How to Beatmatch in 2024 (Complete Guide) 

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Thanks man! Just here to help the DJ world be a better and happier place for everyone :) I'm always learning too!

Completely agree with this sentiment! DJ Carlo is the man!

Hahaha, well, I'll still have to give her props for being a producer and singer first

Winning comment 😂

lmfaoooo

lol really. props to dj carlo for paying attention to trends and knowing the perfect time to drop this video.

💯💯💀💀

But man, when sync messes up on you, it's an absolute train wreck! And this is why, despite the digital age being here and now, I still encourage people to learn the basics. This guide was long LONG overdue haha

Who cares if it makes betas look good? If it's working for them it works for them. DJing isn't some concept where there's "a right way to look good". I do agree DJs should at least know how to beatmatch on the fly, but there's nothing wrong with using sync if a DJ wants to.

That's why I tell everyone who is thinking of becoming a DJ to start with turntables and vinyl, especially in the digital age, to learn beatmatching and the ear for it, it's the 1x1 of DJing. Later you can use the sync Button, please never ever permanently 😉

i'm a proud gatekeeper,, lol honestly never understood why sync became a "must have" for controllers-but like everyone says,, it's here-get used to it -- doesn't mean it should be constantly relied upon-,, if you're putting DJ in front of your name,, or claim to be one-, then yea,, at least take time- learn the Basics, this was dj 101 whether you were a scratcher , open format or house dj,, this was just what Had to be learned initially. using your EARS,, listening, knowing your records etc-,, all key ingredients -- carry on , great post, by the way-,

Sure! I'll get to work on those next!

@@djcarlo thank u so much, keep it up bro

Amen to that brother! We gotta teach the fundamentals and let new generations know!

That's amazing! I may have helped kickstart it, but the rest is on you and your hard work! Congratulations!

This is really good advice actually! I should have included a bit on this 🤩

It’s also MEGA FUN and really rewarding. I get that not everyone has access to technics and vinyl, so I really recommend this☝️

I don't have an S at the end of my name! That's someone else bwahahaha, but thank you so much Irving! I'm so glad you loved the new beatmatching video, and hope you found some good new info on it!

You got this! Congrats on your hustle!! Keep going!

Thanks! Keep playing and enjoying!

I'm so glad you think so man(ly)! Will always keep up the good stuff!

Thanks buddy! So happy you watch my content even though you already have mastered the lesson. A lot of new DJs don’t know their fundamentals so I thought it was the best time to release this especially now when everything is always automated and controlled by robots haha

Same!! Been Djing since 95. Started on rotary knob technics and after a year got myself a pair of 1200mk2’s. I can beat match in my sleep, but I still watched this video. Lol

@@stylepoint1200 OMG! You just brought up a memory... I remember working all Summer to save up for my first pair of Technique 12's while they were in layaway (LOL!). When I finally bought them and opened one up in my Studio apartment (this was in 1988), I literally teared up. It was a very emotional moment. You have one over on me, I never had a chance to mix with Rotary knobs. So cool to be still doing what we love after all these years.

Thank you so much Zoe! Hope this helped with beatmatching

Thanks man! That's what makes these videos super fun!

Ohhhh, I wouldn't dare push the needle. That's playing with fire hahaha

You're very welcome! Hope you learned a few things about beatmatching from the video!

That’s true! Always best to learn by ear!

Thank you! Really important lessons here

Yes sir! This is the fundamental that everyone needs to know!

Indeed! This is one of the most important aspects of DJing, so it's only apt I explain it

@@djcarlo Ive seen a trend online lately whereby people are actually actively hoping to hear the odd mistake here and there just because it proves the person is involved in the mix... it was bound to happen eventually wasn't it, DJing has always been a performance art as much as anything and it had become slightly soulless where people were just blending music together with the sync button and doing not a lot else.

That’s great! So happy to hear that!! Your son is going to have a lot of fun :)

Yes, absolutely! I've heard some very fire song choice sets ruined by some very bad mix phrasing, with complete disregard for song structure.

You're very welcome! Hope you learned a few new ideas for beatmatching!

I've been posting! Just slowly haha

You’re welcome! I hope you learned something new!

