i can beatmatch just by sound, but having the little beat lights did help when i was learning, however, some people get hooked on the lights and when it comes time to play and the mixer doesn't ahve beat indicators, they're screwed

some may think it's cheating, but to me it was a learning tool

___________________
Tony Morello Dot Com
Soundcloud
Facebook
Twitter
The Drunken Monkey Podcast
The Mixdown Podcast presented by Tony Morello

I would say what it comes down to is being able to perform when you need to. If you are always performing with your own equipment, and you have a beat counter, then I guess you're okay. Other DJs will look down upon you because most (like myself) do think it's 'cheating'. But, if you ever need to use someone else's mixer, what are you going to do?

I would also not recommend using a beat counter much while learning. It would be to easy to get dependant on looking at numbers instead of listening to sounds. The lights that flash on beat still force you to match by ear.

I'm pretty new to the game, but I can usually beat match withing a minute or so.

Just my thoughts!

yeah, i would have to agree that it is cheating.
i am still on my first mixer, a gemini bpm 250, it is true, you can get dependent on the lights and counters, but for one thing it's not accurate.

even thogh i think it's good to start with it to understand the BPM and all that, on the other side you get used to it.
at the momenet when i mix i put a piece of paper so that i cant see the counters untill i get another mixer, but a pair of technics is first in line...


and it takes me about two miniutes (+/-) to match.

___________________

i think the mixers where it shows the beats in a numerical sense is somewhat cheating, but learning to beatmatch on a mixer with the blinking lights helped a lot, i can beatmatch now without them, but when learning, it help me a lot.

but then again everyone is different, so go with what feels natural

___________________
Tony Morello Dot Com
Soundcloud
Facebook
Twitter
The Drunken Monkey Podcast
The Mixdown Podcast presented by Tony Morello

Don't bother with the BPM counter, you won't need it. Plus, your ears are far more accurate than most BPM counters once you get the hang of mixing.

It took me about 2-3 months to get the hang of it, and it only gets easier from there.

I can beat match (depending on the tracks) in as fast as 15 sec. or it can take as long as 60 sec.