One of my current obsessions is learning beatmatching – it is a skill that DJs must have, such that the result of using that skill is that you get two different songs playing at the same beats per minute, in phase (the beats hit at the right time), in phrase, and importantly, you don’t stare at a screen while doing so.

Beatmatching involves making small changes to tempo (speed) that are either temporary (using the jog wheel) or permanent (using the tempo slider), in rapid response to what you are listening to (a topic that warrants another blog post, I think), until again, the beats are in phase, the speed of the tracks is the same, you get it right at the correct parts of the track (in phrase), and you don’t look at the screen while doing so.

Seems a little trivial? Well, contrary to what you might think, it is from this (apparently) simple skill comes our parties, celebrations, EDM festivals, and pretty much almost every kind of show that you can think of – it is that crucial.

To me, it is really interesting to think about how to develop that skill, as it involves asking a lot of questions in the head all at the same time, while running the program over and over again:

1. When should I play the track…
   • In relation to the incoming beats?
   • In the overall track?
2. When I do start playing the track…
   • Can I reliably and quickly tell:
     • Whether my track is fast or slow?
     • What adjustment to make and in what order?
     • How to perform a sequence of operations to make that adjustment?
     • How to calculate on the fly that sequence of operations?
   • Do I have the physical dexterity to make that adjustment while performing that listening?
   • Am I aware of what is coming next in the song that I may adjust to it?
3. As an artist…
   • Am I able to create an interesting experience for the listener?
   • Through track selection and curation of a bespoke and varied experience, can I sustain the vibe of the listener, how they feel…
     • In that moment?
     • Throughout the night?
   • Can I create not just an interesting experience, but also a memorable and significant experience that they will remember deeply in some meaningful way as a part of their one and precious lifetime?
   • Can I develop my technical mastery to blend skill and experience, form and essence?

I am sure that there are many other questions that we could ask and many different things I haven’t considered, but the ones I’ve listed here are some of the more interesting ones I have in mind.

Of course, I could just use beat sync all the way and stare at a screen, but that wouldn’t be all that interesting, would it?

Certainly not, when it feels like what I’m doing in learning this is somehow evolving my brain in a strange way that I had never considered before, but that somehow is my privilege now and in the immediate hereafter.

Lots more to come – looking forward to creating more fun experiences for the world!