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Mixing Techniques: Pitchbend or Manual?

Just a quick query, i've been mixing for a couple of months now and can beatmatch quite well. I use the pitch bend buttons to get my tracks aligned but all other dj's i know use their hand to slow down the platter/push the vinyl. I've never really read any mixing "howto's" but I wondered which you guys used, which you thought was best and which one do most mainstream dj's use?

Most DJs I know do it manually. I however use always the pitch and think is by far the best technique; 1st because I never got used to correct beats using the platter, 2nd because it's easier to screw things up if the record skips etc 3rd because it's noticeable, while with the pitch slider you only notice if it really is a huge correction. As for mainstream DJs.. well most use a mixture of both, but PvD uses his hand on the record more than he should while sasha for instance probably only uses his hand to cue the record up...

I predominantly use pitch-bend, but I can use both.

when I pitch bend I never get it back to the right place.


so I just do it manually and let everyone know I did it

yeh that's the biggest problem with this technique. but if you small corrections all the time you'll be always around more or less the same spot, it goes there with time

I use pitch adjustment for alignment. However, I should start using my hands on vinyl/platter more often, since sometimes I lose the correct pitch when moving it back to the original position.

i prefer pitchbend.....there is no wrong way

good to see my way (pitch bend) taking the majority. I might start learning to use platter control because some decks don't even come with pitchbend's, like some numarks, dunno why!

When beatmatching, I bend to get it within .5% or so (which nice beacuse it can be done very quickly), then do the last bit manually to ensure the most accurate pitch. Then when I'm transitioning, I usually just bend, unless the incoming track is still unnoticible. I'm very careful to correct my little errors without that nasty warbling pitch.

If you're quick and alert, you can hear tracks drifting in your headphones before it's noticible in the mix, so you can adjust the pitch ever so slightly in order to bend. This makes the fix a lot smoother and tighter, as well as making it a lot easier to find the correct pitch again when you're done. Plus, if you bend slowly, even if you're adjusting it in the wrong direction you'll realize quickly before you get anything worse than a gentle chop. If you manually adjust during a mix you'd better be damn sure you're moving it the right way, or you'll be galloping.

yeh, exactly, people tend to say pitch bending = pitch sliding...
zshev, you'll need to learn how to adjust solely with the slider if you wanna get real good 'cos technics for instance don't have pitch bend buttons and that's what you'll get in the clubs as you know...

quote:

Originally posted by Nou Most turntables dont come with them, I think most people mean they bend it by sliding it themsleves up and down a bit to adjust.

Yes that's what I mean.

If your decks have an independent pitch bend I see little reason to ever adjust manually, pitch bending is a lot more accurate and a lot easier on the ears.

I've been starting to teach myself beatmatching using pitch bending/sliding soley. The only problem I have is - how do you get your "original" position after you slide it up/down and back?

With my CDJs, I just look at the tempo change % and note it. But obviously this wouldn't be possible with analog tempo sliders such as those on traditional vinyl turntables. I guess you guys just wing it??

quote:

Originally posted by starlabs I've been starting to teach myself beatmatching using pitch bending/sliding soley. The only problem I have is - how do you get your "original" position after you slide it up/down and back? With my CDJs, I just look at the tempo change % and note it. But obviously this wouldn't be possible with analog tempo sliders such as those on traditional vinyl turntables. I guess you guys just wing it??

This is why I have never gotten serious about pitch sliding. I do most corrections manually. If the track is playing live and just make VERY minor manual corrections, this way I don't lose the "original spot" and it is hardly noticable.

if you have shit decks you will find more often than not you will need the pitch bend buttons.

as for decks like technics or the high numarks etc you should need as they have a motor stopping the platter flying forward as well as one powering it from behind, meaning you can touc hthe platter without it going all over.

i had pitch bends on my gemini xl 500 II's and although it was possible to not use the buttons, one slight nudge too hard and you will have lost it. it also a good way of learning to mix so you know wether to nudge it fwd or back by a press of the buttons rather that touching the platter and getyting it wrong.