I always try to make the best stuff for the channel!

@@djcarlo ur teaching skills it’s on the chain u basically teach me everything thru ur channel thank u again ur work is really appreciated 💯🙏🏾🫡

It's still the gold standard for beat matching I'd say. Less folk have turntables now, hence the digital beatmatch guide

I do miss Traktor. I wish they'd update more often. I'm still a Traktor fan at heart

Yes you are! You're very welcome as well! Hope you found the video helpful!

🥳🥳🥳

It's very important!

Thank you very much pare!

For sure! Been meaning to make this video for a while na haha

I'll think about it! There are a lot of amazing reviews on it as well online from fellow DJs 🥳

Oof, I get those kinds of parties. Just gotta go with the biggest hits, and keep the energy up! Nothing too hard (clubby), just songs that would appease the general, casual listener

@@djcarlo thank you

This is it! Hopefully this will help a lot of newbies :)

Yes! That was the point! That sound is a nightmare!!

@djcarlo exactly , still shuddering thinking about it now! reminds me of my djing when I was 10 😂

That’s an amazing tip! Perhaps I’ll make a video on it! Thanks for the gem!

@@djcarlo no problem! You have to either use sync or adjust both faders simultaneously for it to work also

Oof, that's a software limitation! Only Djay Pro has the fluid beat grid from what I know

Obrigado! Hope you learned a few new things about beatmatching in this video

@@djcarloSim, muito didático suas aulas.

Thank you! Hope it helped out with beatmatching! 🥳

That works yo! I encourage folks to learn beatmatching manually as, half the time, they don't have any musical background. You've got drums, so you know how the rhythm works already. But yeah, go to town on sync and enjoy yourself!

Rekordbox dj! And it’s free. But features are unlocked and work best with a pioneer dj controller or gear

@@djcarlo thanks😊. Would you recommend something for Hercules gear?

I see what you did there

Oh, this is a point I missed out on! Good call!

But they are my personal preferred source, since the tracks are curated. There are a ton of other places too to get them legally!

Yup yup! Mixing on vinyl is a slightly different beast, but its always good to practice without looking at the bpm. And yes, you need to use your headphones ideally

That is pretty much it, but over time your ears can detect the difference in tempo in seconds and you can get most of the way there simply by moving the pitch fader.... you kind of know how much to move it with instinct, then you're just adjusting the platter and pitch fader to fine tune.

This is the foundation! Let’s go!

Thank you hermano!

That’s true! At least you know the fundamentals!

@@djcarlo Between you and an IRL friend, I've learned a lot! I appreciate your videos a lot.

Oh man yeah, I've tried older belt driven turntables, and it was always a nightmare haha. Beatmatching DURING the transition was nerve wracking! But hey, I'm glad technology has come a long enough way too to keep the music in time. Excited to see what else the future holds for us too!

I would go Flac or AIFF. You’re right about Wav! Sometimes I’m lazy, so I just go with mp3s lol

@@djcarlo gotcha, thanks :)

This video is the best way to explain how to beat match and still showcase it on a RU-vid video. It's a lot more abstract to do it without the numbers. Best really is already have an idea of the BPM of your track, then try to catch it (that's something I might discuss in a future video)

Yep! But there will always be newbies who need to learn the fundamentals! Thanks for watching!

@@djcarlo that's for sure)

Knowing the ins and outs of beatmatching prevents that! Hehe

I wouldn't say most, but record pools would be the best way to get them in high quality files for many tracks! They also have extended versions of tracks that don't have extended versions 😅

Appreciate the applause and the support man! Thanks for the membership!

That’s already included here! Check the cdj demo!

That's the point though! It brings something new to people's ears, so it's not like you're just listening to the song off of Spotify. And yes, there are ways to mix songs that jump BPMs! I have a tutorial on that here in the channel. Should be called How to Mix to Anything :)

@@djcarlo Thanks Carlo

I like your comment 🤫

You still do! Learning how everything works is still extremely important

That awful sound at the beginning eh? We have a term in Tagalog for it: "kabayo". It literally translates to horse, but it's supposed to mean your beat sounds like a galloping horse. It's hard to do a video like this without showing the wave forms, but indeed, I'd advice not to get too reliant on them either.

