Hey guys,

I picked up a set of vinyl decks the other day and so I've been trying to get the hang of beatmatching.

I just wanted to check that I've got the correct method of doing it:

So I have one song playing over the speakers and one playing in my headphones. i count out the beat in the speakers and then just before beat 1, i push the vinyl inwards so it stops playing, but the platter is still spinnng.

I then count out the beat on the record thats playing over the speakers and at beat 1, I release the vinyl that's playing over my headphones so it drops in and the beats are matched. Is this correct?

I have a few questions too which hopefully someone wont mind answering =)

1) Where abouts in the songs do you do the beat matching process, or does it depend on the individual songs?

2) If you have beatmatched two songs but then the beat cuts out in one of the songs, should the beats match up again when the beat comes back in?

3) Half my records (massive collection of 8 vinyls =P) are at 43bpm and the other half at 33. How do you beatmatch them? Or is that beyond my scope atm with pitch bending and all that?

4) If the typical trance song goes 1 2 3 4 | 2 2 3 4 | 3 2 3 4 | 4 2 3 4| (<-i think that's correct). Do you always have to drop the beats in together at beat 1? And if so how do you know where the first beat is if it's a regular rhythmic beat?

5) When people say cueing up, does that mean you stand there with your finger pressed on the second vinyl, ready to drop the beat in?

6) To check if the beats are matched, do you just listen to both tracks over your headphones and make sure the beats are in synch?

7) If the beat cuts towards the end of the song, does that mean you dont need to bother with beatmatching? Just need to user the faders carefully?

Sorry, I know how stupid these must look, and I'll probs think how can I have been that dumb in a few months time, but any help would be much appreciated!

Cheers

Last edited by sophanox on Jun-22-2007 at 16:56

There really is no "correct" method, but what you are describing is what many people do, including myself.

1. I beatmatch wherever I drop the needle. I usually aim for the beginning of the cued track, as that is where I will actually be mixing the track in. It usually as strong kicks and hats, which makes it a bit easier as well.

2. Yes, although don't expect your beatmatching to be perfect. Be ready to pitch bend (I do this by putting my finger on the label and spinning it to speed it up, or lightly placing my thumb on the side of the platter to slow it down).

3. The 45 and 33 are not beats per minute. They are RPM, which stands for revolutions per minute. It doesn't affect the BPM of the song. 45 RPM can technically have higher quality than 33, so most songs are put on 45 if they are short enough to fit all on one side at that speed.

4. What you are referring to here is called phase matching. Yes, you will want to drop the first beat of the cued track on the first beat of a new phrase of the live track. Phrases are groups of 16 beats. If you listen to your tracks often, you will naturally be able to feel these. If you really want to get into it, take piano lessons. After 9 years of lessons (or just a decent amount of time behind the decks) you don't have to count; you can just feel the phrases.

5. Cueing means getting the track in the right position. So for example, finding that first beat.

6. Yes.

7. It means that you probably didn't start the cued track early enough. However, if its what you are going for (cutting the bass then slamming it in can have a nice effect sometime) then it might sound okay. You really just have to get a feel of it for yourself.


DJing is mostly a self-taught process. Mess around, see what works and what doesn't.

quote:

I just wanted to check that I've got the correct method of doing it: So I have one song playing over the speakers and one playing in my headphones. i count out the beat in the speakers and then just before beat 1, i push the vinyl inwards so it stops playing, but the platter is still spinnng. I then count out the beat on the record thats playing over the speakers and at beat 1, I release the vinyl that's playing over my headphones so it drops in and the beats are matched. Is this correct?

it sounds like u are doing it correct, u might find it easier to play both tracks in the headfones if possible. once u have dropped the cued track in, listen to them in ur headfones and decide if the track u are cueing is slower or faster than the 0one playing over the speakers. then adjust the pitch slider accordingly.

quote:

1) Where abouts in the songs do you do the beat matching process, or does it depend on the individual songs?

it is individual to every song, u will know when to drop the track in anyway after playing them a few times, u just pick that up naturally.

quote:

2) If you have beatmatched two songs but then the beat cuts out in one of the songs, should the beats match up again when the beat comes back in?

yep, else it would sound awful

quote:

3) Half my records (massive collection of 8 vinyls =P) are at 43bpm and the other half at 33. How do you beatmatch them? Or is that beyond my scope atm with pitch bending and all that?

