How to Be A DJ - Part 2 - The Best Equipment to Start With

If you're thinking about becoming a DJ, you need to get some equipment. Your turntables, the needles, your mixer, headphones and speakers are all necessary in order to play any type of music. The equipment type and brand names below will give you a quality beginner setup that is the norm in the industry, perfect for playing hip-hop, house, trance, or Top 40 type music, which are the most common types of music to spin.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• This particular setup can cost anywhere between $600 to $2000 dollars, depending on the options you choose.

1. 
    

   The turntables: This is where the music comes from, and you'll need to purchase two, preferably of the same kind. There are two basic types of turntables that you can get: record spinning turntables, or CD player turntables. To give you the most versatility, I recommend going with two record playing turntables. They give you the most control over your music and speed, and although there aren't as many buttons or digital enhancements, it's easier to learn proper technique and it's just more fun and stylish. As far as brand names, if you want a quality turntable that can last a lifetime, use Technic brand turntables, specifically the SL-1200MK2 or SL-1200MK5.

2. 
    

   The needles: without the needles, there is no way your music will get from your records to the speakers. Be sure to get a pair of needles (remember, you need two, one for each turntable), and possibly even an extra one just in case one fails on you. My favorites are Numarks, but they are a little on the higher end. You can't really go wrong with a Shure or Stanton brand needle either.

3. 
    

   The mixer: The mixer is what controls which turntable everyone is listening to. The mixer will allow the speakers to play the left turntable, the right turntable, or both at the same time. A quality mixer is important. All of the mixers for DJing come standard with all of the following controls: a cross-fader, volume controls (2) for each turntable, low and high frequency range controls, a balance knob and your basic bass and master volume controls. I recommend using a Numark Mixer from the DM series, specifically a DM1002MKII.

4. 
    

   The speakers: when starting out, I recommend getting a pair of self-powered speakers, so you don't need to buy an extra amplifier. You'll need two so you can have a left and right balance for your set up. The speakers connect to the mixer with a basic 1/4" cables, and should be around the 250 to 300 watt mark when just starting out. This will be plenty loud, trust me. A JBL brand speaker has good sound quality and will last you for a very long time..

5. 
    

   Your headphones: You see DJs wearing headphones when their playing music because they are able to listen to the turntable that is not being played through the speakers. That is how they are able to "beat match", by listening to the next song before it's played and speeding it up or slowing it down so that when it's time to play it, the transition between songs will be flawless and uninterrupted. If you can, invest in some good headphones as this will make learning how to use your equipment much easier. You can find these at any electronic or audio store.

Tips & Warnings

• These are the basic types of hardware you're gong to need in order to start playing some music. If you have friends, let them help you because they will know exactly what you should get for your level and style of music.
• Sometimes DJs who stop for whatever reason will sell their whole entire setup. You can browse for these on craiglist, and you'll be done shopping for your new equipment in one shot. However, always check out the equipment before you hand over the money, and let them show you that everything is in good working condition.
• This equipment can be fairly expensive. Before you buy any pieces, please make sure you have enough to buy the entire setup.

Resources

• Part 1 - How to Start
• Part 3 – Additional Equipment to Think About
• Part 4 – The Basic Equipment Setup
• Part 5 – Understand How DJ Equipment Works

[Sidhartha]

on 11/12/2008 I did not know there was so much dj equipment needed.