DJ Hail on Ebay
After nearly 10 years of DJing and having heard just about every question there is about being one, I decided I would put together a brief beginner's guide to creating a setup for your new hobby. It can be expensive at first -- but if made wisely, these investments can last a long time.
First of all, you have to decide what kind of audio formats you want to use. If you already have a huge collection of vinyl records, it probably makes sense to go with a turntable setup. But if you have hundreds of CDs laying around, then having DJ-quality CD players would be the way to go. The whole "digital vs. analog" argument has been going on ever since CDs became the preferred industry standard in the late '80s, and it gets more complicated as the technology pushes these two formats beyond existing limits---Turntables can now be plugged into your computer and be used to play back digital files (Rane's "Serato", or "Final Scratch" by Stanton), or units like the Tascam TTM-1 can be fitted to a turntable and control a CD player.
To throw in my $0.02, vinyl is easier to control because it's more "tactile" that a CD, since your hands are literally 'connected' to the music. Both will degrade in similar manners; if treated properly, they could potentially last a lifetime. But most people treat their media like paperweights, so don't expect that rare CD or record to last more than 20 years. This is another reason why the digital-DJ phenomenon is quickly growing in popularity: You could bring your entire vinyl or CD collection with you on your laptop, rather than lugging hundreds of pounds worth of records to your show. Many people are now arguing that digital media sounds better to the human ear, but even this point is still debatable -- research shows that 7 out of 10 people can't tell the difference between a sound file recorded at 128 kilobytes-per-second versus one at 196 or greater, so it's a bit of a toss-up as far as overall sonic quality. I like to argue (bear with me) that since the mechanics of the human ear are essentially an analog-based system that closely resembles the same analog system of a needle and cartridge (remember the 'hammer, stirrup, and drum?') it sounds more "correct." Of course, digital technology is rapidly getting better, and I myself will likely make the leap to using a laptop to take to club, so be sure to make your decision wisely..... You just have to weigh the advantages (mobility) versus the disadvantages (reliability & cost).
Speaking of cost: To do this right, you're going to need the right gear. And this means spending money... a fair amount of it. As a beginner this may seem out of reach, but it really isn't. Beginners don't necessarily need the top-notch gear to do the job, and it certainly helps the pocketbook. The first thing you should do is find a buddy of yours that already has a DJ setup, and bug him/her incessantly until you convince them to let you try it out. Only after you put in a few hours of practice will you REALLY know whether or not you want to be a DJ --- I really can't stress this enough. You don't want to sell new equipment only months after buying it.
Once you've determined that this is definitely something you want to explore, start looking through classifieds (online and offline) for DJ gear (turntables, CD players, speakers, headphones, needles, etc.). The internet has drastically changed the way that second-hand equipment gets passed around: Ebay and Craigslist are two of the more complete national resources, and there are many others on a more local level.
Before you've narrowed down your search, you need to consider the initial costs. Do you want to spend a little bit at a time, or save up and then buy a complete setup? My recommendation would be the latter -- this is because it's very difficult to practice your skills as a DJ when you can't mix between two sound sources. I started out with just one turntable and a mixer, and while I was able to practice some scratches, I was still not able to practice my beat-matching, which is something you'll want to master right away.
So, this is what your setup should consist of at a minimum: Two turntables and/or CD players, both having some degree of control over the pitch (speed of the recording), a 2+ channel mixer (to mix the audio), an amplifier and a pair of speakers, headphones, and needles if you are using turntables. I'm going to refrain from making specific recommendations about which equipment is best, and since every DJ has a different style it's difficult to say which is better over the other. The real issue you should be paying attention to at first is cost . . . buying the "best" equipment for your style is something that will happen later on, once you've established yourself.
Look for other DJ guides from yours truly!!
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