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How To DJ: The Laptop DJ
How To DJ: Vinyl, CD and Laptop DJs
Which One Are You?
If you missed out on our first post make sure to check out How To DJ: The Vinyl DJ and How To DJ: The CD DJ.
Today we’ll be going over Laptop DJing, the newest form of DJing, and the easiest for learning how to DJ.
How To DJ: The Laptop DJ
Laptop DJing is a relatively new style of DJing where a DJ mixer and turntables are emulated by software run on a computer. The addition of a computer to your arsenal is great for learning how to DJ, as it helps guide you through certain tasks that would be much more technical on traditional equipment. Laptop DJing is the most compact of the three styles of DJing, ditching the need for CDs by storing all the files on the computer. This makes it great for both small gigs and the big ones.
There are two types of software you can use as a Laptop DJ, mixing software such as Traktor or Serato and production software such as Fruity Loops or Reason. There are some software that give you a combination of both, such as Ableton Live. How To DJ Blog will focus mainly on mixing software instead of production software, however many people use production software live. If you’re looking for good HipHop & Urban Music production software, check out DubTurbo.
Many people claim that Laptop DJs don’t produce the same atmosphere as your traditional Vinyl DJ, however it is possible to use a MIDI controller that mimics a mixer and turntables. So while you may see a Laptop DJ occasionally click a few things on their computer, most, if not all, of the work can be done on the MIDI controller. By using Timecoded Vinyls, you use actual turntables instead of the jogwheels inherited from CDJs.
Here’s a video of a scratch session using a MIDI controller:
While a Laptop DJ can mimic a Vinyl DJ, the real beauty in learning how to DJ with a computer is that it can automate many technical details, allowing you to infuse your sets with more creativity and imagination. These automations can also be used to help guide you when you first begin to learn how to DJ. Beat-Syncing is a feature that will automatically adjust the pitch of a song to match the speed of the currently playing song. This makes learning transitions and other technical moves much easier. These features are completely optional however, so once you get the hang of it, you can ditch your training wheels.
Laptop DJing does have its downsides however. Since the computer is an integral part of your equipment, any performance hit could mess up your set. Computer performance can be unreliable in the less-than-ideal conditions we face: those cold, rainy field parties and the hot, humid clubs packed with people. Some Laptop DJs find it essential to have a laptop cooler to help deal with excess heat. Also, some software such as Ableton Live may require you to prepare your songs by warping to a desired BPM before you use it in a set.
How To DJ: Which Style is Best?
So which style of DJing is best?
The answer is much more complex than you would think. Everyone has a unique tastes and techniques and everyone will have a different comfort level with each type. The important part about being a DJ is the end product, the mix you are able to create. Laptops, CDs and Vinyls are just a means to this end, it is up to you to discover which fits you best. The most conducive to learning how to DJ would be Laptop DJing as you have crutches that can support you while you learn. A Laptop DJ can easily expand their options and flesh out their arsenal after they learn how to walk. With the advent of Laptops, Vinyl is now more of a luxury option, for those with the time and money to spare, and for those who want to get the raw, classical feeling when they DJ. CDJs are a great intermediate option for learning how to DJ, they priced right between Vinyl and Laptops and feel more like traditional vinyl compared to typical Laptop DJ equipment.
Whichever style you choose, remember that it’s all about the sound that comes out of your speakers, you can learn how to DJ usng any style and, with the right skill, can achieve the same results.
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How To DJ: The CD DJ
How To DJ: Vinyl, CD and Laptop DJs
Which One Are You?
If you missed out on our first post make sure to check out How To DJ: The Vinyl DJ.
For this post, we’ll be concentrating on CD DJing, which brought digital media to the DJ scene, and its usefulness towards learning how to DJ.
How To DJ: The CD DJ
In our previous post we went over Vinyl DJing, which, at this point, is more of a luxury as it is technically demanding and expensive. Learning how to DJ is much easier with CDs than with Vinyl, and it can be much less of a money drain while still giving you most of what Vinyl has to offer. CDs are a digital medium, so the quality of the sound doesn’t depend as much on your equipment as the source the CD was recorded from. CDs also much more efficient storage, a handful of CDs can replace an entire stack of vinyls.
