WHY THE SYNC IS GREAT TO USE AND A BIG NO NO IN YOUR DJ MIX

WHY THE SYNC IS GREAT TO USE AND A BIG NO NO IN YOUR DJ MIX
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[@mikepenny5727]

I've been a musician for 25 years, recently started dabbling in the art of DJing. I'm really enjoying Sync as a tool, it helps me focus more on what I'm going to do next. I watch DJs try to be as "active" as possible behind the decks, trying to put on a show. IMO it's not about what the DJ is doing, it's about how the crowd reacts to what the DJ is playing. 2022 baby

[@mikepenny5727]

@@petersmith2522 I still use a tuner to tune my strings. I use a pedal to enhance the sound...etc etc. Technology is there to assist, may as well use it. I understand the idea of matching tempos etc and have done it, but I personally don't see why it's necessary with today's technology.

[@Sypher474]

@@petersmith2522 Sync ain't going to pick the tracks for you, or pick the right time to play them, or manage the EQ for you - All arguably FAR more complex than ridiculously simple beatmatching. Nobody cares any more, and rightfully so.

[@Sypher474]

@@petersmith2522 DJ Craze, multiple world DMC turntablist champion says you're WRONG, and should embrace sync. Along with plenty of other 'real' DJs.

[@Sypher474]

@@petersmith2522 By that weak logic, literally everything other than a 33/45 turntable is cheating. Technology improves so we can do away with pointless tasks and focus on the more important things. Beatmatching is not hard. It is not impressive. Let go.

[@Djsonley]

100% sync is great. If you can change the bpm tempo's far better than manually beatmatching and add fills, space in the mix you will absolutely smash any old school DJ who has just mastered beatmatching. With sync you can focus on scratching and more musical ideas. It opens up soooo many possibilities.

[@olq3318]

I understand why some people think it is a great feature. Those people haven't been in a situation where the clubs equipment doesn't have it. Relying on your ears is the best practice. Great video!

[@Carlin-qt4jk]

Well said, if you're not relying on your ears to Dj then you're a computer programmer.

[@jaybrickman1094]

That’s true, so glad I learned on vinyl

[@iijayiii]

O hellllll yes sir, give them a set of 1210s with no monitors in a club see how they get on. Learned the hard way still on my 1210s tho now run DVS

[@Carlin-qt4jk]

@@iijayiii Top man, real Dj not a mongrel wannabe

[@kirill2525]

ah yes, totally, also cover up the bpm of the tracks, you dont wana cheat, as well as the key its in. seeing the bpm and key is for noobs that are used to a controller, wastes time looking down when you shjould just know. why spend time on fx and customizing a song when you can instead use that time to manually ajust the beat and key

[@jdsmobiledisco1068]

I’ve DJ’d to many a full dance floor and I’ve never been asked once if I’m using sync or not. I’m sorry to say it but if you think DJing is about beat matching then you’re missing the point. It’s about controlling the room with your music selection.

[@jdsmobiledisco1068]

@@petersmith2522 I think that we’ve got to move away from this idea that it’s cheating. The only reason we beat matched in the past was due to necessity. You had to do it because of the kit available. When CDJs came out there was a big debate that it was cheating to use those due to them having BPM counters. If using sync is cheating then anything extra above 2 turntables and a basic mixer is cheating. It’s like saying that using power steering whilst driving is cheating or using sat navs. It’s just progress.

[@kapisithekid2843]

I agree. No one is gonna approach you and ask about that stuff. If the dance floor is rockin’ then the night is good.

[@OriginNowSound]

​@@jdsmobiledisco1068but knowing how the car drives when you loose your powers steering could save your life or someone's if you know how it feels to have no powerstering

[@ElvisJnr74]

There's no rules man.. Do what you feel comfortable with.... The people dancing or listening to your set are not wondering if you have sync enabled.... At the end of the day its all about the music.... Just enjoy it...

[@djgogetta9021]

Exactly!

[@dredgeb]

Well said !

[@taylormore8898]

It’s like driving a car driving manual you have full control of the car you feel connected with it you know when to change gear like when the beats drops all you automatic djs/sync djs are not djs just button pushers

[@djgogetta9021]

@@taylormore8898 I’d rather drive an automatic. It’s a smoother ride with less work.😂 DJ’s rock crowds no matter how you do it

[@taylormore8898]

@@djgogetta9021 it’s smooth coz you can’t control the set with out sync

[@iuventutislodge9338]

I use sync and can manually beat match but I embrace all technology at my disposal and by the time I have messed about manually beat matching I could have done something else like effects i play on four decks and nobody will tell me how to play. The music you play and how your set sounds is key and the reason DJ’ s don’t want other DJ’s using sync is because they are worried we will be better than them. Embrace technology plain and simple.

[@TheTinoXL]

Big respect for teaching people that it's an art and that we are making 'track 3'' . That's real talk. Decks are an instrument

[@meinyourhead]

The sync button isn't really the problem for me. It's technology in general in music as a whole, not just in DJing. As many people here have said, DJing isn't about beat matching, but more about track selection and understanding what to play and when. That's a skill that the veteran DJs all had to learn. Curating a setlist and knowing the track layouts by heart was essential. Technology is taking all that away with new media players and DJ software. If you see a vinyl DJ with two turn tables and a box of records you know they're deep into their craft. If you gave them 20 tracks to play that they have never heard, the set would sound pretty rough. Give the same DJ the same 20 tracks, but on a controller or fancy new gear, they would be able to organise everything into BPM slowest to fastest and choose any track at random and the software would tell them all the compatible tracks based on what key code the current playing track is. They would sound really good and with the waveform display they would even be able to make quick cuts with no previous knowledge of the tracks. The art of DJing is in the digging for tracks, learning from the failed experiments at live gigs and the hours or sometimes days of self doubt as to weather a track sounds good after another track (for me anyway). So am I against the sync button? No not really. But technology is making us lazy and lose our 'soul', to put it one way. Michael Bublé has been caught using auto tune in his live performances... I'll just finish by saying that.

