Just started Digital DJing- to use BMP measures or not?

[Digitalgrub]

After messing round with mate's decks for years I finally bought some hardware to go with my computer and start with digital DJing. I'm using a Vestax Typhoon which seems to be pretty good in terms of quality of sound, ease of controls etc. I went digital due to costs, as well as wanting to incorporate Ableton later on (not to mention having thousands of tracks on a hardrive as opposed to lugging round so many CDs).

Anyway, I wanted to get your guys thoughts on using a programme like traktor. Besides the link between the deck's controls and the programmes visuals, it also shows the BMPs of the track as well as a visual layout of the tracks so you can really easily see where the drop or a heavy bassline comes in.

In learning to DJ should I completely ignore/remove these components (which is of course harder to start with, but probably worth the effort) to be able to use normal CD decks or should I make the best of it and use all the tools to my advantage of a tight set? I've already stopped using the 'sync' button, as it's a no brainer when to stop/start the next track, but the BMP counter is really useful. What do you all reckon?

Pete

As for vinyl, that's a completely different story as you have the physical component. I realise that just because I could DJ with CDs or WAV / MP3s (only 320 or above) doesn't mean I can use vinyl.

[avatar_karma]

My opinion: cover up the BPM counters and learn to mix off ear. You'll have to learn one day, might as well be now ;)

And if it will make the transition to CDs or vinyl a lot earier later.

[VegetableSoup]

Ive only just started messing around with dance music in the last week or so and I have been getting frustrated with my beatmatching.
I thought I would have pretty much picked it up in a week as i just want to power ahead and start mixing lots of songs together but I guess if I used my bpm counter now and didnt learn how to beat match by ear it will just hold me down later. Plus I'll look like a bit of a tool.
So i reckon learn by ear first save someone looking at you one day and saying "hey you mix music but you can't even beatmatch" :P

[Bumpy]

Learn by ear. It doesn't take to long to get the hang of it. Plus you can't always rely on the BPM counter anyway as they can be off

[Justin_m23]

BPM counters can and will be wrong. The only consistent tool you'll have while DJing is your ear. Learn to listen instead of look and you'll be able to DJ with anything.

[Digitalgrub]

Thanks guys, I reckon I'll disable the BPM counter then. However, I might use the visual readout of the track in the way a vinyl DJ looks at the grooves on a record to find where different parts are (breakdowns etc).

[Catdog69Kool]

I might use the visual readout of the track in the way a vinyl DJ looks at the grooves on a record to find where different parts are (breakdowns etc).

Nothing wrong with that dude, saves us all a lot of effort :thumb:

[deejaydee]

Yeah, good advice in here. It's best to learn to do things the hard way now rather than getting screwed by a different setup in the future. BPM counters will lie to you, but you can always trust your own ears!

[stubs]

Vestax Typhoon looks like it could be quite the mission to beat match on.. I say just sync it.

[CanadianGoose]

My opinion: cover up the BPM counters and learn to mix off ear. You'll have to learn one day, might as well be now ;)

And if it will make the transition to CDs or vinyl a lot earier later.

If you don’t get that kid an elephant by tomorrow, the DJ 3000 gets your job.

[Jimma]

I find the 'BPM counter' to be pretty reliable most of the time but as stated above, they can be wrong so it's best to learn via ear. It's a pretty useful tool to have anyway (knowing how to beat-match). Good luck.

[Digitalgrub]

Vestax Typhoon looks like it could be quite the mission to beat match on.. I say just sync it.

Nah, its not too hard to beat match. The hard part is getting tracks at different speeds to be at the same speed... At least with most house its around 128, but I'm going to have to learn so I can mix in a bit of prog, trance and tech with the house stuff. Nothing worse than 2 hours of 128 4/4!

The Typhoon is working out well actually. Still, I might get my whole music library sorted via BPM to get a rough idea.

[Catdog69Kool]

you've got a good head on you for some one whose only starting out

i respect that man

[Bumpy]

Nah, its not too hard to beat match. The hard part is getting tracks at different speeds to be at the same speed...

That is beat matching.. but once you got that down put it'll be a breeze for ya

[Funkedub]

10 bux says 85% of your tracks don't vary by more than 10 BPM anyway ... use the BPM counter if you want the easy option ... use your ears if you actually want to be a "DJ"

[Jimma]

10 bux says 85% of your tracks don't vary by more than 10 BPM anyway ... use the BPM counter if you want the easy option ... use your ears if you actually want to be a "DJ"

I don't think that's the point...? You need to learn to beat match regardless because the bpm counter is out quite often (not as often as people would think, though). Plus, what if you're playing on 200's or a similar piece of equipment (house party etc) that doesn't have a beat counter, or if it's broken?

I think the bpm readers are great guides and 'time savers' but I wouldn't follow them blindly...

[Funkedub]

I don't think that's the point...? You need to learn to beat match regardless because the bpm counter is out quite often (not as often as people would think, though). Plus, what if you're playing on 200's or a similar piece of equipment (house party etc) that doesn't have a beat counter, or if it's broken?

I think the bpm readers are great guides and 'time savers' but I wouldn't follow them blindly...




my point was that it should be much easier to master beat matching without BPM counters when the majority of what you're mixing falls within a narrow tempo range

[Random_Kiwi]

Having Traktor et al showing what a tracks BPM is, is very very handy...like knowing the track, at zero %, is 128 or whatever, so you know, without wasting time, not to mix track X which is slow, and pitched down a bit, with track Y which is really fast...but relying on the BPM counter to mix will just lead to you becoming a weak DJ, and at times, will put you completely in trainwreck city...also, just because both tracks are playing at 128.2 BPM, doesn't mean they're playing in time with each other...use you ears, with training, they're more accurate.

Oh, and yeah, the waveform is awesome, nothing wrong with looking at that, knowing then the breakdown starts and ends...really, that's no different to looking at a piece of vinyl and reading the light/dark areas.

[Matty_neal]

I use the BPM on almost every track, but every now and then it will be off so I'll manually beat match. The advantages of starting off with vinyl :D

[deejaydee]

I use the BPM on almost every track, but every now and then it will be off so I'll manually beat match. The advantages of starting off with vinyl :D

Yeah, I agree that I do the same. I don't think there's anything wrong with using them to just get a ballpark idea of where you should be going, and then manually fine-tuning. If the technology is there it may as well be used, just so long as you're not putting too much reliance on it.

[Digitalgrub]

Well, I've done some more practise and stopped looking at the BPM counter when mixing, just use it when I load up a track to get a base BPM. Most tracks in the same genre are pretty similar in speed, esp in house or dubstep. As for psytrance, well that can change quite a lot depending on the track from 132 right up to 150! (not that I would mix psytrance and house in the same set...though it might work with some of that ravey electro stuff mixed with psytrance...

[deejaydee]

Good to hear you're having fun mate. As always, practice and enjoy! :P