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What does Sync enable YOU to do?

Home :: General Discussion :: What does Sync enable YOU to do?Reply

What does Sync enable YOU to do? Posted on: 22.04.2013 by Doreen Schurle So here's a question which has been floating around my mind for a little while; for those of you who use Sync on a regular basis, what SPECIFICALLY does it let you do that you wouldn't/couldn't do when beatmatching manually? In order to avoid this turning into one of "those" threads, here are some quick and simple tips with regards to contribution. People who should contribute to this thread: Those who use Sync Can beatmatch by ear/visually Choose not to Have a specific reason for doing so People who should NOT contribute to this thread: People who don't use Sync People who use Sync JUST to make things easier Anyone believeing about posting a comment just saying "Sync is for pussies" or something along those lines Anyway, with all that out of the way, I'll kick things off Personally, the most significant thing I find using Sync enables me to do is drop a track with the channel fader UP, as I know that with properly prepared beatgrids, it won't sound "off". VERY useful for bringing in a drum beat into track B, right when the break in track A occurs. Anyone else?
Augustine Mitzen 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by oliosky Put up a mad example of your killer a-b-c-a-c-d-a-b-d mixing bro. Yeah! http://soundcloud.com/michael-tran-cullen
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by lucidstrings Example playing a pop house track and dropping a breaks track in time at a break and letting the breaks progress with filter work as the break progresses then when the break builds chop the breaks up filter cue jump back to start o breaks track kill the kicks and snares and le the hats stroll trough the track and slowly fade volume on breaks track then start mixing next track.... brain=molten
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by jakeintox I use VDJ, so sync works a little different for me. I can't manually beatgrid tracks, so the autosync isn't as tight, and i don't have the phrase meter. I basically just use it to cheat if I'm running out of time on a track. If I press sync on a track that isn't playing it sets the bpm to the playing track, so I'll use that instead of my pitch faders for small adjustments when I'm feeling lazy or drunk. I prefer the feeling of manual beatmatching, and having that physical control over the song, so that's how I usually do it. Doesn't vdj have a phrase meter on the top?
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by DubluW Stopping drunk people knocking the mix out when they fuck with the jogwheels going ''Heeeey Wika wika im a DJ'' when i turn my head for one second! i feel you
Johnetta Olewine 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by mdcdesign Can't blame me for making such an awesomely worded thread that it got 7 pages of replies in less than 24 hours Technically it's BeatSync (as opposed to TempoSync) rather than Quantize; having Quantize OFF still works perfectly well, in fact you can deliberately disable Quantize to start your drop on a snare rather than a kick, for example. Put up a mad example of your killer a-b-c-a-c-d-a-b-d mixing bro. Yeah!
Lilliana Perris 24.04.2013	Originally Posted by dj gullum @sarasin I realy enjoyed that mix and would def be on the floor had I been there. Me and a friend made some PSY traks in the early 2000's Awe Shiiiit.....thanks mate!!
Doreen Schurle 24.04.2013	Originally Posted by kooper1980 (I'm looking at you OP. 7 pages and you are nowhere to be seen). Can't blame me for making such an awesomely worded thread that it got 7 pages of replies in less than 24 hours Originally Posted by lucidstrings Sorry to the guy that said he could hit a drop on beat without quant... I'm not saying you can't just trying to point out it is not sync that allows you to hit on beat. It is quant.... I have lots to add but it will digress so yeah each to their own Technically it's BeatSync (as opposed to TempoSync) rather than Quantize; having Quantize OFF still works perfectly well, in fact you can deliberately disable Quantize to start your drop on a snare rather than a kick, for example.
Sonja Roybal 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by jakeintox I use VDJ, so sync works a little different for me. I can't manually beatgrid tracks, so the autosync isn't as tight, and i don't have the phrase meter. I basically just use it to cheat if I'm running out of time on a track. If I press sync on a track that isn't playing it sets the bpm to the playing track, so I'll use that instead of my pitch faders for small adjustments when I'm feeling lazy or drunk. I prefer the feeling of manual beatmatching, and having that physical control over the song, so that's how I usually do it. When I use sync in Traktor, I use the tempo sync, not beat sync. It works the same way you're describing.