[@DjNikGnashers]

100% Sync just means any clown can be a DJ, and in fact, many famous DJ's are absolute clowns. To the younger generation, a DJ is somebody who puts on a performance, they have to have the right 'look' and dress accordingly, and their DJ-ing is all about visual performance. They have to pretend to twist every knob on the mixer (even when they are not actually doing anything), pump their fist in the air, and dance like a loon at the correct times to enhance their 'performance'. How can they do all of that if they have to beatmatch !!!! When DJ-ing was in it's glory days, the DJ was just a mysterious figure in the shadows, who was judged and gained respect purely for their mixing skills. Sadly those days are long gone.

[@djmil5110]

@@DjNikGnashers Nailed it!

[@hardstyleminded]

I agree what you say "about track selection and understanding what to play and when," but disagree with your assessment of the newer dj technology. Using newer technology will not sound good if the DJ does not do their prep work ahead of time and it will sound quite boring with no prep and practice. Even using the newer technologies, work has to be done just like any vinyl dj. It is not about what you use, it is about how much you put into it.

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@hardstyleminded Yes fair point. I guess so far (and I listen to online net radio DJ's 4-5 hours every day minimum), I have yet to really hear anyone doing anything different. Everyone I listen to does the same tired old methods, uses the same effects in the same way, and basically uses the 'technology' to simply make life easy for themselves and cheat. When I start hearing something really different and creative, then I'll change my mind.

[@DaveSHarris]

I use Sync. I learned on 1200s and can still mix manually, I just can’t be arsed to do it every 2-3 minutes for a few hours. I also use loops, active loops, cue points, effects, samples. Only DJs care about the ‘art’. I play on the radio once or twice a week and I don’t have time to put in endless hours of practice. I transition in multiple ways. Beat sync, echo out, decks off wind down, spin backs to keep it interesting. Sync is just a tool. People need to get over it.

[@rdenir]

Exactly! I too came from the age of vinyl starting way back in 84’ with belt drive and a Radio Shack mixer..Obviously over the years my equipment was upgraded to “help” my transitions but continued to use vinyl up until around 8 years ago..where l slowly transitioned to digital using a combination of vinyl and digital until I totally ditched vinyl.. To be honest I’m a bit over the Sync debate, unless you still use vinyl with an analogue mixer, you are still using some form of “cheat” tool.. In my opinion if you are djaying digitally, sync is no different to using effects, samples or loops..

[@dredgeb]

Me too, I'm a veteran DJ having started on Vinyl beatmatching and I'm just so over this 'real DJs beatmatch and don't use sync', it's a tool, technology has given us so much, embrace the tools and either use it or don't use it, neither is wrong, play the right tunes at the right time and a lot of punters won't even think about your transitions. As DJs, let's stop castigating people for using tools which are there to help them provide a good performance, it's their choice.

[@jdsmobiledisco1068]

I use Sync regularly for the same reason. I don’t see the issue. I’ve been DJing for nearly 30 years and like everyone from 30 years ago I started with vinyl. It’s not hard to beat match and I don’t see it as the defining skill to DJing. The real skill is track selection. I’ve never had anyone refuse to dance because I’m using sync.

[@rebecca_stone]

@JD's Mobile Disco Agree with everything you said except that "beat matching isn't hard". I think you're talking your DJ brothers and sisters down here! Of course it's hard at the beginning. It's a musical skill and not everyone can do it. Just like not everyone has an ear for key. But agree that the debate has gotten tired :)

[@DaveSHarris]

@@rebecca_stone it’s not hard if you can count to 4 😂😂

[@XanderEwald]

I’ve been DJing for 25 years and in my understanding the essence of our trade is to make people dance. There are no limitations what technology we can use to achieve this goal. Kool DJ Herc didn’t manually loop breaks because it was real, but because it was the only way to do it. Now we have more options, and using them wisely allows us to take things to the next level.

[@firstdreamwalker]

I started spinning vinyl in 94 on hard- and goatrance (hallucinogen, man with no name etc.), using the beatcounter of my yamaha-organ while pitching each record to 140 beats to find out the exact key on a certain speedlevel. This speed was commonly normal, even a bit slower than most of the tracks of that time for this kind of music. Once I matched the 140 with the beatcounter display i found out the key on this speed using the keyboard of my organ and then wrote it on the record label. This enabled me to even mix perfectly up to 128 bars of the fastest, weirdest and mostly very overloaded musik without sounding awful or crappy, because I always knew the right key of each record. Back in the days we would have given everything to have the opportunities of today. But learning how to mix these kinda music properly the hard way, on cheap turntables and a simple 3-band-eq-mixer without syncbutton or any effect or loopsection or other bs was an absolutely priceless experience that got me on a level I would have never been able to reach another way!

[@NewbFixer]

I have done a fair bit of mixing in the past, mostly on vinyl. No bpm counter no nothing but your ears. When i got the controller with sync and i realised i had time to actually play with the music in the mix instead of concentrating on the beat matching running off... I WAS AMAZED I LOVE IT AND HAVE HOURS OF FUN NOW.

[@petik7912]

When I watch a set played by a dj with sync, I don't enjoy it, when I watch a set played on vinyls, I almost can't breathe as I experience mixing with a dj and my soul is happy. I play vinyls and when I combine two tracks perfectly, that feeling in my body you won't experience sync.

