Let’s Talk About… SYNC | Beatsource Tech
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- Опубликовано: 17 сен 2024
- Since the technology first appeared, sync has been a truly contentious topic amongst DJs. Is it a useful tool which can help a DJ take their sets to a new level, or simply a method of cheating which deserves to be shunned? On the new episode of Beatsource Tech, Mojaxx breaks down his thoughts on this most taboo of subjects...
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I think we need to worry less about DJs using sync and shift the focus towards educating new and inexperienced DJs about things like when to bring the next track in, phrasing, musical key etc. I think these are much more important skills to have these days.
@@abstractdrumz I disagree. The main thing to avoid is people thinking they are great DJ’s by using the sync button without understanding how to beat match or match tempo manually. If their music is shit because they don’t understand phrasing or key compatibility then so be it. People just won’t listen or like it
Nope. You can be an AMAZING manual beat matcher, technically a metronome, but that certainly does not = a great DJ. Getting over the shoes in the dryer is just the tip of the iceberg. Without ALL of what @abstractdrumz mentioned, its still just boring
@@FoundationsSoundLab my experience is that most peeps who have put the ground work into DJing are more committed and produce better sets are in for the long term and progress. I’m only talking from a dnb background here. Creativity is something aside. You either have that or you don’t. I know music is subjective but I like to think that the people into music with a provenance create better music. Oppose to a 13 year old lad who has found the sync button. When I mix music I play what I would want to hear on the dance floor but I like to think I add a bit of diversity and atmosphere.
@@FoundationsSoundLab this is an old mix of mine - one easily accessible because it’s on YT. I’m happy for you to cuss it or tell me parts where it is crap. All feedback is good feedback ruclips.net/video/dTZthXMC26E/видео.htmlsi=BRLcC8nbcG_721lf
@@BitLeggreat comments, well said. Those who are fully invested in anything in life will invariably end up better than those who do things by halves.
I was a Redbull 3Style competitor, am now a finalist in the 2024 DMC UK
Championships & I use sync in my sets when I'm booked.
Come at me.
I come from the vinyl era and knowing that the turntables are locked in tempo & I don't need to baby sit a pitch fader means I can be creative with my sets (scratching, beat juggling, pad drumming).
Hahah, I was a 3Style judge, sick my friend. Congrats and enjoy.
lol
no one coming at you bro. 😅 you too much for the keyboard warrior and djs
There’s a feeling you get as a DJ when manually beat matching.
It’s like getting that turn right for the first time on a surfboard or snowboard, it’s a sensation that feels really awesome when you get it right… with music you feel like you are part of it, or in it…
That said, I used to be a vinyl snob until someone in a Dj forum showed me Traktor a while back…they said something that stuck with me ….mixing with 2 decks without learning to beat match and only using sync, while being a tool, understandably brings out the responses from vinyl snobs like me that it wasn’t djing…
Then he asked if I heard of Traktor and patiently proceeded to show me how you could have 2 decks with tracks playing, the 3rd with stems (yes this was a many years ago and as you all may or may not know, Traktor had stems as files back then, not active stem separation but still awesome) and then the 4th deck, you could have as a sample back with 8 x 8 banks of samples (I stand corrected on the number here but you get the idea)…
He then asked me how much time I spent beatmatching vinyl…and wouldn’t I want to spend more time being creative in a mix… also, manually beatmatching the list he mentioned on Traktor would be impossible, even for an octopus…it was an eye opener for me, for which I am grateful. I have used Rekordbox, Serato, Engine Dj and now have a club standard setup and when mixing a set, still manually beatmatch for that ‘feeling’… but when doing more creative things in mixes, with samples etc, the sync button is a very useful tool to push the boundaries of creativity.
Manual beatmatching is a skill that will only elevate your djing and understanding of the music and mixes you are doing…in the end, DJing is simply playing music to a group of people so that that they enjoy it, how you go about, is totally up to you.
The only thing I will add, is I feel that beyond Sync, there is the thing of prerecorded sets…In my opinion, this can never allow the feeling that a Dj or artist can create and convey in the moment, the connection to the crowd, the moment in time and that feeling only music and dancing gives us…maybe I’m wrong but I feel that way.
Music is Freedom. Thanks Mojaxx.🙌
This is exactly how sync should be approached in my opinion. Mixing two channels yeah go old skool, mixing 3 or 4 then get a little help from your friend.
DJing for 40 years, and I confess, I am too a syncer, and I am not ashamed!
I'm really happy you did this. It's absurd that it's a taboo. I'd rather have a DJ that's good with music than one that's good with beat syncing.
Once drum and bass accepted sync it was over!! We LOVE Andy he’s our hero
Yeah, as soon as I saw the GOAT using it, I knew the time had come
@@Positive_Tea DnB culture is almost an exception to the Sync rule in my mind when looking at the sets AMC (yes I forgot the f’ing dots) and Andy C because their current sets are so fast paced. Running doubles and triple drops and often switching tracks within a minute it makes sense to use Sync. For other genres of music I don’t think sync is necessary unless a DJ is being very lazy - like house
Well DJ EZ can mix on four pioneers with turntables and he don't use Sync or features, he manually drums on cue buttons , the only feature he uses is digital mode on the CDJ rather than vinyl
Andy has to use sync probably because of the Ram lighting show , he even used sync on dvs timecode with traktor for the that before at big shows on stage , so because of that I'm not surprised there to hear he does with cdjs .