Danae Dumler 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by Frank112916 C) I don't find it that hard to beatmatch w/ the bpm readouts and phase meter anyway. Yeah this ..... Digital DJs who use Traktor or Serato arguing over how much time they save using the sync button is like people saying they get more exercise using the escalator rather than the elevator. With screens telling you the bpm and giving you waveforms you're not beatmatching by ear anyway, so what's really the difference? Sync does allow you to pull off some cool tricks, but it's not because of the time you save from beatmatching - it takes maybe a couple seconds longer to beatmatch using numbers on the screen vs hitting a button, and if you really know your tracks it doesn't really take that much longer with real vinyl anyway. What sync does is allows you to have confidence in sudden drops, timing-bound effects, loop rolls, sampling and cuepoint juggling. It's fun if you use such tricks sparingly, but too much and it becomes a mess anyway. I prefer really subtle use of effects and tricks myself and could care less if the DJ is syncing or beatmatching if it sounds good. But the reality is - and I believe this is why a lot of people who don't sync keep posting threads like this - a lot of DJs who use sync in the lamer clubs are also way overdoing it with button pushing and effects and the like so they sound crap or they look like showoffs. I believe that kind of trickery has its place, but it's generally not what I want to listen to (it's the same with scratching and beatjuggling to be honest). When I started really getting into traktor I beatgridded every song and loved the sync button because it allowed me to explore effects and loops but I basically made a mess most of the time. These days I use timecode or actual vinyl most of the time and only use sync when I'm feeling lazy. But in the end I don't believe it makes much difference one way or another, especially if you're staring at a screen during your gig.
Cammy Hirman 05.05.2013	Isn't there a thread for this already? I also haveold timer...
Augustine Mitzen 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by oliosky Put up a mad example of your killer a-b-c-a-c-d-a-b-d mixing bro. Yeah! http://soundcloud.com/michael-tran-cullen
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by lucidstrings Example playing a pop house track and dropping a breaks track in time at a break and letting the breaks progress with filter work as the break progresses then when the break builds chop the breaks up filter cue jump back to start o breaks track kill the kicks and snares and le the hats stroll trough the track and slowly fade volume on breaks track then start mixing next track.... brain=molten
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by jakeintox I use VDJ, so sync works a little different for me. I can't manually beatgrid tracks, so the autosync isn't as tight, and i don't have the phrase meter. I basically just use it to cheat if I'm running out of time on a track. If I press sync on a track that isn't playing it sets the bpm to the playing track, so I'll use that instead of my pitch faders for small adjustments when I'm feeling lazy or drunk. I prefer the feeling of manual beatmatching, and having that physical control over the song, so that's how I usually do it. Doesn't vdj have a phrase meter on the top?
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by DubluW Stopping drunk people knocking the mix out when they fuck with the jogwheels going ''Heeeey Wika wika im a DJ'' when i turn my head for one second! i feel you
Dannie Dimora 04.05.2013	When i use sync i use it to perform instant mashups (i have a massive acapella folder, and i just love to have loads of acappellas mixed with other songs, using hotcues) It also really comes in handy when i need to change bpm ranges, so keylock on both tracks, and one tempo fader controls both tempos.
Johnetta Olewine 04.05.2013	Originally Posted by mdcdesign Can't blame me for making such an awesomely worded thread that it got 7 pages of replies in less than 24 hours Technically it's BeatSync (as opposed to TempoSync) rather than Quantize; having Quantize OFF still works perfectly well, in fact you can deliberately disable Quantize to start your drop on a snare rather than a kick, for example. Put up a mad example of your killer a-b-c-a-c-d-a-b-d mixing bro. Yeah!
Kristofer Krauel 04.05.2013	Bump. Slow down with all of these examples of creativeness. I'm struggling to get through them all!!
Cassidy Galindez 25.04.2013	I use sync in Traktor for pretty much 1 reason and that's to make a tempo change, usually from 170/175 into 140/150 stuff or vice-versa. If you can find a good loop in your one track, you can use it to build tension while you change the tempo up or down. I just find it that much easier than nudging the platters/tempo faders and can instead fuck with the EQs or filters to try and sound more seamless with those big transitions.
