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Like anyone starting out in the music industry, the beginner DJ needs to invest in some equipment before anything much can be achieved. Before getting started with DJing it’s important to decide how much to spend and exactly what the equipment will be used for, then base other decisions on that. It’s not likely to be a cheap process, so it’s a good idea to learn a lot about what’s available, and take time to make choices.

Turntable

This is the part of the set of the equipment that even the most inexperienced DJ knows is important. This is going to form the core of your set and should be the best you can afford – an important tip is to go for a direct-drive turntable rather than a belt model. You’ll also need to invest in slipmats, which go on the turntable. Other options include playing back music in different formats – DJs who prefer using recorded tracks, for instance, should find out about other options.

Mixer

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The Mixer is what switches the music between the two turntables. It comes equipped with a cross fader to allow that to happen easily, and a beginner DJ needs to work on making sure that the transition is a smooth one – it’s one of the first things that’ll show the crowd whether or not they’re listening to someone who knows what she or he is doing.

Headphones

These are more important than they might seem, and will need to do a better job than the kind that come along with portable music players – they don’t just have to play music clearly, but will also have to block out outside noise so that it doesn’t interfere with the music heard by the DJ – one recording is listened to through the headphones while the other recording is being played. This means that a beginner DJ needs to invest in closed-type earphones.

Sound system

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Whether or not the DJ equipment set needs to include sound equipment depends on whether the DJ is getting started with DJing in a public venue or at home. Practising mixing music at home won’t require the same level of equipment that playing in a bar or club would, but on the other hand, some venues might provide or hire sound equipment for the beginner DJ. It’s a good idea to find out more about these details before investing in something you might not need.

All in one?

One option available to DJs starting out is to buy a set of equipment that includes everything necessary for beginning a career or hobby in DJing. This can work out to be a cheaper option, and it undoubtedly makes the job of getting DJ equipment together a lot simpler, but most experts agree that building a DJ set from specifically chosen pieces will allow better performance and prevent having to replace or substitute pieces. It simply makes more sense to make a bigger initial investment when getting started with the equipment than having regrets in the long run.