The main things you will need in order to start mixing or whatevuh are:

• Money, money, and more money
• 2 Turntables
• One mixer
• Quick Hands
• Beat Knowledge
• Lots and lots of Records
• Plug Space
• and most importantly (since I already said money) - Patience



The best Turntables to get are Technics 1200's and 1210's, no question. Forget about any other turntable if you really wanna cut and cut well. Ya see, other turntables, when ya pull records ba ck, they tend to drag, meaning it takes awhile for it to catch full record speed again. 1200's and 1210's will catch full speed immediately after you pull them back. You look at any professional DJ and I guarantee you will see them with a 1200 or 1210. The only difference between 1200's and 1210's are the color. 1210's are black... my favorite color by the way. Technic 1200's and 1210's cost roughly between $450-$500, depending on where you get them. $359 is the cheapest new 1200 I saw in New York which was used, but in pretty decent shape. If you are just starting and don't have the funds for two, at least get one and use some other crap turntable or even a cd or tape player to mix on. Because the best scratches come when you blend.




Mixers come in a hundreds of different varities, some with samplers, some on pre-amps and what not. I got a Gemini, I can't remember what model, but that's all it is, a mixer with the fader, tw o transformers, two volume controls, etc. etc. But my stinkin' fader went out on me and I need a new one. Yo, that's an annoying ass problem. As an Electrical Engineering major at HU, I will design a new mixer whose fader will last as long as you do. B ut, if your fader goes out on you, try cleaning it. And also, if you want to loosten it, use clipper oil. That works the best for me. And for God's sake, don't buy a mixer whose cross fader has the little catch groove inside in the middle. That makes for a tight fader.




Practice, practice, practice! Listen to other DJ's on your favorite albums and try to learn by doing what they do, sooner or later your own style will develop.




Needles are as important as the tables, cheaper yes, but if you don't have them, you're screwed. The needles I usually use are the Stanton 680 al or el's. DJ Signified and DJ Think in D.C., use Stanton 500's which is a thinner type of needle than the 680's. There's also those cartridges called Trakmasters. Those are phat but they cost $85 - $100 a piece.


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