Buy deejay kit
Introduction
Everybody knows that to deejay you need two decks and a mixer but how do you know that you're getting the best setup that your hard earned money can buy?Ìý
In this section we break it all down to help you get going, or get upgraded. Including:Ìý
Decks
Belt vs Direct drive
Cartridges
Mixer
Headphones
Amps & Speakers
Recording
Extra
Costs
"Right now it's the bedroom deejays who are at the forefront."
Jon E Cash
Black Ops
Decks
There are nuff turntables on the market right now and how much wong you spend is your decision, but we've highlighted some main pointers to look out for.
Belt drives are cheaper but direct drives are better for the professional deejay. Here's why...
Belt drive turntables rely on tension in the belt to keep the platter spinning at a constant speed.
After a while, the belt will lose its tension and that vital 'steadiness' will be lost.
A DJ holding the record won't actually stop the belt from moving and it's this wear on the band that can stretch it.
When mixing, being able to 'drop' records on the beat is vital.
This is where you will really notice the difference between the two systems and where direct drives really show their class.
Belt drives can often take a short while to achieve correct speed from a standing start where as direct drives will pick up almost straight away.
When you hold onto a record, a direct drive will often employ a clutch system just like that in a car to stop the motor in your turntable from burning out.
Belt drives just let the belt keep spinning and this is what eventually leads to the belt losing its elasticity.
Although direct drive decks are definitely the numero uno, some high end belt drive decks can give excellent results so if you're a beginner or on a tight budget, definitely check them out.
On the plus side because it takes more effort to mix with belt drives, it can mean that when you do finally upgrade to direct drives you may find things a lot easier.
Cartridges
Everyone talks about decks, mixers and headphones but in the same way that a car is only as good as it's tyres, decks are only as good as their cartridges.
They transmit the sound from the vinyl to the amp and have to put up with a lot of abuse so needles need to not only be sensitive but also tough and very hardwearing.
Some popular makes of cartridge are Ortofon and Stanton.
Spend as much as you can on your cartridges - you won't regret it.
"Find your sound, push your sound and never give up!"
DJ Cameo
The Mixer
When it comes to choosing a mixer don't be dazzled by the jargon.
Words like EQ, cross faders, FX, aux send and return will probably make your brain hurt (at first), but for now, just make sure that you concentrate on the basics to get the most out of your purchase.
To get started your mixer needs to have a minimum of two channels so you can change the volumes of the music playing on either turntable.
A cross fader to cut quickly between the two channels is vital and we also recommend you go for a mixer that has an EQ with 3 bands per channel - hi, mid and low.
Hi hats, cymbals and percussion will all be represented in the high frequency of the EQ so decreasing the amount of hi EQ will basically mean you hear these elements less.
Mid range frequencies are where the most vocals sit and low frequencies will hold the basslines and drum sounds.
Headphones
The choice of headphones is huge but what you need is a pair of closed ear headphones with a 'can' that covers your whole ear.
Volume levels in clubs go way beyond what you are used to at home so closed ear phones are a must.
Sennheiser HD125's seem to be the deejay's choice with Beyer Dynamic DT100's coming a close second.
Both these makes have a good level of loudness that works well both at home, in the studio and in the clubs.
You can't go wrong by investing between £80 and £150 in a decent pair of headphones.
Most DJ stores will let you try gear out, so check headphones for comfort level, loudness and clarity.
"Play out as much as possible, whenever, wherever, even for no dough!"
DJ Cameo
Amps & Speakers
Most bedroom deejays will make do with a hi-fi system but others will insist on using a proper powered amp and a set of monitor speakers.
To help you make your decision we'll highlight some of the differences for you.
Hi-fi systems are made to make the best of what you put through them, they don't go particularly loud (which might be a bonus for your neighbours), and they tend to squash your mixes together, so they don't sound as tight as they should.
Monitor speakers coming off the back of a powered amplifier are better if you can spare the wong.
You can pick up a decent package for under £200 and they are better for mixing because they separate the frequencies more than hi-fi speakers can, which will help you keep your mixes sounding sweet.
"I started off as a mixtape DJ just doing mixtapes for my friends, then I put on my own night in my own town."
DJ Skully
UK DMC Champion
Recording
That rush you get from doing your best mix can soon disappear when you realise you didn't record it or worse still, you did but it sounds like you were mixing underwater - normal C90 tape anyone!
