“What dj equipment do you recommend I start with?”
This is a question I get asked daily from my Dj students. Its usually proceeded with “I have a budged of $xx and I’ve been told I should buy turntables or CDJs…”
While I have a FREE DVD coming out that will teach you everything you need to know about DJ Gear, let me give you the answer to this in a few words. In the meantime, you can learn a lot about DJ Gear through our Free video DJ Lessons. Get yours now by clicking HERE!
Don’t buy turntables if you are just starting out.
Don’t buy expensive CDJs (Pioneer CDJ 1000s – dj cd players).
Don’t buy a $2000.00 laptop
Most DJs that start out want to get the coolest pro DJ gear possible. This is a waste of money at the start because you will just be learning basic mixing techniques to begin with (cue & throw, beatmatching, pitch riding etc).
Instead of throwing away thousands on gear when you start, buy some cheap CDJs and a cheap mixer, or even better a DJ Software and digital controller package. These will be low cost solutions that you can learn mixing on quickly and easily.
The best part is that you will have tons of cash left over. Use this cash to build your music collection (which is most important) and to learn more about DJing by getting dj lessons or buying some programs (DVDs) to get you mixing better, to learn to promote yourself and to learn how to get big gigs!
Once you learn to dj and get some gigs or know for sure that you are eventually going to make it on to play gigs, then you can buy that $2000 dj mixer, Ableton Live dj software, DVDJs and enough effects units to make your head spin!
Do you guys agree?
Vinyl is the SHIAAATTT! Screw Digital. I ain’t neva goin’ digital.
Are you an idiot?
Vinyl will make your DJing the same as the Dinosaurs: DEAD. Nobody uses vinyl anymore. Thats why Sean recommended it!
I use vinyl. Nice post.
You pay $20 per record. There isn’t much music available. Its fragile to play with and awkward to carry.
Good choice.
Vinyl is awesome. If I had it my way I’d still be playing it. However its just too expensive and too hard to find for me to recommend it.
Hey Sean,
I am a beginner DJ and am looking at buying equipment. I was thinking about an iDJ2. I was wondering if you had heard any reviews about it. I’m really just looking to mix DJ at some college parties.
Thanks
Hey B Rodd,
Thanks for the question.
The IDJ2 looks like a fun machine to play with. However I would recommend going with a digital controller and software package instead such as the Vestax VCI 100 or the Numark OMNI control.
This is a system that is more geared towards tighter mixing than the ipod based IDJ2.
Thanks, Sean.
I just got my first set of videos through e-mail. Tons of great info in there, thanks a lot.
Hey sean.
let me be honest with you,your videos are amazing,im a newbe and i really love to dj,im planning to buy my first gear soon but i want to buy something that is good and i could use it for later on and that it would be usefull even when im a pro.but the problem is i dont have a high budget and i cant get cdj mk3 or something like that,so plz tell me wich one do you think is worth buyin for me, the cdj800 or cdj400 , american audio radius 1000 or any other that u recommend.thankyou for all the help.
DJ Solid… I found out that Learn To Dj Fast has a free DVD on dj gear a little while ago. I had similar questions to you and it helped me out a lot. I now know everything about dj gear and i got gear for cheap! Check it out: http://www.learntodjfast.com/djgear.html
hey sean listen i bought a new set its gemini cdm 3600 i want to know is it good i am only 15 and already did 10 gigs
Thats a solid way to start.
A lot of people will reccomend that you stay away from Gemeni products because they are cheaper.
I on the other hand think that its a great starting point for learning the basics. Once you start landing some gigs you can upgrade to some pioneers.
For now just learn the basics on your Gemeni and spend the extra money on building your music collection!
tnx for the help.
but for now can anyone tell me that if i should get radius 1000 or the cdj 400s?
i can get cdj 400s but then i wont have enaugh money to buy a good mixer.
i really wanna get the djm 400 but its too expensive!!!
Hey Sean…alright i read most the other coments im on the same sorta page as B Rod…im looking to just play some mad beats and mix a little bit and eventually move on from there…was looking at the Vestax VCI 100 and i think something around that would be great…wondering what you think
i also looked at the Numark Omni that also looks so good probs better…
I’ve heard that “if you want to dj with the big boys, you need to learn vinyl” and I agree to an extent. However, the point sean is trying to make is DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY STARTING OUT WITH THAT EQUIPMENT. learn the controls and the basic techniques to get an idea of what you’re getting yourself into with something cheap – a digital program. Then you can graduate to CDJs and vinyl.
It’s a good recommendation I think.
hey Sean!! i need some help, im a starting dj kinda the same scenario as DJ B Rodd but i was wondering out of these three (vestax vci100, hurcules RMX or omni control) what do you think would be the best for the least amout of money, thanks man!
hey sean im only starting out and i am looking for advice on what gear i should buy first. any suggestions from anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The best advice I’d give to any aspiring DJ is to hold off buying kit for as long as possible until you’re 110% certain that this is what you want to do as it’s an expensive and bumpy road you will be travelling, especially in your first five years or so. Wherever possible, practise with a friends kit (you’d be surprised how many of your friends might have decks lying around!)
Then, when you’re comfortable meatmixing, spend and spend big. By that point you’ll have an idea what sort of setup you’ll need for your style of mixing.
Obviously, that isn’t always possible but ask people you know. There’ll be someone who’ll let you come round and use their kit to practice.
Still, if that’s not a possibility Sean is right that you should spend small to start. I first learned to beatmatch on old Citronic dual rackmount CD players that had an awful delay between hitting Play and the music actually starting from the cue point! It taught me how to fix a screwed up mix pretty quickly!
Hey i need help from everybody with where i should start from scratch. I want to dj in a club eventually and mix. I would rele appreciate the help.
Hey i want to learn how to dj, would reccomend this package?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Reloop-Digital-Controller-Controller-Case-Pro-Package-/400156587390#vi-desc
Thankyou
Kellie