[@Automatique-DJ]

Beat matching is a fundamental skill which was mastered with different technology. The grids don't always match., so the ear and eyes are the best tools we have. Digital tools are also samplers, adding effects, looping, stems etc is a great way to add more excitement. However some modern DJs and newcomers are overdoing it and adding unnecessary noise to tracks that are already laden with effects, it kills it sometimes. The DJs have to remember it's not about them, it's about the music, not button-bashing and inventing drops all the time. It's poor and crowding the sound. Less is more, let the music breathe.

[@gregorycanady2868]

Wow. When i DJ, I am 99.99% of the time by myself with no one looking over my shoulder or really monitoring what I do. In essence, I use my equipment the way I want to use it. Some of you let your conscience get to you or you let others control what you do behind the decks.

[@dredgeb]

Agreed Gregory, it’s your gig, you use your equipment the way you want, concentrate on your performance not the way others do it. I have followed ellaskins for some time, not his best video

[@Spoder_Man420]

Totally agree with this. Sync is put there for a reason. You bought your equipment with your money. You use it the way you want to. When i play in bar that doesnt really have a big crowd and theyre just sitting and drinking i use the sync just to sync the bpms of the songs. It gives more time for me to think for the next song to play or just try to read the crowds vibe. I put my tempo range to 100% cus i like mixing open format jumping from high bpm to low bpm vv.

[@tatum32]

This was a good explanation of why someone would use the sync button. A true DJ can use all the tools available to make their set perfect. I’m from the vinyl era and I hear too many old school vinyl DJs talking about new technology like it’s a cheat code. Here’s the problem some old school DJs have, the money spent on equipment, needles, turntables and the most expensive thing is records. You have to buy two of each record and had to store it. New DJs can buy a great Controller and download music on a TB and keep it moving. Less expensive and more convenient than old school. Crate diggers is an example of the inconvenience of vinyl. There’s a reason they made Automatic cars because not everyone wanted to work hard just to drive!!

[@DjNikGnashers]

A real DJ is like a real driver, they want to travel on that risky fairground ride, clinging on for dear life because it's exciting. I never use sync, ever. I also drive a RWD 455bhp car with traction control turned off at all times. It's a similar thing. If you want to be 'perfect' then you use sync and drive an AWD safe car with all the aids switched on.

[@stevecunliffe2151]

Hundred percent agree with what you said about sync. I learned on vinyl in early 2000's but still use sync occasionally if im playing 3 decks or a long transition so i can focus on a different aspect of the performance without worrying if my beats are slipping out of time. But i think if you have to rely on sync for every mix you should go and have a crash course on a pair of 1210s and get your beatmatching down until it turns into an instinct. Great content as always.

[@kirill2525]

why tho? like i agree every one should practice and be able to so a small little shift cause it may be faster then reaching sync, and you should be familiar with nujing things but whats wrong with always using it so you have more time to add color, fc,rolls,or drumb out beats? whyle im trying to line up beats perfectly by hand i can miss opertunities to add neat ffx and accents part of a song, or add some drumming. you dont tune a gutar in the middle of a performance. if you wana make your life harder then cover up the bpm too and match songs by ear. like sure its good to know what 150 sounds live vs 140 and 120 but good luck matching tenths by ear trying to transition and mix without the machine telling you the exact bpm. im sure some can do it but that would hinder their creative ability because of time, and if you wana get perfect at it, wor spending much more time tuning a skill that you really dont have to

[@stevecunliffe2151]

@@kirill2525 if a labourer tried to build a wall without a string line, do you think they could do it by eye?

[@AntiTrollable]

@@stevecunliffe2151 hence the piece of string that would make it more accurate and efficient. Next you will say why use maths in engineering, just practice till it doesn't fall down.

[@SteveAldous]

Sometimes I use the sync feature sometimes I don't. I'll flick it on and off sometimes if one track wanders out if sync, sometimes I'll nudge the jog wheel, everyone is different. As long as the crowd are enjoying it

[@twrea]

I have preformed as a venue DJ and one thing I have seen some top level DJ's make train-wrecks it happens all be it they fix' it rather fast.. Sometimes they hit the wrong slider - But one thing I will never forget is watching a pro DJ have a CDJ go nuts, he was using 2 turn tables and four CDJ's - He didn't panic he just went backwards, back to the track he had been on, in a long loop, then began to work on the failing CDJ, went to a new track fumbled a little but then got it going along - unplugged that failed CDJ and set it a side, reached down under the table and plop dropped a older larger CDJ down, plugged it in, dropped in a new CD, and went on like it was no harm no fowl.. Did he SYNIC maybe but it was never heard, his beat ran out but the music never stopped- the reverse back maybe caused some confusion but for all of maybe a min.. -It's about maintaining control, and keeping it fluid if you ask me.. As to mixing keeping the right key is more vital but your SPOT ON.. You have got to think of the blend point as a track of its own, not of two tracks mixing but to work them in so its your own, signature on them.. Deadmu5 aka Dead Mouse often in live sets will make music live on stage in that he will take two or three different toons and work them into each other. And blend them with released music. Life testing what works is a bold step all of its own. I have seen venue DJ's mix toons in a manner that would make you think its a club version of a pop song by just running the top end of the pop with the bass end of one or two house toons in a long loop.. Sync can allow for some stuff but it can not fix creative expression and organic VIBE.. Great Video J

[@garrettlh9482]

i just use my ear and the bars and count 1-2-3-4 a few times and after the 4th count then i hit play on the next track my brother taught me that and move the jog wheel!!

[@chenelius]

I love this discussion- how many people who beat match by ear and judge the people that use sync don't take photos and upload to insta on their phone but use a Dslr camera and etc their ISO and shutter speeds manually ? How many people drive to a destination new to them and use their phones sat nav or use an A5 AA Road map ? Horses for courses

[@atroutflycrazy8057]

Excellent video J 👍 I suppose my question really is Are the dj sets with the technology now any better than the dj sets that were on vinyl? Personally im nt hearing much of a difference except the technology now gives the dj more time to mess around with effects and eqs much of which is often unecessary and spoils tracks. Maybe im just oldskool but i love vinyl mixing its like seat of the pants ,walking a tight rope but The relief and satisfaction of doing a seamless mix transition on vinyl is great theres nothing like it. Im not saying technology is bad but i would be happy as far as mixing goes if it all went back to vinyl.

