How to Beatgrid and Use Sync Properly in Serato DJ

Whether you use sync or not when DJing, understanding beatgridding is an integral step for setting hot cues and autoloops.
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Chris Brackley explores the basics, along with demonstrating how to properly use Simple and Smart Sync in Serato DJ. Watch the lesson and head here for more info: www.djtechtools.com/2014/04/23...

[@fermd9357]

Such an informative video! 4 years later and I still come back to this. THANK YOU!

[@ratchetmonkeys6578]

Some Dj's use sync to make their job easier and walk away with £200 a night, 3 nights a week like me. 17 years DJing Vinyl, CD and laptop on my CV Sync is for work, Syncs off when playing stuff i actually like at home Neither is right or wrong just convenient

[@bubzz800]

i find manually beatmatching to be easier than sync for some reason

[@juicebox6662]

I started with good ole technics, a Vestax PMC, and vinyl in the early 2000's. I took my knocks and remember throwing my shoe across the room many a time in frustration trying to learn to be a good DJ and develop that Live Ear. It was a lot of hard work and embarrassment, but the process taught me a lot about the essence of the Art. I used to study what Oakey, Ferry, Tall Paul, VDM, PVD, Signum, and all the prime DJ's at the time were doing as it related to composition, arrangement, proper transitioning, emotional ebb & flow, and most importantly, the development of the Story. While I am a purist at heart, I dont see the problem with leveraging the technology out there to augment your skills. That being said, if your foundation is built on these convenience tools instead of learning the core principles, the cracks will show in the arrangement and mixing progression. DJ's with a primed ear will hear amateur hour from a mile away no matter how technically sound the set is. Personally, I think there are a lot of tools out there that are so cumbersome they aren't even worth my time, and nothing will ever replace the live ear.

[@DJTeddyJetts]

Omg thank you, I didn't know I could set multiple bpms on one track on Serato. This is such an awesome feature as I have noticed my pre-2000 tracks almost all slip in bpm. This is super useful for even producing, once I get all of the various bpms set... i can actually physically sharpen the bpms of older songs, reload them as mixable songs with newer songs, with no slip!!! That is amazing!!!

[@evanfrazer4224]

I'm so grateful that people like you take the time to make these videos and put them up. I just got hired to DJ a Funk/Disco night, and all the music I have didn't line up properly (due to lack of metronome, I'm sure). I was going to have a really hard time trying to keep them in time while mixing and doing so much else at once, and now I am finally at ease with tracks that stay in sync with one another properly. Thank you.

[@scottlind8119]

Very informative. Well explained and great song to use for training purpose with the complex beat grid since it has 2 different BPM's.

[@olegiezer]

Very valuable video, thank you! I really have been wanting to adjust beatgrid on a lot of my tracks for the sake of quantize and slicer.

[@djuri0612]

Chris you're the fucking best, mate i can't tolerate anyone else's tutorials you always tell me exactly what I want to know

[@swiftrhythm]

Whether you like sync or not, this is a great video. Keep up the good work!!!

[@TheOfficialZERGRUSH]

thanks for the beatgrid tutorial m8, i was having trouble getting the proper bpm for some of my tracks

[@newburyg]

Thanks for making this video great help.

[@gunchief0811]

certainly helpful. as a dee-jay i tend to rally like Serato not that other software is bad, but serato get's it done and looks good doing it.

[@mariabr8954]

Thank you! I needed this 😅❤

[@alicksasylum]

Thank you for this video, I have been checking out your other videos and even though the content may not always be relevant to to me you have a style that makes sense and I always learn a little something. I have recently started to manually beat grid where necessary and have learned a lot through experimenting. I would suggest anyone who is new to beatgridding check out this video. Just for clarification, I use sync as little as I can but, it does have its place.

[@adrproducer96]

Excellent video as usual Chris. Just moved from turntables to cdjs+serato - sync was a bit alien to me !

[@horaciocuevas1894]

This is still good in 2016, shortcuts do not work anymore but it is really easy with Set and Clear options in Serato. Thanks!

