As music technology has progressed, DJs have adopted different types
of equipment to play and mix music, all of which are still commonly
used. Traditionally, DJs used two
turntables plugged into a
DJ mixer to mix music on vinyl records. As
compact discs became popular media for publishing music, specialized high quality CD players known as
CDJs
were developed for DJs. CDJs can take the place of turntables or be
used together with turntables. Many CDJs can now play digital music
files from
USB flash drives or
SD cards in addition to CDs. With the spread of portable
laptop,
tablet, and
smartphone computers, DJs began using software together with specialized
sound cards and
DJ controller hardware. DJ software can be used in conjunction with a hardware DJ mixer or be used instead of a hardware mixer.
Turntables
Turntables
allow DJs to play vinyl records. By adjusting the playback speed of the
turntable, either by adjusting the speed knob, or by manipulating the
platter (e.g., by slowing down the platter by putting a finger gently
along the side), DJs can match the
tempos
of different records so their rhythms can be played together at the
same time without clashing or make a smooth, seamless transition from
one song to another. This technique is known as
beatmatching. DJs typically replace the rubber mat on turntables that keeps the record moving in sync with the turntable with a
slipmat
that facilitates manipulating the playback of the record by hand. With
the slipmat, the DJ can stop or slow down the record while the turntable
is still spinning.
Direct-drive turntables are the type preferred by DJs, with the
Technics SL-1200
being the most popular model of turntables for DJs. Belt-drive
turntables are less expensive, but they are not suitable for turntablism
and DJing, because the belt-drive motor does not like being slowed
down, as it can stretch out the belt. Some DJs, most commonly those who
play
hip hop music, go beyond merely mixing records and use turntables as musical instruments for
scratching,
beat juggling, and other
turntablism techniques.
CDJs
CDJs are high quality digital media players made for DJing. They often have large jog wheels and
pitch controls to allow DJs to manipulate the playback of digital files for
beatmatching
similar to how DJs manipulate vinyl records on turntables. CDJs often
have features such as loops and waveform displays similar to DJ
software. Originally designed to play music from
compact discs, they now can play digital music files stored on
USB flash drives and
SD cards. Some CDJs can also connect to a computer running DJ software to act as a
DJ controller.
DJ mixers
DJ mixers are small audio
mixing consoles specialized for DJing. Most DJ mixers have far fewer channels than a mixer used by a
record producer or
audio engineer; whereas standard live sound mixers in small venues have 12 to 24 channels, and standard
recording studio
mixers have even more (as many as 72 on large boards), basic DJ mixers
may have only two channels. While DJ mixers have many of the same
features found on larger mixers (faders, equalization knobs, gain knobs,
effects units, etc), DJ mixers have a feature that is usually only found on DJ mixers: the
crossfader.
The crossfader is a type of fader that is mounted horizontally. DJs
used the crossfader to mix two or more sound sources. The midpoint of
the crossfader's travel is a 50/50 mix of the two channels (on a two
channel mixer). The far left side of the crossfader provides only the
channel A sound source. The far right side provides only the channel B
sound source (e.g., record player number 2). Positions in between the
two extremes provide different mixes of the two channels. Some DJs use a
computer with DJ software and a
DJ controller instead of an analog DJ mixer to mix music, although DJ software can be used in conjunction with a hardware DJ mixer.
Headphones
DJs generally use higher quality headphones than those designed for
music consumers. DJ headphones have other properties useful for DJs,
such as designs that acoustically isolate the sounds of the headphones
from the outside environment (hard shell headphones), flexible headbands
and pivot joints to allow DJs to listen to one side of the headphones,
while turning the other headphone away (so he/she can monitor the mix in
the club), and replaceable cables. Replaceable cables enables DJs to
buy new cables if a cable becomes frayed, worn, or damaged, or if a
cable is accidentally cut.
Closed-back headphones are highly recommended for DJs to block
outside noise as the environment of DJ usually tend to be very noisy.
Standard headphones have 3.5mm jack but DJ equipment usually requires ¼
inch jack. Most of specialized DJ Headphones have an adapter to switch
between 3.5mm jack and ¼ inch jack. Detachable coiled cables are perfect
for DJ Headphones
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