How to Mix Music Using Beatmatching
Make your baby steps in DJing
Beatmatching is an essential DJ mixing technique. It is widely used in house, techno and other similar genres that have distinct rhythm. Using beatmatching you can create a seamless transition between two songs.
To use beatmatching you have to:
- Make the two songs play at the same tempo (BPM or Beats Per Minute)
- Synchronize the two songs, i.e. align the beats.
Steps
- Before you begin, make a plan. Select the songs you will play. They must be at approximately the same speed and (preferably) in the same key.
- Play the first song.
- Play the second (cued) song through your monitor (that’s the professional term for headphones).
- Put only one headphone on your ear (you’ve seen DJs do this, right?).
- Find a beat on your cued song.
- On a turntable listen for the beat, then stop the record by putting your finger on it. Turn it back and forth through the beat position to locate it precisely. The needle must be somewhat behind the beat position.
- On a CD press “Pause” and then rewind a little using the seek buttons or the jog wheel. Optionally, you may set a “cue point” for future use
- When a beat sounds from your live (playing to the audience) song, lift your finger off the vinyl, or press “Play” on the CD player. Both beats should start at the same time.
- Listening to your cued song with one ear and the live song with the other, find out if the cued song is faster or slower than the live one.
- Adjust the speed until the two songs sound like the same tempo using the “Pitch Control” slider.
- If you’re near the point when the two songs are in the same tempo, but unsure whether the cued song is lagging or speeding, use the “Pitch Bend” buttons on your CD player, or slow down and speed up the record by pressing the turntable disc with your finger or lightly pushing it to accelerate it.
- When you feel both songs are at the same tempo, repeat steps 5 through 9 until the beats stay in sync for at least 30 seconds.
- Wait for the mixing point. It should be a flat beat at the end or before the break of the live song, preferably with no vocal.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6.
- Mix the two songs using the crossfader. Make sure there’s a reasonable time during which both songs are playing (at least 15 seconds).
Graphic
The three stages of beatmixing
You may want to click on the image to enlarge it. Each spike represents a beat.
- In the first stage one song is at 128 BPM and the other at 132 BPM. Note that even with the first beats aligned, there’s a significant mismatch within only 5 bars. When played, this would sound awful.
- In the second stage the tempos of the two songs are matched, but they’re not aligned. If played, this would sound like the tempo of the cued song gradually increasing to double the original, then gradually fading out to normal.
- In the third stage the two songs with matched tempos are aligned. Now the beat from the cued song will sound exactly when the beat from the live one does. The audience will hardly feel they’re two different songs, especially if they’re in the same key. As you crossfade, no-one will know when the song being mixed out of is finished, and they will have the feeling that only the vocals have changed.
Tips
- If during the mix the cued song starts lagging or speeding, use step 9 to correct it. Alternatively, you may use the “Pitch Control” itself.
- For the above reason, when mixing keep one hand on the “Pitch Control” or “Pitch Bend” and interfere if there’s an audible mismatch.
- Selecting the precise mixing point is half the DJing. Vinyls and club version of songs have between 30 seconds and 1 minute of flat beat with no vocal at the beginning and end for the purpose of making mixing easier. Also, all songs have a “break” it’s a part where the beat is stopped and only vocals remain. While you’re new, you should try and mix out at the break. This way if you mess it up, you will have a second go at the end of the song.
- High-end CD players have automatic beat-start. This means you don’t have to seek for the beat, the player automatically starts at the first audible beat when you press PLAY.
- Listen to professional DJ sets to get a notion what a perfect beatmatch sounds like. Try to discern the moment the cued song starts playing.
- Many DJ mixing programs have automatic beatmatching and synchronization. Use them to hear what the two songs sound like when they’re in perfect sync. Then try to do it yourself, without looking at the BPM counter.
- Some mixers can play both the live and the cued songs through the monitor. In this case you can put both of your headphones on. If you have such a mixer at hand, beatmixing will be much easier for you.
- Make sure your monitor level is suitable for the volume of the live song. You should hear the headphones and the live music at the same level.
- While you’re new, try using additional pair of speakers for the monitor. This may also require another amplifier.
- Try to record your mixes. Many MP3 mixing programs have MP3 or WAV recording abilities. If you’re using other playback devices such as CDJs or turntables, you may use a tape recorder, or plug the output of the mixer in the LINE IN of your sound card. Listen to the recorded mix and make a note of your mistakes.
- A simple DJ trick is to have an “escape track” at hand. Those are tracks beginning with flat beat that are easy to sync. If you feel you can’t mix the desired song in time, put on the escape track to keep the music from stopping.
- When you make your playlist, try to keep the songs within +/- 5 BMP range.
- When using turntables, speed up the songs, starting from the first one. Avoid using the turntable at 0% pitch, as the speed of most turntables tends to fluctuate at 0% (this is known as “flutter”).
- Feel free to experiment with different techniques. Beatmixing is a prerequisite for being a successful DJ, but it alone does not make you a great DJ. Get creative with the equalizer, try making short insta-remixes by mixing the vocal from the cued song with the beat from the live one, etc.
- When using a turntable you need a slipmat. It allows the disc to spin under the vinyl without stopping when you hold it with your finger. Normally slipmats are not supplied with the turntable and must be bought as an extra. There’s a great selection of them in professional equipment stores. If you don’t have a slipmat at hand, put an old record under the played one.
Things You’ll Need
- Two music players (CD players or turntables) of the same make, with the capability to adjust playback tempo.
- Mixer with monitor output and a crossfader.
- Amplifier and speakers.
- Hi-Fi headphones. It will be very hard for a beginner to mix using those Skype-certified computer headphones.
- Music in the respective medium.
- As you get better – a willing audience