DJ Guide

Introduction

Dj-ing is an art that has been evolving rapidly over the last 30 years. It all started in the 70's, when the concept of "beatmatching", the "rhythmic matching" of 2 pieces, that is, during the process of their alternation, first appeared. The setup of djs then consisted of 2 "decks" and a mixer, similar and in some cases identical to the setup that prevails even today. This guide was created in order to make it easier for the dj who is in his first steps, to choose wisely the equipment that suits him.

Basic Equipment

Turntables: Known to all of us as "turntables", are the first device that enabled djs to be able to mix 2 tracks successfully. The most famous turntable in the history of djing is the legendary Technics SL 1200 or just MK 2 which even today, is the "weapon" of many djs around the world, as it has a solid construction and amazing sound performance. The selection and purchase of turntables is something that needs attention, as their construction and ease of handling will determine the slow or rapid evolution of dj skills.

Cd Players: The dj-ing cd players came to the fore with the rise of Compact Discs players and the well-known Cd. In order to facilitate us, they provide the ability to "mark" a track where we want to start while allowing us to increase or decrease the tempo of the track in order to achieve a successful mix. With the development of technology and the appearance of mp3, modern Dj cd players have the ability to play Mp3 / cd, play tracks from USB sticks and can be used as controllers for dj programs as we will see below.

Mixers: The mixer is perhaps the most important element in a dj's chain. He determines what comes out on the "air", in other words, what the DJ audience listens to. Also, he is the one who gives the DJ the opportunity to listen to the next track he chooses in his headphones, without it coming out "out". Our cd players, our turntables or even our controller are connected to it. The reason it is so important is this: it is the basic pre-enhancement of our resources. This means that no matter how good the quality of our audio system, our Mp3 files, our cd players, our controller, if they are connected to a poor quality mixer, then it will amplify our signal with low quality and this will be transferred in the ears of the listeners, distorting the overall chain of equipment.

Headphones: is the basic means of monitoring, ie through them the dj listens to the next track he is going to select-mix. A good pair of DJ headphones should be well isolated from outside noise and comfortable to fit in, as the DJ may wear it for long periods of time. Also the headphones should have a relatively low resistance (32-80 ohm) so that they can reach the desired volume in a club environment, without altering their sound, depending on their build quality which leads us to the following question… .Is it worth giving a respectable amount to buy headphones? - Clearly. Even from our first steps in the field of Dj-ing we have to choose our headphones carefully. A headset that clearly plays the music, ensures proper monitoring which means that the mixing process becomes easier from our first steps. And the most important? We protect our hearing. When we listen clearly, with a remarkable isolation, we do not need to put the volume at the "end" and so we do not strain our ears. * For the right choice of headphones you can also refer to our purchase guide for headphones

Basic Setup

2 Turntables / 1 Mixer It consists of 2 turntables of our choice and at least one two-channel mixer. The turntables are connected to the respective channels of the mixer via an RCA cable and the output of the mixer ends directly in our audio system. The output of the mixer can also be rca, but in more "professional" connections mixers with xlr outputs are used as they provide better sound results.

2 or more cd players / 1 Mixer It is the most common setup one can come across. It consists of 2 cd players which are connected with an rca cable to our mixer. Similarly, the output of our mixer ends up in the audio system. And in this case in expensive installations mixers with xlr outputs are used to get the best possible sound result. All the latest technology cd players can play several audio formats (wav, mp3, aiff, flac etc) while they can be connected with Usb sticks.

Dj controller Setup

It consists of a midi controller, a software (Traktor, Serato, Virtual dj etc) installed on a computer and a laptop. The controller, depending on its capabilities, can be used simply for triggering (playing) the tracks or even as a mixer, as many controllers now have a built-in sound card that can be connected directly to our audio system, bypassing an external mixer. A controller that includes a sound card, simultaneously pre-amplifies the signal and converts a digital signal (Mp3s, wav) to analog. It should be noted that the on-board sound cards of laptops are not suitable for professional use. For this reason, the purchase of a simple midi controller (without a built-in card) should be accompanied by the purchase of a suitable sound card.

Hybrid Setups

By this term we mean any setup in which we use cd players or turntables as controllers. We basically use cd or vinyl with timecode to play Mp3 files on our computer using an external sound card. To achieve this, we connect the outputs of our turntables or cd players to the input of the sound card, then the vinyl or cd communicates via timecode with the sound card which in turn "translates" our movements and transfers them to the digital file (MP3, WAV) that we have uploaded to our computer. So, for example, when we increase the bpm on our turntable or respectively on the cd player, then they change in the software as well. 2 cd players, 1 external sound card, laptop 2 turntables, 1 external sound card, laptop

DAW Dj-ing

By DAW we mean all digital audio workstations, such as Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton Live. The latter is essentially the one who laid the foundations for the evolution of all DAW’s in the dj-ing part. Using Ableton for dj-ing requires a good knowledge of the program and the basic functions of its "session view", external sound card and midi controller with which the dj handles essentially the entire program, mixes it and adds various effects. . In fact, for a DJ to use Ableton in its first steps, it seems quite difficult, but with this setup, the possibilities of the dj stop where his imagination stops.

Epilogue

Regardless of the style of music that a DJ chooses, what he needs to understand from his first steps is that the practice and in-depth knowledge of the equipment he uses are his basic tools for his evolution. A DJ who practices and knows his equipment well is much more likely to "shake" his audience than someone who just alternates the tracks one after the other. Finally, a DJ should feel "safe" and comfortable with the choice of his setup, so that he can focus clearly on the creative and artistic part of the DJ-ing as well as on the entertainment of his audience.