HI everyone. I have 2 questions. My first one is how many beats per minute can tracks be apart before they are too noticeable to mix in a given set? Here are the BPM for some songs I want to include in my first set.

139 BPM
142 BPM
139 BPM
140 BPM
142 BPM
142 BPM
144 BPM
138 BPM
140 BPM
139 BPM
135 BPM
137 BPM

Are any of them for example the track that is 135 BMP and the one that is 144 BPM too far apart to be mixed in the same set? I'm using the SL1200s and this may sound retarded but does the pitch for example going faster to +2 from 0 mean 2 beats per minute faster all the way to +6?

My final question is, what is the best way to mix songs with the mixer? I have been told many things, but what I'm doing now is I have the fader in the very middle and never use it. I only use the level adjusts for each 1200 up and down as necessary to mix. Should I be using the cross fader? I have also been shown by friends to use only the EQ knobs but which ones should be used first? I have been told to first bring in the midrange, then the highs, then the lows. Should the knobs be turned simultaneously on each channel like turn up the midrange on the record I'm mixing in and at the same time turn the knob down on the channel for the song I'm mixing out of? I'm sorry if this is sounding tardish but I keep on attempting to mix my first set and I keep messing up. Thanks for any tips and help everyone!

to tell u the truth, i don't even know the actual bpms for about 99% of my tracks.. it shouldn't matter the variance, IMO i just mix songs and match the beat to the bpm that i have selected to spin my set at, give or take some variation throughout, but who cares the actual bpm, unless the song sounds really gay if you play it too fast/slow.. anyhow, i can't tell you the best way to mix, you gotta figure that out for yourself, but i can tell u the way i mix, which is usually lets say ch. 1 is playing, i'll put the volume all the way down on ch.2, then move the crossfader to the middle (eq's: low=about 5%, mid=50%, high=50%), then make the gain level to about 25% and slowly fade up the volume until its all the way up, next i start w/ the eq's, pretty much bring the bass to its normal position and slightly turn down the bass on ch. 1, next kinda work w/ the other eq's and bring the gain for ch. 2 up while turning gain on ch. 1 down, after a while, ur ch. 2 will have full volume level, gain is up, eq's are right, and ch1. will have, low to no volume level, gain pretty much all the way down, and ur eq's down (however i usually leave the mid and high's a little higher then the bass) and at ur select cue point, just use the xfader to cut out ch1 completely..

..woah that was probably confusing as fuck but its hard to mention everything you do, just play around and figure your style because what may be best for ME may not be best for YOU, as i'm sure people will disagree w/ my method, but i don't care, i'm not new to this and my style works for ME.. just grab everyones opinions and collaborate them to see what works best for YOU.

i dont know the bpm of any of my records. I know relativity which records are fast, and which are slower, and which are in between.

x-multipy: just start mixing and keep doing it, you will figure things out as you go along, the fader in the middle or to the side, and which the eqs. Once you start doing it, you will discover what works for you, and what doesnt.

As long as the record can be matched within your decks' pitch control, and sound good, it's fine. My Numarks go up to +/- 10% but I only use +/- 8% because that's the pitch variance you have on Technics.
As for the best way to mix: there's so much going on that if any given DJ tells you everything they do in the mix it's gonna take up like 10 pages. Those things will add up to your own unique style in time!