beatmatching aint exactly a piece of piss.
even if you have an affinity for it it takes years to really perfect it.
I could beat match decent 2-3 minute mixes after a year.
Now I can match a record in seconds to within a fraction of the amount of pitch adjustment required, its instinctual.
I like using 3 turntables... thats a challenge!
Personally I almost never actually fuck up a mix, and i havent train wrecked in about 10 years, but, its my job, and im an old man! Having said that, just matching the bpm aint enough, its all about the perfect moment to mix in and out, to cut, to drop, and the perfect eq balance as your new record comes in.
oh, and sorry if its long winded, but some of the following info may be helpful for those trying to figure out what they want out of electronic music....
The definition of a DJ gets disputed here and there and to be honest I dont have time to devote to splitting hairs on forums, but what essentially a DJ does is mix tracks together by matching the bpm (manually/anologue/digital whatever) and bringing in the selected track to fit the one playing already and then by whatever means fading from one to the other.
of course their is lots more to it than that especially when it comes to turntablism and scratching.
ableton is great, i love to use it, but its not the first choice for mixing. in fact you cant really "DJ" with it easily, as it is best for making music/designing a set etc.
if you want to get started with DJing and you have a PC I suggest you use software that emulates turntables.
Virtual DJ is a good starter - but you will need an audio interface (cheapest adequate one is M-Audio Connectiv)
the reason you need this is to seperate the sound to two channels of a Dj mixer, and so you can hear the upcoming track in your phones.
without this, you only have one audio output so you cant easily mix from one track to another.
Another thing you'll need is a cheap DJ mixer. Anything will do. just make sure it has two channels and a crossfader. something like vestax Pcv will suffice.
Using virtual Dj you can load mp3s to two virtual turtables and manipulate them as you would real records.
if you have a bit more cash i suggest using something like serato or traktor and buying the audio interfaces that come with them.
this is because you can use vinyl control records to manipulate the mp3s, and therefore "beatmatch" on real turntables. this is not necessary but it will gain you more respect (if you care - personally i think anything goes), but most importantly it will give you better experience as a dj, and make you more versatile and able to mix using a range of media. For example, you will be able to go "back to back" with another DJ, where you each play a track and mix in to the others last track. if that person is playing records or cds, you wouldnt be able to do this if you dont learn to beatmatch. Also if your pc crashes, you cant resque the situation by whacking on a cd or records and mixing in.
if your broke go M-Audio and cheap mixer. and use the supplied Torq soft or "Virtual DJ" which is better if you aren't planning to use vinyl control.
If you want to keep it old school and learn from the turntable upwards, It is the best way to really discover how to mix and tune your ears to beat matching. It is also SO FUCKING PLEASING when you pull of mix after mix, where the records are bang in time and you dont even need to make any adjustments. That is a great feeling.
But for those here saying technics 1210’s are the only way.... I say this;
everyone has their own advice.
I am not saying by any means that my advice is correct and others are incorrect, however i can give you my subjective opinion, based on 20 years in the music industry, Currently DJing and organising/producing/promoting in far east Asia, whilst running my own record label. Not trying to boast. Just confirming that i feel qualified to be confident in my advice.
Which is Dont hold out for technic 1210s.
You know how many people i know who could have started years ago, and become fantastic DJs, grown up with the rest of us, but are now just learning the ropes and have missed the boat entirely cause they "held out" for technics.
Bollocks mate.
get any old pair of Direct Drive turntables you can, and a basic 2 channel mixer with crossfader and rock and roll. I didnt even use technics until I got my first gig, didn't even buy them until I'd set up my own label, and you know what, it'll make you a better DJ!
I learnt on belt drive gemini's i believe, and my next upgrade were battered old stanton ST direct drives, which i still have in blighty.
you get what you can afford and learn on them. you will learn a very fine touch and understanding of analogue bpm adjustment, and when you step up to DJ at a gig or perform at a club/party, it will feel like a piece of piss!
I was well nervous my first gig, 2 mixes in i thought FUCK ME! this is easy!
Having played around the world in squats, clubs, pubs, bars, raves, festivals etc im thankful i had a shit set up at home. cause you'll encounter a great many sketchy set ups on your way through the DJ scene, but you'll be able to cope with them. Half the guys i know who learnt on the best of the best, get absolutely panic stricken when they play out and say, one deck is fucked, or the needle jumps, or the weight aint right, or the torque has dissapeared from lack of service/overuse. me? its no biggie. however thankfully i dont encounter many sketchy set ups these days.
even my set up at home aint as good as the one in my shop!
i like it that way.
learn on anything that you can get your hands on man!
though 1) get good/medium range headphones 2) make sure your speakers/monitors aint toooo shoddy 3) make sure the tables are direct drive 4) make sure your needles are decent enough 5) make sure the tone arms/weights aren't in too bad condition on the tables
rock on
DJ
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")