When you first listen to two records together it just sounds all jumbled up - it's impossible to tell which one is faster. To make it much easier...
Start the second record in time with the beat of the song playing live
This should start them off in synch. If they're adjusted right they'll stay in time; if not, they'll drift apart. And the faster they drift, the more they need adjusting.
1 Use two records with clear, solid drum-beats - the simpler the better (beats-only tracks are great to practise with).
2 Set the mixer so record 1 is playing out loud and record 2 is in your headphones. You should have one record in each ear,
3 Find the first beat on record 2, Move it back and forth in time with the record that's playing - like you're tapping out the rhythm.
4 When you're ready, let go on the beat. The first beat of record 2 should play in time to record 1.
When you can do this accurately, beatmatching will start to seem a lot less impossible.
If you're marking one beat with your body, it leaves your head free to count the other beat.
How do you hear beats on two records at once?
At first you'll have to count, and that's confusing. But with practice you'll just hear four beats without counting them (like you just see four dots on a dice).
How do you know if it's faster or slower?
Eventually you'll just be able to hear it. Until then, use trial and error. Take an educated guess, then adjust things. If you guessed right you'll have corrected the problem a bit; if you guessed wrong you'll have made it worse.
How can you tell the two records apart?
One clue is the noise that two records make when they're out of synch. Instead of a clean kick-drum boom, you'll hear b-boom. Listen carefully to this noise and you can hear whether the extra b-is in the headphones or the speakers. This will tell you which record is hitting the beat first.
How can you hear really small differences?
Practise. At first you'll only be able to hear big differences in speeds. But gradually your skill will increase until you can spot tiny ones without consciously trying. The more you practise, the more obvious they'll become.
Do you always count kick drums?
Not necessarily. As you get better you'll be able to hear the beat in all sorts of rhythms, even ones without a kick. Some people beat-match by lining up hi-hats.
Thats the basics of beatmatching, then next comes phrasing and harmonic mixing......but thats another story