[@ArunMPEdison]

Thanks for posting this, very helpful.

[@nuclearmissle216]

This video really helped me out, thank you!

[@keendnb]

Just found this, nice tut, cheers

[@djguvna105]

I enjoyed the presentation which I came across by accident. I come from a DJing background in London, England (primarily, Reggae) where we didn't even use two decks. We kept the dancefloor moving with the careful use of effects, the mic and the speed of changing records for the next track - they weren't always dub (white label) plates - they were most often a selected track on an album. I don't have and opinion about "Real DJs" (there are great vinyl as well as digital DJs) because times are what they are and the world (including its movers and shakers [DJs, in our case]) either change with it or are the influencers of change (and DJs are both). Playing music today is very different (technically) from what it was in the 60s and 70s (hen I was most influenced) but the objective and end results are the same...an active dancefloor and folks leaving like they just had the best night of their lives. I'm far from an expert when it comes to using two decks or controllers but I really enjoy doing what we do and seeing folks have a great time (complaining that their feet are sore but they'll see us next time). When I first used a controller I used sync like it was going out of fashion...I've forgotten it's there now because I've implemented my old school ear. Always ready to learn...here's to you Chris and all DJs around the world.

[@StarWarsCosplay]

Exactly what I needed. I have a track that changes tempo so this was ace, thank you.

[@djsammyb1023]

Thanks guys.. I didn't even know the software was capable of kinda understating fluctuating tempos like that! Very helpful.

[@haroldluciano6286]

Great video man thank u

[@nexusinyou]

Sweet setup bro, that looks nice

[@Stewcrew8]

Thanks Dj Chris...I like using them...need to find your slicer-mode...

[@Questomaniac]

Thank you It helped me a lot. I kept wondering why the heck the sync turned off all the time, now I know. Regards

[@bomac10]

You are an excellent instructor thank you!!

[@Bangbangbigelow]

Oh that's right, because the more manual work you put in the more of a "real" DJ you are, like syncing by ear right? No disrespect to guys that have that skill down pat, but really just get with the times and use the new features that are available to you. Cause at the end of the day, whether you sync by ear or auto, people don't care. They just wanna hear music and dance!

[@JimLigon]

Miggy Miggy - Perfectly said. No one is in the dj booth at a club verifying that you aren't using sync. Play good music and keep the party live. No one cares how you do that except dj snobs. Fact.

[@JimLigon]

Short Fuse Music - It is what it is. I'm not taking anything away from anyone. DJs are going to dj how they want to and bitching about it is a waste of time. I personally don't use sync that much but I have on occasion. I just don't think it's that big of a deal. Sync doesn't scratch for you or bring in the mix at the proper time. Sync doesn't even work properly if your beat grids are misaligned. DJing is different from when I started in the 1980s. Everything changes. Why did people think things will stay the same? They never do.

[@arkhitektz3150]

because its part of the performance.its a show of skill.would you be fine if a drummers snare would occasionally hit itself if hes off beat?or if a guitarists guitar would strum itself?would you ride a bike with training wheels on it?would you play baseball with one of them pedestal things that hold the ball in place so you can swing at a stationary target? yes,things have changed and theres nothing wrong with that.im not anti technology,anti digital,im not advocating everything should be 100% analog and vinyl...BUT! we arent talking about different ways of doing things here...we are talking about automation that dumbs down the whole process(a process that is already a joke in it of itself)..lets face it,DJs that arent "turntablists or scratch DJs" do next to nothing.just pretend to push buttons around 95% of the time...and now you wanna make these edm- pushing buffoons' lives even easier than they already are? your mentality is "it makes things easier so why not?"..but you know whats EVEN easier?stop DJing,download somebodys elses set,sit back and listen to it(if least effort/maximum result is the final goal)...and at the end of the day..isnt is supposed to be part of the FUN?if people find these things tedious maybe they shouldnt be doin em in the first place..whats the point if you want everything to be automated and involve as little skill as possible?

