What is Pitch Control? How to use it to Mixing Music? | ‘From 0 to DJ’ #6 ✅

In this chapter we are going to talk about the PITCH Control, the tool that manages the Tempo, or what is the same, the BPM at which the track will be played.
We will also see a related parameter such as the Pitch Range and the Master Tempo function.

Understanding the three functions will be very useful for your DJ sessions. 🙂

Pitch Control on the Pioneer CDJ-2000 Nexus player

Table of Contents

1. What is the PITCH CONTROL?

The Pitch is the control with which we manage the Tempo or speed of the track. We can slow it down or speed up the BPM to our preference. To understand what Tempo and BPM are, check the previous chapter.

The zero point or midpoint corresponds to the center of the vertical bar and is the original speed of the track.

Pitch Control in Virtual DJ

By moving the Pitch Control down ⬇, we increase the BPM or speed of the song.
By moving the Pitch Control up ⬆, we lower the BPM or speed of the song.

Actually what we are modifying is a percentage of the speed with respect to the original. Now we will see this in more depth with the Pitch Range.

2. What is the Pitch Range?

The Pitch Range is the maximum percentage of modification of the speed or BPM of the track that we have in that deck or player.

For example if we have the Pitch range at 50% and we descend the Pitch control to the limit, we will speed up the song by 50%.
In case this song had an original Tempo of 100 BPM, we would accelerate it to 150 BPM.

This parameter can be found in most DJ software and mixers (or technically players) and in many controllers.
In this tutorial we are going to see it in Virtual DJ, because it is the perfect free software for learning (if you do not have it, download it here).

In Virtual DJ the range configuration is located in a circle next to the sync button.

Clicking it opens a menu. Go to the option “Pitch Range” and you will see all the options of the range amplitude.

Pitch Range Configuration in Virtual DJ (Not visible in Starter layout)

2.1 What is the best Pitch Range during mixes?

As with everything, it depends. It depends on what for. For mixing between tracks with similar tempos, the shortest range is the best. Or at least, the shortest one that allows us to match the BPM of the tracks. Especially for better precision when moving the Pitch control.

3. What is Master Tempo for?

By making these variations in the Tempo, you will notice that the tracks vary their musical key in proportion to how much you speed up or slow down the tempo.

The tracks will sound higher or lower based on whether we speed up or slow down the tempo.

If we vary the tempo a little, there will be no problem, it may even sound good, but other times when we vary the tempo more, it may not sound good or we may not like it. To solve this problem we have the tool called ‘Master Tempo‘ (‘Key’ in Traktor or ‘KeyLock’ in other software).

When the Master Tempo is activated, the tone of the track does not change even if you change the tempo.

In Virtual DJ click MT initials to activate or deactivate the Master Tempo function.

Master Tempo in Virtual DJ (only visible in Pro and Performance layouts)

With this you can further customize your mixes and correct for unwanted tone variations.

Now it’s your turn 👇

In this chapter we have seen the Pitch Control, an essential element that you must know how to use whether you use Software, controllers, or real DJ equipment with their players, it is present in all of them. Also knowing the Pitch Range and the Master Tempo function can be very useful and facilitates your work as a DJ.

In the next chapter we will talk about the CUE function, a very useful function that will help us to mix the tracks and achieve a good beat matching in a simple way.

What do you think? Will you activate Master Tempo? Personally I don’t use it much, I find it interesting that slight modification of the tone that you can give to the track live. Leave us your opinion in the comments.
Best regards and see you in the next one! 🙂

ℹ I recommend you to arrive at the last chapter of this course, there are some DJ Practices that consist of training your ear by mixing without looking at the BPM, and another one without touching the pitch, just as it was done in the old days.

‘From 0 to DJ’ LESSON #7 ►

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