I learned how to beatmatch using the finger method, but now use primarily the pitchbend. I spin new school breaks, speed garage, and tech-house, and I think that even within genres there is a time and a record for both types of beatmatching. Also, people definitely use the 500 or 600 for the effects, and the fact that you can spin on three or four tables much easier on these mixers than most.
If you spin a style where it will sound right, there are all sorts or things that you can do to spice up your mixing style. You can learn how to scratch, you can learn how to beat juggle, you can learn how to tease (playing 4 or 8 bars of another tracks melody or vocal over another track), you can learn how to do fader cuts where you chop up the beat or melody with the volume fader, you can learn how to do things with the pitch control, the stop/start button, you can learn how to manipulate builds by turning the turntable off and on, or you can create your own little tricks/techniques. The possibilities are virtually endless. Anyone that tells you turntablism is just for hip-hop and jungle is crazy. If you work it right, you can do just about anything with a turntable.
Anyway, I want to ask you guys what you think. A friend and I are having a bit of a disagreement. I say that it is okay to mix to tracks while one or both are in a breakdown, just so long as they sound right and it works. He says that you should never do this, whether you can make it sound good or not. What do you think?
Thaddeus