Turntable Techniques

How to Play Melodies With Serato’s Pitch ‘n Time

Turntable Techniques

Serato’s Pitch ’n Time plugin can be used to play virtually any melody using a single cue point. By following a few easy steps, you can use the performance pads on a mixer to shift a cue point’s key, enabling you to perform creative tone play routines.

Watch Beat Refinery’s DJ Little Rock demonstrate the technique on this episode of Turntable Techniques.

Related: How to Use Pitch ‘n Time’s Key Sync Feature

Using the Echo Effect to Transition Between Songs With Different Tempos

Turntable Techniques

Not every turntable has a wide pitch range, which makes it difficult to transition between songs of different tempos. However, if you have a mixer that has an internal echo effect, you can transition with ease.

On this episode of Turntable Techniques, Beat Refinery‘s DJ Little Rock demonstrates how to use the technique with two examples.

Watch the tutorial above.

Related: How to Redrum With Roland’s DJ-808

How to Redrum With Roland’s DJ-808

Turntable Techniques

On this episode of DJcityTV and Beat Refinery​’s Turntable Techniques, Trayze​ explains how to do live redrums with Roland’s DJ-808 controller using its TR-S drum machine and sounds. The technique can be used to beef up sections of tracks that don’t have drums (e.g.: the breakdown).

Related: Review: Roland DJ-808 Controller

How to Use Pitch ‘n Time’s Key Sync Feature

Turntable Techniques

Serato DJ’s Pitch ‘n Time plugin enables DJs to shift and sync the key of a track. It improves your ability to mix harmonically, helping to make your blends and transitions sound cleaner.

On this episode of Turntable Techniques, Beat Refinery instructor and 2016 Red Bull 3style U.S. Champion Trayze breaks down how to use Pitch ‘n Time’s key sync feature.

Watch the tutorial above.

Related: Turntable Techniques: Asymmetrical Looping

Turntable Techniques: Asymmetrical Looping

Turntable Techniques

Many DJs use symmetrical loops to loop melodies or drum patterns in continuous cycles. Asymmetrical loops, however, have distinct beginnings and endings. They can be used to change rhythms and create patterns on the fly.

Watch the Beat Refinery‘s Obeyah explain how to use them on this episode of Turntable Techniques.

Related: Using Loop Techniques to Mimic the Echo Effect

Using Loop Techniques to Mimic the Echo Effect

Turntable Techniques

Popular mixers such as the Rane Sixty-Two and Pioneer DJM-S9 have a built-in echo effect, but a lot of mixers don’t. On this episode of Turntable Techniques, the Beat Refinery‘s As-One demonstrates a couple of ways to mimic the feature with your DJ software.

“It’s great to have these new fancy mixers with tons of onboard effects. But at the end of the day, the best trick in your bag is to master your software, so you’re not relying on any particular piece of DJ gear.”

Watch the tutorial above.

Related: How to Use Custom Cue Points in Serato DJ

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