Just a quick question regarding the modern trance DJ and his live performance. End of the day I know there is no short cut to mastering beatmatching and generally it is an essential technique every DJ wants to learn how to do, even in this digital edge.
So I am just wondering, take for example a general live trance DJ; Patterson, Askew, JOC etc. In a performance are these guys relying more on beatmatching using Auto Sync. I watch various live videos featuring these guys and many other various DJ's and there is generally very little movement of the pitch fader or platters going on. Now I know these guys can all beatmatch correctly given the situation but are more and more DJ's going toward Auto Sync live now (perhaps with minimal tweaking as even Automation in this area can still be off), focusing their concentration more on being more creative in other areas?

just look up the BPM on beatport, then warp it in ableton. this is what everyone does now-a-days

quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest just look up the BPM on beatport, then warp it in ableton. this is what everyone does now-a-days

nah just take a hotdog and side chain it to the kick then you have analogue drums

I dunno but more and more people seemed to be focussed on what 'modern day trance DJ's' are doing instead of focussing on what works best for them.

The fact you asked if they are focussing on other areas of creativity whilst listening to and watching the the videos.............you have just answered the question.

Do what works for you personally.

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I would think most of the vinyl people got onboard with the Sync function after seeing & hearing what Richie Hawtin was doing with loops and fx++.

Most dj's with experience know how to beatmatch, but utilize sync for creative freedom, but there are also many noobs that rely on it solely, and you can often hear it, as while the sync function does an adequate job, it is far from perfect.

Personally I despise dj's who cannot beatmatch without help.

As far as "modern trance mixing" there is no such thing. The genre leaves room for little more than 1-1.5 minute transitions type bass switch ala 1998. Prog being the odd guy out, but hardly any of the prog trance being released is actually prog sounding in any way.

Last edited by itsamemario on Mar-13-2012 at 15:04

You named a few names there, Patterson, Askew, and JoC. I haven't seen any of the B@TV event videos for either of these names but I do follow their music so I know who you're talking about.

You asked whether they are relying more on auto sync for beat matching. Well there is actually only one way to find out and that is to either get a screen shot of the traktor software they may/may not use while playing OR ask them. Since both of those are unlikely to happen, the best thing you can do is wonder. A.B made a good point, be yourself bro. Use sync for as long as you need to, to get used to things and when you're ready slowly but surely start moving away from sync and start manually beat matching.

Don't let anyone bring you down, don't let anyone tell you that you're an idiot because you're using sync. You're not an idiot, you're a perfect example of WHY this industry has grown SO much. I find it quite tasteless how so many DJ's mouth off at laptop DJ's and the like. They all have VERY short memories, as it was just 10 years ago that the same war was started when Vinyl DJ's had issues with DJ's playing CD's on CDJ's. The same revolution is happening again, so ANYONE that gets angry over another DJ using sync should really get over themselves. It screams penis envy. I couldn't care what you use to play, as long as you can "PLAY" and when I say play I don't just mean beat match, I mean put a set together, I mean hype up the crowd and get involved with them, I mean understand set progression and how to build a flowing set, I mean understanding what tempo and energy is required at what time and adapting your set accordingly, NOTE I said tempo and not BPM, they're not the same thing. There are a VAST amount of elements that come into play when one talks about being a DJ. Beat matching is but one of those things. It is an important one nonetheless.

I started, just like you. Using sync and learning on it, after being away from vinyl for 10 years. Then as I practiced more and more and got better at it, I started leaving the sync button alone and now I don't use it at all anymore. Hell I don't even know if the sync button on my controller still works ha ha!!! Point is, you're at a very cool time in your development, you're in the process of learning one of the most complicated aspects of being a DJ and I guarantee you once you have it down my friend, there is nothing more satisfying. So do what you need to, learn at your own pace, be yourself, and don't worry about what Simon Patterson does or what Armin van Buuren does.

I think most still use cds and beatmatch. But it isn't like they have to try very hard in that the tracks have been warped so that the tempo is exact.

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