. Knowing your record helps for a cool transition.

Posted by DJ LIQUID on Sep-15-2001 03:00:

Re: Mixer's w/BPM counters

quote:
Originally posted by tw1tch
I've noticed a fair amount of the higher end mixers (the DJM500/600 come to mind) have digital BPM read outs. Would having a mixer with a BPM meter be beneficial or would you consider it almost "cheating"? Is it useful once you've learned how to beat match, so if it's there it's handy, or is it pretty much useless? Those of you without a BPM meter, how do you know how fast your set is playing at? You want 145BPM, well do you actually start counting and figure it out in your head, how is it you guage it without a BPM meter?

I'm detail oriented.

Well personally Im getting the PIONEER DJM600 this week, but its not for the BPM counter......im getting it because of the effects and the layout of the mixer.......PLUS I LIKE THE COLOR OF IT TOOO

BPM counters atent the way to learn mixeing.....

Posted by Leigh on Sep-17-2001 11:49:

the display on the pioneer mixers arent just for bpm counting - they are for all the effects and sampling options you have... the bpm counter is just an added extra which you can choose not to display.