So, you’re wondering what gear you need to become a DJ? There are many different pieces of equipment that you will need to have to start this profession, which can be daunting for any beginner. I’m going to explore the various types of gear and instruments that a DJ should have, as well as a list of links for different options in each category.
Choosing Quality Gear
The first step in choosing equipment is deciding whether or not you want to invest in quality. Lots of beginners tend to go for cheaper instruments, but this can be a problem as they’re more likely to break and the sound quality is usually not as great either. Investing in higher-quality gear will save you money and headache down the line. You can seek guidance from the professionals at homedjstudio.com for choosing the right DJ equipment for your needs. Of course, if you’re looking to engage in a career as a DJ, you’ll need high-quality equipment. On the other hand, if that’s something you’d do in your free time, you can opt for lower quality equipment.
A Turntable
The first and most important piece of equipment you need is a turntable. If you want to be a DJ, you can’t just use any old record player; it has to be able to spin records at the right RPMs (revolutions per minute), which are usually listed on the back of your vinyl. A new turntable will cost you around $100, though if you’re willing to upgrade, some can get up into the low thousands. Turntables are important because they not only play your music but allow you to manipulate it with your hands to make certain sounds stand out more or create a different sound altogether. A DJ will most likely have two turntables, which are placed on opposite ends of the stage. The first is for playing his/her songs, while the other one is used to adjust pitch and speed, as well as record small samples.
Speakers
Next up are the speakers. You’ll need two of them for your main stage, but you might want more if you plan on having backup equipment or for special effects. Of course, you can’t just use any old speakers; they have to be able to produce the right sound. Speakers vary greatly in price depending on their quality and function. To find the right speakers for you, there are a couple of things you’ll need to consider: size and wattage. Speaker sizes can range from as small as single-person headphones up to stadium-sized loudspeakers, so you must purchase something compatible with your intended venue. As far as wattage goes, you’ll want at least 1200 watts. The more wattage speakers like this have, the bigger the audience they can reach. A set of four or five speakers shouldn’t cost you more than $500 initially (though if you upgrade later on, it can easily get up to $1000).
Headphones
A DJ will also usually wear headphones. Why? Well, the music you’re spinning has to be played through your headphones because it can’t be heard by others; otherwise, everyone would know what song you’re playing! This is called a headphone mix and allows for more freedom of expression. It also prevents sound leakage (meaning: people outside of your headphones won’t hear what’s being played). You also need headphones to cue your next song or to check for any mistakes you might have made in the mix. There are many types of headphones available, including noise-canceling ones if you want to filter out background noise. Prices range from around $50 for cheap brands up to several hundred dollars for higher quality headphones.
Other Essential Gear
There are many other things that you might want to include in your equipment collection, such as a CDJ (Controller) for playing CDs and USB flash drives, a keyboard, and a bass synthesizer for adding certain sounds and effects to your music, and a MIDI controller. The price range of some of these accessories can vary greatly depending on the quality and complexity of the product. This also includes your software, which can be purchased for as low as $50 (for some DJ controllers) and up to several hundred dollars.
Turntables, speakers, and headphones are among the most important pieces of DJ equipment that you’ll need to help you start your career as a DJ. Other accessories like MIDI controllers, CDJs (controllers), and bass synthesizers can be useful if you want to expand your talents, but they aren’t necessary for getting started.
