Beat Sync Interval. Pros & Cons of 1 Beat vs 4 Beat

Questions
1

I’m new to the sync button.

I just read this:

Although it explains the concept it doesn’t say which is actually more reliable (in terms of keeping tracks in sync).

All caveats aside, in very simple terms will 1 beat or 4 beat give you a more reliable sync or is difference so legible not to matter.

PS: is this what is happening?

1 Beat
sync -1 - sync - 2 - sync - 3 - sync - 4 - sync

4 Beat
sync - 1 - 2- 3- 4 - sync 1- 2- 3- 4 - sync

If so it would seem 4 Beat more likely to have some drift, but maybe its so negligible not to matter

Is one or the other more noticeable as the sync adjustment happens?

Thanks

3

Hi @N_C,

Thanks for sharing your question with the forum!

This past December we released djay v5.x, which included new behavior of the sync and beat grid with the integration of our Fluid Beat Grid feature.

I bring this up as the topic you linked to was previous to Fluid Beat Grid so djay acts a bit different.

Would it be possible to clarify your question for our support team to better answer? Thanks!

4

When you sync with 1 beat it’ll line up the nearest beat on track A with the nearest beat on track B

When you sync with 4 beats it’ll line up the nearest bar (yellow line) on track A with the nearest bar on track B

If you properly maintain your beat grids the latter is probably more convenient

I tend to use 1 beat because I’ll generally DJ by ear anyway so it’s just a case of a slight adjustment for my poor timing rather than actually trying to sync things.

Both feel quite valid options to me depending on how you DJ and I wouldn’t say my approach is necessarily superior, just fits how I work better.

2 Likes
5

“in very simple terms will 1 beat or 4 beat give you a more reliable sync or is difference so negligible as not to matter”.

Not sure I can make the question any simpler.

6

While I get the difference technically, I don’t get which is likely to be more reliable. It would instinctively seem 1 beat, yes? But does that come with any cons? If not, what is the point of having a choice?

7

Hi @N_C, there is no difference in the reliability of the sync. This simply changes where the sync snaps to; on any beat or at the start of each bar (every 4 beats). If you have it set to 1 beat then the 2 tracks can sync on any beat of the 4 beats within the bar. So on beat 1, beat 2, beat 3 or beat 4. If you have it set to 4 beats then the tracks will only sync on the start of each bar which is always beat 1.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about regarding beats and bars, have a look at this video that explains counting of beats and bars for DJing.