Uhm Rob, I think you are overqualifying the beatgridding function and sync option in DJ software.
There is no (none, nada, zip, zero) software that gets it right 100% of the time. Depending on the style of music you are playing, it can go done as low as 25%. If you are playing some older “hand-drummed” music, then you can forget about automatic beatgridding, especially in Traktor.
So, unless you are going out with songs you’ve checked thoroughly and have the beatgrid adjusted on if necessary, you are in for some unpleasant surprises (a.k.a. train wrecks).
Even if Traktor get’s it almost right you’ll need to do some manual adjusting.
Beatgridding manually is not an option but a hard requirement if you are playing out, imho.
Sure you can write down a request and play it later, but how does that help you? It’s still an unknown. Or do you intend to adjust beatgrids on tracks while you are playing live on another deck ? (tip from an old hand at this: DONT!)
You’ve read it before on these forums: yes, music selection is THE number one skill to posess, but not to the point that if you have good music selection nothing else matters, it does! Train wrecks can kill moods, no matter how good the two tracks are that collided.
I compare it to driving a car in Europe. Sure an automatic gearbox is very handy and practical, but only one in every 8 or 10 cars has an automatic transmission. I might own a car with an automatic transmission. But I am bound to be driving stick shift cars too sometime in the future. Since I learned to drive a stick shift first and then, after totally mastering that skill, decided to get an automatic transmission. I enjoy the relaxed feeling it gives me and the smooth ride. But if need be and I have to somewhere in a hurry in someone else’s stick shift car, I can make it happen.
Learn the basics first, then start enjoying the joy of automation and tools that can help you focus on other stuff. Not the other way around.
Wish you the best of luck on your gig. I am sure you’ll do ok. Forgive yourself if something isn’t quite 100% (it sure wasn’t the first few times I played out 😀 ), just make a deal with yourself that you will start to learn manual beatgridding, so that if they like you and ask you to go out and play on the house set-up with CDJs you won’t be looking at them like you are seeing water burn.
Greetinx.
.