[@krazie0013]

Miggy Miggy - Is this Milli or Vanilli? Beat syncing is like lip syncing. The talent is lost and severely disrespected with that attitude. Yeah it's a tool that can serve as an aid in the learning stages (like training wheels), but man at some point you need to grow up and learn the craft instead of treating your audience like ignorant sheep. Otherwise keep comments like that to yourself because you make "real" DJs look like shit.

[@krazie0013]

Short Fuse Music - Fuck yeah. People today are lazy as hell. That's not even just about mixing. Cars are going to be automated soon enough along with many many other things we used to have to learn and train for. What the hell is the point of doing something if you're not DOING anything?? Jesus.. that's more of a rant but this topic is just another indication of it all. Don't let it go too far guys.

[@SploopBaDoop]

Fkn awesome. Thanks for the beatgridding tutorial!

[@JoyHoffi]

Wow thnks.. did not knew you can perfect beatgrid transition tracks 👌🏽

[@DJmicaiah]

thank you so much for this video! I ALWAYS wondered how to beatgrid transition tracks! However, I am still a little confused between the simple and smart sync functions and what is the significance of the "quantize preferences"?

[@Iloveyoutube11]

Wow. This whole time I didn't know about the down beat marker. Thank you. All my transition tracks are off. I've got some work to do.

[@djflexx787]

Thank for the help🙌🏽

[@GoSaltLakeWeb]

Sync allows DJs to spend more time mixing additional music into their mixes and less time manually syncing. Sure, the top DJs don't need to do this because they spend 1000's or hours perfecting their sets. For the average DJ though this is an amazing feature and really lets creativity flow a lot easier, especially when you are just playing tracks on the fly from requests and didn't really put together a specific "set" of tracks for your event.

[@leeprice9572]

Manually mixing isn't exactly hard is it mate? Especially with bpms displayed etc...

[@pablofriedemann5262]

thank you so much for this video

[@kauzmik6021]

very nice explanation about the beatgrid thanks

[@BPMLatino]

great tutorial!

[@sebby868]

very helpful. Thank you!

[@djteflon]

great video. thanks

[@djdumplings]

thanks mate! this is very useful, especially now trying to correct funky music :) cheers~~

[@LaplacianFourier]

Thank you, boss!

[@donovangomez6012]

If you don't mind may I ask what record pool do you use.? You have some pretty good music. I would appreciate it, thank you.

[@thomaswalber1942]

So helpfull, thank you. Could you please explain, why you sometimes Mark a downbeat with a „X“, in ihrer cases you just use the arrow keys.

[@StoneCut]

Interesting video, thank you. I really like the beat grid features of Serato for Transition Tracks and so on but the Smart Sync seems to be too fiddly for me. Which other software offers good Sync along with the dynamic beats grids? Traktor appears to only use static beatgrids.

[@noizenod]

Oh man.. this helped so much. I'm from traktor & switch over to a djm s11 n 2 reloop 8000 n miss scratching haha. But I was so lost with this sync. I may have bitten off more than I can chew... but I will figure serato out!!

[@bboymac84]

Yea Traktor’s sync is more accurate and easier

[@inchaoswetrust]

Very helpful, thanks

[@djn10se89]

awesom video

[@nicksucram6042]

im transitioning from using an older cdj model with scratch live, to a ddj-sx2 with serato dj. My biggest (and only complaint) is the dissapearence of the beat matching wav section that you have where it normally would be, the top middle right under the serato dj logo. Is there a simple option that I'm simply missing or is this something that is the result of having more advanced hardware? Please advise! thank you so much, love the vids

[@sweetbwoy5905]

Great video, how do you get your mouse to pulse?

[@scratchgonzo]

Hey Mojaxx, this is an old video so I'm just wondering is this still how you chose to grid your music? Has there been any advancements? I've struggled in the last messing with grids as I'd set it all the what I change later in the track would mess with what I set earlier. But the downbeat markers seem to be the key to locking in what you've altered?

[@dmod686]

Thank you my man

[@TTMAcademy]

nice tips..

[@aneseed]

nice vid I've an issue my auto bpm recognition is not displaying. Bpm shows in library once analysed but not on virt turntable. Any Ideas?

