Essential DJ Equipment when starting out

[KLH]

Let's talk about essential equipment that every DJ needs when starting out. Here's a quick list:

* Music (yep, it's obvious, but needed to be said) - Check out music pools

* Work area for the setup (for most a adjustable-height table works well, but YMMV)

* Comfortable headphones for cueing (isolating headphones are ideal)


* ALTERNATIVE 1: Two or more music sources (usually called decks) AND a mixer






* ALTERNATIVE 2: Controller that controls at least two decks and has a microphone input



* Microphone (or wireless mic)


* Computer if running a DJ app (i.e. ITCH, Traktor Pro, Ableton Live, etc.), a DVS (Scratch Live, Traktor Scratch Pro, etc.) AND an external hard drive (for backups)

* Amp and Speakers (so that you can hear the main mix without headphones)



* Cables to support your setup (and to connect your setup to another amp or mixer, if needed)


So what do these things cost on average? Let's make some assumptions and discuss three setups:

1. Affordable controller-based setup
2. Full-featured controller-based setup
3. Full-featured DVS-based setup

Assumptions
* You have enough music to start - $0
* You HAVE a computer - $0
* Table is $50
* Headphones are $100
* Microphone is $50
* Amp and speakers (cheaping out here with computer speakers) is $50
* Total costs outside of the decks and mixer is $250.

Affordable Controller-Based Setup
Let's use the Numark Mix Track Pro 2 ($400) as it supports just about everything that a beginner needs and offers some room to grow. The MTP2 is an updated version of the previously highly-recommended (by DJF) Mix Track Pro. Adding the $400 to our assumptions of $250, you'll need about $650 to start down this path.

Full-Featured Controller-Based Setup
Let's use the Native Instruments S4 mk2. At $900, it's about the average price for most full-featured controller-based setups. The S4 offers a LOT of room for beginners to learn and grow. Adding $900 to our assumptions list of $250, you'll need about $1150 to start down this path.

Full-Featured DVS-Based Setup
This is the mack-daddy. It is unparalleled in terms of flexibility... but it's also the most expensive. The saving grace is that you can upgrade components at will. As the other setups were new, let's stay new for this example. (If you go used, lop off about 30%.)

Here's our component list:
* TWO CDJ-850s ($800 each)
* Behringer DDM4400 ($400)
* Serato Scratch Live SL3 ($700)
* Subtotal: $2700

When you add the $2700 to the $250 assumptions list, the total for this setup is $2950.

As you can see. Gear adds up quickly. Start saving.

-KLH

[NickJames]

This is an article I rewrote on wikiHow: http://www.wikihow.com/Purchase-a-DJ-Setup you should expand it

[KLH]

Jezus. I wish I had that link PRIOR to writing this thread...

GREAT article. Rep, bro.

EDIT: I've gotta spread rep first. I love DJF.

-KLH

[Era 7]

obviously i'm not ready yet and oddly enough i already played out. oh well

[chomorro]

Great Thread . Is there a vote to sticky?

[fueledbymusic]

If you have a controller, wouldnt you not need any decks at all? Isnt that for use to interact with the mp3s on computer?

[KLH]

Great Thread . Is there a vote to sticky?

This will be part of another thread that will be stickied (hopefully).

-KLH

[KLH]

If you have a controller, wouldnt you not need any decks at all? Isnt that for use to interact with the mp3s on computer?

With controllers and DVS, the computer itself plays the tracks and the controller (or DVS source) controls how the tracks play (forward, reverse, etc.). As a result, you may want dedicated CDJ or TT decks with a controller so that you can play media. It's your choice... and not every controller supports DVS features.

-KLH

[ampnation]

obviously i'm not ready yet and oddly enough i already played out. oh well

The question for one's first gig usually isn't "Were you ready" but rather "How not ready were you?" LOL

[mostapha]

The only thing I disagree with is that I honestly believe that DJs shouldn't own Mics (wedding/mobile DJs exempt, of course). I've never heard a DJ in a club pick up a mic and add to the experience.