I’ve seen Djs ruin a dance floor ruin a wedding ruin a moment cuz they don’t want to hit one button lol
Exactly I’ll be damned if I compromise a mix because of pride or what someone might say
LOL I mean, you would think that if someone hated sync that much they would at least know how to actually properly "beatmatch" and I don't just mean locking two joints together. smh
I started dj-ing in '95, firstly on the Denon 2500F twin CD player followed by vinyl a year later...then life took me in another direction, 23 years passed and I got back into it again in 2018, aged 54, I bought a little 2 pot Denon MC4000 which I still have and use (I love it's simplicity) and am I'm now exploring the Pioneer landscape and it's ecosystem, throughout all of this, I've predominantly used SYNC...I thought I never would yet here we are! In many respects, in the way I DJ, (surprisingly) It's made me/my sets better...I transition between Deep, Progressive, Afro, Techno, Organic, Indie/Nu Dance & Electronica. I'Ve come to a place whereby I curate and craft my sets and SYNC assists me in my performance to tie it all together...There are as many ways to DJ as there are DJ's and the trick is finding what works for you, this may or may not work for others and this isn't right or wrong per se... you do you and I'll do me because as Mojaxx said,, at the end of the day, it's about the quality coming out of the speakers, what people are hearing and dancing to 🙏
Two things:
- Anyone who cares about what the DJ is doing over what is coming out of the speakers, doesn't actually care about the music. It doesn'tt matter how the music happens.
- I have never heard you DJ (but followed your videos for many years) but hearing you talk about these subjects, and calling on experiance, I know how good you are at DJKing you arem and top of your craft
@@StatetrooperBillyBill I agree.
Why bother with a human DJ anyway, when they all use SYNC, all mix the same way, and nobody in the crowd cares about what the DJ is doing.
Dance music is so generic these days, everything has been done to death a thousand times, House & Techno tracks all use the same sounds and are produced to make mixing almost so easy a monkey could do it anyway.
We didn't need SYNC in the late 80's Acid House era, or the early 90's rave era, and the crowds went mental, and treated the DJ like a god.
It's crap now, clubbers stand there filming themselves to post on social media and don't give a toss or even understand what makes a good set.
@@StatetrooperBillyBill 100%
Scratch DJ's are the only 'real' DJ's these days.
I don't know where you are from, but here in the UK, the late 1993 criminal justice bill killed the original rave scene, and after that hardly any real raves, the brilliant illegal ones had been outlawed, and that left huge commercial companies to set up legal dance music events (I wouldn't call them raves), simply to make as much money as possible, and that was the beginning of the end.
Younger DJ's think the pinnacle of DJ-ing now is to play at Ibiza or similar, it's a joke, and makes original DJ's like myself just laugh at their utter ignorance, because they just don't know what it was really like.
Today, it's just about money, that is all, success is just judged on the amount of money they can make, but original DJ's from my era know the truth.
Back in the late 80's and early 90's it wasn't about the money, it was about the respect and admiration for being great at your craft. The payback was the admiration and love from the ravers.
@@StatetrooperBillyBill 100% amen brother !
Finally someone said it. Thank you @Mojaxx!! As much as I love vinyl, I could never do what I wanted to in my head. Loop sections, change tempo as I mixed etc.. I couldn’t wait to ditch it as soon as the first CDJ came out. I immediately saw the potential. And it was the same argument back then too.
It really doesn’t matter how you deliver your set as long as the crowd loves it and you feel happy with your performance.
I've been a working musician for over 30 years, and DJing has always been a part of my journey. For a long time, I relied on tools like Sync, Key matching, and energy ratings. Recently, I decided to ditch them all, and it's reignited my passion for DJing. Going "raw" has improved everything-my sets, song choices, and overall enjoyment. These tools can be helpful, but if you have a musical background, embrace your instincts and let your true musicality shine through while DJing.
I mixed House exclusively on turntables for 20 years, but feel so much more creativity/flow since switching to using sync on standalone Pioneer gear about 10 years ago. I had been having a hard time accessing flow state for a few years before that switch. Now, I can now easily mix for 3 hours at a time and usually forget what time it was when I started.
Sync is literally the only way my brain can handle 4 deck mixing on dual layer
Andy C might be the greatest, but Randall is the most talented DnB DJ I've ever seen live and I've seen both multiple times.
Randall can play any style of set, at any time, anywhere.
Warm up, headliner, closing act. He never missed. RIP, what a legend.
I knew that if any other name came up in the comments, it would be Randall - and rightly so. A truly sad loss.
@@Mojaxx ❤️
My fav was DJ Footloose or DJ Charliebrown even DJ D Lux sorry Andy
Thanks for this. I learned the OG way and now I use sync cause I play 4 tracks at a time for sampling parts I want to use. Nothing wrong with it and use it for what it’s meant for.
Well said. Totally agree, use it when you want, if you want. Don't expect it to always work. Be vigilant.
Boy Scout approved 😂🖤🔊
Great video. Sync is definitely not a magic button from the first time you press it, it's something you have to learn how to use. I love it!