that is not the bpm mate, it's the rpm... the amount of full rotations ur deck turns per minute. some vinyls are 33rpm and some are 45rpm as well as 78rpm, not sure if there's any others. but u are most likely to only comes across 33's and 45's i think.

quote:

4) If the typical trance song goes 1 2 3 4 | 2 2 3 4 | 3 2 3 4 | 4 2 3 4| (<-i think that's correct). Do you always have to drop the beats in together at beat 1? And if so how do you know where the first beat is if it's a regular rhythmic beat?

u have got the theory it appears to me, but as with my answer to question 1, it's just something u will pick up naturally i think. just a case of observing and knowing ur tracks

quote:

5) When people say cueing up, does that mean you stand there with your finger pressed on the second vinyl, ready to drop the beat in?

cueing is preparing the next track but yea, u are pretty much correct in ur example.

quote:

6) To check if the beats are matched, do you just listen to both tracks over your headphones and make sure the beats are in synch?

that is right yep. if they arent (which is generally the case) just adjust the pitch slider up or down until they are playing at the same speed

quote:

7) If the beat cuts towards the end of the song, does that mean you dont need to bother with beatmatching? Just need to user the faders carefully?

that's 1 option, altho u might find it sounds cleaner if u have already started mixing the track, in preparation

quote:

Sorry, I know how stupid these must look, and I'll probs think how can I have been that dumb in a few months time, but any help would be much appreciated! Cheers

better to be dumb for 5 mins than forever

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quote:

Originally posted by sophanox Hey guys, I picked up a set of vinyl decks the other day and so I've been trying to get the hang of beatmatching. I just wanted to check that I've got the correct method of doing it: So I have one song playing over the speakers and one playing in my headphones. i count out the beat in the speakers and then just before beat 1, i push the vinyl inwards so it stops playing, but the platter is still spinnng. I then count out the beat on the record thats playing over the speakers and at beat 1, I release the vinyl that's playing over my headphones so it drops in and the beats are matched. Is this correct? I have a few questions too which hopefully someone wont mind answering =) 1) Where about1s in the songs do you do the beat matching process, or does it depend on the individual songs? 2) If you have beatmatched two songs but then the beat cuts out in one of the songs, should the beats match up again when the beat comes back in? 3) Half my records (massive collection of 8 vinyls =P) are at 43bpm and the other half at 33. How do you beatmatch them? Or is that beyond my scope atm with pitch bending and all that? 4) If the typical trance song goes 1 2 3 4 | 2 2 3 4 | 3 2 3 4 | 4 2 3 4| (<-i think that's correct). Do you always have to drop the beats in together at beat 1? And if so how do you know where the first beat is if it's a regular rhythmic beat? 5) When people say cueing up, does that mean you stand there with your finger pressed on the second vinyl, ready to drop the beat in? 6) To check if the beats are matched, do you just listen to both tracks over your headphones and make sure the beats are in synch? 7) If the beat cuts towards the end of the song, does that mean you dont need to bother with beatmatching? Just need to user the faders carefully? Sorry, I know how stupid these must look, and I'll probs think how can I have been that dumb in a few months time, but any help would be much appreciated! Cheers

1) It's good to start with the first downbeat. Let the record go with the other tracks downbeat and then beatmatch form there, bring it back to that "cue point" and try again until it's close. I usually begin mixing in EDM at around -1:30. Adjust by touching the record or pitch control or whatever works.

2) Usually yes

3) First of all record speed (ie, 33 is how many time it turns in a minute) is not BPM, you'll have to figure out the BPM of the track on your own by counting how many beats there are in 1 minute or something along those lines.

4) Yes, this is called phrasing, If you drop them in on beat 1 together you'll fine the song lines ups well.

5) Yes, see #1

7)Personal preference, I sually listen to 1 in the headphones and the other on the monitors then both in the headphones for a final check, whatever suites you.

8) Yes, but usually lose the flow of the song.

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Wow, that's great guys, thanks a lot for the responses =)

I just have a few more questions your answers have rasied:

quote:

I usually begin mixing in EDM at around -1:30. Adjust by touching the record or pitch control or whatever works.

1)Adjusting the pitch contol naturally makes the song sound a bit different - doesn't this matter whilst djing? Or is the adjustments you make so minimal no one notices?

2)If you start mixing in at -1.30, and you've got it beatmatched say like 30 seconds later, doesn't that mean your second vinyl will be like halfway through the track by the time you actually play it over the speakers? Or do you keep the vinyl still the whole time with your finger?

