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Mixing Techniques: Pitchbend or Manual?
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zshev
Just a quick query, i've been mixing for a couple of months now and can beatmatch quite well. I use the pitch bend buttons to get my tracks aligned but all other dj's i know use their hand to slow down the platter/push the vinyl. I've never really read any mixing "howto's" but I wondered which you guys used, which you thought was best and which one do most mainstream dj's use?
benoitfan
Most DJs I know do it manually. I however use always the pitch and think is by far the best technique; 1st because I never got used to correct beats using the platter, 2nd because it's easier to screw things up if the record skips etc 3rd because it's noticeable, while with the pitch slider you only notice if it really is a huge correction. As for mainstream DJs.. well most use a mixture of both, but PvD uses his hand on the record more than he should while sasha for instance probably only uses his hand to cue the record up...
venomdx
I predominantly use pitch-bend, but I can use both.
Boomer187
when I pitch bend I never get it back to the right place.


so I just do it manually and let everyone know I did it :wtf:
benoitfan
yeh that's the biggest problem with this technique. but if you small corrections all the time you'll be always around more or less the same spot, it goes there with time ;)
3xx3r7
I use pitch adjustment for alignment. However, I should start using my hands on vinyl/platter more often, since sometimes I lose the correct pitch when moving it back to the original position.
djtrinity
i prefer pitchbend.....there is no wrong way
zshev
good to see my way (pitch bend) taking the majority. I might start learning to use platter control because some decks don't even come with pitchbend's, like some numarks, dunno why!
nrjizer
When beatmatching, I bend to get it within .5% or so (which nice beacuse it can be done very quickly), then do the last bit manually to ensure the most accurate pitch. Then when I'm transitioning, I usually just bend, unless the incoming track is still unnoticible. I'm very careful to correct my little errors without that nasty warbling pitch.

If you're quick and alert, you can hear tracks drifting in your headphones before it's noticible in the mix, so you can adjust the pitch ever so slightly in order to bend. This makes the fix a lot smoother and tighter, as well as making it a lot easier to find the correct pitch again when you're done. Plus, if you bend slowly, even if you're adjusting it in the wrong direction you'll realize quickly before you get anything worse than a gentle chop. If you manually adjust during a mix you'd better be damn sure you're moving it the right way, or you'll be galloping.
benoitfan
yeh, exactly, people tend to say pitch bending = pitch sliding...
zshev, you'll need to learn how to adjust solely with the slider if you wanna get real good 'cos technics for instance don't have pitch bend buttons and that's what you'll get in the clubs as you know...;)

nrjizer
quote:
Originally posted by Nou
Most turntables dont come with them, I think most people mean they bend it by sliding it themsleves up and down a bit to adjust.


Yes that's what I mean.

If your decks have an independent pitch bend I see little reason to ever adjust manually, pitch bending is a lot more accurate and a lot easier on the ears.
starlabs
I've been starting to teach myself beatmatching using pitch bending/sliding soley. The only problem I have is - how do you get your "original" position after you slide it up/down and back?

With my CDJs, I just look at the tempo change % and note it. But obviously this wouldn't be possible with analog tempo sliders such as those on traditional vinyl turntables. I guess you guys just wing it?? :conf:
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