[@djmattpositive]

ps. it's 2022...unless you're just starting off/learning the basics, DJing on only two digital sources that show current BPM of both tracks is functionally equivalent to using sync (yes, you do notice the BPM). most new djs using sync exclusively who stick with it, end up learning to beat match organically, not because it's 'wrong' .

[@misselaineeos]

"most new djs" wondering where you get your data cause I have yet to see someone who syncs move away from it?

[@dredgeb]

Matt, great comment and so true

[@mikkliish]

@@misselaineeos I'm one of those people :) I started using sync when I got a ddj-400, just cause I was ready to go and wanted to start right away! But then I wanted to mix tracks against songs playing on twitch, and I also wanted to be able to play on any hardware (even hardware without sync, or hardware where sync wasn't working). I wanted to be able to do B2B sets as well. Basically, I didn't want to ever NOT be able to play because of the hardware... that's why decided that (1) sync is fine, but (2) don't RELY on sync to be able to play!

[@misselaineeos]

@@mikkliish ok, thanks. my problem is Im getting too old to know any new djs. And I dont entirely disagree with Matt, digital decks feel like cheating to me still even without sync. I started mixing in 94

[@mikkliish]

@@misselaineeos i don't think anyone would argue that mixing on vinyl is way harder! you don't have master tempo (key lock), hot cues, key sync, slip mode, looping, auto-loops, quantize, etc... etc... but i feel that, when used *creatively* and *musically*, these extra features can unlock a lot of different avenues for mixing, and freedom to mix tracks that may not have been 'mixable' with purely vinyl. my 2 cents! :)

[@mrrayner7162]

The best analogy I have seen about sync... Sync is like a bidet - I know how to wipe my own arse, I have done it all my life and can do it efficiently and to a high standard. Sometimes it's nice to not have to wipe my own arse but get something to do it for me.

[@qr9180]

Could be useful in a 4 desk mix or in emergency! But otherwise don't push the devil button

[@Sypher474]

The analogy 'sync = no soul' is the same garbage I copped when I stopped playing instruments in bands over a decade ago, and transitioned to a being a completely electronic composer. 'The computer does everything for you, it has no soul." Absolute nonsense in both circumstances. If I've got four decks going for an hour straight, picking my tracks on the fly with zero plan, transitioning drop to drop, I'm not wasting a single moment on the utterly pointless exercise of beatmatching. Oh look how organic and skilled I am, I looked at the screen and got the BPM, set the pitch fader, maybe nudged the jog wheel a couple of times. Pointless. Mistakes are not some sacred sign of authenticity, they are mistakes. Sure, if you're doing nothing of value with the time you saved from having sync on you get no pass here, but trying to imply that a full sync set somehow has no soul simply by virtue of the machine not allowing you to trainwreck is asinine. The machine isn't going to pick your tracks, work out which bar to bring it in, set your EQs, apply effects - the list goes on. That's where the soul is, not a needlessly wandering tempo.

[@deegreen3351]

Are we not slightly spoiled by most of the recent dance mix compilation albums which are computer mixed giving us this flawless sound?

[@sebastienrobert5179]

I use sync even if I’am a old school Dj it let me more time to play with effects it’s a great feature when it’s doing well ! Practice and enjoy ✌️✌️✌️Thanks dude

[@billy2001james]

Use it all the time, I don't play clubs ever, 100 percent weddings. I use to match my records and CDs by ear now I just hit sync if needed.

[@lucaslovesyouiii]

I speed mix acapella’s and instrumental tracks as fast as every 8 bars. Without sync you’d never be able to mix like that.

[@djmattpositive]

the only thing worse than a bunch of noob DJs using 'sync' to sound good to a dance floor, is a bunch of anti-sync DJs 'just using their ears' to clear the dance floor with authentic old school trainwrecks.

[@Carlin-qt4jk]

I bet you drive an automatic car...

[@gaddaitherage8204]

Great vid. I like the way you emphasize with the new DJ and see it from their perspective. I started DJing in the mid 90s but whenever my friends just started, I am cool with them using sync but I tell them to learn to do things manually because sync button might get them in trouble. Plus, it’s easy to learn so best to get that out of the way. That said, I only started going full digital two years ago, and I have to say I love the possibilities new tech can bring to the mix. Functions like beat jump and loops open up a whole new possibility in how I want to pace things on the fly and adding more colors to the mix, something that wasn’t possible with vinyl.

[@wasterdnb]

Dude i started in 2000 with soundlab belt drives. Upgraded to 1210s had them ever since. Bought my 1st full digital set up 3weeks ago,used to be dead againts them,but love the open creativeness digital gives you. Agree 100% learn to trust your ears however teaching my son&step son to mix via sync etc is fine with them, naturally i think if you get into mixing you start using your ears in the end. End of the day have fun doing it! What gear you got dude?

[@gaddaitherage8204]

@@wasterdnb belt drives are crazy! I remember using one at my friend’s house and tried to slow down the platter. The entire thing just stopped! I felt spoiled starting on 1210s😂. I have a DDJ-1000 now. Cool you teach your son. I tried to do the same thing and my son manages to break things all the time. I woke up and somehow my turntable needles are bent! You’re so right though- DJ is about you having fun, and the crowd having fun.