[@guesswho2140]

Ney, I'm using a reloop beatmix 2 and serato dj intro, i was using it fine but now the waveform will not appear and the tracks aren't playing, any ideas?

[@ARCASIAUK]

How do you stretch out the beatmarkers as shown in 5:00? When I put downbeat markers on the breakdown on sync, the track slows down creating a laggish type sound Please help Cheers!

[@735speedy]

What fj software u recoment more to used with a numark mixdeck ?

[@isaiahfurrow7414]

Thanks for the video. I'm just getting to grips with Serato DJ and noticed a few functions don't work until you do the beatgridding. Yellow notice on the bottom of the screen. This will be helpful as I add my tunes into Serato, make up my crates, and do other preparations. Am I right in assuming that the more advances sync in Serato is somewhat like snap and quantize in Traktor? I never really paid much attention to how it worked in Intro. I'm teaching myself manual beatmatching as part of my practice and have never used sync for more than a tool to help get the tempo close and allow myself time for other stuff. Picked up on nudging right away, by not having my timing down on drops... :) In this kind of usage, would I be better just using simple sync rather than smart sync. Still going to apply the beatgrids so that I can use the other features that are tied in with that. Any input would be welcomed, thanks again for the sync tutorial... :) Keep shining.

[@devonbeeman8804]

When I place a marker the grid moves with it so when I slid back to check it the bpm drops or raises, it drives me mad. Does this just mean I have to place more markers down to get it right?

[@josephelibert2464]

Have been using serato dj for x amount of years....never thought about using the sync until now. Question....does the sync work with control CDs????

[@DJChrisJohnstonLoveOfMusicDJ]

Hi Chris, Great video...Thank you for posting! I have a quick question for you . . . Is there an option in Serato to "Refresh my iTunes" library while DJ'ing a gig? For example, if I'm at a gig and someone requests a song I don't own & I download it thru iTunes . . . Is there an option to refresh the library or am I stuck with having to locate the file on my hard drive and drop it in? Thanks for your help!

[@edgarayala945]

I believe you can just drag it from your itunes library straight to serato

[@MrPainseeker]

So I bought a DDM 4000 from this professional DJ who started DJing with traktor. I asked him the same question I've asked other DJs in and around the city. Is sync really that bad? They say no. In fact a lot of the newer DJs actually got their basics like structure, EQ, mixing in/out (other than beatmatching) down a lot faster in traktor using sync, taking time off later to learn beatmatching separately. Maybe it shortens the learning curve by a significant margin? Personally learning beatmatching sucked. I always thought why do I need to learn this when I can try other stuff while traktor takes care of that for me. Nevertheless its a skill, so I learnt it. No offense to the big daddies of DJing, just saying.

[@palasako8732]

Sync has it's faults as well. I prefer to be in control. When you do it manually you are in control and it also helps you to keep your attention on the mix. I've messed up more times with using sync than i have with beatmatching

[@Hunter69420]

same, i dont understand why "talented" djs feel so threatened by sync.... at least that's what i see, cuz sync can be a bitch

[@palasako8732]

Hblocktreehunna actually find it stupid. You can't stop the advancement of technology. Dj-ing is the only art form where we shun every single technological advancement in the field. It makes us look so pretentious and insecure. All the "old school" guys would be very happy if we were stuck in the vinyl age and all dj-ing could ever amount to was mixing one song into the next.

[@mdove89]

Palasako I know what u mean technogical advancements are great and in fairness even on the serato homepage they acknowledged sync is controversial but u can just turn it off every Dj should be able to beatmatch we can't all be turntabilists and I'll be the first to admit vinyl's limitations but I understand that general skill level is on the decline and on a performance level it detracts from the enjoyment of the Dj but does it affect the listener probably not. My 2p worth

[@palasako8732]

mdove89 YES, but the way i see it, if your going to use sync button, do mashups with loops in your songs, and use samples, and effects to create something original and cool. THe possibilities are endless with the amount of equipment out there.

[@mdove89]

Agreed

[@ryanlebear]

I love sync!