Sync is a tool that can help in a DJs creativity. It frees us up to do more things you wouldn’t normally be able to do. As you rightly pointed out, mixing is not just beat matching. Really enjoyed this informative video mate.
Been DJing since 1986, I fall into Point #5 but never been bored :)
Great video! I started using Simple Sync about 5 years ago and don't regret it. All of your points are very valid.
On the whole beatmatching is like riding a bike thing, I didnt touch a pair of decks for a decade and when I got back to it, it was still in muscle memory like nothing had happened
Exactly that, its not as difficult as many think it is to learn the technique to mix by ear , just that many today want to skip that and press a button 👍
I've been a DJ for decades and learn't my trade on vinyl, playing Hip Hop, Soul, Funk, House, etc. I felt like I was cheating, when I went to controllers and used sync because of my pride in my mixing skill, so I avoided using it. But then I found it was helpful in matching loops to the timing, when being creative and using four decks and such. Now I don't use sync anymore, or maybe once is a blue Moon for a particular blend of sound, but I don't knock DJ's who use it. It has its place now in the DJ world and credit to those who use it creatively and use it as an art form. It's not the tools that make great things, but how the tools are used by the person to make great things! DJing is an evolving artform and there's room for traditional and the contemporary, with the advances in DJ technology. Still got my massive record collection and my decks, along with the Rane Performer now and have the best of both worlds and unlimited creative possibilities to explore, create vibe and enjoy the act of DJing, still getting a big buzz from it.
Glad you covered this topic, very informative of such a sensitive subject. 😉😅
Man I respect you so much Mojave. Not because of this video but because of your knowledge and honesty. Thank you for all you’ve done! ONE✊🏾
*Mojaxx🙏🏾
Waiting for the comments that contain “real DJs” in the sentences. Grabbing popcorn.
Yeah that’s such a weird thing 😂to say
😂😂🤣🤣
Loved this.
DJ's who only use SYNC, are like artists who use colouring books, paint-by-numbers.
Mojaxx makes the best dj vids period
agree!
You are right. It matters not how an amazing set is created but the fact it is amazing. Creativity is something not taught but embodied in oneself.
This by far is the best SYNC video lecture I have ever seen! There are other so-called professional schools out here that talk about it but not in death like you just did or I just saw here! It really answers a lot of questions that I had through the years that I now see is a problem that all Software has and is not a product of my own skills! Thank you for taking the time to explain this Doohickey a questions and answering it without having to pay thousands of dollars to someone who was just interested in getting paid! Sure, I believe the game should be sold, not told, however, since the introduction of a I in this sector of the music game, I think the previous model of how you typically insure the way D.J. magical skills are done and passed on through generations is over! Hell they’re teaching Artificial intelligence everything we do as a D.J. community as well as we’re showing it every day when we interact on these platforms, so why not share the information free… It’s the humanly thing to do! Thanks for this gem of a video!
As a fairly new DJ with an EXTENSIVE history with more "classical" forms of music creation/performance, I can appreciate DJ's hesitance over the sync function. That being said, it irritates the heck out of me how many DJs obsess over others' use of sync. Your point about the creative possibilities unlocked by using this is literal (figurative lol) music to my ears. I love to layer pop/rock/hip-hop over drum loops from all kinds of genres, and the ability to take a loop and slow it down or speed it up with something else playing over top smoothly is SO MUCH FUN and the crowd usually goes crazy when you mix two well known tracks together in a way that would be nearly impossible while manually beat matching. Thank you for this!!! Love the channel, btw. Especially the gear reviews of stuff that I will never purchase. #GearHeadsUnite
Great video and rightly so. I’ve been DJing since 1994 and I’m so glad I mastered beat matching first. When sync came along I realised I was spending a minute or more beat matching to within 0.1 of the actual BPM anyway so why waste that time doing it manually when I could just hit sync and get creative! I now use sync almost all the time and have more fun with stems and loops, creating much more interesting sets than I ever could with vinyl.
You’re right that sometimes it’s just fun to beat match and for sure it’s a skill I always fall back on when sync lets me down (or the club gear is badly set up!) but for me sync just removes that redundant job and lets me do so much more with confidence.
DJing isn’t about beat matching. It’s about know your tunes and reading the crowd. Sync or no sync won’t save you if you can’t do those well.
Started Djaying in 84' with a pair of belt driven Thorens turntables and a Realistic mixer,,
Played vinyl up until around 8 yrs ago where I would have an iPad with my vinyl collection and use that to play tracks I didn't have on vinyl,
Then picked up a cheap Numark controller, iDJ pro and started using Algoriddim Djay,
It took me I think two years of using that set up for me to discover what beatgrids were and what Sync did,,
Coming from playing Disco and Funk vinyl, discovering Sync was the next best thing since the invention of drinking water..
I now use a Denon Go as well as a Rane One with an iPad Air with Djay pro soft ware and as mentioned, the beat gridding feature is the best out there, I do occasionally correct the grids and go through every track to make sure they are gridded perfectly and my blends come out perfectly,
Where once upon a time I would frown upon cdj's and other forms of digital djaying, I am convert now,, I still have my Sl 1200's as well as all my vinyl collection, but the weight was another reason for going digital
the crowd does not care about what buttons you press
shaming someone for using a button is insane when you dont even need to beatmatch in 2024
literally the BPM counters are so good in modern tech that you will NEVER actually need to use your ears to manually beatmatch.
