Hey guys,
For a little background on my question:
I know we all find ourselves in the situation where we have a record in standby to be cued and released in synch to the playing record. The way I do it is I have the platter spinning underneath my slipmat, while I'm cueing over the beat a few times getting ready to release it on top of the playing record's beat.


Assuming the records are properly beatmatched, I release the record at the proper time to get it ready to be cued in. However, I never fully get the beats aligned at first (which is ok, since I have a few moments before I have to mix it in). I find that the records have a small degree of separation between beats, and I try to eliminate this gap using these techniques:
a) gently pushing the record label forward, if the record is slow.
or
b) gently turning the spindle backwards, if the record is fast.

Now here is my question...

Is there a more time/effort efficient manner in aligning two records that could be applied while beatmatching as well as preparing a record to be mixed in?

Thank you!

Theres more than one way to do this, it all depends on what you're comfortable with and what you're accustomed too. Personally I just use the pitch to get rid of the gap, then quickly set it back to the setting I had before. I find that its quicker and more accurate, but if you're not use to doing this its going to require some practice. Hope that helps.

Last edited by Möbius on Mar-28-2003 at 17:52

I use the side of the platter, and either brush it to slow it down, or push it to speed it up.

thanks guys... i'll try these out!

I brush the platter to slow it down too.
I don't understand how you could push the platter to make it speed up though?

to speed it up, i press on the label, as close to the spindle as possible.

for me, this is natural, but i'm trying to learn to do it with the pitch slider instead, especially when the track is playing live, it's not as noticeable.

___________________

Visit my site Antiwar Homepage

I know 4 possible solutions:
work on record label
work on the side of turntable platter
work on pitch
work on spindle
I don't think that one of this method is absolutely better than the other, it's only a question of habit.

___________________
Mixed Euphoria
http://mixedeuphoria.net

quote:

Originally posted by b|p|3m I know 4 possible solutions: work on record label work on the side of turntable platter work on pitch work on spindle I don't think that one of this method is absolutely better than the other, it's only a question of habit.

no i beleive using the pitch is much better because if you push the lable it might result in the needle jumping then you have a larger gab

___________________

http://www.myspace.com/housessive
http://www.housessive.com/
Housessive Blog


Housessive now on Beatport!

quote:

Originally posted by Arsalan no i beleive using the pitch is much better because if you push the lable it might result in the needle jumping then you have a larger gab

You're right
but i think that work on pitch is a bit more difficult

___________________
Mixed Euphoria
http://mixedeuphoria.net

IMO, working the pitch is unparalleled. There is simply nothing better than it when it comes to aligning beats.

The reason is because using physical force is SO unpredictable. You never know when you might push it too far ahead, then you have to panic and scramble to pull it back, and it just sounds awful: "do do do DOOOOO do do DUUUUUU do do"

What I usually do, to answer Rhythm's original question, is after beatmatching a record (shouldn't take too long), I cue it up and leave it, then when it's time to throw it in, I move it back and forth on the beat, as you've said, and try to throw it in time.

Most of the time it's not perfectly thrown in, and the fact that I have Numark TT-100's doesn't help (but it's great for the practice and skill-development).

However! It's good enough so that all I need is a (usually) minor pitch adjustment to bring it back into phase/alignment.

Contrary to what you might think, it's very easy to use the pitch once you develop the beatmatching ear. Actually I'd say it's much easier than physically touching the platter or record. There is infinitely more control, and when you have "the ear", you can use the pitch to bring the record in alignment within 2-3 seconds or so.

All it takes is practice. I heartily and wholeheartedly recommend you all at least try using only the pitch for some time! Once you get used to it, you will never be able to go back to touching the platter/record.

EDIT: a smaller, secondary advantage is that if and when you decide to use CD decks (or are paired up with them at a club etc), you'll already be on top of the game. Whereas if you're used to using physical force... well, you can't exactly push a CD now can you.

quote:

Originally posted by Alccode IMO, working the pitch is unparalleled. There is simply nothing better than it when it comes to aligning beats. The reason is because using physical force is SO unpredictable. You never know when you might push it too far ahead, then you have to panic and scramble to pull it back, and it just sounds awful: "do do do DOOOOO do do DUUUUUU do do" What I usually do, to answer Rhythm's original question, is after beatmatching a record (shouldn't take too long), I cue it up and leave it, then when it's time to throw it in, I move it back and forth on the beat, as you've said, and try to throw it in time. Most of the time it's not perfectly thrown in, and the fact that I have Numark TT-100's doesn't help (but it's great for the practice and skill-development). However! It's good enough so that all I need is a (usually) minor pitch adjustment to bring it back into phase/alignment. Contrary to what you might think, it's very easy to use the pitch once you develop the beatmatching ear. Actually I'd say it's much easier than physically touching the platter or record. There is infinitely more control, and when you have "the ear", you can use the pitch to bring the record in alignment within 2-3 seconds or so. All it takes is practice. I heartily and wholeheartedly recommend you all at least try using only the pitch for some time! Once you get used to it, you will never be able to go back to touching the platter/record. EDIT: a smaller, secondary advantage is that if and when you decide to use CD decks (or are paired up with them at a club etc), you'll already be on top of the game. Whereas if you're used to using physical force... well, you can't exactly push a CD now can you.

Hey guy, you have persuaded me...
Now i think that work on pitch seem to be the best solution!

___________________
Mixed Euphoria
http://mixedeuphoria.net

quote:

Originally posted by Alccode IMO, working the pitch is unparalleled. There is simply nothing better than it when it comes to aligning beats. The reason is because using physical force is SO unpredictable. You never know when you might push it too far ahead, then you have to panic and scramble to pull it back, and it just sounds awful: "do do do DOOOOO do do DUUUUUU do do" What I usually do, to answer Rhythm's original question, is after beatmatching a record (shouldn't take too long), I cue it up and leave it, then when it's time to throw it in, I move it back and forth on the beat, as you've said, and try to throw it in time. Most of the time it's not perfectly thrown in, and the fact that I have Numark TT-100's doesn't help (but it's great for the practice and skill-development). However! It's good enough so that all I need is a (usually) minor pitch adjustment to bring it back into phase/alignment. Contrary to what you might think, it's very easy to use the pitch once you develop the beatmatching ear. Actually I'd say it's much easier than physically touching the platter or record. There is infinitely more control, and when you have "the ear", you can use the pitch to bring the record in alignment within 2-3 seconds or so. All it takes is practice. I heartily and wholeheartedly recommend you all at least try using only the pitch for some time! Once you get used to it, you will never be able to go back to touching the platter/record. EDIT: a smaller, secondary advantage is that if and when you decide to use CD decks (or are paired up with them at a club etc), you'll already be on top of the game. Whereas if you're used to using physical force... well, you can't exactly push a CD now can you.

Umm? Yes you can Push a cd?

That is exactly what you do with a decent CDJ! they are virtual turntables at the end of the day!

using the pitch is good providing you move it back to exactly where it was which aint always so easy, imo it would be better to learn using the hands on approach then although the actual correction has more chance of going wrong, your beatmatching won't.

nevertheless, i use all methods, just what seems appropriate at the time...

___________________

w: www.luketerry.com