i use my hands pretty much all the time (unless the record is stupidly warped). i generally find it a lot quicker to get it to the correct pitch as you can just spin the record at the right speed with your hand, and move the pitch bender up until it doesn't need spinning anymore, then its pretty much in, i am free to wack the fader up when i want, and do any fine adjustments on the fly. i suppose for these fine adjustments it would be good to use the pitch bender, but it is time consuming and annoying if you have 3 tracks in and you don't get the pitch back where it was.

it would be a bit different if i just mixed one track into another, and speed wouldn't be so nessesary. using the pitch bender is a very good technique to learn, specifically for slower forms of EDM where a hand adjustment is so easy to notice unless you are ultra smooth with it (and then it's still more noticable). it is advisable to practice a lot with it though to get the technique fully down before recording sets with it.

and yeah, don't get used to pitch bend buttons on decks. there arn't that many that have them. cd decks generally have them more though..

I use the pitch control all the time and never really touch the platter. (Except for cueing and turntablist tricks ofcourse).

Some people are worried about getting the slider back into position, well it comes with time, practice and knowing your records.

If you had the pitch matched in the first place you wouldn't really have to move it anyway to adjust and if it's wrong why would you want to go back to it?
Neither method is wrong but corrections made by using the pitch are definately much smoother than those made with the hands in the case of most DJs.

Eventually you just hear what needs to be done and you develop a knack for hearing it before it goes wrong... but it takes time and practice as I said.

Cheers
Nem

i use both

in the mix i try to never touch the platter. if i do i try and make it as un-noticable as possible. i find just using the pitch fader works just fine 'cause it's usually just really small corrections i have to make.

it's all about what you're comfortable with and the style of music you are playing.

quote:

Originally posted by starlabs I've been starting to teach myself beatmatching using pitch bending/sliding soley. The only problem I have is - how do you get your "original" position after you slide it up/down and back?

To mark my place, I use my left hand to mark the spot by putting my fingernail against the slider before I move it. If I want to move the slider down to speed the record up, I put down my thumbnail (facing towards me) against the top of the slider and then move it to correct and move it back to its spot, then I make the appropriate corrections on the slider so that the records match better. If I need to slow the record down to correct, I put down my left index fingernail (facing away from me) against the bottom of the slider and then correct.

Hope this makes sense/helps.

EDIT: I should also point out that this may not be the best way becuase both of your hands are tied up and you can't control the mixer as much. I've only had my decks for about a month now so I'm sure with more practice this won't become a problem since I will be more comfortable with my mixer and will be able to control both at the same time.

Cueing: whatever- i can pitch and cue in seconds regardless of method

Fader open: 99% of the time pitch slider only

Another simplistic question on pitch sliding: how much do you move the pitch slider? Just a tiny bit, or a large %? And how long do you keep it there before moving it back?

quote:

Originally posted by starlabs Another simplistic question on pitch sliding: how much do you move the pitch slider? Just a tiny bit, or a large %? And how long do you keep it there before moving it back?

the distance depends on the correction. It can be something like 2% if they are really off, and just a tiny inch if they are just slowly drifting. The 1st moment I hear them back on beat I bring them to the "hot" spot.

quote:

Originally posted by benoitfan the distance depends on the correction. It can be something like 2% if they are really off, and just a tiny inch if they are just slowly drifting. The 1st moment I hear them back on beat I bring them to the "hot" spot.

true, but if they're 2% off, you might as well be using your hand, heh.

quote:

Originally posted by Inertia true, but if they're 2% off, you might as well be using your hand, heh.

I can't be accurate with my hand, I never got used to it. I started mixing with CDs and got used to using the pitch at all times and then moved to vinyl and I really can't get used to it. I only do it to put the incoming track on beat when I release it before making the transition. Believe it or not it's easier for me to pitch-ride even in big % amounts back and forth than using my hand lol

I hardly quickjab unless it's really off (which is rare). I just move it maybe 1/3% at most, makes it a lot smoother. If you're alert and a quick mixer you can hear tiny differences in your headphones before you can on the main channel. It helps a lot to use both cans.

I usually go manually... and unless I make the rookie mistake of slowing/speeding the platter at a point when there is vocals or some melody goin on, I can't hear myself fix it usually... I have been doing more pitchbending lately tho... Both work fine for me, and Like Nem said, why would you want it back to the original position if its wrong in the first place...

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