What if you’re following on from someone whose last track was on vinyl?
And you still need to be able to beat match, as in listen in the headphones and check both tracks are in time, matching bpm counters means nothing if you still can’t hear if it’s trainwrecking. What if the link port is broken on the CDJs? Do you have 2 USBs to avoid issues? Can you mix without them linked?
To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail.
@@djstucyou don’t need link for a BPM counter to work. Even still a modern mixer can show you the BPM. My point is the counters in modern equipment are more reliable than in the past…. so much so you don’t even need a sync button. Basically ANY pioneer media player with rekordbox has very good counters.
Beyond that it’s very very rare when I play out that anyone is using vinyl. The vast majority of my gigs are always xdjs or cdjs (with rekordbox)
Yes being able to beat match by ear is a toolset everyone should have, but over time as technology gets better I rarely need to.
For example if playing on cdj-900’s your doing it by ear. But if it’s a cdj-900nxs it’s got rekordbox built in with very reliable counters.
@@cody_raves yes but you still have to press the play button at the right spot then have the ability to make small corrections as it’s almost always never in time. That’s where you will fall apart extremely quickly if you can’t hear which way it needs adjusting, or have the ability to adjust it, ie the muscle memory.
I’ve seen plenty of these ‘line the speeds up’ DJs and literally every single time their mixing sounds terrible, largely down to the fact they open the fader and it’s all over the place, even if it’s not it will be within seconds.
People just need to learn the skills full stop, no argument, no excuses.
The world of DJing is sleepwalking itself into AI irrelevance anyway so none of this actually matters, you’ll all be out of a job before long, and it’ll all be down to begging for more and more automation, like the turkey voting for Christmas.
Auto track selection, auto cross fader, auto EQ, beat sync, key sync, it’s all more and more reasons for some venue to say ‘who needs the stroppy ego trip in the corner who turns up late and drinks the bar dry’… we’ll just replace him with AI software.
I’ve had my 25yr career of gigging and dj sets, I’ll quite happily mix at home and enjoy myself, the younger generation won’t be so lucky.
@@djstuc it’s just a button, I don’t think your 25 years of DJing is discredited cause some kid used a sync button.
Is a carpenter less of a wood worker for using a nail gun?
Or would you pay more money for a carpenter that exclusively uses a hammer?
At the end of the day I don’t care what combination of knobs, buttons and faders you press.
It either sounds good or it don’t.
I don’t care if you make art with a pencil, pen, brush… all that matters is the end result.
@@cody_raves it’s not about credit or discredit. The only thing that discredits a DJ is making obvious mistakes that sound bad, and the fact is someone who hasn’t bothered to learn how to mix is far more likely to do that than someone who has, the end.
Serato dj pro user. I don't use sync. I still enjoy the challange of mixing at every single gig that I do. 18 years in clubs and still don't plan on changing my style it has worked great so far.
Great video as always Mojaxx, very nuanced with loads of sensible advice on the pros and cons.
To throw in my 2p as a DJ of 30 years who likes to think he can pitch chase with the best of them, I've long felt that some people (and thankfully there seems to be less of them about nowadays) are far too precious about beat-matching. I think in part that's due to some unfounded fear about making DJing 'too easy', that's to say people get anxious that the hours of beat-matching practice they've put in over the years will count for nothing, and feel insecure that their DJ prowess will be diminished in someway. As such they try to keep beat-matching up on the pedestal it occupied in the 90s, when it was considered the holiest of DJ skills, and are full of distain for sync users. This is hugely misguided IMO, because as Mojaxx implies if the music is right no one dancing in the club really cares.
Beat-matching is still a useful skill, but given sync exists if we rank the key aspects of DJing in terms of overall importance it comes close to the bottom (perhaps only above dancing ability). Selection, programming, EQing, fading and (sensible) effects use all rank higher and, most importantly, each of these can be interpreted differently allowing for artistic flair and identity. But beat-matching is not really open to artistic interpretation, and it no longer sets you aside from the crowd. Do it if you like (I do!) but no one in the club actually knows or cares, and why should they?
When it comes down the most important skill that all the best DJs possess is understanding what to play next and when to press play. That's where the magic is.
Sorry I went on a rant there! It's just been bothering me for a long time and it's nice to see sanity prevailing. Feel good to have vented haha
Very good post, you are spot on.
beatmatching got old 10 years ago and it honestly made me stop the hobby back then, i just recently got back to it when i saw old stuff from hawtin and dubfire blasting 4 tracks with sync on top with ableton to throw in some live programmed stuff at the same time, it opens up so much more creative potential to make a way bigger and complete set in the end.
This, why are we still having this retarded discussion when top DJ's have proved long ago that you can get so much more creative with sync.
Hahah, funny, in the studio, I got so bored with sync/controllerism I almost quit mixing. Then I revamped my 1200’s and found it fun again. Totally agree on the added benefits of full digital. Especially, Hawkins and dubfire. I grew up in DC when Ali was part of deep dish. Stay curious friend.
Damn. I use traktor with ableton and dont even cue things up 😅
And Mojaxx I'm so stoked to hear we were both bouncing around Fabric 20 years ago. Truly a special time in London.