[@FSwiftDJ]

Sync is ok for creative performance DJ but if you want to sound like a club DJ such as DJ EZ no it won't do that your DJ mix will have no vibe , moment and sound static so learn to mix to give your DJ mixes an old vinyl natural vibe and if your mixing Garage or house turn master tempo off it will give your mix more edge when you pitch it up like vinyl turntable , sync can't do this as it needs to stay on grid quantise robotic feel 👍

[@StellaSteve80]

The sync button is pure blasphemy. Be gone, evil one! 👹

[@pjk3854]

Mostly when I am freestyling i turn my sync off, but when I have to record a mix I use it, just to make sure everything goes perfectley. Those people who are judging about sync are the same hypocrites who driving a car with automatic gearbox, or cycling with an electric bike.

[@theaverageguy3884]

Im 44 and started Djing 1 year a go. I have had a few warm up gigs at a few bars/clubs but nothing big. And playing mostly at forest and underground raves. I play everything from Psytrance to Techno and even vocal EDM 😂 i only use sync if im stressed or in songs that have vocals that kicks in after just 10 seconds. Its hard to beat match in 10 seconds so thats when i use sync.

[@rebecca_stone]

Ha you're a brave soul posting a video on this topic! People can get quite emotional and chest-beaty about sync. But a lot of the comments here are actually pretty level-headed. I can 100% understand that when you've put in the practice, failures, frustrations and time to learn to beat match, of course sync will seem like an outrageous and unfair shortcut. But I kind of feel that way about the tech that tells you the key of the tracks - I've had musical training (jazz) and perhaps that's why I loved the rewarding feeling of "hearing" which track "belongs" next when playing vinyl. The key display takes that pleasure away. Anyway, I think sync can be a great way for people to get into DJing but you say it perfectly - if you truly have the DJ blood in you, eventually you'll start to feel like your sets are serving up plastic junk food rather than a meal prepared from your hands and heart. You'll naturally eventually WANT to learn to beat match. You start by getting used to hearing what beat matched tracks sound like on your controller with sync, you'll then line them up by hand by watching the beatgrid, then by the waveform, then solely by ear, as you would with vinyl. It can simply be another learning tool - way less discouraging than untangling it "blind" from a mess of beats as in the old days. Is one way better or worse? Who knows. Sync is super handy in live situations, especially where I'm running late with matching and know exactly where I wanted "track 2" to start. But I can't really do it a lot anyway because the genre I now mainly play (classic disco) is usually quite syncopated and unforgiving and you have to mix it by hand as controller software doesn't "read" / map it for sync correctly anyway.

[@M_System]

For me.. 90% of the time the sync button is turned off, but it comes in handy when putting a set together in the studio at home looking for tracks that go together before making the final mix or used as a "guide" especially when i need to get something in quick to help get me out of a sticky situation. Ive found that the Beat Sync on this new tech is good but its not perfect.. 9 times out of 10 a manual nudge of the job wheel can get it sounding even better sync ever could. I taught myself to mix on the 12s during the early 90s.. 93 to be exact during the UK Hardcore Breakbeat days so Ive naturally found the new stuff familiar to use. Having the screen is a nice addition, If you can visually see that the pitch is perfect on both decks to the decimal point (ie 0.01) then you simply don't need the sync button... unless you're mixing vinyl rips where you're going to have to compensate for the fluctuations in the vinyl, then you're literally in manual mode. :) Beat Sync is good... But the hands, eyes and ears can make the sound much better.

[@wharfey9441]

See, I think sync is cool and all but for me it does show a heck of a lot more skill and talent if someone can beat match well instead

[@danfield6030]

Been djing vinyl for 23 years. Ive been djing Pioneer dex for 16 years. Only in the last year have i used sync buttons. It lets me talk to people during a set.

[@mikkliish]

Song 2! this is such a brilliant way to make the concept of mixing so brilliantly clear and easy to understand!!! wow man!

[@Djsonley]

If you focus soley on beatmatching in 2023 you will get overtaken by more creative DJ's in the digital realm. Thats just a fact. bBatmatching is not needed at all in 2023. Editing your own records is a must I would argue to become truly professional. Adding fills and space / effects to actually make the mixes organic and individual. Sync doesn't even matter. It's redundant in 2023. Only mattered in the mid 2010's when clubs still had CDJ1000's. Only reason I like vinyl decks live are to scratch because it's a lot easier than CDJ's for me personally. If your a dull DJ I can can tell: vinyl, CDJ's or controller. beatmatching or not. All that matters is the sound and creativity, nothing else.

[@Debagio]

I only use sync if I'm putting together an acappella over a rhythm track, for example, to record and play at a later date. Otherwise I manually beatmatch. I find the process more satisfying than letting the software do it for me. Each to their own and all that.

[@billscott6819]

I'm 52 and came up DJing on vinyl. I'm still new to using digital, but I don't mind sync as a tool. The only thing I could say is that it can sorta lock people into a fixed tempo for too long. Even worse than sync to me is key correction, or harmonic mixing where people stay in the same key too long. It gets that 'one long song' kinda boring feel.

[@Rickky007]

The only time I’ll use the sync button is when the liquor 🥃 starts to hit me lol usually at the end of my gigs.

[@jenaroalcantara5786]

Wow great video. I'm getting back to dj on turntables. I used to play at different clubs in CA USA. I started with Techniques 1200's. I have to say you are so right..... A real dj will always be in control.

[@djmercuryrizing]

This is a great video and you are on point, love how you shared you knowledge to the world 👍. To all the Dj's music is life , practice create a better Disc jockey 🙏🙏 .NEVER GIVE UP while Enjoying the craft . "Love in the house"

[@andyyoung6317]

I learned on vinyl, I played the tune i was going to mix in slower so i knew it needed speeding up.

[@stuartpaul9211]

the sync button is like using a digital health passport. you're either free to be slightly out in time or under totaliterian rigid control of the sync button.

