How Important Is An Auto Beat Match Counter To DJing?

By Carlo Iacono


When it comes to using an auto beat matching counter while you are DJ'ing there really is no right or wrong answer. What beat matching is, is an art form that is inherent with being a DJ.

It's but natural for a starting-out DJ to want to use his turntable's auto beat counter as often as possible. That's completely acceptable because you're a newcomer in the DJing scene. For example if you have the Numark TTX1 Direct Drive Turntable then you have access to its auto beat counter. 1. Simply place the record on the platter 2. Put the needle on the record 3. Start the platter and watch the beat counter calculate the beats per minute on the glowing LCD screen.

An auto beat counter is able calculate the beats per minute of a song.

The TTX1's built in auto beat counter gives you a good advantage to mixing because now you are able to use your auto beat counter to find out the beats per minute of any song you want and mix songs that have the same beats per minute or close to it anyway.

Your goal is to get a sense of rhythm and timing and a beats per minute or (BPM) counter can do that. One thing, though, is that you may not always be able to beat match because the counter may sometimes not give you the correct BPM of a record. You will find this out the more you use your DJ equipment.

DJs usually rely on the auto beat counter when they're starting out but when they get to know their records and become more attuned to their DJ equipment, they don't have so much reliance on it.

The primary purpose of the BPM counter is to give you an idea of the record's speed so you can match beats so that you don't have to rely on it every time you want to match beats. Don't allow the BPM counter to become a crutch for you. Let it aide you in developing your sense of rhythm and timing.

Beat matching is an art that once you have learned will allow you to mix music a lot faster and easier. You can do a repertoire of mixes and please your audience.

Using your auto BPM counter is probably more helpful when you are listening to record with a more obscure beat pattern. They also work well with music that is upbeat and a little more difficult to get a sense of rhythm. By all means, use your auto beat counter.

But like I mentioned earlier try not let it be your crutch. DJs are better off relying on their keen sense of rhythm and timing.




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