Trista Karle 24.04.2013	Sync may enable some but here's something. In digital music processing technology, quantization is the process of transforming performed musical notes, which may have some imprecision due to expressive performance, to an underlying musical representation that eliminates this imprecision. Quant means you do not have to hit that cue point right in time. The software knows where you want it and works it out for you... Snap snaps to the nearest beat. Basically these 3 things quant,sync,snap mean you don't have to be on time to the nearest 1/32, you don't have to know how to read a bpm readout and visually match up beats, or even be remotely close to hitting. A cue point not sample. I am not saying I am against sync because I really could care less just lots of people that use it tend to provide the same style of set. Creativity is not that style either. You don't need sync to do what most people who defend why they use it say they use it for.. Example playing a pop house track and dropping a breaks track in time at a break and letting the breaks progress with filter work as the break progresses then when the break builds chop the breaks up filter cue jump back to start o breaks track kill the kicks and snares and le the hats stroll trough the track and slowly fade volume on breaks track then start mixing next track.... That's creativity mixing music styles and format to add more depth to a track... Cue jumping to mix in track a is not.. Taking a remake of a old track and mixing it with the original and mashing it up is creativity.. Example of a good one Mixing three drives on vinyl Greece man with no face mix with three drives letting you go Darburk and Klein mix... What I'm getting at is I can do more mash ups without sync and more creative style mixing then the majority o people that use sync.
Hazel Zaleski 24.04.2013	Sync enables me to not have to beatmatch, because that's a chore.
Lilliana Perris 24.04.2013	Originally Posted by dj gullum @sarasin I realy enjoyed that mix and would def be on the floor had I been there. Me and a friend made some PSY traks in the early 2000's Awe Shiiiit.....thanks mate!!
Alphonso Deitchman 24.04.2013	In Traktor, both Beatsync and Temposync will quantize the 1st beat to make sure it is in phase, regardless of whether quantize is on or off.
Doreen Schurle 24.04.2013	Originally Posted by kooper1980 (I'm looking at you OP. 7 pages and you are nowhere to be seen). Can't blame me for making such an awesomely worded thread that it got 7 pages of replies in less than 24 hours Originally Posted by lucidstrings Sorry to the guy that said he could hit a drop on beat without quant... I'm not saying you can't just trying to point out it is not sync that allows you to hit on beat. It is quant.... I have lots to add but it will digress so yeah each to their own Technically it's BeatSync (as opposed to TempoSync) rather than Quantize; having Quantize OFF still works perfectly well, in fact you can deliberately disable Quantize to start your drop on a snare rather than a kick, for example.
Sonja Roybal 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by jakeintox I use VDJ, so sync works a little different for me. I can't manually beatgrid tracks, so the autosync isn't as tight, and i don't have the phrase meter. I basically just use it to cheat if I'm running out of time on a track. If I press sync on a track that isn't playing it sets the bpm to the playing track, so I'll use that instead of my pitch faders for small adjustments when I'm feeling lazy or drunk. I prefer the feeling of manual beatmatching, and having that physical control over the song, so that's how I usually do it. When I use sync in Traktor, I use the tempo sync, not beat sync. It works the same way you're describing.
Trista Karle 23.04.2013	Sorry to the guy that said he could hit a drop on beat without quant... I'm not saying you can't just trying to point out it is not sync that allows you to hit on beat. It is quant.... I have lots to add but it will digress so yeah each to their own
Kristofer Krauel 23.04.2013	I'm amazed at how many people say that Sync allows them to be more "creative" and yet only ONE has the balls to post an example!! (Well played Sarasin mate). There are some regular posters who use this as a reason to slam a to b mixing yet every time someone asks for evidence they to quiet!! (I'm looking at you OP. 7 pages and you are nowhere to be seen). And saying that it allows you more time to pick the next killer track is lame in my opinion. Someone has already said that it saves you seconds rather than minutes and what do non-syncers do? Play poor tracks because they are busy beat matching? I use sync because its available. It means that when I'm at a house party I can concentrate on socialising and having a beer/chat shit with mates between tracks. Beatmatching manually eats away at my drinking time. Post examples of your "creativeness" or go home!! (Tongue firmly in cheek)
Lang Abriel 23.04.2013	Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or ever in one of these threads but I found a really really good use for it!!! I played on some TTs at a club a few weeks ago and they were terribly out of tune, like fluxuating 1/2% on their own... So the first few tracks I was trying to figure out what was going on...I would beatmatch and then wait for my mix in point and just trainwreck the sh!t out of the transition....then I just started watching my tempo on traktor, not like .3 or .4 bpm fluxation but 1 or 2bpm...So I just toggled sync on and off for the rest of the evening to hold the tempo better. So a lesson for everyone playing on shottie gear, don't feel bad for using sync if its the only way you can reliably get through the evening , atleast that was the case for me...I will admit though, I've never used sync with TTs before that evening so I was nervous for the first few transitions what would happen. I use it all the time with my controller becuz I'm usually just dj'ing for free and drinking and would rather talk to ppl than beatmatch.