Been doing this since forever. But it took Mojaxx and Cleveland Terry to get on me to Sync when I did the outdoor Twitch sets during the pandemic. Best move I did. Made me way more creative.
As someone who started on vinyl, I have no issues with sync, even though with my current style of mixing I really don't need it, plus I have thousands of tracks that I would have to analyze and beat grid, so I still beatmatch manually. But sync lets you do things you would've needed a sampler/production software to do 20 years ago live. Even with sync you still need to know your music and where to bring in the next track. The tools are there. Use 'em or don't 🤷♂ and I'm someone who finds the process of playing wax way more enjoyable than dvs but we have too many options now for that to be considered the "right" or "only" way.
Using sync is essential for dj's that want to rock 3 or 4 decks and use all of the digital features and parameters. It allows djs to focus more on the creative and fun side of performing. Looping, FX, EQs & Filters, Scratching over a live mix, Double Drops, changing the tempo of 2 or 3 tracks in the mix at the same time and with all of the above going on as well! Learning to beat match with vinyl was quite a magical thing for me to master back in 1992 when I first started on a pair of Technics SL's) but today, let the tech handle the boring beat matching so djs can focus on the cool stuff!
THIS!!!!
You put it so eloquently I might wanna start using it ❤
Great synopsis sir. I use the tools that are given to me, including Sync. I just did a HOCO this past weekend and Quick Mixing is a must. Tempo Sync saves me so much time and reduces errors. You made so many valid points. Like you I still love using my CMA 10-2DL and some vinyl.
I never use it myself on CDJs, beat mixing is easy to me, part of my sound, and sync is annoying .. first thing I do when I take over the decks is turn it off and switch the decks to vinyl mode. I just prefer it. I don't care what others do.
I ask my client/audience if the want my analogue vinyl setup or if they only care about the music coming out of the speakers. Never has anyone cared about me using cdj’s or going fully digital in the +100 dj gigs I had. If sync increases the quality of the mix then go for it. That extra hand will often times be very “handy”. Djay Pro’s sync has been solid for the past 8 years.
Thank you Mojaxx
I can beat match - and I have been beat matching for 30 years. But I now use sync. It frees me up to be creative and focus on other DJ skills - but knowing how to beat match is still crucial, for when things start to slip etc, you must know how to manually take over if needed. But it's a "new" technology which is fantastic!
My biggest issue at the moment is pre-recorded sets... I get the pressure - but that's not reading a crown and playing live - which is a skill! Another topic for another day.
Who’s doing pre-recorded sets? Can you point us to where they can be found?
as a real dj well said Mojaxx
A lot of really good points in this video, and really well-spoken too.
The one thing not mentioned tho, is the gate keeping aspect.
In other words, in the days of vinyl (and even early in the CD/mp3 era) - the need to learn how to beatmatch (and the money needed for the gear/vinyl/CDJs) meant you had to be pretty serious, and put in a lot of hours of practice*, to be considered for any sort of decent gig.
The result was, the vast majority of johnny-come-latelys who just wanted to be a dj for the fame, money, popularity etc, never got anywhere with it (or didn't even try). There was no easy, convenient way to be a star DJ, so those kind of wankers generally stayed away.
This was a good thing, because it spared us from dj sets by people who really didn't know much about dance music (compared to many of the really passionate people in the scene), and who would never have put in the effort to learn how to build a really good set, or pull off effective mixes.
Now tho....we have sync. And people pre-recording sets, and other people with someone literally under the desk doing the mixing for them (eg. Paris Hilton). The last two are what they are - it's stupid, but anyone doing that, probably isn't playing the kind of music we underground dance music enthusiasts want to hear anyway.
But sync and other assistive technology (like the bpm counters on cdjs), enable someone who will deliver crappy sets to play gigs, that they only get because they're mates with the promoter, or have a big social media following. Then young people to the scene who are excited simply because clubs/festivals/dance music are so new to them, think 'that's awesome'...and so the scene becomes diluted by crappy set building, bad mixing, and boringly average/cheesy music (just look at 90% of Tomorrowland's lineup to see what I mean).
So no, I don't need to stigmatise DJs who have earnt their stripes and are using sync (John Fleming is one who's talked about it, and having been a professional since the 90s, he can clearly play on any format, and knows how to build a set).
But promoters booking DJs on the basis of their popularity, who would be train-wrecking right, left and center without sync, IS a problem. How we deal with this, I have no idea. But the rise of festivals, with more and more of those kind of DJs, while more and more underground clubs close, is not a good thing.
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* About learning how to beatmatch: you can perhaps teach almost anyone to do a shitty mix that casuals to the scene will have no problem with. But if you want tight, seamless mixing, and/or long, layered mixes....no. It takes many months if not years. And even then, I've seen DJs who are gigging every week and got a decade or more of experience, play sets where they phoned in mix after mix, clearly not completely in time.
Now 99% of the crowd might not consciously hear the issue - but the worth-their-salt DJs in the crowd will. And as a DJ, I'm playing for my peers at the same time as I'm playing for the crowd....who also, even subconsciously, will react better to a tight mix than to one where track A is sitting a quarter or a tenth of a second ahead of track B.
