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Chef wrote:You gotta ride that pitch like a bitch.

words to live by.

I started out using my fingers, and I'm definitely guilty of using them when things start getting hairy. It's a tough habit to break yourself of, but once you've gotten it down, it drastically improves your mixing.

I'm still trying to get it down....slow process

Pitch.

Because you need the pitch to be correct in the end anyway (unless you want to keep nudging the record and/or platter), and sudden pushes on the deck make the tracks zoom out of key in a dodgy-sounding way.

I would've thought it'd be easier to learn using the pitch control, because every record feels different (different weights, different sized gaps around the spindle hole) so you can be more consistent if you nail your pitch chasing.

Utopian wrote:I would've thought it'd be easier to learn using the pitch control, because every record feels different (different weights, different sized gaps around the spindle hole) so you can be more consistent if you nail your pitch chasing.

Just using pitch is a bugger though. Trying to resist tapping your fingers on the record is difficult. After this was posted I decided to fuck off my previous comment and give it a try. It will take an age to get used to but it does make blends sound smoother.

i use my fingers to stop the tune im mixing in and release it again at the one count. still with the fingers, i slow down or speed up accordingly. though, from then on its all pitch to get a tight blend...

only use my hands to put the record on the turntable and queue it up. other than that, i never never never never touch the record/platter/spindle unless i'm removing the record.

firstly, this is a really good thread. nice one decibella.

i cant say i ever push a record. i'll slow it somtimes, but likes been said, this can sound messy. im always trying to mix just by using the sliders, but its fuckin hard.

i can remember reading an article in knowledge about randall "getting his "quartz locked self" into the dj box and banging out a proper amazing mix, then people asking wether it was quartz locked or not." i dont know what this means. does it mean he has both decks on quartz lock then just mixes using the platters?

For me, I gotta use a bit of both. I've never been a big fan of just using strictly pitch control. Too hands off and scientific. IMO, dj records are meant to be handled. But really, the end result is infinitely more important than the techniques used to get there so to each their own.

Maybe its becuase i come from a techno background but whenever i mix records i just get them to the right speed between headphones and monitor then bosh them in why bother causing a pre-emtive train wreck when you could just take those few more bars to get it right and sound alot better.

If you have to its always better to have it running slighty faster than slower its alot easier to give the record your mixing a little squeeze on the spindle to slow it down than getting that horrible vooomp when you speed it up.

i like beatjuggling and scratching, so i chose 'push'.
when i'm mixing drum and bass or dubstep i primarily use the pitch, but its a combination of both really.
when mixing reggae 7"s the ONLY way to do it is on the pitch.

its not a good idea to combine the two, that is how you trainwreck.
e.g dont go push push pitch pitch push pitch push because you need to give the record time to get up to speed after the first pitch adjustment.

each to their own

Generally Pitch, but when push comes to shove I will touch the vinyl. But definetly prefer the pitch, it just makes things sound so much smoother.

i've only been at this a year, and the kids who showed me whats up were hip-hop turntablist kids. i honestly just found out a couple months ago that people mix w/ the pitch. i've been working on it, and i usually end up touching the record (usually the platter, actually) at least once or twice. that shit is tough, but when i get one mixed perfectly using just the pitch i feel like a total badass.

UFO over easy wrote:

ac23 wrote: ......but Earth a Run Red @ +5 or 6%.....
so when i play out...i put my first tune against that at home then mix at that speed for the night...

why so fast? and why bother? just start with what feels right innit

Because thats the speed i like to mix at....and it feels right so yea
But yea your probably right...there isnt really any point haha..to be honest i havent done it for time....
dont have the need to do it anymore...was just tryna give some sort of tips...it sortof is good because dubstep covers such a broad range of BPMs

It's not like Earth a Run red is a fast tune...most other tunes fall well under that % wise....

I think its interesting what speed people play stuff...that Loefah - Disco Rekah thread was interesting.....I play it about -1%.

i swear wen i was at DMZ it was a lot faster...hell of alot faster.

obviously if im playing in a bar with few suites + unsure crew, im not gonna play mad fast

Fushimi wrote: I do the same, but how can you play so fast? Surely on decks that only have up to +8 pitch sliders you can't mix Loefah, D1 and Pinch tunes? I play at Request Line +2.5

Na not a problem really......well yea Goat Stare.
i normally sit at 4-5% on earth a run red.....but a bit quicker if people seem up for going mental...like 5-6%

it obviously changes thruout the set sometimes if i need squeeze stuff in.

i remember when halfstep first started getting lots of love i'd start my mix at like -4 or -5 just cuz i loved how slow it was

*DeCiBella~~ wrote: The way i do it, is everytime i touch the record (speed up or slow down) i mirror this by adjusting the pitch slightly, untill its totally locked in the headphones and then bring it in..... normally if it then goes slightly out, pushing it so minor its hardly noticable....

me too, been trying to replace touching the record once its been brought in with fiddlin the pitch. i too have also heard people mention its the better way. i can understand it being better once the mix is in but before that surely it doesn't matter? no one would hear the melody go out of tune or whatever.

personally im a bit of both. i mean maybe its ocd to touch the record at times for me and i think sometimes i over do it. but most times i tone it done and fuck with the pitch.

ok, after reading this thread i have attempted to mix using pitch only, and i have to admit its a bit harder than what i'm used to but it does sound better. however, i dont see any problem with touching the platter or record to make small adjustments, as long its GENTLE and is only done at the right time, i.e. in between the beats, not during melodies/synths playing.

after all long as it sounds good doesnt matter which way u do it!!

I blow on the record as if cooling soup

All about pitch to me and getting it right beforehands so that there would be no need for bigger corrections after the tune's in. Still learning tho. I push as little as I can and aim to use only pitch - that way it sounds more smooth to me. If it somehow ends up horribly wrong I might push but that way I usually end up in deeper shit.

Never touch the record, apart from placing the vinyl on the platter.

Pitch Quartz should be accurate enough without human error (aka pushing)!

Best way...