We’ve decided to start a Throwback Thursday-themed tutorial hosted by Ean Golden, where he teaches an old school DJ technique that every DJ should know. For the next few weeks we’ll have a brand new video on each Thursday – and to kick it off, Ean is sharing the classic technique of pitch riding to match the BPM of two records. Master this technique to make your mixes sound incredibly pro, without the sound of major pitch shifting during a mix!
Get ready for more Throwback Thursday Tutorials in the coming weeks! Have something you’d like to learn that’s a DJ skill from the past? Let us know in the comments.
Look kids…. beat-matching!
wheres the sync button? jk! pretty dope trick never knew this one before. thanks!
[…] for our second Throwback Thursday tutorial hosted by Ean Golden. Last week Ean showed you how to pitch ride on turntables to match the BPM of two records. Today Ean will show you how to create a beat repeat effect using 2 […]
[…] for our second Throwback Thursday tutorial hosted by Ean Golden. Last week Ean showed you how to pitch ride on turntables to match the BPM of two records. Today Ean will show you how to create a beat repeat effect using 2 […]
[…] for our second Throwback Thursday tutorial hosted by Ean Golden. Last week Ean showed you how to pitch ride on turntables to match the BPM of two records. Today Ean will show you how to create a beat repeat effect using 2 […]
wow, I remember those days……so much easier to do in traktor.
[…] for our second Throwback Thursday tutorial hosted by Ean Golden. Last week Ean showed you how to pitch ride on turntables to match the BPM of two records. Today Ean will show you how to create a beat repeat effect using 2 […]
Fantastic
[…] post Pitch Riding on Turntables: Throwback Thursday DJ Technique appeared first on DJ […]
I get the track was Aril Brihka – Groove La Chord on the left (Classic)…but what was the track on the right!!??
t.h.i.s i.s a.w.e.s.o.m.e
[…] (via DJTechTools) […]
Thank you Ean.
I.m.o. this is a essential concept.
Like Coolout said: it is important to bend the pitch in between notes, so it is even less noticable.
Trying this every day + the tip below, within time, people can differentiate in a way that it would only take 5 or 10 seconds to lock beats and don’t have the need to bend or ride the pitch again.
Clean sliders also works a charm. (there are tutorials for cleaning them)
Another tip is to listen for the phasing effect when mixing tracks.
When hearing phasing occur like beats canceling each other out, then you know you are on the spot!
The phasing part is the “ultimate” clue and also a sign to cut out the phasing frequencies on one record with the EQ!
Actually I prefer to hear noticeable pitch shifts nowadays. Makes me appreciate the manual beatmatching
That was super rad. Had no clue about this trick. Going to start using it.
I have both of those records. A is Groove La Chord, but I don’t recall what B is. Sounds like something on Basic Channel? But the centerpiece label doesn’t look like Basic Channel…
Im also keen to know!?
I think it should be this one http://www.discogs.com/Salz-Salz-Quattro/release/87322
hmmmm not totally sold. but thanks mate!!
excellent tutorial, vinyl is back
another tip: however you nudge (using the pitch fader, bending the platter, touching the actual record) not only are quick movements less noticeable (like Ean’s video) but also if you do it IN BETWEEN the notes and drum hits. it’s takes a bit more practice and is kinda like playing a polyrhythm, but if you master that it will sound smooth no matter how you change the pitch.
of course the best way is to have the tempo and phase matched before you try and mix the next record.
This is a great tip.
Also doing most of the beat matching while cueing stops you from having to do dramatic pitch bends mid mix or when vocals or chords have kicked in, which really sounds bad especially on wax with no pitch lock.
Another good tip is to adjust the pitch of the track with the lower volume. So when mixing track A in to B, pitch bend track A if you need to. When you reduce the volume on track B you can move over to that deck and pitch bend. Little things like this help mask any noticeable pitch changes when doing long mixes.
If it is going really bad and you are in a critical part of the transition throw a HP filter on track B or on both or cut the bass to reduce the clashing and do your transition quickly.
Exactly, when I teach mixing techniques I tell them to view it as a dom/sub relationship (not getting kinky here). Generally you want to be aware of how the audience perceives the dominate track playing since that’s what their focus is on. That usually mean protecting and maintaining the sound of it. You can have all kinds of crazy stuff happening under and around it, but don’t disturb the groove as a general rule of thumb.
This is why I chuckle to myself when people call 2 deck mixing “old-school”. There’s a whole world or techniques inside 2 turntables. If you don’t at least master the basics, all the crazy FX, multiple remix decks, and stems don’t mean shit. You’re still going sound worse than the other DJ simply rocking with the crowd. For me using control vinyl or real records just means you have more sensitive, direct control of the track, not because to some people it looks cool or like you’re “keepin’ it real”. I’d personally rather not lug a bunch of heavy gear to a gig, but turntables just feel better and are more fun to play with IMO.
Pitch riding allows me to do quick mixes and double drops in my drum & bass set. This lets me play 40+ songs in about 60 minutes. Of course nowaday sync makes it even easier.
Great tutorial! I have always ridden the pitch and still do till this day. If done right and you get good at it other DJs will have are hard time distinguishing when you are mixing. I do it a little different, but it is the same concept. If the track needs to go faster or slower I move the pitch until the beat catches up then go half way back then repeat the process until I have to barely move the pitch at all. This allows you to pinpoint the exact speed and only make minimal adjustments. Once you get this down you could lockup the tracks within a couple of beats.
I found myself doing this, from what I learned from pitch riding. A more interesting thing I want to know is how do you adjust the pitch while you are doing long transitions? Since vinyl always has a constant speed change due to it’s construction. @spacecamp:disqus perhaps you can explain this better 😉
For All The Hate Ean and DJTT gets from “Other” Dj websites, I personally appreciate all of the tips, tricks, and tutorials DJTT constantly has in rotation… while other sites may be slightly better at telling me what new gear is coming out, tech tools is the only site that has actually made me a better dj/producer.
Keep up the brilliant work.
Thanks Denzel – although as far as I know, none of the other sites hate on us. I think we all like to keep it positive, plus all of us keep each other creative and thinking of fresh ideas!
theres ALOT of Ean hate.
DJTT is a running joke in some circles.
Other forums?