A good starter turntable is the Audio Technica 1240, which is somewhat cheaper than AT’s high-end models, but is still high quality. It also features USB inputs to allow for digital-analog interface. It’s a good professional record player for the beginner. [1] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/f2/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/f2/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} It’s important that you do not get a belt-drive turntable for DJing. While perfectly useful for listening to vinyl at your house, belt-driven turntables feature a separate motor that drives a rubber belt, which is used to spin the plate and the record. This means you can’t scratch or pause the record player while you’re spinning. Direct-drive motors are directly attached to the plate, making them ideal for DJs. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/e/e0/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/e/e0/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-1Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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Pre-amps can run anywhere from $50-500, and while it’s nowhere near the most essential item in your set-up, a good pre-amp has everything to do with the quality of the sound you’re going to get. Without good quality sound, nobody is going to dance to your killer sets. Keep that in mind when you’re buying your gear. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/88/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-2Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/88/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-2Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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record cleaning fluid and a vinyl brush {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/c3/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/c3/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet1. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} extra styluses and cartridges {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b2/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b2/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet2. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} an anti-static slip-mat for the turntable {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/67/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/67/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet3. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} RCA cables {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/6c/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet4. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet4. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/6c/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet4. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet4. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} an outlet power strip {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/ba/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet5. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet5. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/ba/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet5. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet5. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} a great pair of headphones {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/73/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet6. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet6. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/73/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet6. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-3Bullet6. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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If you’re trying to get into DJing at a venue or other place with a house PA, then you could hold off on getting speakers, which can be expensive, but if you’re going to play parties, you’ll need to provide your own speakers. Don’t risk playing through a crappy home entertainment sound system. Get some high quality speakers you know your careful playlists will sound great through.
These packages usually run about $1200, and are a great option if you’re not a big audiophile with lots of opinions about what kind of gear you want to learn on.
Hit up the regular used record stores, but don’t neglect thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales for the best deals. Libraries regularly are still liquidating their old stock and have basements full of vinyl waiting to be plucked on the cheap. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/9e/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/9e/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet1. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Thai psychedelic funk? Mexican psych rock? The great vinyl is out there waiting to be discovered by DJs like you. Start learning to recognize labels that you respect and who reliably put out good vinyl, even if you’ve never heard it. When you see anything on that label for a good price, snatch it up. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/5b/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/5b/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet2. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Treat a record collection like an investment. If you buy something that doesn’t end up striking you, sell it for more than you spent on it, and then turn that money around to get something else. Build the collection slowly, only keeping around the absolute best stuff. Vinyl collectors are a diverse community, so start participating! {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/4/4d/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/4/4d/Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet3. jpg/aid94394-v4-728px-Buy-Your-First-Set-of-DJ-Equipment-Step-7Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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The good news? These are incredibly versatile, useful, and can hold an incredible amount of music. You’ll have literally thousands of songs at your fingertips, ready to mash-up beats and verses in crazy combinations, as opposed to being stuck with the crate-full of heavy vinyl you’ll have to drag to the club with an old-school set up. The bad news? These are expensive. At the low-end, a single CD turntable can cost up to $700, making an investment for a pair neighboring on the ridiculous. For this reason, many digital DJs prefer to line-in a laptop and play sound files directly, or use Ableton Live.