use your ears!!!

[B_Rock]

i know this is pointless to most people on here, but i've had a couple friends ask me about bpm counters so i'm kinda on a tear here.

If you're going to be a dj, learn to beatmatch with your ears, not a bpm counter. even if you have NO sense of rhythm (in which case: why be a dj?) my previously mentioned friends, who want to start spinning basically b/c i have (which is a terrible reason IMO), insist that they won't become dependant on the beat counter. right...

in my opinion, if you really want to be a dj, and dont have a versatile sense of rhythm, it's like wanting to race your car with no wheels. sure you can start the engine, but it'll be a bitch to get it movin'. develop your rhythm first, no matter how basic of a level of it. so you've now become dependant upon the bpm counter (which you swore you wouldn't), which isnt even accurate sometimes, and your friends ask you to spin a birthday party or something and you're on a mixer w/ no counter! oh dear god what do you do?!?! i know this is basically pointless on here, but i also know there are people on here that want to be dj's and have nobody to guide them, which could potentially lead to poor decisions.

i also do realize that a beat counter could potentially be a useful tool in the hands of a professional, otherwise the high end mixers wouldnt come with them, so i'm not ruling them out totally. i can see where one would help get the beatmatching close faster in a high stress situation or when there is a sudden distraction and speed becomes a necessity. i would appreciate any corrections on this issue, although i have a feeling that most dj's on here are proud of their ears and sense of rhythm and will agree for the most part. just my nickel's worth

Hmmmm....

Me and my roommate have been fortunate enough to have a very nice setup now in our living room that we're learning to play on.

Our mixer has a BPM counter on it. Typically I don't use it to mix, but one thing I have been using it on lately is to record the BPM of a track when the pitch is set at zero, and then labeling the side of the track with the number. I've read that this is a good way to get your feet wet and learn how to properly beat match. It's been working quite well so far, and I feel that I'm developing good habits as far as matching speeds goes.

Another task I've taken upon myself is to label the number of frames in the track from the end of the intro (if there is one) to the first major change in the song (where one would typically end the mix). I feel that this is a great help with timing my mixes properly, and it's definitely given me a better idea of the structure of the music.

The only problem with this is that me and my roommate disagree on doing these two things. He feels that labeling the BPM/Frame Count on the vinyl is a crutch, as I feel that it's simply a tool to help me learn. *shrug*

So what do you pros think of those two ideas, out of curiosity?

M

Now i can honestly say i have never used the BPM counter on my DJM600 for anything other than figuring out how fast or slow i want my set to be. I usually like my music to be played at 138-141bpm. If im playing house........id say 128-135bpm depending on what kind of vibe i want to give out. The BPM counter can serve many purposes though. I would not reccomend you rely on it though.

I dont really use the BPM counter on my mixer either. I like tEcHoUsE(god its hard to type like this) ..... pretty much use to see how fast I'm going or starting out or whatever.
I'll occasionaly just glance at it. But I'll never use it to guide me during a mix.

I have tried it before and have noticed that using the BPM counter is more of a handicap.....cause your having to put aside your instincts or whatever your ears are telling you and just go with whatever is on your readout.....which alot of times can be a little off.....I mean if it was never ever off then why would bpm counters allow you the opportunity to tap in the BPM....?

oh well...

Well, like I mentioned earlier, I don't use it to mix live. I use it to determine the BPM of a track when the pitch is at zero and then label it on the vinyl.

I've tried this, and it's helped greatly. The numbers are only rough, and quite a bit of adjustment is still recquired when beat matching the tracks.

M

[MattM]

bpm counters are kinda like training wheels, you can learn to ride a bike with them, or without them. Eithier way, you'll probably end up knowing how to ride the bike without wheels eventually.

I have a BPM counter and I used to put the speed on my records as well, but it just got to cumbersome, and I just didnt need it anymore. So, now its collecting dust. yay plur.

Well it's good to hear that someone's on the same page as me on this then.

Hopefully, a year from now I won't really need to use the system. Until then I think it's a great idea to help me get acquanted with the techniques and principals behind mixing music. Like MattM said it's just like training wheels.

M

How the hell do you put training wheels on a pogo stick?

Dangle them from your nipples Fernie.

It's always helped me stay balanced on one of those things.



M

[MattM]

WITH A LOT OF VICKS VAPORUB OF COURSE!!!!!

SILLY QUESTION

Yeah...no beat counters...I had them on one of my mixers I used to have and just put stickers or them hoes. F- it just do it by ear...freestyle it ya know. Yeah it sounds good if you get all into counting frames and stuff....but it is even better when you can do that in your head unknowingly....that is what goes on in my head. You should really start trying to beat match just with your ears...it is hard, and takes time. But from the time I started spinning I knew that was the way to go. It took some time, but now it's easy...it just goes right through me.

[B_Rock]

thanks for all the response to this thread. i'm glad to see everyone is making wise decisions, which will make d/fw dj's even better. love. peace. chick in grease.

my gurl and I have a gemini with a bpm indicator and I cover it up when I spin. I did use them for the first couple of month I was spinning but like you said you start to depend on it. that is why I started to cover it up. now that use my ears I like it much better. recently my shitty speakers have blown and crossfader is jacked so I have not practiced in a couple of weeks. if suxs very much. if any one happens to have some speakers that are decent and the dont use them let me know soon.

[J Who]

ugh... what is a bpm counter? lol. j.p. i've never used one and never intend to! i never really needed it. i have been a drummer for 12 yrs. and have been exposed to music all of my life, so beatmatching wasn't a big obsticle for me. however, i can see where it would give some insight to one who may not have any musical background.

J-ME

[High Maintenance (4peace)]

I heard Stevie Wonder uses a beat counter.