Beginner DJ Equipment: Tips and Tricks

So you’re a Beginner DJ and you’ve been itching to learn how to DJ right?

But there’s one major question that’s been going through your mind: “What equipment do I need to begin DJing?”

For beginner DJ’s that want to use vinyl, these are your best options:

  • 2 x Technics (1200 or 1210) Turntables
  • 1 x Mixer
  • 1 Good pair of headphones
  • 1 Pair of speakers to listen to your mix

Other than these essentials, you’ll of course need a stack of vinyl to practice on.

Vinyl turntables, unlike CD and Midi turntables, allows beginner DJ’s to use the classic format which has been in the DJ’s bloodline for decades.

Vinyl is a way of life.

To many, it’s the only format.

Vinyl turntables are quite large and clunky compared to the modern controllers and CD turntables that are readily available but for those beginner DJ’s that want to have the ultimate hands on experience, vinyl turntables are the way to go.

Vinyl turntables come in two types:

  • Belt Driven
  • Direct Drive

Beginner DJ’s should always opt for direct drive turntables because they offer the greatest amount of torque. Torque is especially important when you have to start and stop your records, it’s what makes the platter catch up to speed after rocking the vinyl back and forth.

Now that you’re set on getting a pair of direct drive vinyl turntables, you’ll need a few other items:

These two are the basic items that compliment the vinyl turntable well.

Your cartridges are important so you get the best sound for your mix while the slipmats allow you to rock your tracks back and forth without sticking to the platter.

You need something to hook up all of your beginner DJ equipment to: a mixer!

The mixer allows you to, well…mix the tracks. Your vinyl turntables will hook into the mixer which also allows you to control the overall sound.

Invest in a good mixer in the beginning so you don’t end up buying a new one just because it begins to bleed the sound or breaks.

Okay, so now let’s move onto the headphones.

Your headphones should include these things:

  • Comfortability
  • Flexibility
  • Great sound quality
  • Thick cables

The first one is a no brainer, you should have a pair of DJ headphones which are very comfortable for long hours of play.

The other things a beginner DJ should be looking for in a pair of headphones is that they flex around your head. Usually you’ll be listening to your tracks in one ear and the mix in the other.

Finally, the two other aspects are the sound quality and a thick cable.

The sound quality really matters for your DJ headphones, they should be able to replicate the same amount of sound your tracks are playing, this will allow you to listen to all of the mix.

The headphone cables should be thick because you may have an accident some time by stepping on the cable or pulling too far back. Flimsy cables, like those found on regular headphones, will snap – uh oh!

Okay, we’re on a roll here, we need one more essential piece of beginner DJ equipment: the speakers.

Durr, of course you need sound else you wouldn’t be playing anything.

Hook up your mixer to your speakers and you are good to go.

As a beginner DJ, it’s okay just to use inexpensive speakers because you aren’t in a club environment but you may want to invest in a good pair later down the road.

You have all of your beginner DJ equipment setup, mixer is on and ready to go, headphones wrapped around your head and the speakers are humming but before you can begin, you need some vinyl eh!

Jump online, swing by a local record shop, check out eBay/Craigslist, talk to retiring DJ’s or bum some from your friends, begin building that collection now.

It’s a heavy investment, vinyl, but it’s all worth it in the end.

From this point out you have to practice, practice, practice.

Start with the fundamentals like beatmatching and then work your way up to mixing.

As you soon get your groove, you’ll be DJing in no time.

Now, go out there and bring the music!

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