​@@djcarlo Thank you for that word. I like knowing other ways of expressing intangible aspects of things.😺

Bruuuhhh, I've been a follower of his stuff since his early days!

Rekordbox DJ mostly gets it right! Just depends on the genre!

You may need to just adjust bit by bit with the jogwheel. Some tracks are like that

Well, there's actually a lot of reasons. But for me, the primary reason is because beat sync isn't infallible. You also have varied BPM tracks (live drums!) which WILL throw the beat grid off after a few minutes, equipment failure, software failure, etc. While the actual incidents are rare, it's best to know how to walk before you run in DJing, just as a backup. Once you actually know how to beat match, go to town on beat sync! 🥳

You would use sync to play on 4 decks . With a set much more like a battle DJ where you swap between songs and sounds very fast. Or.. If I’m playing a set of 92 hardcore and it’s one hr and I want to bang out as many tracks as possible. Sync will save you the time. Basically here the focus is sync saves time. That’s it’s purpose.

Most of the time like 90 percent, the BPM is right. So from there, just fix up the Beatgrid. Best to always inspect the grid before mixing

​@@djcarloIn those cases, do you recommend turning Quantize Off?

Experience and practise and you can get it in time in around 20 seconds, enough to mix in and adjust as you go.

Yup yup!

Listening and practice is really it! Use the cue buttons wisely, and listen for the drums in a track. The percussion element is your biggest ally here

Don't keep us in the dark man! What's your method? We wanna hear it haha

@@djcarlo I'm just applying the same method when mixing vinyls on SL 1200s since the 90s. If you started on vinyl, it's easy to switch to digital. I know you know how to count 32 beats.

Still yes! Even with the BPM count, these *could* be inaccurate, so it's always important to know how to beatmatch just in case

@@djcarlo if your beat grids are set correctly, shouldn't be a problem using the bpm read outs. No disrespect, as your channel is definitely one of the best tutorial channels for Djing.

Lol, the sarcasm hahaha

Absolutely! It's actually about high time I did a video on this haha

Bingo! This is as close to teaching I can get via videos. But, for what it's worth, a lot of folks skip even these lessons! That's why I had to put this one out. Took a while to conceptualize it as well for a video medium

Look for the 1. The main drum beat, then grid from there

It really depends! Similar BPMs can be beatmatched easily. But for highly varied BPMs, check out my tutorials on How To Mix to Anything and the like 🥳

@@djcarlo please Send video :)

@@djcarlo ofcourse easy transition s 🙂

That’s true! Always use your Headphones to perfect the beat match!

Great advice! It's not the norm, so I didn't discuss it here, but I've done a tag team set before and I 100% agree with your advice!

Right?! I learned on a pair of old 1200s, but when the digital stuff came my way (when I could actually afford them), I felt so much more at ease doing my usual thing!

Same here! But when you’re starting out, it’s important to first develop proper rhythm!

That's pretty valid too! I do that sometimes when I get giddy with the music

If you want to save the cue button, tap the part of the unit next to it to get the rhythm, then only press play.

That's great! At least you know the most important lesson!

That's different! What kind of equipment do you use?

@@djcarlo I have a denon SC live 2. If I play a second song I’m mixing in, and I get the beats a little out, the pitch bend can be pressed to temporarily speed up or slow down the song being mixed in, until I’ve got the beats matched on the display. Never fails me - How is this different than using the jog wheel?

