Why DJs plays at 130 bpm in festival's live sets?

Discussion in 'DJ' started by Highdom, Jul 7, 2017.

  1. Highdom

    Highdom Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    Messages:
    391
    Likes Received:
    47
    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!
     
  2.  
  3. Exidus

    Exidus Rock Star

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2014
    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    431
    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 :)
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2017
    • Like Like x 2
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  4. DanielFaraday

    DanielFaraday Platinum Record

    Joined:
    May 20, 2015
    Messages:
    625
    Likes Received:
    247
    Location:
    Ukraine
    because it works on crowd. And you don't have to do re-room.
     
  5. D-Music

    D-Music Rock Star

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2014
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    307
    Location:
    Netherlands
    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.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Love it! Love it! x 1
    • List
  6. Vader

    Vader Platinum Record

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    514
    Likes Received:
    234
    Because most play pre made sets :wink:
     
  7. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
    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
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  8. phloopy

    phloopy Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2011
    Messages:
    3,830
    Likes Received:
    1,749
     
  9. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3,828
    Likes Received:
    2,657
    Location:
    Sweden
     
  10. D-Music

    D-Music Rock Star

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2014
    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    307
    Location:
    Netherlands

    Countdown starts at 2:45 :rofl:(be careful with your ears)
    Goes from 150 to 1000 bpm.
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  11. saltwater

    saltwater Guest

    i strictly play 138
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • List
  12. virusg

    virusg Rock Star

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2012
    Messages:
    956
    Likes Received:
    381
    Location:
    near you
    when the build up ws made by dj hands, this is a great bpm to play



    lol at plate :dj:

     
  13. subGENRE

    subGENRE Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2011
    Messages:
    2,476
    Likes Received:
    1,517
    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
     
  14. TonyG

    TonyG Guest

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

    fraifikmushi Guest

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

    Highdom Kapellmeister

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    Messages:
    391
    Likes Received:
    47
    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?:thumbsup:
     
  17. Andrew

    Andrew AudioSEX Maestro Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1,981
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Location:
    Between worlds
    BPM is always relative, I could have 30 BPM track with full of 1/64th notes and you'd say it's 120BPM :bleh:
    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.
     
  18. 23322332

    23322332 Rock Star

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2011
    Messages:
    693
    Likes Received:
    352
    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.
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • List
  19. statik

    statik Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2014
    Messages:
    1,516
    Likes Received:
    659
    Location:
    under your bed
    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???

     
  20. SPACENGINEER

    SPACENGINEER Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2016
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    16
    Djs at 2017...It made me laugh..and cry at the same time..
     
Loading...
Loading...