How To Access Equipment For Free And Learn To DJ
I’m often asked the question, what equipment do I need to start DJing? And how much is it going to cost? So, I thought I’d answer it here.
You need 3 things to kick-start your DJ career:
1. A laptop
2. Headphones
3. DJ Software
Whilst a laptop isn’t cheap, chances are you’ve already got one in the house. Mac, Dell, Microsoft, Acer, it doesn’t matter what the brand is, only that it’s working well.
Likewise, headphones. Use the ones you’ve already got! If you want an upgrade, I love my Sennheiser hd 25’s, which retail around £100.
Happily, you can try out the demo version of the DJ Software for free. Here’s the link to Traktor Pro 3: https://www.native-instruments.com/.../demo-and-downloads/
The demo version closes after 30 minutes but you can reopen it again straight away. It’s a great way to get your hands dirty without parting with your hard-earned cash.
When you get further along your DJ journey, you’ll want to buy the software. But it’s not going to break the bank - £89 and it’s yours.
And even better, if you want a controller, the software often comes for free – a simple online search will reveal the deals.
A controller is a piece of hardware – hardware being the physical kit, distinct from software which is a program on your computer – which mirrors the software and allows you to push buttons and twiddle knobs rather than doing everything on the laptop’s track pad. It means you can work with music kinesthetically, which is easier and way more fun.
It's a good idea to get a controller that’s the same brand as the software you’ve chosen. It just works better together.
If you decide on Traktor Pro 3, I suggest 3 main options for a controller:
1. Traktor Kontrol Z1 – an ultra compact 2 channel controller, meaning you can mix 2 tunes at once – £159
2. Traktor Kontrol S2 – another 2 channel controller but with more buttons to play with – £269
3. Traktor Kontrol S4 – a 4 channel controller so you can mix 4 tunes together – £839
It’s all about identifying your needs and your budget. How portable do you want it? How many tunes do you want to mix together at the same time? How important are the extra buttons? How much have you got to spend?
Remember, it’s an investment that pays off. I bought my S4 in 2015 and it’s still going strong!
And I’m giving you the official retail price. You know how the internet works these days – you’ll probably find them cheaper online.
And buying second-hand is another good way to save money.
If you want to go all-out balling you can buy some home speakers or a PA system to take to gigs, but that’s not essential. I have 2 Tannoy Reveal 601a’s in my home set up. And I still don’t own a PA.
So that’s it.
You can start DJing for the price of a weekend out.
What’s not to love?
And if you want all the DJ skills – from beginner to advanced – you know I’ve got a course for that If you want to talk to me about this, you can book a time with me here - https://calendly.com/isza-1/dj-mystery-to-mastery