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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.
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