[@jasonmcconnell8547]

how did you get your Serato screen on a video like this on MacBook?

[@DJmicaiah]

can you show this transition song that you synced in a demonstration synced with your controller transitioning from another song?

[@Joshuahcomedian]

when beat gridding do you skip the intro if there are no drums under it, and start at the first drum hit?

[@topcuka]

I'm experiencing a bit of an issue with the warp markers. 1) I set the grid to the first downbeat - no problems - solid 128 grid is created. 2) I move to the spot where I want to place the next (warp) marker as the tempo will start to decrease from there, but for some reason the marker is not set to that particular point for it goes a millimeter or two behind the spot I wanted to set it. On top of that the newly set warp marker F's up the grid behind it. What on earth am I doing wrong?

[@canaboss]

Hi there, short question : when i edit beatgrids, i set the first markers and adjust the beat grids, then when i put a second one (the bpm change), it makes the adjustments I made in the first part move and therefore, i am not able to get what I want ... Any idea what is the problem ?

[@djrottweiler3632]

This serato dj tutorial is good i like how u explained it down. I got one question for you, right b4 ur tutorial is about to be finished, when u switch to the turntables were u still using serato dj. If so its possible to use the tables with it. Write back and let me know whats up and how is done. thanks.

[@MolaMills]

Yes you can use turntables with Serato. You need a DVS device Serato sells SL2 for two channels about $500 or up to SL4 for 4. Or get a mixer with Serato DVS installed cheapest mixer is the Akai pro and for 250 but you have to pay extra 100 for the DVS upgrade. you also need coded Vinyls that play a code read by the DVS to sync with the software.

[@aremissomar459]

I agree... Djing is an art that some have and some don't... With this technology anyone with a computer can be a DJ... I use serrations for convinince reasons but I always disable the automatch feature..

[@musicalfreestyles]

Where can I find Serato DJ Pro keyboard shortcuts?

[@CreamCheeseTho]

See how at around 8:06 your beat grid continuously scrolls? Mine doesn't do that. It loads a set of bars and scrolls. It randomly started doing this and I don't know how to change the beat grid to scroll how yours does in the video.

[@LuisFelipepg96]

what's the difference i put the same BPM looking to the screen and using simple sync? i really don't understand the problem... :/

[@tonymcgivern]

How is Surato liked to the decks?

[@DJMOBE]

Thanks

[@deejaySilence]

which color vinyl is that? wanna buy 😀

[@TheMistahTee]

What version of Serato is this pls

[@PhillyDjHook]

What if "Edit Grid" is not even an option to pick. I'm using Serato Dj Pro and there is no EDIT GRID next to repeat. PLEASE HELP ME. Do I have to pay more for the edit grid feature?

[@Awkwave]

anyone have any idea why my serato cant find anyone of my iTunes songs or even VTdj? all the songs play fine in iTunes but no where else. They all say error. I did hit the change iTunes media folder and that's when it happened. I just don't understand how to make them work again?

[@BradInskeep81]

The dvs drifting is probably a bug. I had a very similar issue with my old ns6 about a year ago. NS6 on Serato DJ drifting out of sync with sync buttons pressed you should probably open a help ticket for that so they will look at it. For me it was happening without using sync but when I noticed it was happening even with sync I knew something was wrong.

[@djspector1155]

What kind of controller do you have?

[@Kwipper]

This is what Traktor needs. Traktor needs a way to set multiple beatgrids that change in BPM.

[@tjac4801]

how can i use two laptops on ddj sx2. ..i know you can on sz but i want to do it on sx2

[@djbigzzja4670]

Which serato software is that..

[@TkoCreep]

does sync feature work in sl1?

[@mircea3006]

0:50 :))))) But wait... I really need this because man... It's my first software and I know nothing so this is like first aid for me. I like the interface of VDJ more, but the sound of VDJ is not good from my perspective. Thank's for the video and for the good attitude. Cheers

[@DJmicaiah]

Hi this doesn't work for me. When I warp the grid like you show and have it on smart sync and have the sync button switched on on my controller It keeps the song playing at 128 bpms! what am I doing wrong?!?

