Lets picture the scenario.

The tune on deck A has just broke down for the second time (I prefer to start a mix just after the second brekdown of the record) There is about ten seconds before the beat will kick in. The record on deck B is all cued up and all rotary kills have been ajusted to match that of deck A.

The beat kicks in on the first record and you let the second record go just at the end of the 4 bar count. The mix is now ready and you adjust the volume on the second channel to bring the mix in. All is going well when suddenly the record from deck B goes out of time. It is obvious that the pitch fader has not been ajusted to the correct speed setting or the record has changed bpm. What do you do?

Well, there are a few options to try but you cannot expect them to work first time as the mix can go even more out of control. The thing what you need to learn is to be able to tell whether the record on the second deck is playing too fast or too slow. At first this may be hard to figure but it just comes naturally. I cannot explain how to tell other than just counting the bars of the two records.

If deck B is playing too fast then this is what I would do:

If deck B is playing so much faster than deck A then you may as well call the mix off and bring it out of phase, try, try again. You'll know because it sounds like there is a herd of elephants on your bedroom floor.

If deck B is playing slightly faster then I tend to place my finger and thumb on the center spindle of the deck and gently squeeze. This will slow the record down to get the mix back in but not enough for the crowd to notice the difference. Whilst holding the spindle I tend to adjust the pitch fader to slow the record then when I let go the mix will be perfectly beat matched.

I have seen other DJ's place their thumb on the side of the platter. My advice is not to do this when mixing outside of your headphones. If too much pressure is applied then it can slow the record right down making it so noticeable to the audience.

The other method and by far the hardest method (I think) is using only the pitch fader to control the speed. This is a method used by Tall Paul as he insistes it is wrong to touch the deck whilst in the mix. What you have to if Deck B is playing fast is push the fader about two notches back and then drag it back to just below the original position. This will in effect slow the record down enough and then bring it back in time for a beatmatch. This method takes a lot of practice.

So youve managed to slow the mix down to get it in time but now you realise that the record on deck B is playing too slow. You can use the same methods to speed the record up as you did to slow it down (apart from touching the platter ). You can twist the center spindle and ajust the fader accordingly or use the fader technique to get the record in time.

What I tend to do is use the label on the record. I never touch the actual vinyl as I find that it can make the needle jump leaving the mix in a right mess. Just place your finger on the label as close to the center spindle as possible and follow the record round in a clockwise direction applying small ammounts of pressure. This should speed the record so you can adjust the pitch fader accordingly.

What ever method you use you will not always get it right first time. The test is to be able to pull off a mix without having to speed up or slow down either deck (better get saving for those headphones). Even the professionals mess up, and it is only as a DJ that you notice. I have heard Paul Oakenfold mess up a mix and have to slam the cross fader accross to the other side.

Try Not to:

When you are in the mix and it all goes wrong. Just place the needle back a bit and try again. Obviously you can't do that if your performing live but I assume you are in the bedroom. There is nothing worse than a DJ who cannot mix that uses the spin back technique when their mix goes everywhere. OK I'll understand if this is done once or twice but after every record it becomes annoying. If you insist on finising a mix with a quick SWSHHHHH of the record then I am sorry but you will never learn how to mix properly. Half of the time the record on deck B is not in sync so when you spin the record and slam the fader it sounds appaulling.

Keep Practicing