The basic equipment of a disc jockey, better known as a DJ, consists of two turntables and a mixer – a device that allows two songs to play synchronized. The DJ’s job is to mix the sounds of the songs in the speakers, moving from one to another without interrupting the beat and controlling the party’s vibe. A typical dancefloor instrument, it was the pickup that took DJs out of the recording and radio studios to steal the scene from clubs in the 1970s. With the growth of electronic music, DJs made the party mixing styles and pieces of songs to create your own compositions. Until the 80s, djing was done only with vinyl records, but today you can make noise with CDs and even MP3 files.
We set up a deck with six essential devices for a DJ to make any track boil
CDJ
On this device, the DJ plays CDs. As with vinyl, it can spin back and forth quickly, sending out scratch effects. In addition to saving the DJ from carrying a bunch of vinyl – a CD can contain MP3s with songs from several discs -, some CDJs even have a USB port for pendrives.
turntable
The most traditional djing devices play vinyl cookies and are connected directly to the mixer. In addition to the turntable for vinyl, the pickup has pitch: a slider that regulates the speed of the record and allows you to synchronize the song that is playing with the one that comes next.
MIXER
It serves to unite the sound channels of the turntables and direct the music to the speakers. The DJ chooses what to play by sliding the volume buttons for each channel. To open up the sound of one device or the other – or keep the two sounds coming out together – the DJ slides the crossfader
DECODER
This sound card, connected to a computer, makes the DJ play with digital files using an analogue pickup. The trick happens with the DJ manipulating a “blank record” – with no recorded music. The DJ’s «maneuvering» on the disc interferes with the way digital sound is reproduced
CONTROLLER
Also connected directly to the computer, it plays standardized sounds or snippets of music, or samples. To trigger these scraps of sound, the DJ programs a device called a pad. Each pad key triggers a sample, which plays live as the main song rolls
HEADSET
To control the incoming music, the DJ uses headphones plugged into a separate output from those going to the speakers. A good headphone isolates the sound from the environment and has articulations for the DJ to adapt it to the ear
hot rhythms
DJing gave rise to various musical styles
TECHNO (70’s)
Born in Detroit, techno was created by DJs and producers influenced by the sound of German bands Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream.
HIP-HOP (70’s)
Mixing hip-hop with other genres created bands like the Beastie Boys and the Prodigy.
HOUSE (80’s)
Emerged in the USA, house has several aspects and currently has a strong French presence, represented by artists such as Daft Punk and Mr. Oizo
DRUM & BASS (90’s)
Popularized in England and played by names still strong today, such as Marky and Rony Size
TRANCE (90’s)
Typical rave sound, represented by names like Paul van Dyk, Tiësto and Armin van Buuren
homemade shakeIn the DJ Hero game, you are in charge of the track
The gaming hit, Guitar Hero, has a DJ version. In DJ Hero, PS3 and Xbox 360 players have fun operating a pickup connected to the console. There are three buttons to press when the screen indicates and, in more advanced levels, it is necessary to activate the crossfader, send a scratch and insert samples