[@masterzzzzzz1]

Another great video, keep them coming. On Spotify now going through the Danny J Lewis collection, got Spend the Night on vinyl from back in the day but didn't know about all this new stuff, loving it!!

[@DJHesKardan]

Works for and I enjoy mixing with it on . I'm only new and it helps . It's like auto transmission in car . Put in D and drive .

[@hardstyleminded]

I think you have a point about having a DJ set be organic and it not sounding perfect like a robot is mixing it, but I don't think it is the sync button that is the cause of that to occur, it is the choices of songs and how daring a DJ is to make there set exciting. I do not know why DJs try so hard to make a set sound perfect like listening to the radio or a playlist of songs. What is more important than if a DJ uses a sync button or not, is the choice of the song that they are blending in the transition and it takes time beforehand to find the best song especially if they are different genres and harder to mix. Though I could totally be wrong.

[@robjchristopher]

I've just started out, so I'm all ears. In my early dabbling I've found that using the sync feature for tracks that are very close in BPM works for me. I've enjoyed finding ways of transitioning between tracks of very different BPM's. I want to work on beat matching by ear next, but the sync has been a great way of getting me started...

[@danhitchcock727]

I think if you can beat match then there is no problem using it. I do believe you have to know how to beat match to be a dj. It's like learning to drive in a manual then driving an automatic, really not a big deal.

[@nicusky]

Coming from the cdj 100's era, i am in Sync with what you are saying. See what i did there ? :) This new feature is ripping the passion of work on the mix.

[@Wokonleesback]

Beatmatching sparks joy for me.

[@djcie1018]

Using the sync button is like playing COD and calling yourself a veteran...

[@erwingouw3162]

Right!

[@stevied653]

I learned with vinyl but now I use a midi controller, sometimes I sync sometimes I beat match manually with the pitch fader. If you’re going to use sync, make sure it’s tempo sync and not beat sync so you get more control over the tracks if their beatgrid isn’t on beat.

[@djfuzion7245]

I total agree with you Bro. I feel like learning to beatmatch, have good timing, etc, is essential for building your foundation as a DJ. SYNC technology wasn’t available when I first got started so learning these things were a must if I wanted to be good at it. And even while the technology is available I still don’t think you should be relying on it. My thought is what happens if it suddenly stops working or is malfunctioning during a gig? Your audience is still going to expect you to perform at a high level, with or without what I’d consider a crutch. I posted a reddit recently about a rumored possibility of Serato discontinuing software support of the sync feature in 2022. Lol, the response and hatred I got from the people responding was very telling. You would have thought the sky was falling!!

[@dannicholson6393]

"If you use sync you've got no soul, body, there's no feel to it" what a load of rubbish. All that matters is the music.

[@loopskywalker]

i use sync 100 per cent of the time,i find it helps me become so much more creative.Ive been djing since the 80s ,i can still mess up though...but my mixes have just been enhanced by sync. I will be mixing beats ,acapellas,scratches and at a high transition rate that would be impossible to do without sync. I do get what youre saying in the grand scheme of things..but for me i love it. 53 years old uk dj champion

[@djroccvader6711]

Back in the 80s I only used vinyl back then sync I didn't used it.i just used my ears

[@damionmensah1477]

Listening to a dj go slightly off beat and have to work to get it bk I'd be like...go on mate go you've got this and then listen to the mix running . Was a buzz!! Sync stole that from today's mixing imo

[@conradrichards3363]

Too many DJ s out there, spoiled by sync to fast track their supposed talent ,it takes time years to be top. Even if you good in your bedroom doesn't mean you can cut it in front of even a small crowd.Most modern day DVD do a small 2 hour set and think they the bomb. Try DJ one for 6 hours and keep your audience entertained. That's harder

[@oldskool7313]

Lol I'm 40 plus and Learnt the hard way. Both ways with new gear Everyone different Enjoy it Learn by your mistakes

[@mikkliish]

i don't see any issue with sync, but you shouldn't need to rely on it, cause sometimes it won't be on the gear you have to use. even cdj-3000's... if the pro dj link connection isn't working, then you can't sync the cdj's, and if you can't beatmatch with just having the bpm, then you can't play :/

[@mikkliish]

If you have the bpm of both tracks, then beatmatching is pretty easy... Every DJ should be able to beatmatch if only gven the bpm, because its literally 1) match the bpms, 2) tap the cue button in beat, 3) start the new track on the right beat (maybe fine tune with the jog wheel)... so, sync is fine, but a DJ shouldn't NEED it to play... just practice it a bit, you'll get it very fast!

[@Alton-x]

Ears are for mixing, eyes are for watching the crowd

[@vinman3057]

And 1210,s are for proper dj,s

[@deebee388]

Sync is all good but if u do an all vinyl night you will see who the proper djs are

[@RossiB172]

Only had a controller about 2 or 3 week and depending on genres and certain tracks of the same genre sync is deffinatly a no no. I went back on track 1, turned sync off both sides and kind of found a middle ground that worked for me just by ajusting it manually. Taking the bass down and volume down on track 1 and bringing it up on 2/3. I found classic commercial dance harder than old pre 97 garage. Just because of the different styles its the vocals and pianos, i do need to dive into a few other genres im not too hot on and explore. Weird to find and download stuff you dont particularly like

[@robynjoyz]

I think in music generally putting things into context makes the difference. I only use sync on my custom-built-and-mapped controller with traktor, since I dont have wheels to adjust and no tempofaders. Also I only mix 174bpm neurofunk on it, so the focus is completely on keeping 2 tracks dopping and transition on the 3rd/4th deck. On the other hand when I use my Denon Prime 4, I naturally would not want to use sync, unless changing tempi/genre as explained in the video. So I dont mind sync, I think it serves more then just the purpose of building transitions, but one has to find their own use for it. Beatmatching is a required skill if you want to go pro, there is just no way around. nice vid man, good analogies :D:D

[@ROY4Lproductions]

I always like bringing the second track in just before it's fully matched, so it's slightly off beat. Just makes the transition more noticeable, which I think is very enjoyable. Justice used that "switch" sample in some of their sets between transitions, which I thought was cool too.

