Mixing: pitch control vs. touching the plate

[Smiley Jo]

Inspired by a conversation with JMaggs last night after rekkid shopping I'm interested to know some opinions on these two different ways to mix.

I'm aware that a number of you probably do both, but if you tend to use one method more than the other, why do you prefer it?

Just curious as to advantages for both.

Thanks!

Joanna

 

[stir-fry]

read the f*n manual!

 

[kodos]

the proper way to mix is to not touch the turntable at all. use giant magnets.

 

[Mike Richards]

It's all preference baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[graham]

I use a helper-monkey

 

[stir-fry]

well, i don't spin, but i have a pretty good idea what goes on.

basically the pitch control slows down and/or speeds up a record. If a record is going at the right speed yet it isn't properly cued, you have to manipulate the record and not the pitch control. It would be useless to turn up the speed until they are matched and then turn the speed back down again. It would probably be an endless cycle.

 

[coleridge]

It's all about riding the pitch control ... you'll be such a better mixer in the long run. I stress that to any DJ starting out.

I didn't learn to ride the pitch control, I learned to push/pull. I'm still trying to break the habit. Unfortunately unless I'm completely comfortable in a booth I revert to push/pulling all the time. It's BAD!

All the best technical mixers I've seen ride the pitch control: Kenny Glasgow, Mark Scaife, Brad Copeland, Max Graham...

 

[Jeremy Jive]

The real goal of mixing is not to use either. If you mix it dead on you shouldn't have to use any method to fix it.

Some people use both and some use one. Its really all preference. Personally use a mixture of both. For slowing down I touch the platter. I feel its more effective as I can more accurately control the tension that I am applying to the record and can instantly or gradually release it when the match is achieved. For pitching up I used the pitch control. Its much more consistant and accurate that touching the record. When you touch the record to give it a nudge forward you quickly slow it on contact making the match worse and then quickly speed it up with a push. The quick push is very noticable in how it changes the tone. The pitch seems to be more smooth and subtle.

jeremy -it really depends on the tracks, the mix and the match- jive

 

[coleridge]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by coleridge:
It's all about riding the pitch control ... you'll be such a better mixer in the long run. I stress that to any DJ starting out.

I didn't learn to ride the pitch control, I learned to push/pull. I'm still trying to break the habit. Unfortunately unless I'm completely comfortable in a booth I revert to push/pulling all the time. It's BAD!

All the best technical mixers I've seen ride the pitch control: Kenny Glasgow, Mark Scaife, Brad Copeland, Max Graham...</font>

OF course by riding the pitch control I mean onyl using the pitch control to mix, not push/pulling the record with your hand.

 

[coleridge]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by stir-fry:
It would probably be an endless cycle.

</font>

It is sort of, but you move closer and closer to one tempo. But the mentality you get into is that you might never get the records matched. You just float them back and forth, so tight that nobody will notice.

 

[stir-fry]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by coleridge:
It is sort of, but you move closer and closer to one tempo. But the mentality you get into is that you might never get the records matched. You just float them back and forth, so tight that nobody will notice.

</font>

yah, i sorta realized that point when i read your post..

guess that's why i'm not a dj

 

[Smiley Jo]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mike Richards:
It's all preference baby!!!!!!!!!!!!</font>

And yours is??

Joanna

 

[poker face]

I use both!

usually I try to just use the pitch but if it needs a quick nudge I will go manual then hit the pitch to even it out!

 

[stretchandhooker]

Just using the pitch is the best way to
get the smooth mix and confident aproach . But hey after a wack of drinks and such , anything that keeps the crowd bumpin' ! yer shoe , an empty Heinekin bottle, sometimes even Hooker when he's passed out !
My point, have fun guys !
s.

 

[Smiley Jo]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by stretchandhooker:
But hey after a wack of drinks and such , anything that keeps the crowd bumpin' ! yer shoe , an empty Heinekin bottle, sometimes even Hooker when he's passed out !
s.</font>

*gasp*
You don't DJ when you're drunk, do you??

