Beginning DJ Tips

If you're just getting started at DJing, you probably have lots of questions. Fortunately, you found the right place to get answers!

What do I need to get started?

For a basic turntable setup, you'll need two dj turntables, a dj mixer and dj headphones. This will get you what you need to practice. Once you're ready to perform, you'll need to add an amp/speaker system.

There are three connections you'll make for each turntable: power, RCA jacks (the turntable output) and ground. Plug everything into a common power strip to keep things simple. The RCA left and right from each turntable plug into inputs on your DJ mixer. The mixers will have at least two channels - you'll connect each turntable to its own channel, and then you can use the cross-fader to fade between the two turntables. There's one more connection to make, the grounds. There should be a ground wire that comes off your turntables and connects to your mixer. Turntables are grounded to avoid low-pitched hum.

Once you've got the turntables wired up, just plug in headphones and you're ready to start practicing.

What sort of music should I use?

This is one of the most common questions DJs get. Unfortunately, there's no rule book that tells you what to play. In fact, knowing what to play and how to mix it is one of the most important skills a DJ has to learn. In fact, what you play and how you mix it helps define you as a DJ.

While there's no pat answer, here are some tips:

• Listen to as music as you can;
• Check out other DJ mixes, and listen to understand what they've selected, how they order it, and how they mix it together;
• See what other DJs are doing live; and most importantly...
• Play some cr*p gigs so you get a feel for what works in different situations. Try out different approaches.

It's important to understand that a good DJ doesn't impose their tastes on an audience. Instead they cater to the audience's expectations in their own personal way.

Tiesto's the hottest DJ in the world. Can't I just play what he plays?

There are lot of different factors that have contributed to DJ Tiesto, or any other DJ, reaching the top. The tracks they choose is just one.

It's good to know the top DJs and their mixes, because you can learn from them. However, it's important to remember that they are using their style to cater to their particular audience. The music that Tiesto plays to a billion listeners at the Olympics is going to be different than what will work for you at a small club.

Understand that leading DJs can shape trends, but there's no substitute for developing your own taste and style.

How do you learn how to scratch?

This is tough to answer. How do you play the guitar? Or the bass, or the trumpet?

Good turtablists tend to have natural rhythmic ability, combined with skillz honed from years of practice. The best place to start is to learn what you like, and then try to imitate it. Find out who the DJs that you like, and listen to as much of their stuff as you can. See if you can mimic their style on the turntables.

Once you try this, you'll find that good scratch DJs are doing some heavy sh*t. You'll have to work at it, and maybe even develop some exercise to work on. Find an effect that you want, and then play it over and over, for days if necessary, until you get it down solid. If you've got a drum machine, it helps to practice against a tight beat. You may need to start at a slower tempo, and then gradually speed the BPM up on the drum machine until you can scratch up to speed.

Once you get the fundamentals down and can imitate DJs that you like, you'll start developing your own unique approach.

So what gear do I buy?

This depends on your style, but a good way to get started is with a complete DJ system. These come with everything you need to get started, and are inexpensive ways to get your feet wet. Check out specs and prices in our guide to Complete DJ Systems.

What else do I need to know before I buy?

Prices tend to be all over the place, but the idea that you get what you pay for definitely applies to DJ equipment. Better gear will be made with stronger materials, sound better, have more features, and should last longer.

So what you want to do is get the lowest prices on the best gear you can afford. A good place to start is in our DJ Equipment Guide, or at zZounds. Online prices are generally lower than local prices, even with shipping. However, check your local music instruments stores to see if they've got anybody that's savvy to DJ equipment.

Belt-drives or direct-drive?

In general, avoid belt-drives. Direct drives can be had fairly inexpensively, and do a better job for DJing.

What's the best turntable to get?

This comes down to preference, but it's hard to go wrong with Vestax turntables. If you get a really good turntable, you won't find yourself wanting to upgrade down the road..

Technics are another good brand. They are probably the most commonly used turntables, mainly because they are consistent and reliable. The Technics 1200 series are standards.

The Vestax PDX-2000 series are considered by many to be even better than the Technics. The PDX turntables were designed from scratch to be DJ turntables.

What sort of mixer should I get?

Check out the DJ Mixer page.

What's the difference between the Phono, Line, & Aux connectors on a dj mixer?

Each of these options is for hooking up different types of dj equipment. Phono should be pretty obvious - it's for hooking up your turntables. Phone signals are relatively weak, so they need a lot of amplification. Also, the signals from turntables have to be equalized in order to sound correct, and Phono inputs do this automatically.

Line inputs and Aux connectors are two names for the same thing. They are for hooking up equipment like CD players or MiniDiscs that use line level signals.

As long as you put your turntables through Phono inputs, and other equipment through Line or Aux inputs, you should be fine.

How often should you replace your stylus?

This depends on how much you use the turntable, and how you're using it. Scratchers can trash stylus pretty quickly. Listen for the high-end frequencies - they will start to get blurred or dull. Your stylus may become more prone to clicks and pops, also.

Keep a spare stylus, and if in doubt, swap it to see if you notice a improvement in sound quality.