[@grahamhickson4137]

Analogy fix... Screen is your dashboard, youve gotta glance at it from time to time but your eyes are mostly on the road 🤜🏻 i got what you meant ha

[@loops01]

During a new years eve party, the XDJ RR lost its screen. followed by the sync making errors. People having fun, so.. old school time. I could load tracks but thats it. Waited for the NYE countdown so it could be rebooted. Was an in interesting 45 minutes. Coming from records in 1995, the skills were still there (rusty though). Like riding a bike.:)

[@wreignone]

danny j lewis, deep house legend! Btw im a walking talking sync buton, Theres been many times I get a track matched in less than 1 second.

[@djliammcvicker4473]

Thinking times move on and it's all about the new DJ equipment now the Sync button helps obviously Match up your bbm But I doesn't let the track go in line or in Paragraphed With the other Track Still got to think about where next vocals coming in or rap Switch on bass Volume Levels or picked the songs for you That's still down to you !!!!

[@abumc5104]

👁 already know, how 2 not use sync or buttons in general 😜 . stay away from all this digital stuff, listen 2 UR music on UR vinyls 1. then practice beatmatchin' & mixin' the traxxs with just a dj mixer. that means, U need 2 or 3 turntables & 1 dj mixer + the active speakers 🔊for the sound 🔥 . 👁 just don't know actually, how 2 record the mix 🤔 . therefore maybe U need some digital stuff, 👁 think a laptop 💻 will do. when U got this altogether, U will for sure make some nice mixes 👁 guess. when 👁 got this 🎶 🎚 🎧 🎛 💻altogether, dj's will be done 🤪 . a pretty nice 2022 for the dj tutor community all around the globe 🌎 . + a big thanxxs 2 the dj tutor himself.

[@Spaceear]

I have to weigh in on this one to respectfully disagree... I learned on 1210's (1989) and still have them but when I use digital, I take advantage of all the extra features. I don't believe that mistakes add soul to a mix, or understand why anyone would want their mixes to be drifting and imperfect. I do 2 hours of radio on a DAB station every week and use sync 100 percent of the time but I also use all of the features of the XDJ3000's and the mixer. Use sync, use quantise, make loops or even use the beat roll effect for a loop of a previous track and load another one to get a 3rd deck. There is skill in layering the music but most of these DJ's that are against sync are just mixing the last 32 bars into the first 32 bars of each track and for some reason think because they are not using sync it makes it more interesting. Visually it may do but sonically, it makes no difference if it's perfect but sounds bad if it's not.

[@carteblanche5741]

I started on 1210s so I'm happy mixing but I found unless I put the tracks through record box onto USB my tracks kept jumping bpm and putting my mix out so it was more out of nessesity using sync

[@gianhaas4851]

And yes if you're doing a lot of sampling FX and scratching in between your mixes then you can use sync to quickly line up the tracks. So overall to make your mixes larger and working harder then why not but not all the time. But as u said before if all tracks are perfectly aligned you know there's cheating involved somewhat.

[@tomislavsekerija1957TN]

Except for fun begining, there is no way to justify that cheat button.

[@tallbaldpaul]

Really interesting discussion on here , like many I learnt to DJ in the late 90’s on 1210’s & taught myself with the same 2 tracks for weeks. Gigging in & out of clubs & bars & I remember the 1st time I saw a cd deck with a sync button…even then, personally I never let liked it, but I can see as more effects and options have been added to mixers & offer some creativity it could be useful, but I always prided our sets on being able to control a mash-up in the mix but ear and feel. Interesting timing to see this as well as I’ve just dug out my gear & ordered some KRK speakers….it never leaves ya…..but I’m still just staying with my 1210’s & vinyl…maybe will check Traktor.

[@kirill2525]

i get that back in the day stuff, ya it was important to have that skill , but as you said, we have so many fx and options for loops and rolls, shit my dj-505 has a drum machine and sequencer built in so i can add instruments and even create a beat on the fly to complement a track thats playing, add another instrement using its midi out cable or even just be super actiuve with the fx, and now you dont have time to manually sync everything, and if you do, your loosing on the crative freedom, not to mention some types of edm, if its off by a little bt it is really noticible and jarring, ruins the experience for the listener. what people need to understand is that its not that new djs that use sync are lazy or cheating or sdont have skill, its that our skill is in perfectly timed fx, beat rolls, finger drumming and all these other things that you just didnt have acess to back in the day. when you were djing back then, was there any decs that had velocity sencitive pads with the beat slicer option with something like pitch in time and a built in sequencer and drum machine that creats sound and doent just play samples of them? probablyu not and thats were the modern dj skill comes from. we shouldent shit on each other here, we all have our skills for our times and for what we used. as times change we got to adapt, some things become more asy but the complexity of the music itself changed too. sure anyone can press the sync button but pressing it at the right time and then also knowing what to do with the other buttons and acually use everything at ypur disposal to create something new, in my opinion requires more skill then nudging a track manually, no offence of course. really oyur music has changed and the tools have evolved with it.

[@tallbaldpaul]

@@kirill2525 Hi mate, cheers for the reply. On reflection I didn’t mean to phrase some bits that way, guess my brain is still just wired to what was, however, I’ve been watching some friends use more on the loop and sample assignment functions recently and as you say, there is a whole extra layer of potential to add in to the mix which requires another set of ears and some of the stuff being made on the fly is awesome, certainly not meaning to play down any creativity my man. I certainly think will move toward it at some point, skills and passion have to develop for us all it we are standing still.

