When two songs are played at the same time, the beats of the two are matched so that they match up.The technique was developed to make people stay on the dance floor instead of leaving because there would be no time lag between songs.Beat matching can be done using a variety of methods.
Step 1: Get two turntables.
You need to match your two songs by using both at the same time.You will need two if you use CD players.You will need two CD players in order to play two songs at the same time.
Step 2: There are two songs that you know very well.
You will try to beat match with these songs.When learning how to beat match, it's best to choose two songs that you know well.If you want to beat match as a beginner, you should choose two songs of the same genre with similar beats per minute and same time signature.The majority of house songs have a 4/4 time signature.
Step 3: You need to adjust your headphones so that they cover one ear.
This will allow you to hear both tracks through the speakers and headphones.If you were performing, the next song in the set would be Track A and Track B.You should cover the readers with sticky notes.The purpose of this exercise is to learn how to beat match by ear so using these readers would be cheating.
Step 4: Track B is on the first beat of a bar.
Start playing the song and stop the record when you hear the first beat.The record should be turned back and forth through the beat position to locate it.The needle is behind the beat position if you cue the record.Press pause when you hear the first beat on a CD player.Just before the first beat, use the seek buttons or jog wheel to find the point.You can set acue point by pressing the button just before the first beat of the track.There will always be a slight delay between pressing play and the track actually playing.To adjust your cue point, you will have to get used to your individual CD player.You may have to move past the start of the song to get to the first beat.
Step 5: Track B should start with the beat of track A.
To start track B, remove your finger from the record.If you want the flow of both tracks to happen at the same time, it's best to start on the first beat of a bar.The first beat of a bar is usually heavier or has a slightly different sound.There could be a new baseline or start of a synthesizer lead.A phrase is a set of bars that are repeated.House music usually has 32 beat phrases, but 8 and 16 are also common.You can start track B on a CD player by pressing the Play/Pause button.
Step 6: Slow down one of your tracks to correct any lag.
You need to either speed up or slow down track B if you want it to match the beats of track A.If you want to speed up the track, you can either push the record near the edge of the center label or twirl it clockwise using your thumb and index finger.You can touch the outer edge of the record with your finger.You corrected in the wrong direction if the records get further apart after your correction.Correct in the opposite direction to fix the problem.If the CD decks have the jog wheel, you can use the pitch bend button to speed up or slow down the track.You can speed up the track by rotating the jog clockwise.The jog wheel and pitch bend buttons are not the same as they used to be.
Step 7: You have to figure out which track is quicker or slower.
Track B has an easily recognizable sound that plays once or twice per bar.When you play track B at the same time as track A, focus on the sound and listen to where it falls.You should start to notice that it is either behind or ahead of where it should be.It is easy to notice that the tracks are not at the same speed, but it may be difficult to determine which is going faster.When the tracks are so far apart, it becomes difficult to determine which is slower or faster.If this happens, stop track B and start over again.
Step 8: To match track A's pace, speed up or slow down track B.
The pitch control can be used to speed up or slow down track B.If you haven't corrected enough, you should keep moving the pitch slider in the same direction.If you go too far and over-corrected, the correct pitch is somewhere in between your two values and you can push the pitch in the opposite direction to find the perfect pitch.On a CD player you can adjust the pitch in the same way as on a turntable.The only difference is that you will be able to see a very accurate pitch percentage in the display.If the tracks are so far apart that you can't tell which is faster or slower, then cue up track B again.At the beginning, be patient and try again.
Step 9: If the tracks start drifting apart, wait 20 seconds.
You have beatenmatched if they don't drift until after 30 seconds.Beatmatching is hard to achieve and not necessary.You can always adjust the tracks a bit more if the two begin to drift.If you play an actual party you will be able to notice differences and adjust them before dancers even hear them.
Step 10: Try to match the pitch of the two songs.
If you want to transition to the next song during a performance, you need to match track B to track A.If you can't do this in the beginning, restart track A and try again.
Step 11: Track B should be stopped and cue it again.
By keeping track of B in your headphones, you have matched the pace of the two songs.If you want to play track B over the speakers, you have to cue it again by finding the first beat on the record.The button on the CD player can be pressed again.Since you have already set the cue point, this will bring you back to it.
Step 12: Wait for the mixing point to arrive.
At the beginning of a bar or phrase, it should be a beat near the end or before the break of the live song.At this point of the song, there should be no vocal because vocal can cause even beatmatched songs to sound conflicting.
Step 13: To start the track at the correct beat, remove your finger from the record.
If you notice a lag on the tracks, slow down or speed up the record by pressing the turntable disc with your finger or lightly pushing it to accelerate it.The beat from the song will sound the same as the live one.The audience won't feel like they're listening to two different songs if they are in the same key.Play to begin track B on the CD player.B will only be playing in your headphones at the beginning.You will want to correct any errors at this point.
Step 14: The two songs can be mixed using the channels.
When both are playing in the speakers, bring the volume of track B up.Make sure there's enough time for both songs to play and for track A to fade out.When you crossfade, no one will know when track A is done, and they will have the feeling that only the vocals have changed.
Step 15: You should start the process with the next song.
If you want to repeat the beatmatching process with the next song in your set, place the new vinyl or CD on deck A.You will have to match the new song to B.