A decent CD recorder is crucial if you want to create mixes that you can record and play to promoters, DJ agencies and club owners.
A double CD recorder will allow you to make copies of mix CDs and there are various models on the market at the moment.Ìý
There are other ways to record your mixes - hard disk and DAT perhaps, but CDs are very common, relatively cheap and good quality so it makes sense to use them.
"I would advise them to get a mix CD out and contact as many promoters as they can and hand them a copy, also try and get as much radio experience as possible."
DJ G Child
Extras
Now you've got the basic kit it's time to spoil yourself!
New tools and gadgets specifically aimed at deejays are becoming more and more popular with the dons of the steel and can take what you do behind the decks to a whole new level.
Final Scratch
Vinyl junkies will spin in their graves over this one but by using a laptop, a box that you plug into your spare USB port and two dummy pieces of vinyl, Final Scratch allows you to play and manipulate MP3s direct from your laptop in the same way you would with a record.
CD Decks
The groundbreaking CDJ-1000 has become one of the biggest and most used CD players for theÌýdeejay market because of its fantastic jog wheel functions that allow you to manipulate CDs in the same way you would vinyl.
These babies make the whole process of transferring your studio recordings to a club or radio environment incredibly cheap.
There are also some great looping functions that you can store on a memory card and transport around with you to other clubs' CDJs, so you don't have to keep re-looping stuff over and over again.
Kaoss Pads 1 and 2
These allow deejays to control dynamic effects in real time.
These include delay, filters, synced BPM effects, short sampling capabilities, phasers, flangers and transformer scratch.
Both of the Kaoss Pads are really easy to operate and also have wicked lights on their display which look heavy.
More importantly, the connections will allow you to hook up the Kaoss Pad to your decks and mixer with no stress and they also have midi capabilities so they're not out of place in a studio either.
Cycloops
The ability to sample sections of tracks while you're mixing, or the ability to bring a sampler loaded with samples to drop over the top of tracks is something you really should check out.
Cycloops allows you to store up to 16 samples in BPM banks and then pitch them up to the correct tempo for your mix.
There's no need to worry about start and end points of the sample as cycloops will do it all for you!
"The only other piece of equipment I use is an Akai MPC 3000 but that's just strictly for making beats and studio stuff."
DJ Dubplate Mex
Setups and Money
To give you an idea of what you could get for your dosh, here are a few scenarios for you - but remember that shopping around for this kind of stuff can save you dough and can help you to increase your knowledge:
£200:
If you're not entirely certain you want to be a DJ, 200 smackers will get you a set of belt drive decks and a simple two channel mixer and that should give you a taste.
There's even some all in one 'packages' available but as a general rule it's always better to buy separates.
Ìý£400:
This should get you a decent set of direct drive decks (not Tech's though), a mixer and a pair of quality 'phones.
The mixer won't be top quality but it will have the standard features that you need to get started.
£800:
It's Technics time!
You'll probably have enough change left over for a basic mixer and headphones - eventually you'll want a better mixer but if you're getting started, it's mixing the tunes that you need to perfect and a basic mixer won't hold you back.Ìý
£1500:
For this price you can buy one of the ultimate DJ set ups - you could get a decent mid price 4 channel mixer, pro CD recorder, headphones and Technics (or Vestax if you like) - plus you'll have "new car syndrome" which is when you suddenly have loads of new mates, due to your recent purchase.
"Work hard, keep very focused, you've gotta be very patient, you've gotta get out there and meet people, put on your own nights if you have to."
DJ Skully
UK DMC Champion
More... from How to...
Make a killer mix tape
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/tapep01.shtml
Break into the club scene
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/clubp01.shtml
Get taken on by a DJ agency
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/djagencyp01.shtml
More... from the web
1Xtra: DJ Skully's Freestyle Video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/hiphop/skully.shtml
OneMusic: VJ
How to... VJ
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/djing/vjp01.shtml
91Èȱ¬i: Just The Job
DJing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/justthejob/followyourdream/hits/k.shtml
More... from elsewhere
How To DJ (Properly) by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton
Definitive book on DJing
Published by Bantam Press
(c) 91Èȱ¬ 1Xtra 1XMusic 2006