CDJs are the main tools for CD DJs. They’re great for learning how to DJ, they emulate the same control over your tracks as vinyl while including many features that make learning how to DJ more about your own personal style and creativity than worrying over technical details and your budget. Beginners should look into grabbing a pair of Pioneer CDJ-200 Pros or the Numark Axis 9s. Keep your eyes peeled for a review article on these in the future.
You will also need a mixer, which allows you to manipulate the output of the CDJs (e.g., fading between two CDJs or adjusting the equalizer levels). We will cover mixers much more in-depth in a future article since they are also essential to Vinyl DJing. Mixers to look into include the Pioneer DJM-250 or the Denon DN-X120. There are also combo units that have two CDJs and a mixer built in, which is great if you’re on a tight budget or just beginning to learn how to DJ. We recommend the Numark CDMix 1 or CDMix 2. Unfortunately, the CDMix 3 isn’t as reliable as the older models.
While the benefits over Vinyl depends on your particular model of CDJs, one feature universal to CDJs is the “Cue” feature, allowing you to set a specific point where the song will start. CDJs also offer jog-wheels, allowing you to quickly seek through tracks and scratch. CDJs also contain effects, such as looping, which would require additional equipment or a lot of skill if you’re using Vinyl. Many CDJs offer an option to scratch like you would on a turntable, however some say it doesn’t accurately replicate the unique sound of scratching with vinyl. Some people also find that CDJs can’t replicate the feeling of spinning vinyl on a turntable.
Here’s a great example showing that CDJs are just as capable as Vinyls
Overall, CDJs are a great place to start learning how to DJ, but there’s one tool that makes learning how to DJ much easier and more accessible: the Laptop.
Make sure to check out our follow-up post, How To DJ: The Laptop DJ.
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How To DJ: The Vinyl DJ
How To DJ: Vinyl, CD and Laptop DJs
Which One Are You?
Welcome to our first post on How To DJ Blog, where we’ll be giving you tips on how to get up and running as a DJ. But before you can learn how to DJ, you’re gonna need some equipment and some music. Our next few posts will cover the 3 main types of Equipment (Vinyls, CDs and Laptop) and how useful they are in your quest to learn how to DJ.
There are three main categories of equipment and media a DJ can play: Vinyls on Turntables, CDs on CDJs, or MP3s/FLACs/WAVs on Laptops. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Vinyl is considered an analog medium, whereas CDs and Media Files are considered digital media. Only very high quality digital media can accurately replicate vinyls.
How To DJ: The Vinyl DJ
Vinyls were what the orginal DJs spun with and they’ve become a classic. Because they are not as technologically advanced as CDJs or a Laptop, a vinyl setup requires a lot more experience and skill but with the extra power and control at your fingertips, you can pull off much more technical moves. Vinyl can be difficult to master, but it garners much respect in the DJ community. Due to its complexity, vinyl isn’t a great medium to learn how to DJ unless you have someone by your side to guide you, or a lot of patience.
Here’s a great example of what a good Vinyl DJ/Turntablist can pull off:
A vinyl setup for a beginner learning how to DJ should include at least two turntables, a mixer, headphones and a nice stack of vinyl records. Direct-drive turntables are what you are looking for, not belt-driven ones. Some good turntables to start out on are the Numark TT-200s or the Stanton T92s. Mixers are what let you fade between decks and EQ your tracks. A great mixer to start out on is the Allen & Heath Xone 22 or the Numark X6. For a pair of monitor headphones, we recommend the Sennheiser HD 205-IIs or the Technic DH1200s.
Vinyl records are an analog medium, so the quality of the sound can be amazing. However, high quality analog sound also requires expensive equipment and additional components and accesories to live up to its full potential. Also, vinyl is not a very efficient storage method and your records may end up taking up more space than you’d want. But you can get away with just a stack or two of records for a 1-2 hour set.
Spinning vinyl is the most hands on method of DJing and creates a great atmosphere at an event. If you can master DJing with Vinyls, you can easily pick up how to DJ with CDs or a Laptop.
Make sure to check out our follow-up posts, How To DJ: The CD DJ and How To DJ: The Laptop DJ.
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