A manual or software-triggered slowdown of a track's playback that mimics a turntable gradually losing power.
A brake is an effect that gradually decelerates a playing track's speed until it stops, mimicking the sound of a turntable motor losing power. Unlike a spinback, the audio slows and stretches downward in pitch rather than reversing.
Why it matters
It creates a dramatic pause or tension moment that can mark the end of a section, build anticipation before a drop, or signal a hard transition. The gradual deceleration gives the crowd a clear audio cue that something is about to change.
In practice
On CDJs, press pause (or stop) with the jog wheel in vinyl mode and the track decelerates following a curve set by the vinyl speed adjust knob on the unit, not the pitch fader. Rotate that knob clockwise for a slower wind-down or counterclockwise for a faster stop. On software controllers, find the stop time parameter in preferences and dial it in before the set. A shorter stop time produces a tight, punchy stop; a longer one gives the classic slow power-off feel. Engage slip mode first if you want playback to resume from the correct position in the timeline after the brake.
