5 DJ Equipment Worth Investing In

Have you ever gone to a live event or EDM festival and were completely blown away by the DJ? At first glance, you might think those people don’t really have that much talent. They’re only playing with a bunch of machines in front of them after all, aren’t they? Well, that is not exactly true. To become a DJ, you need intimate knowledge of music and what styles work well together, and then there’s the fact that those machines and boards are actually quite complicated to figure out. If you want to get into that world, the first step you need is getting the right equipment. These are 5 DJ pieces of equipment that you need to invest in.

1. A controller

Know that weird looking board where DJs keeps pressing buttons and moving switches up and down? That device is called a controller, and it’s the first piece of equipment you need to get your hands on if you want to become a DJ. You have controllers like the Akai Professional APC40 MKII, which is perfect for live venues and playing in front of a big audience. It’s particularly excellent for pairing with sequencing software, which will give you a lot of options to control the beats and flow while you’re up there on stage. It has all the essential controls you might need like trigger pads, transport controls, jog wheels, mouseless navigation, gain control, and so much more. You can basically have an entire show using just this controller.

2. Headphones

You can’t possibly hope to be a decent DJ without a pair of powerful headphones. Whether you’re recording in the studio or mixing it live, you need a pair of headphones all the time. They naturally need to have a clear, crisp sound so you could distinguish between the different audio inputs, and the more options they have, the better. Sony’s MDR line of headphones is one of the best options for any DJ out there. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones also come recommended for their variety of features and the detachable cable option you get, which is pretty cool.

3. Speakers

Arguably the most important part of a DJ’s setup, speakers are one piece of equipment you need to be really careful with. It’s basically how you deliver the sound to your audience, so you really want to get the right ones. Finding the right speaker equipment might be a bit taxing, but once you get your hands on a pair that could really blow people’s minds, it will be totally worth it. The Bose F1 Model 812 is a great place to start, because who knows sound better than Bose? You get a wide range of options with this one, and you can even dabble in acoustic sounds. They’re definitely not cheap, but they are so well worth it. If you want another option to consider, the QSC K12.2 might be your second best choice. With 2000 watts of power, it can blow most other speakers out of the water.

4. Turntables

Yes, to this very day, a lot of DJs still use turntables, because what sounds better than vinyl really? The DJs naturally uses a lot of gimmicks and sounds to alter the vinyl’s sound and add some effects, but at the end of the day, you will need to get your hands on a good turntable if you’re serious about your DJ career. Generally speaking, Pioneer’s turntables are considered to be the best out there, and they can give you that great analog feel with some very distinct sounds, not to mention plenty of options.

5. Microphones

You might find it a bit bizarre that a microphone is included in this list considering the fact that DJs don’t exactly do a lot of singing, but this is not the kind of live concert that you could be silent in while performing. A good DJ knows how to engage the crowds and hype them up, and you need a good microphone for that. The Shure SM58 is one of the more convenient options, with a very affordable price and an excellent sound in live settings.

There are tons of equipment you could get as a DJ. Some people even bring keyboards and other musical instruments that could be amplified and used on stage. What counts is knowing your own abilities and what particular equipment you’d need for the sound you want. After that, it’s all about doing some research to find out what the best available options in the market are. You definitely want to invest some money buying the highest quality possible, because this is how you give excellent performances. Thus, the above mentioned are 5 worth DJ equipment worth investing in.