So no...up-to-par beatmatching, is not easy. Not on vinyl...not even on digital. You have to train your ear to hear it the second those drums start to sound a tiny bit cluttered, instead of crisp and punchy...and then know which track should be adjusted, and by how much. This takes time. A lot of it.
Concerning mixing in key, I think this is a measleading concept. I don't think putting together 2 tracks with harmonic keys necessarily adds to the mix. It's much more complex than this. A non-harmonic key change can lead to a significant change in the mood of the mix, like changing perspective or feelings. Even a "clush" can be significant, or it can be ugly, it really depends on the actual situation!
Mixed in key is based on the circle of fifths, which is a good guideline. But as you say, you can modulate into other keys and it can sound great.
So true, mixing in key can be helpful at some point, but people are too obsessed with it. Removing the bass eq of a track changes his key, why would you want this tool to be the answer to life the universe and everything ??!!!....
I'm a professional DJ and use SYNC too. I can mix by ear,can mix on vinyl and I have nothing to prove to anyone. Most DJs that care about this are usually not professional with the greatest of respect. Its a tool I use as its convenient, everything sounds seamless when I work and for me it gives me more time in my set to focus on reading the room and finding the right vibe. It's abit like using an 18V Power drill instead of a hand drill, why make life harder. I do think you need to know how to match by ear first before using SYNC however otherwise you will fail.
Track selection, timing, reading the crowd: these skillsets are far more important than ‘how’ you mixed between the tracks. Traditional beatmatching is an essential skill for when technology fails you, but sync does allow for faster and more creative sets - I tend to switch between traditional and sync mixes throughout a set depending on the style of mix I’m trying to achieve. Ultimately, the crowd/club owner really doesn’t care which combination of buttons you’ve hit!
I quick mix so there is not always enough time to set BPM and for big BPM transitions I use sync
Watching or knowing that modern DJs use "sync" is like having payed off all your college debts through blood, sweat and tears only to see your lazy neighbor have the government pay his/her debts off for them.
HOWEVER!
Andy C is the perfect example of why "sync" is not a cheat. This is only because he learned the FUCKING HARD WAY. Like I did. Maybe someday I will entertain the thought of using "sync" so I thank you for your video. Final thought: Watching newbies use sync is like watching a kid use a calculator to learn math. I can ONLY respect the DJ using "sync" who actually learned and understand MATH, if you get my point.
Great video, completely agree with all of your points, although I can't believe its still an issue. Been DJ'ing for 45 years, as soon as it was available I was using sync. It's just another tool to help improve your performance. As you say if your happy to let your software to tell you the bpm it just means you aren't moving the pitch control......
As both a punter and a DJ, I'd say that whatever produces the best output should be the goal. As you rightly said, using sync gives you more time to focus on other things. It should unlock your creativity, not enable laziness. I also think however, that new starters should make a point of learning without sync, as it's a great string in your bow to have well trained ears.
Mojaxx is the DJ to make this video! Thanks
Real djing is when you make the caterpillars on the CDJ display walk in time with each other
The best thing about sync is it makes looping and beat jumping much simpler. I use simple sync in Serato.
I'm a old vinyl DJ from '87. Still DJing 3/4 nights a week, on my Rev-7 and use sync to open a new world of creativity, with steams and hot cueing the shit out of my tracks...
Still too many DJs getting all butt hurt that technology has brought us new tools to make life easier and bring new creative possibilities. There was pushback from vinyl DJs when mixers got BPM counters. There was pushback when CD started to become popular. There was pushback from CD DJs when all digital DJing started to become popular. The mysticism around various formats was never relevant. If you could rock the crowd it didn't matter & it still doesn't. Some people are intent on trying to protect their own little niches that to be honest are becoming less & less important. If they're so worried about technology democratising DJing too much maybe they should look at their own talent & attitude towards the tech instead.
@Mojaxx, you perfectly nailed why sync shouldn't be a taboo anymore.
I've been DJing for over 30 years, learned on vinyl, can do manual, but I use sync.
It's a tool. It matches kick drums. It doesn't pick out tunes, tell you where/when to play them, doesn't blend sounds with EQs and expertise on your tracks...none of it.
If a DJ thinks the ability to manually match kick drums is the entirety of this craft, then they have no clue on what being a DJ actually is. It should be about WHAT you play and not so much how you play it.
HOWEVER...I'll always press that one should learn to do things manually. Not because of the possibility of the technology failing, but WHEN it does. It happens, and a good DJ in my book can adjust and keep going, not complain and stop playing. Use the new tech, but have the old ideas in your back pocket should you need them.
I simply agree with each and every word !! nothing to add, nothing missing and will link this video to anyone who likes to discuss the topic 😉
Agree with this 100%. I know all the basics from starting on vinyl in the 90s, tempo sync to nail each track's BPM allows me to focus on really fine tuning transitions as opposed to riding one track because its not perfectly on time. It's also freed me up to use loops to extend intros and outros, or fix transitions on the fly when a producer decides to be cheeky with how many bars there are before an event in the incoming or outgoing track. I'm more creative with sync than without.
Thanks! 100% Try using sync with old disco, soul & funk. You gotta know your tunes & have skills in mixing. Syncs ok… but with all the visual display information on the controllers, screens, it’s not so necessary.
