when i'm mixing, i dont want to spend a lot of time beatmatching, and i'm using cdjs;

so the BPM counter doesn't have decimal points, so I put the bpm at 135 we'll say, and then i slowly move it up until it gets to 136. as soon as it gets there i leave it.

then when i'm mixing the next track, i do the same thing. works really well actually. just wondering if that makes me a hack

quote:

Originally posted by BTG just wondering if that makes me a hack

Chances are, at least one person on here will take issue with it. Personally, I don't think it matters.

only problem I see with it is that you're relying too much on it and probably if you ever jump on someone elses gear, you're going to have no idea what to do.

Define cheating in this day and age?

As stated, the only issue I can think with this is if you end up in a scenario where you don't have something that displays the BPM.

Personally I don't use counters or matching tools, but then I started long before a BPM counter was marketed on a major scale and all DJs just relied on what they heard.

That said, you will probably find yourself getting to a point where you know your tracks so well that you can just feel what it should be before you even look at the counter.

It would probably make you a better DJ in the long run if you tried to avoid using them i.e. you would be more in touch with your music, but beat matching is just a small part of what we do and with all the software and stuff these days, most DJs would probably not bat an eyelid as to method as long as the ends justify the means.

You are taking the easy option but I wouldn't define it as cheating. The question really is where you want to go with DJing? i.e. do you wish to play out or just for your own pleasure. If it's the latter then the only question you need to ask yourself is if you are enjoying what you do.

cheers
Nem

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Exactly. If you ever think you might find yourself in a situation where you won't have access to BPM readouts, then you might wanna practice without 'em.

If not, who cares?

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Lots and lots of big DJs do it so I wouldn't stress it too much.

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is it really that hard for you? jeez.

Id say don't worry about it as long as you can beat match without it. When I first started on CDJs i learned to beatmatch without looking at the BPM counter or pitch percent, that way I have that knowledge to fall back out, incase I need to later on, but honestly, i pretty much do what you do. It gives you more time for crowd participation and track selection.

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you also have to remember that bpm counters are not going to be 100% correct all the time. i've had different read outs from different sources for the same track. i've also had issues where the counter was simply just blatantly wrong (reading something like 45 bpm for a track that's clearly 120 something.

again, in these cases, you're not going to have any idea what to do.

It's not "cheating", but it's not very smart, because you always have to stick to full bpm. For me starting on low level turntables, beatmatching with CDJs is a joke.
But more importantly, if you're skilled in beatmatching without counter, you have more time thinking of how to structure your sets.

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You'll rarely be in a situation without bpm counters but happens often to me that bpm counter show 170,200,70 bpm when all i mix is between 130-145 ... in this case you have 2 options:

-Count the beats
-Know the bpm of the track (print it on the cd)

This way if you know that one track is 135 other is 137 you know that 0'5% pitch on each side = 136 bpm for example and you got them beatmatched without bpm counters.

I used this a lot but would go 132 - 133bpm. I found out the % increase was the same for different BPMs. So for instance I would play most songs at 1.92%, then some that were slower needed to be at 3.52%. It is a great easy start to mixing songs you are kind of unfamiliar with.