Ethel Feigum 23.04.2013	I use VDJ, so sync works a little different for me. I can't manually beatgrid tracks, so the autosync isn't as tight, and i don't have the phrase meter. I basically just use it to cheat if I'm running out of time on a track. If I press sync on a track that isn't playing it sets the bpm to the playing track, so I'll use that instead of my pitch faders for small adjustments when I'm feeling lazy or drunk. I prefer the feeling of manual beatmatching, and having that physical control over the song, so that's how I usually do it.
Danae Dumler 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by Frank112916 C) I don't find it that hard to beatmatch w/ the bpm readouts and phase meter anyway. Yeah this ..... Digital DJs who use Traktor or Serato arguing over how much time they save using the sync button is like people saying they get more exercise using the escalator rather than the elevator. With screens telling you the bpm and giving you waveforms you're not beatmatching by ear anyway, so what's really the difference? Sync does allow you to pull off some cool tricks, but it's not because of the time you save from beatmatching - it takes maybe a couple seconds longer to beatmatch using numbers on the screen vs hitting a button, and if you really know your tracks it doesn't really take that much longer with real vinyl anyway. What sync does is allows you to have confidence in sudden drops, timing-bound effects, loop rolls, sampling and cuepoint juggling. It's fun if you use such tricks sparingly, but too much and it becomes a mess anyway. I prefer really subtle use of effects and tricks myself and could care less if the DJ is syncing or beatmatching if it sounds good. But the reality is - and I believe this is why a lot of people who don't sync keep posting threads like this - a lot of DJs who use sync in the lamer clubs are also way overdoing it with button pushing and effects and the like so they sound crap or they look like showoffs. I believe that kind of trickery has its place, but it's generally not what I want to listen to (it's the same with scratching and beatjuggling to be honest). When I started really getting into traktor I beatgridded every song and loved the sync button because it allowed me to explore effects and loops but I basically made a mess most of the time. These days I use timecode or actual vinyl most of the time and only use sync when I'm feeling lazy. But in the end I don't believe it makes much difference one way or another, especially if you're staring at a screen during your gig.
Dino Hapgood 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by dj gullum but if you don't beatgrid your songs the phase meter wil not be right on and therefor not helping in any way. I also use sync whant to do fast changes between several songs or fireing samples/loops over the songs playing. I sometimes play one song and add in 3 4 different songs that are harmonicly matching and go well with the A song playing. That forces me to use synce sometimes as I only have 2 - 5 sec to stop deck B load next song press play on beat. but of cause that is not something I do all evening so manual beatmatching for the most of the evening . @sarasin I realy enjoyed that mix and would def be on the floor had I been there. Me and a friend made some PSY traks in the early 2000's Traktor gets things mostly right so I at least know which way to go if I'm a bit off. The rest I do with my ears.
Ashanti Andreacchio 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by Frank112916 A) I'm lazy and don't like to beatgrid tracks perfectly. C) I don't find it that hard to beatmatch w/ the bpm readouts and phase meter anyway. but if you don't beatgrid your songs the phase meter wil not be right on and therefor not helping in any way. I also use sync whant to do fast changes between several songs or fireing samples/loops over the songs playing. I sometimes play one song and add in 3 4 different songs that are harmonicly matching and go well with the A song playing. That forces me to use synce sometimes as I only have 2 - 5 sec to stop deck B load next song press play on beat. but of cause that is not something I do all evening so manual beatmatching for the most of the evening . @sarasin I realy enjoyed that mix and would def be on the floor had I been there. Me and a friend made some PSY traks in the early 2000's
Laurel Litchko 23.04.2013	i use deck and a and b for full tracks. sync lets me use other decks for random reverse crashes/cymbals or other percussion that helps make longer mixes more seamless. also adds some more character to the music. i also use this to add some filtered synth sounds/vocals that i've processed in ableton. so in all, sync gives me time to keep things a bit more creative without having to worry about keeping it all in time.
Lilliana Perris 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by haze324 Thanks man....I'll check it out when I get home from work. Props to you for posting somethign we can take a listen to. No worries! Like I said, its not my best work....done live on the spot....in the club. So its messy and over done...but the crowd were into it and all. But....4 decks were used and tracks were layered. I also play Electro etc...and played a cross over set of Minimal Tech -> Minimal Electro. Used 4 decks there in the same way as above...and that worked SOO well. The 4 deck playing on Traktor REALLY lends itself to Minimal Tech and the like. Psy is so fucking busy already that it sounds like shit when you do it like this....in all honesty. Just needed to prove a point that evening i guess.