I use sync on and off continuously, I can remember old colleagues screaming when the first mixers with BPM counters came out in the 90's, they're still drama queens about it, at home, on their couch, having no gigs. Moral of the story, embrace technologies, or get left behind, unless you're really special.
I started DJin’ at 15. I’m 50 now and still DJin’ But back then my mom couldn’t afford Technics so I learned how to beat match on cheap turntables that didn’t have pitch controls. I learned to used my two middle fingers to control the pitch. So I could say using the pitch controls is cheating. But to me the pitch control and the sync button is a good thing because it helps me go through my sets easier. So as a scratch DJ I use the sync button as well.
The whole sync gate keeping is so stupid to me. No one other than yourself and a few other gate keepers care if you use sync or not. People are there to enjoy the moment and if you give them that moment they will love you.
I’ve been a serato (simple) sync dj for over a decade. I definitely know the pitfalls and I can work around them because of my extensive experience.
Where I lack is the fact that I don’t ever practice without it so it does concern me to switch over to rekordbox hardware, where sync behaves differently. Thanks for bringing up the point about switching it off. Ima definitely do that more.
I've been a DJ for 20 years. Started out with vinyl. Now i use sync.
I started to use it when I used a setup with only a Kontrol X1 and my old mixer.
Then i bought a DDJ-SR (Using Traktor, i hate Serato) and couldn't get used to the small pitchfader so I kept using sync. And the feel of the mapping of my jogwheels in Traktor wasn't that great either.
And my mixes were becoming more creative by doing that so going back wasn't an option even now with full size controllers like my FLX10 and the great feel of the jogwheels in Rekordbox.
Finally, a reasonable person with a sane approach to sync. I was "using sync" before it was cool, using digitized tracks, loops, sequencers and the like back when CDJs were still considered a novelty. Some would say what I did was not proper DJing, and I genuinely do not give a crap. Modern-day sync functionality lets me do more live remixing with minimal prep compared to the old days, especially now that Traktor and Ableton support cross-app sync. Anyone truly hating on sync users needs to accept that there's more than one correct way to do something, and this neanderthal gatekeeping just makes them look like a curmudgeonly fool.
SYNC to an oldskool diehard vinyl lover like me is always gonna feel like cheating, but i wouldn't and don't blame any working DJ for using it though, it's a tool at the end of the day.
I'm learning to DJ with a course taught by James Hype. I'm not new to DJing. I've been doing it for two years. I started using sync to understand the basics. Then I turned sync off and I haven't used it for more than a year. I play trance and DnB. Sync was boring to use with trance as I had nothing to do with those long blends in transitions. It's more useful to use mixing DnB, specially to make a double drop. I haven't tried sync with DnB yet. I don't reject sync button. Maybe I'll use it in a future when my mixing techniques become more complicated with acapellas, instrumentals, live mashups. For now, I still prefer not to activate sync even if I'm mixing on four channels. It's more challenging, but it's doable and sharperns my skills as I have to keep focus on everything. Furthermore, quantize is off. It's wrong most part of the time and makes adding loops or acapellas harder.
Great video. Thanks for your insights 😊
Definitely smart of you to develop your skills without sync first. Maybe you’ll end up using it later in your career, maybe not.
Ironically, James Hype is the one DJ who constantly gets ‘accused’ of using sync, but who definitely doesn’t use it.
Manually aligning tempos is a purely mechanical task that adds nothing to the artistry of a set. Sync is perfectly fine and allows the DJ to focus on what actually matters.
Jesus posing and other gimmicks?
How come all of us who are experienced enough are still able to focus other things whilst mixing?
@@djstuc You're missing the point. If (like me) you still wanna beat-match then knock yourself out, but you have to face up to reality. It's not actually important. You do not need to do it anymore. It does not matter. No one cares.
Ultimately the only thing that matters is understanding the atmosphere of the environment you're in, selecting the next track accordingly and playing it correctly. You're implying that a DJ could do all of that perfectly for 2 hours and everyone listening could have an incredible time, but if the DJ had sync on it doesn't count somehow. That does not make sense. Think about it.
Just relax and be yourself bro, don't worry about what anyone else is doing. That's what club culture is all about.
@@everydayjumblist I’m not missing any point, I’ve said from the outset and in other comments. Use sync but don’t rely on it, don’t base your whole skill set on it, because when it doesn’t work you will get found out and get found out badly.
He even says this several times in the video, but I understand most of you are commenting without watching, based on the title alone.
Finally don’t try to make lame excuses for why you use it, when we all know 99% of people are using it to stand there doing nothing for 5 minutes before pressing play on the next track, whilst bleating on about “freeing up their creativity”
99% of your audience/crowd don’t give a flying F if you’re using sync- so long as it sounds great when it hits Hold their ears. Don’t DJ for other DJs, dj for your punters (they are paying you). Mojaxx knows what he’s talking about ❤
You had me at Sync(button)😆😅....had a argument bout this button with a Good Friend for bout 7-8yrs...Welcome to my World🤘🏽👍🏽
But thing the dance floor cares about is what your gonna play next and that you don’t kill the vibe!
The issue that bothers many , I’d say, ultimately is not about the sync function, nor whether DJs hate it or love it.
