DJ Equipment

Getting Started

One of the first things you must do before start DJing is to decide whether you want to mix vinyl records or compact discs. I suggest you focus at first on one format or the other. Later on, as your skill level develops, you can incorporate both records and CDs simultaneously into your mix.

Records: (Analog) or CDs: (Digital)

Vinyl records produce analog sound. Analog data is a continuous stream of sound. A drawback to this choice is that analog information is affected by tape hiss and other noises. Each time analog sound is reproduced; a little of the sound quality is lost.

Compact discs produce digital sound, but there are limits to what you can do with a CD player. Digital data consists of steps instead of continuous signals. Digital information is better quality sound than analog sound, but there are still some disadvantages. Since the stream of audio is separated into steps, sometimes milliseconds of information can be lost. Tape hiss, however, is not a problem with digital sound.

When deciding whether records or CDs are the best format for you, ask yourself these questions:

What type of music should I spin?

There are many different types of music to choose from. Some styles of music are more easily found on CD, while other styles are only found on vinyl. For the dance DJ, most of the top hits are found on CD. On the other hand, the rave DJ would be more apt to find what he or she is looking for on vinyl. Music seems to be produced on vinyl before it is produced onto a CD. Sometimes, music does not get released onto a CD format.

Do I want to learn how to scratch?

Scratching is a technique that will be explained later in "Mixing Tricks". If you want the true scratch sound, records are the best choice. Nowadays, some CD players have the ability to scratch, but the control and sound of the CD scratch is inferior to the sound produced by a vinyl record.

What equipment do I have already available?

If you own a turntable, you already have one of the main pieces of equipment needed to start mixing. You may also own a CD player, but if you plan to mix CDs, you will need a CD player with a pitch adjustment.

Advantages of mixing records

You can be more creative by adding special effects that only vinyl can offer you.
You are able to scratch and do many other tricks.
Records are faster to cue up. Cueing is when you bring a song up to the beat where you want to mix it in.
Records are less expensive than CDs.
A lot of great music is found on vinyl and is not available on CD.

Advantages of mixing CDs

CDs produce digital sound, which is better sound quality than vinyl.
CDs are more accurate, since they are digital.
CD players display the time of the song, which helps while you mix.
CDs are easier to carry and easier to store.
Some DJs say it is easier to mix CDs than records.