Hi boys, I've noticed that DJ like Hardwell, Tiesto and other big names play their live sets faster then normality when they are at festivals. For example a 128 bpm track becomes 130 bpm and no master tempo (pitch shifted of +33 cents)

Months ago I've asked to Dannic via Twitter, from Hardwell's crew, if they play at 130 and he replies yes. So they really play music faster and with no pitch locked...
Why? Any ideas behind this as well as it sounds nicer in 130?

Thanks!

 

Faster BPMs in EDM usually gives more energy to the dancefloor.
My guess for the lack of pitch lock is that it is easier to "chase" the tracks while DJing with a huge system around you (esp for ppl who came from playing vinyl) and the fact that most of the pitch locking algos used in the CD players and DJ softwares are achieving this by cutting/adding parts of each sample, making it shorter/longer and loosing some of the sound quality in the process (ex. there was a noticeable/audible clicking in all Pioneer CD players when you go beyond +/-4% with a pitch locked down). I rarely use pitch lock myself cos I can hear degraded audio even when using Traktor with Pitchlock.
As for the BPMs, I am in the psychedelic scene (went trough Tech/techno/house/minimal/progressive). I found out that a BPM around 147-150 is working best for dancing cos it somehow syncs with the gravity so you can jump more springy and effortlessly for longer time

 

Last edited: Jul 7, 2017

because it works on crowd. And you don't have to do re-room.

 

I have a harder styles background with bpm's in hardcore from +/- 160 to 200, also with vinyl which made it even more 'difficult' (but fun) to match everything - or make an interesting build-up - because your range went only up to +8 on Technics. With hardstyle most records were around 140 but especially with the reverse bass it created more energy and drive on the dancefloor to pitch all tracks. Most hardstyle and freestyle nowadays is around 150 which is (indeed) the best jump tempo for a mainstream crowd (I still like the early rave tempo's around 170).

Talking about house & EDM almost everything stays between 120 and 130 so mixing that - with nowadays 'cheat' technology - isn't fun anymore. And don't forget the short intro's and outro's in EDM. So pitching from 128 to 130 makes no sense for me. That's hardly noticeable to my opinion. Pitching from 120 to 130 would be an other story but most slower tracks aren't made for such pitching or just don't match the different styles. For example: a tropical house track (115) vs mainroom (128). That's one of the reasons I guess why so many dj's use mic's (unfortunately). Not only for screaming towards the crowd but also to create bridges between for example a slow Major Lazer track and a faster Hardwell track. Or even more faster > Yellow Claw.

 

Because most play pre made sets

 

Because 130 is closer to "jump, jump"-tempo than 128. ;)
Actually it's closer to 135, but 130 is easier to sing and melodies don't feel as rushed (8ths).

 

Last edited: Jul 7, 2017

Countdown starts at 2:45 (be careful with your ears)
Goes from 150 to 1000 bpm.

 

i strictly play 138

 

when the build up ws made by dj hands, this is a great bpm to play

lol at plate

 

When I use to dj (breakbeats) I would start out my set around 130 then slowly work it up to 140 and then back down to 130 for the last few tracks. A trick I learned from a fellow dj to get the floor to build to a climax and then back down for the release. and never pitch lock, it does weird stuff to the sub bass

 

130 BPM is the Median BPM of Progressive House's (125BPM-130BPM) and Trance's(130BPM-135BPM)

 

I think it's because they're lazy and want to get it over with faster.

 

What do you mean by re-room?

But nobody has really focused on pitch...OK, let's say BPM influence the energy of a track.
But if I move the pitch higher (for example of +33cents) and compare with an other of the same key, even with different structure, I feel the sound is "brilliant", "shining", "noticeable" (I couldn't find any words to describe it LOL) in the one's pitched up. Is it real or I might not take drugs anymore?

 

BPM is always relative, I could have 30 BPM track with full of 1/64th notes and you'd say it's 120BPM
or 480 BPM full of whole notes. Personally I stick to around 90-110 BPM.

Tempo change, as much as pitch change is usually used for drawing attention.

 

If you switch to higher tempo, the crowd will probably notice some change/ get more excited, but after a few bars it won't matter, so the next tracks at 130 would make no difference and you have to go higher/faster (which is madness - look at the history of dnb/breakbeat - it started at around 120-130 and at some point reached 180 bpm, now floats around 170-172.)
Real people don't play like machines and can articulate different emotions with their tempo/ pitch etc fluctuations.

 

glad i swear by digital dj'ing, few simple rules to follow, play tracks 3-5 bpm faster than they originally are makes them sound more intense (or just go nuts, fuck the original bpm and do shit nobody expects), stay away from the round numbers (130, 135, 140, instead do 133, 138, 142), pay attention to what key your tracks are in and select the next track so that it still sounds good and not off key (also a great way to find tracks that would be great to mashup) and most important, be a source of energy for your crowd, dont just stand there, bounce, dance, headbop, enjoy yourself and show it (also pay attention to your crowd and see how they respond to what you play)

for extra effect use some weird ass headphones like a hello kitty headphones and let them be like wtf is he dj'ing with a hello kitty headphones???

 

Djs at 2017...It made me laugh..and cry at the same time..