Today's post is about putting all your equipment together and running it up.
What we need to start
You need the following items on your gear list to start:
- Turntables
Turntable is used to take the record from vinyl disc and convert it to digital signal. Additionally, DJ turntable provides controls over record speed, playing location (as you can manipulate the record by hand), etc.
If you are going to play records from vinyls, then you need 2 turntables to start with. Stick to Technicis, take a look at SL1200 first of all. Invest as much as you can in this part of equipment. - CD players
CD player is used to play records from optical compact discs - to read encoded signal from CD surface and to transform it to digital signal in your speakers. Additionally, DJ CD player has such specific controls over the record, as pitch (speed) control, looping controls, real-time cue, etc.
If you are going to play compact discs, then you need 2 CD players. Take a look at Pioneer models, move to Numark if you cannot afford Pioneer. Do not waste your time with other CD players. Invest as much as you can in this part of equipment. - Mixer
This item is not so critical. You may buy some entry level mixer for the start. What you need is mixer with 2 stereo channels, with crossfader and EQ controls, to manipulate treble, mid range and bass frequencies separately. - Headphones
You need good ones, as they are going to be on your head almost all the time. The main factors for choosing headphones are there: frequency range, weight, and comfort features (if it is convenient to hold headphones with one hand, if it is convenient to change ears quickly, etc.) - Speakers
There are several options here. You may own amplifier and some external speakers, or you may have monitors - special speakers with built-in amplifier, or you may use home hi-fi system to practice with. Use any option you afford/better for you, it is not so critical for beginning. Move to using monitors later.
My DJ equipment
I have got the following gear for my own practice:
- 2 CD players: Pioneer CDJ-2000
Good starting players, I think. As Pioneer players are actually de facto standard players for most clubs/bars, it is quite logical to choose one for practice. Additionally, the quality of Pioneer players (if take into account opinions of users of different players) seems to be really good.
This model has everything needed for beginner: pitch (+- 6%/10%/16%), looping (real-time loop, loop cutter, reloop), some effects, mp3support, jog wheel, BPM counter, CD-Text support... - Mixer: Numark 1050x
It is quite simple mixer, but it has everything I need for the start: 2 stereo channels, crossfader, EQ controls and gain controls for each channel as well for the microphone. Additionally, it supports several fading modes: simple fading (when record 1 goes into record 2 gently while you are moving crossfader), cut (when record 2 comes into play with record 1 very sharply), reverse (when the sides of crossfader are reversed). One great feature this mixer has is mixing with headphones - it means you may deal with mixing without taking off headphones, or do not buy any monitors. This feature lets you mix both records in your headphone before presenting the result to your audience. - Headphones: Technics RP-DH1200
Really good ones
! A little bit too heavy, I would say, but they keep really stuck to the head and ears, and sound quality is amazing. They isolate your ears from outside sounds at solid level, and you hear what you want to hear - music you are playing. If speaking about ergonomics - easy to hold in a hand, and easy to change ears. As these headphones are quite compact when collapsed, it means they will take less space on your overcrowded table/bag, and that's less chance to throw them down.
Highly recommended item. - Speakers: CJC 5.1 Hi-fi system
Simple, yet convenient solution for bedroom DJ practice.
Do the following
- Turn the power down for all the components
- Connect speakers to mixer
- Connect CD players and/or turntables to mixer
- Connect headphone to mixer
- Put all the volume faders on mixer and speakders to zero-level
- Turn on the mixer
- Turn on CD players/turntable
- Turn on speakers
- Put your favorite record into deck 1/turntable 1 and press Play
- Adjust volume for speakers and mixer and headphone genlty
- Play around with all the controls on mixer
- Play around with all the controls on CD player/turntable
- After satisfying yourself first time with your new gear, turn it off: speakers first, then CD players/turntables, then mixer
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, StrongerQuote of the day:
"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" is a song by French duo Daft Punk. The single was first released on October 13, 2001. As part of the album Discovery, the song appears in the film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. A live version of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" was released as a single from the album Alive 2007 on October 15, 2007.
"Lead, don't follow. Believe in what you feel. Do what you love, not what you think people might want. Don't take no for an answer and be prepared to work your ass off, cause it won't fall into your lap."
Adam Freeland, breaksworld.com
