Starting a Disc Jockey business requires a lot of audio equipment. Here is a list of the audio gear you need to get started. You will need to expand your gear to grow your business, but here are the basics:
1. Sources: Turntables and CD Players
Turntables: A direct-drive turntable for playing vinyl LPs. A direct drive is preferred to a belt-drive turntable for scratching and belts stretch and break. The industry standard direct-drive turntable is the Technics SL-1200MKII. You will need two turntables to transition between songs.
CD Players: You can use CD players in addition to or instead of turntables for playing LPs, but you need two players. A good resource for CD gear is the Pioneer CDJ series of products.
2. Mixer and Headphones
Mixer: You will need a mixer with at least two channels, CH 1 and CH 2 to mix between two turntables or CD players. The mixer should have a fader to mix the sound between the two sources, a separate volume control for each source and a master volume control for the total system level.
Headphones: Headphones are used to cue-up the next song. The headphones are connected to the mixer so the audience will not hear the song you are cueing.
3. Equalizer
An equalizer is used to adjust the tone quality of the system based on the acoustics of the venue. A large auditorium or ballroom has different acoustic properties than a small club and an equalizer will help adjust the tone quality to suit the venue. Your goal is to make the music sound good to your audience and an equalizer will help ensure a good experience for your listeners.4. Amplifiers and Speakers
The amplifiers and speakers should be matched to get the best performance and to avoid equipment damage. For example, a speaker manufacturer might recommend that an amplifier with 100-200 watts be used to power the speaker. Try to select an amplifier that is compatible with the speaker specifications. 5. Equipment Rack
The equalizer and amplifiers are usually kept permanently in an equipment rack. A rack makes it easy to set up and dismantle your system.
You could consider renting equipment before making a purchase. Renting also allows you to try different equipment before you buy.