Dino Hapgood 23.04.2013	It's weird, but I used to sync and don't anymore except in very specific instances and not because I believe sync is cheating (I don't really care), but purely out of necessity and bad habits. A) I'm lazy and don't like to beatgrid tracks perfectly. B) I switch up tempos and having half-time tempos come in at 2x is annoying when I have to press the reset button and all that C) I don't find it that hard to beatmatch w/ the bpm readouts and phase meter anyway. Only time I use sync is during large tempo changes. For instance going from a 128/130 bpm house track to 140 bpm trap/hip hop/ dubstep track. And even then, since I'm using turntables and timecode, it doesn't work perfectly anyway since there is always a lag. If I had a controller or was CDJs hooked up to traktor I might be more inclined to sync just to take advantage of the ability to do large bpm changes but otherwise, it just isn't very valuable to me as a tool. For some people who use 3-4 decks and lots of loops/samples and do more performance oriented sets I could see how it'd be useful though. I'm just a simple 2decks + mixer kinda guy though, haha.
Julissa Serrone 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by sarasin You welcome to check out my PSY mix I did about a month ago in the club, which I recorded. I played 2 decks...normal tracks and then had deck C with a potent hat loop and Deck D with a couple samples. I overdid it a tad...a bit messy...but you will get the point. RAGED on the dancefloor. https://soundcloud.com/djsarasin/sarasin-4-deck-psytrance-2013 Thanks man....I'll check it out when I get home from work. Props to you for posting somethign we can take a listen to.
Julissa Serrone 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by botstein Why not set the example then? I would but there's no sync in SSL, that's why I'd like to hear some actual mixes from regular DJ's and it would be great if someone were to breakdown what they are doing so I could fully grasp it. When I hear guys like Hawtin, I can kinda tell whats going on --- but often it sounds like one tremendously long song rather than various loops and effects at once. Now being that he's one of the top guys, I believe we would all benefit from someone on the community "showing" us the benefits of sync, not just telling us they run multiple loops have more time for creativity.
Lashawn Maycock 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by willisnz +1 ...All sync really allows me to do is have a bit more time to choose songs and makes easier to bring in a mix/new song faster if I feel like it. TBH I am not using the extra time to do a tonne of extra fiddling of effects knobs or anything like that. Personally when listening to djs/mixes I find the the more effects and looping taking place, the less I enjoy the music. I like to hear music as the artist intended blended well with another song. Therefore I use that approach for my own djing. I have been djing for 15 years prior to getting Traktor. Occasionally I turn sync off and mix the normally however I just don't get a great feeling of satisfaction from manually beatmatching a track, so I sue temposync. Djing is just a hobby for me so I don't have to worry about the respect of my peers or anything like that. However I can step up and play a proper vinyl or cdj set if I needed to because that is how I learn't to mix. Agree with this, very much. Mirrors my thoughts/experiences pretty much OT, noticed you're based in Au, NZ - I was down there for a few weeks over Xmas seeing family - bloody loved it, especially the craft beer bars
Sonja Roybal 23.04.2013	Beatless intro > Beatless breakdown > Double Drop.
Marjorie Fallucca 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by Nicky H Skin up between tracks +1 ...All sync really allows me to do is have a bit more time to choose songs and makes easier to bring in a mix/new song faster if I feel like it. TBH I am not using the extra time to do a tonne of extra fiddling of effects knobs or anything like that. Personally when listening to djs/mixes I find the the more effects and looping taking place, the less I enjoy the music. I like to hear music as the artist intended blended well with another song. Therefore I use that approach for my own djing. I have been djing for 15 years prior to getting Traktor. Occasionally I turn sync off and mix the normally however I just don't get a great feeling of satisfaction from manually beatmatching a track, so I sue temposync. Djing is just a hobby for me so I don't have to worry about the respect of my peers or anything like that. However I can step up and play a proper vinyl or cdj set if I needed to because that is how I learn't to mix.
Lilliana Perris 23.04.2013	Originally Posted by DubluW Stopping drunk people knocking the mix out when they fuck with the jogwheels going ''Heeeey Wika wika im a DJ'' when i turn my head for one second! LOOOL...I fukkin HATE that.

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What does Sync enable YOU to do?