{"id":423,"date":"2017-01-05T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-05T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/box5722.temp.domains\/~audioor1\/creative-uses-of-the-sync-button\/"},"modified":"2019-01-07T21:19:02","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T21:19:02","slug":"creative-uses-of-sync-button","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/audioordeal.co.uk\/creative-uses-of-sync-button\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Uses of the Sync Button"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can you be a good DJ and use the sync button? Are there creative ways to use sync on a DJ controller<\/a>? Or, is sync just a lazy tool which marked the death of true DJing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Sync” is a word which conjured mixed feelings for most DJs. Easily the most controversial feature of modern DJing, people argue its use means the DJ lacks skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ad It certainly removes a major technique element from DJing, namely beat-matching, however, it also provides the DJ with a lot more time and control to do more complex techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few uses of sync that will actually expand your creative possibilities while still maintaining your claim of talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Allows Massive BPM Changes During a Mix <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the only times I use sync. I like beatmatching, it’s a big part of the fun and challenge, but I have my limit of skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I’m mixing two tracks with largely different BPMs, you may want to mix them in at one BPM and mix out in another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, let’s use a house song, 124bpm, and a trap remix of that song, 70bpm, as an example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am starting my set at 70bpm and playing the trap song out. As this trap song, is nearing its end, I want to change the vibes to the house song. I need these beats to match, so I bump the house song up to 140bpm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two songs are now playing together at 70\/140bpm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where you hit sync. Why? Because you can now gradually slow both <\/strong>the tracks to 124bpm and you only need to use one fader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\nIf the tracks weren’t synced, they would not go down at the same rate (pitch faders work on a % scale so bringing both faders down the same distance won’t make them the same tempo).\n \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nNow both songs are at 124bpm and the trap song can be mixed out. \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Dealing with Samples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u00ad Most DJs will agree that keeping two tracks in sync is a hard job by itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a DJ wants to incorporate samples into their mix on top of the tracks they are beatmatching, there is a lot to focus on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ad This is why sync has been a major development for creative DJs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you consider Ableton performers, all their loops are synced to a master tempo, they don’t get given as much grief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incorporating samples into one’s set is much the same. It really just has to be automatically synced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of performance is judged on the live production element as opposed to the turntable skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u00ad The advent of stems provided more justification for sync, where tracks are split into four sections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless you want to beatmatch 8 tracks for every mix, sync will do just fine. Again it is the performance and creative aspect that these DJs are providing, not traditional skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Fixing a Bad Mix<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Train-wreck imminent, your reputation about to fall. Dancefloor soon to turn into a barren wasteland. Do you get over your moral obligation against sync and correct your mistake? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t see any issue in fixing a bad mix with sync. I have done that twice live in my history. It saved my sets, which thankfully normally run smoothly. Call it a repair tool, one that stops you getting booed off the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s face it, if you use sync in this sense, you know you need to beatmatch, and using sync is not ideal. But so much happens in a booth, some things you can’t control. For example, the last time I recovered a mix with sync was when I was trying to fend away some drunk guy while beatmatching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are going to use sync<\/h2>\n\n\n\n