The issue is about clarifying that there’s an art that certain people have invented investing time and considerable resources), which is DJing with vinyl and analogue equipment, then technology has simplified the whole process, adding newer features etc, allowing people to DJ without needing to buy music, as they can simply download it.
The question is: Should the 2 types of DJ get paid the same?
Sure, most people who dance don’t care or don’t even know what kind of equipment a DJ uses, but does this means that a DJ with mp3s and a controller should get paid the same as a DJ with, for instance, a rotary, two turntables and crates of vinyl?
And the big companies who take advantage and release new gear every 6 months, so that your new controller becomes obsolete in a while?
The sync button is only an excuse to divide people, who naturally love to argue on superficial issues 😊
I use sync occasionally. I started on vinyl in the 90s, can beat mix fine on vinyl. I use sync on digital decks when it makes my life easier. Used it last week, playing outside a little bar, playing chug and cosmic disco, mixing in some 80s EBM, where the BPM wanders a bit. Much easier to use sync than continually ride the pitch.
The backup camera and parking sensors on modern cars are great tools, but you should also know how to park your car without them.
I've used Tempo sync for years (haven't really used grid sync as don't have the patience for all the beat grid stuff). I'm so hearing you on the boredom thing though, with Deep House etc. I've actually started going back to DVS and vinyl more regularly now for gigs, just because I've been getting really bored in between mixes, and CDJ's, even without sync on in any way, still feels like way less work. Need to keep myself busy, lol.
Good for you bud, i use it some times, sometimes i don't 💪
Very well explained as always Mojaxx, thanks for this
I’ve been a vinyl dj for 25 years and finally switched to Sync when I got my first dj controller the Denon Prime GO. I still beat match manually with vinyl DVS but sync when on a jogwheel hardware. Sync isn’t foolproof, but it’s easier - and a little boring
Nice summary, Chris. As for "doing other creative things", well, I have an exemplary 'excuse' with my SoundSwitch Autoloops - I fire them manually and I need them thight 100% of the time. Performing such sets are still fun and interesting. As a guy who did weddings, corp events and private parties, where my DJ mask is not relevant, I am fine with manual beatmatching, too. That's actually the reason I started with Vinyl recently. Better later than never, right?
I only use sync when I am executing a trick where I need to change tempos and I need both tempos to change together. I have no thoughts on sync/ no sync- I don't really care what method you use when you DJ... (sounds like a "you" thing). I just don't use it because I stared with vinyl so it is sort of automatic for me, plus I like to actually "drive the car." it's more fun and engaging for me that way plus I feel more connected to the groove/ rhythm. I also find that I come up with more creative transitions when I have my hands on the mix and I'm just riding the rhythm.
I agree with all of this. I think everyone should be able to manually mix, but sync is ok. I do both. I enjoy manually mixing more on turntables. I like the pitch more than controllers.
I've been spinning since '75. I use sync, but I don't depend on it. It helps out when I do my 32 - 64 beat mixes (depending on the track, of course), when I do them, but I don't see an issue with sync when used right is actually helpful.
As long as you are taking the time you would have spent beat-matching otherwise on creating a performance that couldn't have happened with beat-matching being mandatory, have at it. Just don't be boring and safe
This video is pure gold!
I think it's ridiculous that we are still having this conversation in 2024. Technology is there to be used. I do firmly believe that, as a DJ for nearly 38 years, anyone starting out should really master the basics - manual beat matching - as this gives you additional skills down the line and an appreciation for the music and the craft of DJ'ing. But come one - SYNC does not pick the tunes for you, SYNC does not read the crowd, SYNC does not create that flow of your sets - it's there as a creative tool. If you've been DJ'ing as long as some of us have (that's not an exclusive comment), why do you really need to prove that you can beat match or spend your time beat matching when you can be getting on with being creative?? It really is a pointless comment these days and big repsect to Mojaxx for bringing it to the table.
I hate to say it , I was one of those people then I met virtual dj that is a game changer you don't need a turntables or a controller just a pc . sync is not perfect but it helps when you have four decks at once and stems , loops . big up too all dj doing record crates back in the day. Me I was bringing at least 8 crates full of records . Maybe Djcity can do a documentary on how it all started and where we at now ?
Great video. I like that on the CDJ machines, we have the BPM and key shown right there on the display. Key-lock for me is more important than sync ;) I'm still rubbish.
Fooling about with an X1 Mk3 is really challenging when you are 100% used to jogwheels. Good though because it's still, so far at least hard to get used to but, good that I'm learning something new 😊
Very informative and interesting thank you jaxx
Thank you for this thoughtful elaboration on this 'hot' topic.
I DJ'd shows quite a bit up until 2020, and during my time, the only people who had issues with sync were always resoundingly assholes. It's just gatekeeping
The crowd doesn't care if you use sync. They'll never know if you use sync. They just wanna dance
Maybe we need to wait until all the "back in my day we used to count the bpm using our fingers and beatmatch using vinyl without being able to hear anything" people die of old age and then there will be no more complaints about sync. It's not going to be that long
Love the discussion!
Didn’t jazzy Jeff already say the people don’t care…🤷🏾♂️🤣
Yes!!Yes! Sir!
And? Just because someone says something first doesn't mean no one else can say something similar
@@Aves_1 true I guess…
Its like when vinyl dj were complaining about cdj dj not being real DJs