For the love of music and all that is good, DJing is among careers that are not only fulfilling but also pay well. If you have a way to market your talent and manage to get yourself some gigs every now and then, it’ll all be worth investing your time and resources. In an age when entertainment and buzz seem to be the talk of the day, being a DJ will open you up to endless possibilities. For starters, you’ll enjoy doing what you love, its entertainment so it’ll never get boring, and finally, the look on people’s faces when you perform is nothing but priceless.
But before you get started, it’s a treacherous journey and one that requires discipline and self-control. But hey, if you’ll be good at what you do, then you’ll definitely attract attention to yourself. In addition to this, it’s also an investment that you’ll need to put in a lot of effort and pump in some resources. One thing to note is that DJing equipment – high-quality ones to be specific – don’t come cheap. Though it will all depend on what you know and who you know. But the thing is, you want to invest in high-quality equipment and tools to become the best that you can be in your newfound career or hobby for that matter.
In this piece, we’ll share some of the best tools you’ll need to learn DJing. They include:
Sound System
As a DJ, it’s crucial that you invest in your own equipment. This will cut down the costs associated with renting or borrowing. If you’re just starting out, it’s important that you invest in high-quality sound systems. These will be crucial in determining the sound quality of your mixes. However, if you’re always on the go, then it means that your reliance on hardware sound systems is zero to none. You’ll, therefore, be more dependent on software more than you’ll be on hardware. There are so many software options out there, but investing in the right audio software will help improve the sound quality of your mixes. The best part is that most of these softwares come preloaded with different audio effects such as reverb, echo, and filters, video effects, and karaoke features.
Below are rules you should live by if you want your DJing sound quality to keep improving:
- Keep things below the red zone
- Only use high-resolution music samples
- Invest in a high-quality sound interface
- Don’t take your eyes off the keylock
Mixers vs Controllers
Living in this era has made things easier for DJs. Unlike in past years when a DJ had to load up on heavy DJing equipment, things are much simpler today, though sophisticated, but you can bet that you’re better off in this era as a DJ. There are a handful of DJing tools both virtual and non-virtual that will not only cut your work in half, but will also make you look professional in your career. For the conventional turntables, well, all you need is a high-quality one and you’re good to go. However, if you’re looking to take your DJing to the next level, then you’ll need to learn a thing or two about mixers and controllers.
DJ Controllers
Controllers are the essential tools needed in DJing to help when configuring your DJing software with your hardware. One thing to note is that as a DJ, you’ll need to think about tools that will make your skills shine. Incorporating different DJing software into your trade will make things look easy and much simpler. It’s very much possible to manage an integrated software interface using your PC or laptop, but then again, navigating through different menus will only make things harder for you. Now, this is where controllers come in.
Controllers come in various shapes, sizes and forms. This versatility will allow you to get acquainted with the different types of controllers, making it easier for you to adapt when performing in gigs that don’t allow you to bring your own equipment.
Below are the different types of DJ controllers. They include
- USB controllers
Both USB and wireless controllers provide you with wireless functionalities, thus reducing the number of wires in and on your equipment. Fewer wires mean fewer hustles in your gigs
- Wireless controllers
These controllers will provide you with more freedom of movement and reduce the workload on your part. Both USB and wireless controllers are iOS-enabled making it easier for you to integrate your mobile devices with your DJing controllers.
- Vinyl
These are the conventional controllers that lack the digital elements. But what they lack in this area they make it up on the side of creativity. But all this will depend on your preferences and what works for you best.
Mixers
These can easily be confused with controllers with so many controllers nowadays taking mixer-like features. Now the mixer is what will allow you to perform all those cool tricks you see other DJs perform.
Below are the distinguishing features of a mixer:
- EQ features
- Channel’s meter leveler
- Up-fader features
- Crossfader features
- Cue selection buttons
- Cue knob for the headphones
These to mention but a few are some of the features you’ll find on a mixer. When investing in one, always ensure that it’s of the best quality and can be integrated with other DJ tools.
Headphones
The right headphones will make it easier for you to mix with great precision. High-quality headphones will be crucial in determining rhythm, beats per second (BPS), cueing, and most importantly, listening to music. When choosing DJ headphones, you’ll want to ensure that they are not only flexible, but are also comfortable when worn because as it turns out, you’ll be wearing them for many hours.
As you can see, it doesn’t take much to start out as a DJ. However, as you keep working on your skills, you can always invest in more tools. The above pointers are a guideline on what you need when learning DJing and you’re all set!
