1. DJ Equipment - How to Choose Your
First Set Up
Purchasing DJ Equipment for the first time can be a
daunting task. With so many different options out
there, it's easy to get confused or overwhelmed. Here
are some guidelines to help with choosing your first DJ
Set-Up.
2. Decide on your budget
Your budget is going to greatly affect what DJ Equipment you can
purchase. This may seem like an easy step but before you
simply write down the amount of money you would LIKE to
spend, consider your reasons for purchasing the equipment in
the first place. Is it something you'd like to try to see if you like
it? If so starting out with an inexpensive DJ system can help
you choose if you'd like to pursue it further. Is DJing something
you've been interested in for years and are serious about? In
that case you may want to save up for better quality
equipment. It may be beneficial to make a larger initial
investment, as starting with inexpensive equipment and slowly
upgrading will definitely cost you more in the long run. Lower
priced equipment can be lower grade as well, which can hinder
your learning curve. Expect to spend at least $200 at the very
lowest end, $1000 for a super respectable system, and only up
from there for more advanced systems.
3. Choose your platform
This is where it gets tricky.
DJing nowadays offers a
plethora of choices. I won't
pretend to cover all of them
here, but I will touch on the
most prevalent platforms
and the pros and cons of
each.
4. Vinyl Records (2 Turntables & A
Mixer)
Back in the day this was the only option available with the rare
exception of mixing between tape decks. This is also my
preferred option. Here's why: DJing on vinyl is an art. It takes
skill and perseverance and I believe that if you learn on vinyl
records you'll be a better DJ in the end. No one says you have to
stay to strictly vinyl (although that definitely is an option) but
learning the art form on the original platform does definitely have
its' merits. Besides the skill involved, there's also the searching
out of music, which allows you ample time to explore genres,
hone your "digging" skills, develop a relationship with your
music, and talk to other like-minded music lovers. Not to
mention that nothing says "DJ" like showing up with crates full of
records. Obviously I'm biased here. The cons of using all vinyl
would be carrying those crates full of records, the time it takes to
find your music (no instant downloads), cost of the music, and
the lack of helpful tools available readily on digital DJ systems.
5. Digital DJing & DJ Interfaces
aka Serato, Ableton & Traktor
This platform has been gaining significant popularity ever since
the release of Stanton's Final Scratch around 2004. Since then
Rane's Serato Scratch Live, Ableton Live, and Native
Instrument's Traktor are typically the most popular with
numerous DJing programs available. Digital DJ Interfaces allow
the DJ to control MP3s on their computer.The diffference
between Serato or Traktor and Ableton is that Ableton allows
you to control the music via midi controllers where Serato and
Traktor use traditional DJ platforms- either turntables or cd
players and a mixer. They all offer a type of "internal mode"
where you are essentially DJing with only your computer.
There are also many products that don't use any interface at
all. The pros of using these programs are ease of use (mixing
tools, crate layouts, cue points etc), added options and effects
such as loops and recording, and ease of obtaining music. The
cons are instability of systems.
6. All In One DJ Systems
These systems are all-in-one box sets that usually include all
you need to start DJing. They can range from a turntable
set up to an all-in-one midi controller with software, to a
CD player/mixer combo. They can range in price from $199
up to $1000+. Since these all-in-one sets vary
considerably, it's hard to make sweeping pro/con
arguments, but some things to consider follow. If the
system is an attached turntable/mixer/turntable or CD
player/mixer/CD player combo remember that if one part of
the system goes out you won't be able to just change out
the broken part and continue using the working parts. On
the positive side, having everything in one package is
convenient. On the negative side, you're limited in terms of
customizing the individual pieces you want.
7. Choose your specific equipment
Now that you know what you have to spend and what
platform you'll be using you have simply to choose what
brand and model of equipment you'll be buying. OK maybe
not so simple. My best advice here is to do the research.
Ask friends, colleagues, go online and look at reviews. Call
your local DJ store and ask them what they think. Get
overall opinions and feelings on brands as well as models.
Research what is in your price range, and make an
educated decision based on a combination of features,
brand confidence, and product reviews. Remember when it
comes down to it, there is a lot of personal preference
going on in the DJ market. There are many great products
to choose from and you can find one that'll fit your needs.
8. Don't forget the extras
Now that you have your turntables and mixer, you can start
mixing right? Wrong. Here's a short list of things you may
need that didn't come with the main components of your
set up:
-Headphones
-Needles
-Interconnect Cables
-Records/CDs/MP3s
And speakers! After all you'll need something to hear yourself
on.
9. Conclusion
There are many options
available when
choosing your first DJ
set-up. First narrow
your search via your
budget, choose what
platform you want to
play on, consult others
on what models to get,
and don't forget the
extras.