[@Ellerz03]

Because I mix dnb predominantly using the bpm slider usually takes far to long when I’m trying to go for things like doubles, switches or triples as I usually have my hotcues set 16 beats before the drop, I know how to beat match because with stuff like house and garage it’s not as quick. But dnb I struggle and have to use sync else I’ll miss the queen points. How do you change the bpm quicker than the bpm slider?

[@jamesguest1238]

Hi love ur tech videos thank you.. what controller are u using in this video.. sync is a choice use it if u need it .. don't if u don't...

[@hassandjhaboogiespin4550]

Ellaskins u are The Best forreal✊⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@jaybrickman1094]

For me, honestly sync sucks, I always have to nudge the jog wheel to get it perfectly matched anyways. I spin trance and psy so the bpms vary from 140-105-70, sync doesn’t work lol idk beatmatching was obviously the first thing I learned on Technic 1200s 20 years ago

[@IanDeVos]

If sync doesn't work correctly your beatgrids are off. Otherwise sync is 100% correct everytime. You can even beatgrid variable tempo's (vinyl rips, live drums, tranistion tracks, sloppy edits) in most DJ software.

[@jaybrickman1094]

@@IanDeVos yeah you’re probably right, I guess I just don’t slow down long enough to edit my grids, I get my beats and phrases perfectly matched every time by ear so I just don’t even bother.

[@gregorycanady2868]

I totally understand your pro sync take. But I didn’t understand at all your reasoning for why people shouldn’t use sync.

[@zxnkairo]

Hey i remember watching you years ago when I had my first decks about 8 years ago, sadly had to give up on that hobby! Although I’ve taken it back up now, can you do a tutorial on beat matching without looking at bpm or sync? Basically I’d love to be able to beat match like how it was done with vinyl but with my ddj sx

[@tonycammie1269]

If you using the pitch slider are you not technical syncing the tracks?

[@ThomasTune82]

I do both...have control over my vinyl staying in sync and playing with eq and effects... it is just there.. for me it is just a normal thing to hear when the tracks getting out of sync and at the same time be creative.. in the good old days of hardgroove and tribal 20 years ago, I played with 3 turntables simultaniously.. it´s like a gift I got.

[@tomh6010]

On one hand I do fully agree with what you've said, especially about mistakes adding an organic layer to a mix - on the other hand, coming from the dubstep/riddim scene I disagree that sync is a no no at all. My point is simply that some genres have very fast transitions, and DJ's can be mixing 3/4 tracks at once. That makes sync a hugely important tool for getting an hour set without something clashing badly and breaking the immersion entirely. I find that higher bp tracks with softer drums are way more forgiving with how bad a mistake can be - which is why I partially agree, but dubstep, trap and mid-tempo can be ruined by a couple beat clashes even when the lows are completely trimmed.

[@kirill2525]

see you get it. unfortunatly i only have 2 channels on my dj 505 but it has a drum machine and sequencer in it, , bunch of fx and whatnot, im not gonna waste time and potentually make something clash for the human feel when i can add the human feel with scratching and finger drumming and making my own shit on the fly. making mistakes to prove your human is like the ppl that fucked up chiurches to not anger god because humans are supost to be flawd. its retarded imo. add the organic, human feel through how you toutch and manipulate the music, not by proving that you can do things by hand. ppl that argu agenst it oe say its about skill well they should also cover up ther part of the screan that tells them the bpm and ke so they can really use their ears and have a set of them just listening to half the song XD

[@togisivni]

I'll try this!

[@grantashun9742]

Yes that’s the business I wanna get into

[@Carlin-qt4jk]

Treat yourself to an I-Rig and watch the magic appeear...

[@stompmachine]

I really appreciated this vid. Thank you. I've recently stopped using sync and quantize, relying strictly on the tempo sliders and platters to beat match. My favorite part of live, pro dj mixes are the long transitions.... Having switched to a more organic approach I've noticed that it's more challenging to lengthen out the transitions, but... Love the challenge. Great concept. I'm on mixcloud. My latest mix is 46. Any suggestions are very welcome.

[@mgtow-balance3409]

i learned a very long time ago from dj ted currier. he was one of the first using long transitions, 1, 2, or minutes long. this has also been my fav style of mixing

[@DjNikGnashers]

To be fair, even if you never use sync, it's not rocket science to match the BPM's of two digital files in Serato (as an example), then line the beat peaks up. In fact, you could do it absolutely 100% bang on without even listening to the music. Real DJ's use their ears ?

[@togisivni]

That's why "we need" 4 decks

[@ShawnGBR]

Sync is no different from computers being able to correct your spelling - as long as you know how it's meant to be spelled, you use Spellcheck because it eliminates silly mistakes. And nobody ever says "I'm not going to read that newspaper / article / book because the writer uses Spellcheck on their documents"!

[@benallen8954]

Lol I am 40 plus and I want to be a dj. Don’t stop the music.

[@stewhiteywhite]

How do I deal with an extra beat when mixing?? Say I have a tune playing in deck A and I'm bringing in tune B, now the intro is fine in tune B but just as the main body of the track starts instead of the normal 4 beats there is a 5th beat so insead of it going dum, dum, dum, dum, it goes dum dum, dum, dum, dum. How do you mix with that extra beat

[@user-tx5vr2lu6e]

i have this exact issue as well!

[@Ex0rz]

Umm the 5th beat doesnt affect the tempo and its just an extra kick hit, but the structure is still the same 4x4. Its about the tempo and not the amount of kick drum hits you have in a bar, because the amount of beats will always be 4x4. You always just count the first beat of the bar. If a beat is missing, then you still count it even if its silent.

[@gazpeters2857]

Have you done the RX3 yet ? As I no you love the RX2 you did a good review on that 👍