[@TheNoCoincidence]

so when you have a changing tempo in a track and set the beatgrid..does it stay at the same tempo all the time? (time stretching? otherwise whats the point of beatgridding a track which shifts in tempo..dont get it

[@itaymoyal3478]

how can i buy thet?

[@Iloveyoutube11]

Question. I have a track that transitions from 70-128. When I'm done editing the grid, how do I get the 70 to show up in the BPM column? I keep my crates in BPM order so it showing 128 so it puts it in the wrong order. I want it to say 70. Any ideas? Thanks

[@Kutcorners]

Hey brad, The tempo in Serato Dj is always determined by the majority value. Meaning that if the majority of the song is at 70 bpm that will be reflected in the BPM column. If its majority is 128, then that will be shown in the Bpm Column. There isn't a wat to choose the Tempo, however when you load the track, whatever tempo the BPM is at where you load it from, it will be shown in the track view as the current bpm.

[@jakehettinger1087]

if you set a new warp marker once the BPM has steadied to 110 as you do from (5:25-5:53), aren't you telling it still that the BPM is being altered so that is why is gives you the 110.2 at the end instead of the correct 110.0?

[@vernardfields8290]

I use the ns6 the grid controls are right on the mixer. Just line up the first beat hold delete hit beat grid once to clear release the delete and then hit beat grid and ya done

[@flipsyder]

how do i toggle show or no show on the beat grids

[@Thedog30]

Hi, as a new comer to serato dj im really struggling with this beat grid stuff I have a huge amount of tracks like anyone and I'm feeling disheartened to think I've got to go through every track one by one setting these beat grids up....Do I need quantized pressed on when setting these up? Plus if I just have a 128 bpm track all the way through and I set down beat markers it changes the bpm .. Please help I'm going crazy and really want to enjoy my new sx2 its shocking with virtual dj I dint want to use that no more. . Plus since installing serato dj my iTunes won't be used as a simple playlist through my deck so itb plays out my monitors

[@Sockey16]

Phil J Naylor i am in the exact same situation!

[@jz5748]

Phil J Naylor me 2

[@Thedog30]

So annoying.....I love serato dji just want to be problem free

[@gigantomaquia]

+Phil J Naylor SAME HERE!!! I just bought the DDJ SR and I'm hating Serato already!

[@tedtwis2368]

+Phil J Naylor I think that the correct answer is, no, you don't HAVE to beatgrid all your tracks to use them, but if you take the time it will make life easier. I play Hip Hop and Old School R&B; the problem with the R&B stuff is that sometimes the drummers weren't able to stay on EXACTLY the same tempo throughout some of the songs (live recording), so for the times when I decide to make a loop on the fly, if I haven't done a beatgrid for the song, the loop will be off, then I have to waste time trimming or adding to the end of the loop so that it will have perfect time. I'd say if you have the time, go ahead and map the grids. Don't have to have quantize on to beatgrid; your option (however track must have a beatgrid in order to be quantized...confusing!!). Also makes life easier. Ted Twis

[@PhilJamrocDJMK]

My sync doesn't lock one deck is faster and the other goes slow .. Dj intro lite ..how do I fix sync problem

[@SopeySope]

They should make videos on how to properly use the Slicer, Loop Roll etc.

[@djsammyb1023]

They already did.

[@wiltonwarde736]

i subscribed

[@boulevardknights]

any idea why my beat grid is not working? set beat grid and set auto bpm are all checked in offline mode and files are analyzed. when i upload recent tracks i downloaded no beat grid shows up. i transferred the same files to a friends computer and they all show up fine. any idea what i'm missing?

[@boulevardknights]

its strange because it used to work perfectly fine.

[@irritablysavvy]

For tracks that change tempo, I totally get the downbeat markers but this is so fucking tedious for simple tracks that use a drum machine. The auto grids in Traktor are perfect 99% of the time.

[@smnmtthws17]

left arrow key doesn't work for me, using a MacBook pro with Pioneer DDJ-Sx2