Chalk it up to preference! Some controllers don't have the pitch bend, so the jogwheel is all they have. But if it works for you, then run with it! 🥳

The REV7 just recently got Rekordbox support, so I still need to check that out. But by all means, both controllers should work with Rekordbox simply by plugging in

Nope! It's not a necessary step if you have accurate rhythm. It does still help you get into beat though 🥳

@@djcarlo thanks just spent last few hours practicing from your video because I want to stop sync but halfway had to ask you. 🙏🏾

Well, yes, for many modern songs. But, even if you set the beat grid right, there are some songs whose beat grids drift, so it's still better to learn how to beat match manually before going all out with sync

Gotta keep them silky smooth for the videos 🤭

That's fine! Haha, though I'm not sure if the lower tier CDJs have sync built in, so it's still best to know how to beatmatch 🤭

Oh! Check your Cue/Master (or similar) knob. It might be turned all the way to the master side

@@djcarlo that unfortunately did not fix my problem when with knob all the way on the cue side and at the mix point I still have no sound :(

Different software different detection

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions! ### Differences Between Beat Grid Types: 1. **Normal Beat Grid**: - This is the standard beat grid, where the grid is evenly spaced according to the track’s BPM. It's ideal for tracks with a consistent tempo and clear beat. 2. **Dynamic Beat Grid**: - A dynamic beat grid adjusts for tracks with varying tempos. It’s useful for songs that don't maintain a constant BPM, such as live recordings or tracks with tempo changes. 3. **Double Speed/Half Speed**: - These options adjust the beat grid to double or half the detected BPM. Double speed is often used for tracks with a very slow beat to make mixing easier, while half speed is used for tracks with a very fast beat. 4. **Decimal Points**: - This setting allows for more precise BPM detection, useful for tracks where the BPM isn’t a whole number. It provides finer control over beat matching. 5. **Transition Tracks**: - These are tracks specifically designed to transition from one BPM to another. They can have varying BPMs throughout and might need special attention when setting beat grids. ### Flexible Beat Grids: For hip-hop and other genres where the beat can switch up frequently, flexible beat grids are invaluable. They allow you to set multiple BPMs within a single track, making it easier to sync and mix tracks that don’t have a constant tempo. This is particularly useful for tracks that drift in and out of time, as you've mentioned. ### Software Comparison: - **Serato**: Generally known for its accurate BPM detection and beat grid flexibility, making it a preferred choice for many DJs, especially when dealing with tracks that have complex structures. - **Rekordbox**: While powerful and feature-rich, some users find its BPM detection less accurate compared to Serato, particularly with tracks that have variable tempos. - **Traktor**: Has a reputation for being less user-friendly when it comes to managing beat grids, which can be a downside for tracks that don't have a steady beat.

Very true! Knowing your BPMs and song structure are very important. But, if you *can* beatmatch the songs, then this guide is your best friend.

I'll see about that in the future! 🥳

It's....somewhat detailed in the video. The part where I discuss the cue buttons is it. You just need to listen to the beats via those cue buttons and the headphones

Ask Grimes if she enjoyed finding out the answer to that question at Coachella...

Top question! But, like Cheshygrin said, there will be consequences on relying on technology too much. It's important to know how to beat match properly still as, if technology fails you, you still have your ears!

@@Cheshyrgrin100% 🙌

Maybe update your OS or go to the Pioneer DJ website and get the software installer from there!

@@djcarlo thank you 🙏

@@djcarlo hey Carlo I was able to install rekordbox 7. However its not unlocking and it’s running on a trial. I have DDJ-800 shouldn’t I be able to have the full version ?

Oh, which Rekordbox skin? What do you mean?

@@djcarlo the one you use

yours look different like the tempo the key are in different places the performance pad settings look different

That's really odd. You didn't move any of the source files to a different folder?

@@djcarlo The files are in flack format, maybe that's the reason... I created about 10 playlists and after 2-3 days, when I want to run any file, the Traktor Dj 2 program informs me that the file has not been found.

its wrrrrrr hmmm :)

@@djcarlo but in tractor pro 3 everything works hmm... I have tractor dj 2 as an emergency exit :)

It might be the FLAC, or the software itself. Sometimes older software glitches out for no reason

Nyow! Hahahaha, hear what I've been subjected to by so many other DJs!

Unfortunately, I got nothing to giveaway at the moment. Maybe soon! 😅

​@@djcarloAll good homie❤

Eventually, once you actually do get the basics down (like in this video), it becomes second nature. Practice will always get you places 🤩

Yes exactly! Beat gridding is important and so I learning how to manually beat match. I use Sync all the time but I’m always ready to adapt if anything goes wrong!

Hundred percent! As a DJ, being sonically in sync with your sound is number one.