Mixing & Performance

Slip Mode

A mode where the track keeps playing silently underneath a loop or scratch, so it resumes in real time when you stop.

With slip mode on, manipulating a track with a loop, scratch, or hot cue does not move the underlying playback. When you release, the track jumps to where it would have been.

Why it matters

Slip mode lets you add edits and effects mid-track without derailing the timing, so a creative flourish does not turn into a trainwreck.

Related terms

Loop Roll Trainwreck

More in Mixing & Performance

Beatgrid Waveform Quantize Hot Cue Memory Cue Loop Roll Pitch Fader Pitch Bend

Frequently asked questions

Slip mode keeps the track's internal playback position moving forward in the background while you apply a loop, scratch, or cue hold. When you release the effect, the track jumps to where it would have been, keeping you in time with the other deck.

Exiting a loop without slip mode leaves the track at the loop's exit point, which can throw off your timing relative to the other deck. With slip mode, the track returns to the correct timeline position automatically. It is especially useful for long loops and scratch interludes where manual time correction would be noticeable.

Yes. Slip mode is one of the primary tools for scratch performance on digital setups. While you scratch back and forth, the track keeps advancing underneath. When you let go, the music continues from the correct position rather than from where your scratch left off, making it easier to stay on beat.

Hey, it's Ben Modigell 👋

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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