Glossary

Visual markers overlaid on the waveform showing where each beat falls in a track. An accurate beat grid is essential for sync and beat-matched transitions. In Tremor, the beat grid is automatically generated using neural beat tracking, though you can correct the downbeat position using TAP.

The fundamental DJ technique of aligning the beats of two tracks so they play in time together. This involves matching both tempo (BPM) and phase (beat alignment). Beat matching can be done manually using the pitch fader or automatically using sync.

The standard measurement of a track's tempo. Higher BPM means faster music. House music typically runs 120-130 BPM, drum and bass 160-180 BPM, and hip-hop 85-115 BPM. Tremor detects BPM automatically when you load a track.

A crossfader curve that maintains consistent perceived loudness throughout a blend. As one deck fades out, the other fades in at a rate that keeps the combined volume steady. Ideal for smooth transitions where both tracks play together. Compare with a sharp cut curve used for scratching.

The horizontal slider that blends audio between decks. Moving it left plays more of Deck A (or 1/3), moving right plays more of Deck B (or 2/4), and center plays both equally. The crossfader curve setting controls how quickly the blend happens.

A saved position in a track that you can instantly jump to. Use cue points to mark drops, breakdowns, vocals, or any moment you want to access quickly. Tremor supports multiple hot cues per track, each assigned to a performance pad.

A virtual turntable or player. Each deck loads one track and has its own playback controls, waveform display, EQ, and effects. Tremor supports 2 or 4 decks depending on your device and layout preference.

The first beat of a musical bar (the "one"). In 4/4 time, beats go 1-2-3-4, where 1 is the downbeat. Aligning downbeats between tracks ensures musical phrases stay synchronized. If tracks drift out of phrase alignment, use TAP to correct the downbeat position.

The climactic moment in electronic music when the main beat and bass kick in after a buildup or breakdown. Mixing into the drop of an incoming track is a powerful transition technique.

Controls that adjust the volume of specific frequency bands in a track. Tremor provides three-band EQ (High, Mid, Low) per deck. Use EQ to blend tracks smoothly by swapping bass frequencies, or to shape the sound during a mix. Cutting the low EQ on one track while bringing in another prevents muddy bass buildup.

A cue point assigned to a performance pad for instant, one-tap access. Hot cues are color-coded and saved with the track. Press a hot cue pad to jump to that position; hold and press to set a new hot cue.

A feature that maintains the original musical pitch of a track even when you change its tempo. Without key lock, speeding up a track raises its pitch (chipmunk effect) and slowing down lowers it. Key lock uses time-stretching algorithms to preserve the original key, enabling harmonic mixing across different BPMs.

A section of a track that repeats continuously. Loops are measured in beats (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 beats, etc.) and snap to the beat grid. Use loops to extend a section, build tension, or hold a track while preparing the next. Loop rolls are temporary loops that return to normal playback when released.

A protocol that allows DJ controllers and other hardware to communicate with software. When you move a fader or press a button on a controller, it sends MIDI messages that Tremor translates into actions. Tremor supports class-compliant MIDI controllers via USB or Bluetooth.

Can refer to either: (1) the transition between two tracks, or (2) the combined audio output of all decks. "The mix" often means your overall DJ set as heard by the audience.

AI-powered BPM and beat detection that uses machine learning to analyze a track's rhythm. Unlike traditional beat detection based on transient peaks, neural beat tracking understands musical context and can accurately detect beats even in complex, polyrhythmic music. Tremor uses this for automatic beat grid generation.

The position within a beat cycle. Two tracks can have matching BPM but be out of phase if their beats don't align. Phase sync ensures the beats land at the same moment. In Tremor, sync handles both tempo and phase alignment automatically.

A temporary speed adjustment used to nudge a track into alignment. Unlike the pitch fader which sets a persistent tempo change, pitch bend only affects playback while you hold it. Use pitch bend to correct small timing drifts during manual beat matching.

The circular turntable surface on a DJ controller or CDJ. On touch-sensitive platters, touching and moving the surface controls scratching, nudging, and track scrubbing. In Tremor's touch interface, the waveform area responds to similar gestures.

Moving the platter (or waveform) back and forth rapidly to create rhythmic sound effects. Scratching requires precise motor control and is a foundational hip-hop DJ technique. Tremor simulates realistic vinyl response with adjustable motor torque and brake settings.

The separated audio components of a track: Drums, Bass, Vocals, and Other (melody/instruments). AI stem separation lets you isolate or remove any component in real-time. Create acapellas, instrumental versions, or live mashups by combining stems from different tracks.

Automatic tempo and phase matching between decks. When sync is enabled, Tremor adjusts the tempo of the synced deck to match the master and aligns their beats. This frees you to focus on EQ, effects, and track selection rather than manual beat matching.

The speed of a track, measured in BPM. The tempo fader (pitch fader) lets you speed up or slow down a track. Tremor displays both the original BPM and the adjusted BPM when the tempo is changed.

The process of moving from one track to the next. Good transitions blend tracks smoothly using beat matching, EQ mixing, and effects. Common transition techniques include the crossfade, EQ swap, drop mix, and spinback.

A visual display showing audio signal levels. VU meters help you set proper gain levels and avoid clipping (distortion from levels that are too high). Tremor shows VU meters for each deck and the master output. Keep levels in the green/yellow zone; red indicates potential clipping.

A visual representation of a track's audio over time. The waveform shows volume (height) and frequency content (color) at each point. Use waveforms to see where drops, breakdowns, and vocals occur, and to visually align beats between tracks. Tremor displays scrolling waveforms with beat grid overlay.