Joanna

 

[Soundstream]

Shit! So that's what the slidey thing on the right hand side is for. This is gonna make things so much easier now. I used to just try and pick two records that were the same speed. I always wondered how those guys managed to do it.

But seriously, I've been trying the "ride the pitch" thing recently, but only at home, cuz like Matt said, you gotta be really comfortable to do it at a club, etc. It takes me longer to line the records up, but by practicing it, it gets better with time, as one would expect.

But for the most part, I use both methods to fix a record that is out of line when I am in the middle of mixing it in. Becuase pushing/pulling it only solves your situation temporarily. The records will eventually go off again. So I'll do the push/pull thing and then as soon as I do that, I just slightly nudge the pitch control so that I won't have to push/pull it again.

And one more thing ... I don't ever "pull" a record to slow it down. I just pinch the little centre piece to slow down the platter. I find it to give you greater control, and be more accurate once you get used too. It's just like pinching a nipple.

Cheers ... Ian

 

[Kalemic]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by stretchandhooker:
Just using the pitch is the best way to
get the smooth mix and confident aproach . But hey after a wack of drinks and such , anything that keeps the crowd bumpin' ! yer shoe , an empty Heinekin bottle, sometimes even Hooker when he's passed out !
My point, have fun guys !
s.</font>

So perhaps one could say that you sometimes use "a hooker" to entertain the crowd when spinnin?

 

[ethnik]

respect

i agree totally with coleridge, riding the pitch control is THE way to go. when i started out the person who was showing me the ropes would YELL at me if i touched the records to adjust.
i personally love the feel of keeping the mix tight, back and forth, just concentrating like a motherfucker on those two (or 3) different beats. it's almost zen-like in a way...and the feeling of elation that i get when it's especially well executed is like none other, i'm whoopin and hollerin behind the decks all the time!

peace
mike

 

[Subsonic Chronic]

It sounds a lot better if you use only the pitch control and never actually touch the record once it's going. But it's hard to break the habbit once you're used to touching. I try not to, but end up doing it a lot more often than I'd like to.

And like Jeremy said, it sounds a lot more obvious when you're pushing than when you're pulling the record. It's easier to get away with pulling a record when it's off and not making it sound obvious.

Pete

 

[pr0nstar]

I've read in various articles and experiences...

I've been lead to believe that the Pros use on the pitch and it's a lot harder at times to get it right.. but it's the best bet.

I do a bit of both personally.

pr0nstar

 

[fleaflo]

Some dude told me to use the pitch control when I started out. He's pretty decent

so I took him at his word and now I'm not even that comfortable touching the record when I want to control the pitch.

I ride that pitch control like Pamela Anderson in a room full of phalluses.

 

[AdRiaN]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">It's easier to get away with pulling a record when it's off and not making it sound obvious.</font>

Unless you're spinning UK Hardhouse, of course, in which case nobody will notice either way. You never hear somebody say, "Whoa! That hoover sounded a little off!"

Seriously though, I think most DJs get into the habit of pushing and pulling because it's much easier to learn beat-matching that way. At least in my limited experience with spinning, I have trouble telling exactly how far apart the two records are. A small, manual adjustment makes it easier to "finesse" the beats into matching.

I would imagine once a DJ becomes more skilled, the old habits die hard from back when they still sucked.

---------------
AdRiaN

 

[*SiLver*RoBoT*]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by fleaflo:
Some dude told me to use the pitch control when I started out. He's pretty decent

so I took him at his word and now I'm not even that comfortable touching the record when I want to control the pitch.
</font>

Then there's me. I tend to use the touching the plate method to give it a push or slow it down....I've since tried breaking that habit, but like everyone else, it's hard to break out of that habit.

*over*and*out*

*SiLver*RoBoT*

 

[dj Red Turtle]

I learned by the touching the platter method. Now I only to the pitch control to fix adjustments. Keeps the record cleaner

. After a while, beatmatching is so much faster using the pitch. It also makes the changes in tempo less audible when the record is playing live by using the pitch control to make fine adjustments.

Kev

 

[CC]

jo, everytime you mix, you should do tons of beat juggling and scratching so that you don't have to match the records. i could see you being a badass turntablist.

CC