Disc Jockey - Equipment and Techniques

Equipment and Techniques

Club DJ equipment may consist of:

• Sound recordings in a DJ's preferred medium (for example, vinyl records, Compact Discs, computer media files, etc.);
• A combination of two devices (or only one, if playback is digital) to play sound recordings, for alternating back and forth to create a continuous playback of music (for example, record players, Compact Disc players, computer media players such as an MP3 player, etc.);
• A multiple Sequencer which can mix MIDI tracks with Digital Audio;
• A sound system for amplification or broadcasting of the recordings (for example, portable audio system, PA system) or a radio broadcasting system;
• A DJ mixer, which is an (usually 2- or 4-channel) audio mixer usually equipped with a crossfader used to smoothly go from one song to another, using two or more playback devices;
• Headphones, used to listen to one recording while the other recording is being played to the audience, or to listen to both recordings simultaneously; and
• Optionally, a microphone, so that the DJ can introduce songs and speak to the audiences.

Other equipment could or can be added to the basic DJ setup (above), providing unique sound manipulations. Such devices include, but are not limited to:

• Electronic effects units (delay, reverb, octave, equalizer, chorus, etc.). Some club DJs use a subharmonic synthesizer effect which either doubles low frequencies with energy added an octave lower or synthesizes harmonics such that the impression of a very low bass sound is added to the mix.
• A computerised performance system, which can be used with vinyl emulation software to manipulate digital files on the computer in real time.
• Multi-stylus headshells, which allow a DJ to play different grooves of the same record at the same time.
• Special DJ digital controller hardware that can manipulate digital files on a PC or laptop;
• Samplers, sequencers, electronic musical keyboards (synthesizers), or drum machines.
• A Midi Controller used to trigger different aspects of DJ Software, such as Serato Scratch Live, Virtual Dj, and Traktor.

Several techniques are used by DJs as a means to better mix and blend recorded music. These techniques primarily include the cueing, equalization, and audio mixing of two or more sound sources. The complexity and frequency of special techniques depends largely on the setting in which a DJ is working. Radio DJs are less likely to focus on music-mixing procedures than club DJs, who rely on a smooth transition between songs using a range of techniques.

Club DJ turntable techniques include beatmatching, phrasing, and slip-cueing to preserve energy on a dancefloor. Turntablism embodies the art of cutting, beat juggling, scratching, needle drops, phase shifting, back spinning, and more to perform the transitions and overdubs of samples in a more creative manner (although turntablism is often considered a use of the turntable as a musical instrument rather than a tool for blending recorded music). Professional DJs may use harmonic mixing to choose songs that are in compatible musical keys.

Recent advances in technology in both DJ hardware and software can provide assisted or automatic completion of some traditional DJ techniques and skills. Examples include phrasing and beatmatching, which can be partially or completely automated by utilizing DJ software that performs automatic Synchronization of sound recordings, a feature commonly labelled "Sync". Most DJ mixers now include a beat-counter which analyzes the tempo of an incoming sound source and displays its tempo in Beats Per Minute (BPM), which may assist with beatmatching analog sound sources. Software has also been written to assist with the identification of musical keys for use in harmonic mixing, which analyze computer media files for musical content and automatically determine the musical key.