Elliott Kim

Glad to hear it went well!

If you do go the PC route, go with Intel vs AMD processors. Serato doesn’t guarantee performance on AMD processors and they do not officially support it.

Just like you, the sync haters had a hard time learning manual beat matching. Now many are butt-hurt that a machine can do it automagically. The sync button took down a huge barrier. I wonder how many like-new DJ rigs could be had for a good price because someone gave up when they got frustrated with beatmatching.

The more valid reason to spew damning indictments against the sync button is that it makes DJs lazy. Also, many people buy a digital Dj setup, thinking it’s easy, and they inevitably meet up with a rude awakening – DJing takes skills that are learned through many hours of practice and dedication to the art.

Even if you perfectly matched the BPMs of two tracks, they might still drift apart after a few bars due to human imprecision. That’s when you give the platter a little nudge.

I started with the Traktor DJ app, then worked my way up through a Z1 and eventually the S2 mk2. I have to say, there is something very gratifying about beat matching and nailing it without sync. It adds the element of risk and just a tiny drop of adrenaline when you press Play on the incoming track.

It also connects you to your music better. You really have to pay attention.

If you play any non-quantized music, it’s absolutely critical to beat match manually and learn how to nudge tracks unless you want to be boring.

I still use sync from time to time. Let’s say you get distracted and you barely have enough time to load the next song. I’ve been exploring the Remix Decks in Traktor and I do a couple of live mashups. Sync is very helpful there.

To me, it’s just another useful tool, not a crutch.

I work at a bar that features live bands and DJs. I got to know the various DJs over the years and grew curious.

I also work at a major musical instrument retailer and nobody really knew the DJ gear. The guys who knew it would quit, leaving me as the “expert.” I took it upon myself to learn about it.

I wear earplugs all the time!!!

I put them in as soon as I arrive at the venue, and only take them out for sound check, when I need to make adjustments to the sound, or if I need to correct any issues (feedback, sources of him, etc.)

Prolonged exposure to moderately high SPL is just as damaging as shorter periods of exposure to higher SPLs.

Luckily, all the venues I work at are smoke-free indoors, but you work long enough in the music biz, you will encounter smoking venues.

I also eat as best as I can, and I pack healthy snacks for the gig to head off the temptation of bar food, and many nights, I don’t even touch a drink! I’m hardly a teetotaler, but it does make a HUGE difference in how you feel before, during, and after the gig when you stay off the sauce.