How to set up a basic DJ Turntable set

Just got a DJ set? Well this quick guide will help you set them up to full advantadge

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 Turntables
• 1 Mixer
• 1 Amp
• 1 Set Of Headphones
• 2 Stylus/ Cartridges/ Headshells
• 2 Phono-Phono-Ground cables
• 1 Phono-Phono cable
• At least 2 speakers
• 4 Plug sockets

1. First you gotta set up your turntables. Put the large metal disc (Platter) on the metal point (spindle) in the middle.

2. Put your Stylus (small section with needle) on your Cartridge (Middle sized section) if it isnt already and screw your cartridge on your headshell (Largest metal section), again, if it isnt already, then connect the colored wires on the back
   
   Normally this step is already done

3. 
   Use this to help

   Put your Headshell on the tone arm so that the needle is facing down, and screw the end of the tone arm anti-clockwise (facing up the tone arm).

4. Plug in your turntables and now they are complete

5. Next up is the mier - this is the easy bit - simply just plug your headphones into the socket on your mixer that has a picture of headphones, 'Headphones' written on it, or some sort of abbreviation for headphones (Phones, Head, HPs).

6. Plug in your mixer and now that is complete

7. 
   Use this to help

   Time for the amp. Get your speakers; there should be two cables, bare at the end, for each speaker. One cable is red or orange, the other one is black or white. Look on the back of the amp, there should be several red and black sockets. Put the red cable in the red socket and the black cable in the black socket, so the wires are secure. These should be done the sockets that are next to eachother in the same channel (Either left or right)

8. Do the same for the other speaker. The speaker in the L column or row should got on the left side of your DJ Set-up, and the speaker in the R column or row should go on the right.

9. Plug in your amp, and the amp section is done

10. Now is the connection bit. On one turntable, look at the back. Get a Phono-phono-ground cable. Plug the white phono into the white phono socket on your turntable, and same for the red phono. Put the ground (GRND, GND or GD) stick in the middle of the ground wire and screw it on securly

11. 
    Use this diagram to help

    Go to the other end of the cable and do the same for the mixer, but put it in the Turntable phono sockets. If it is on the Channel 1 section, your turntable should go on the left of your mixer, but if it is Channel 2, it should go on the right

12. Repeat Step 10 & 11 for the other turntable

13. Now get hold of the Phono-Phono cable. Get one end and put the phono's into the correct colored phono sockets on the back of your mixer on the 'Output', 'Main output' or 'Amp' sockets.

14. 
    Us this pic to help you

    Get the other end of the cable and put it in the Amps phono sockets. If their is more than one phono socket set, put it in the CD one, and switch on your Amp and set it to CD. If there isnt a CD one, put it in any set that onoly has 2 phono sockets and set it too that on your mixer.

15. Switch on your gear and spin away, dee jay!

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the guard on the stylus when moving it about so it doesnt get broke
• Spare cables can be bought from HTFR.com for cheap
• Dont set the EQ to fullbass. Speakers break when theres too much bass (unless its a subwoofer)

Resources

• HTFR - buy DJ stuff here

[Ashpool]

on 12/8/2008 Nice guide!

Love the diagrams. Getting into DJing isn't that expensive at all, just need the motivation and bring some good tunes.

Kick out the JAMS!

-Ashpool
www.beginnerdj.com