3) I was under the impression that no beatmatch is perfect? Thus if you have the song beatmatched by -1 minute or something doesn't that mean it'll be out by the end? Or are you continually adjusting it?

4) Just to clarify, say if you had two songs beatmatched but then vinyl1 goes into a breakdown. When the beat comes back in, will the beat of vinyl1 still match the beat of vinyl2?

5)

quote:

2. Be ready to pitch bend (I do this by putting my finger on the label and spinning it to speed it up,

Does this not damage the stylus or anything like that at all?

Thanks a lot!

Last edited by sophanox on Jun-22-2007 at 14:56

quote:

1)Adjusting the pitch contol naturally makes the song sound a bit different - doesn't this matter whilst djing? Or is the adjustments you make so minimal no one notices?

yep, keep the adjustments minimal or do it in ur headfones on the cueing track before u start mixing

quote:

2)If you start mixing in at -1.30, and you've got it beatmatched say like 30 seconds later, doesn't that mean your second vinyl will be like halfway through the track by the time you actually play it over the speakers? Or do you keep the vinyl still the whole time with your finger?

u should have it beatmatched before u started mixing.. as soon as u have completed a mix, put another track on that player and start cueing (beatmatching/EQing, etc) then when u know it's about 1 min 30 to the end of the track playing u can drop it in knowing it is already beatmatched.

quote:

3) I was under the impression that no beatmatch is perfect? Thus if you have the song beatmatched by -1 minute or something doesn't that mean it'll be out by the end? Or are you continually adjusting it?

as with my previous answer, ur new track should already be beatmatched to avoid this problem

quote:

4) Just to clarify, say if you had two songs beatmatched but then vinyl1 goes into a breakdown. When the beat comes back in, will the beat of vinyl1 still match the beat of vinyl2?

if it is matched tightly, yes. altho there are no constant beats in the breakdown, due to the way the track is produced

and to ur last question, the stylus is not effected in any way - u're quite safe

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Thanks spoonz, you're from perth eh? I'm at uni in glasgow - you go to inside out at the arches at all? Or did you head up to rock ness?

I keep misphrasing just one question sorry, so I'm not getting it across properly,

For the above question 2, I mean like: so you've got vinyl1 playing and you've just put vinyl2 on and got it beatmatched. You can't just leave vinyl2 playing because then when you do mix it in, it'll be halfway through it's track right? Because you've been playing vinyl1. So do you have to hold the vinyl (vinyl2) the whole time with your finger or do you pause the turntable or what?

Thanks again =)

Last edited by sophanox on Jun-22-2007 at 15:08

quote:

Originally posted by sophanox Thanks spoonz, I keep misphrasing just one question sorry, so I'm not getting it across properly, For the above question 2, I mean like: so you've got vinyl1 playing and you've just put vinyl2 on and got it beatmatched. You can't just leave vinyl2 playing because then when you do mix it in, it'll be halfway through it's track right? Because you've been playing vinyl1. So do you have to hold the vinyl (vinyl2) the whole time with your finger or do you pause the turntable or what? Thanks again =)

sorry, i get u now. basically wot u want to do once u got the basic beat matched is start again, and again until u feel that the beats are locked as tightly as u can get them. by this i mean if u were to play both tracks simultaneously, u could just leave them without any adjustments being needed for at least 20 seconds giving ur hands the freedom to adjust the EQ's/faders/etc.

the great thing about DJing is u can learn it as quickly or as slowly as u like, cos learning the basics of each thing, ie: beat matching, phrasing, EQing, etc is fairly straight forward. it's just a case then of brushing up on each of these things to ur highest possible standard

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Right so once you'd got them beatmatched, you'd put vinyl 2 back near to the start of the record again? And then begin the beatmatching process again?

Cheers again, sorry this is taking so long =P

quote:

Originally posted by sophanox Right so once you'd got them beatmatched, you'd put vinyl 2 back near to the start of the record again? And then begin the beatmatching process again? Cheers again, sorry this is taking so long =P

Not quite, you only need to beatmatch once. When you start the record again, everything will already be beat match. You just have to sync the cued track and you're golden.

exactly... well you dont have to do the whole beatmatch process again, since you got your pitch faders already set up properly, all you need to do is to make sure the kickdrums are in sync

basically you just start the new track again, and pitch bend if necessary so it runs smooth with the first track, then you're ready to fumble around with faders and knobs

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