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Mixing & Performance

Pitch Fader

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The slider that adjusts a deck's tempo, used to beatmatch two tracks.

The pitch fader, or tempo fader, speeds a track up or slows it down by a percentage. Traditionally it also changes pitch, unless key lock is engaged.

Why it matters

The pitch fader is the core tool of manual beatmatching, nudging one track's tempo to match another by ear.

Beatmatching technique

Related terms

Pitch BendKey LockSync

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BeatgridWaveformQuantizeHot CueMemory CueLoop RollSlip ModePitch Bend

Frequently asked questions

Despite the name, the pitch fader primarily controls tempo (playback speed), not pitch. On most DJ equipment, the default setting stretches or compresses time to change BPM, and a separate key-lock feature keeps the pitch from shifting. Without key-lock, speeding up a track raises its pitch and slowing it down lowers it.
A plus or minus 8 percent range covers most scenarios when mixing tracks in the same genre. Wider ranges like plus or minus 16 or 100 percent are available for large BPM differences but require more precise control since each millimeter of fader movement represents a bigger tempo change. Start at 8 percent and expand only when needed.
Sync handles BPM matching automatically, but the pitch fader is still useful for fine-tuning, for building a gradual tempo ramp across a set, and for situations where sync is unavailable such as older CDJ setups or vinyl. Understanding manual beatmatching with the pitch fader also makes you a more adaptable DJ when gear fails.
Ben Modigell

Hey, it's Ben Modigell 👋

I DJ and produce as so I so — downtempo, minimal, dub house, tech house, and techno (releases on Spotify and SoundCloud, links above). Everything I write here comes from my own gigs, studio sessions, and library cleanups: the rules I follow, the failure modes I've actually hit, and the workflow I use when nobody's watching. If a technique didn't earn its place in my own sets, it doesn't make it into a tutorial.

DJingMusic ProductionTech HouseMinimal HouseDub HouseTechnoDowntempoLibrary Organization

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