DJ Craze: "Sync is your friend... embrace technology"
The scratch master takes on the sync button debate
Over the weekend, three time DMC World DJ Champion DJ Craze ignited a debate on Twitter about the highly controversial sync button. The DJing tool which automatically locks in the bpm of your next song and makes mixing more seamless, the sync button is seen by many DJs and electronic artists as an absolute detriment to the art form. Old school ravers, underground enthusiasts and representatives from all facets of the dance music arena believe avoiding it is the last bastion of DJs keeping it real.
In his tweet, DJ Craze struck a chord telling the world that "sync is your friend" and encouraging others to "embrace him". The skilled scratcher whose frenetic mixing style requires him to jump between records with great speed and frequency makes the sync button a wonderful piece of tech that allows him to "do more creative stuff".
I STILL don’t understand why djs don’t use sync ... it’s 2019!!!! .... I’m talking about my boys too so no shade .... again ... it’s 2019!!!! Please .... Sync is your friend ... embrace him
— ČƦᗛƵℨ —- El Cabrito (@CRAZEARONI) April 6, 2019
Gives you freedom to do more creative stuff .... or i just read the bpms ... or read the wavs .... i just don’t get the headphones and moving the pitch thing ... and of course I’m an older Dj so I did all of that just seems like an obstacle now .... embrace technology
— ČƦᗛƵℨ —- El Cabrito (@CRAZEARONI) April 6, 2019
He clarifies in his tweets that using sync to lock in beats as you mix one record after the other is not what he is encouraging in the slightest. "If you can’t beat match you shouldn’t DJ", he states, calling it an "elementary" skill that should be learned by all behind the decks.
Well of course if you can’t beat match you shouldn’t Dj .... but beatmatching is elementary skill ... it’s like saying you shouldn’t produce if you can’t count for 8 bars ... or know where your best should be on a grid ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— ČƦᗛƵℨ —- El Cabrito (@CRAZEARONI) April 6, 2019
Getting past all the indignity that is associated with the sync button due to its pernicious nature in the scene, DJ Craze is calling for an overhaul of the way we discuss the automatic beat-matching button. Many DJs have more to offer audiences than just beat-matching and record selection. By cutting out the time it takes to beat-match, it gives performers the opportunity to do imaginative and startling things behind the decks.
The blind outrage that occurs when many see that orange button light up on a pair of CDJs has become a huge deterrent for DJs who might want to explore its use. DJ Craze aims to show us that perhaps we've gone too far in neglecting a tool that could elevate the electronic music scene in new and unexpected ways.
Cameron is Mixmag's Jr. Editor. Follow him on Twitter
[via: Magnetic Magazine]
Read this next!
Does a DJ set have to be perfect?
Is it ever OK to rewind another DJs track?
Q&A: DJ Craze
Mixmag will use the information you provide to send you the Mixmag newsletter using Mailchimp as our marketing platform. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us. By clicking sign me up you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.
