Equipment

The basic equipment for becoming a vinyl DJ is:
Two Turntables
Two Slipmats
Two Cartridges and Needles
One Mixer
One pair of Headphones
Am amplification system (This can be a stereo, an amplifier and speaker system or powered speakers)

To become a cd DJ you will need the same basics except for substituting cd players in for turntables. You also will not need slipmats or cartridges and needles.

What to look for when purchasing your equipment

• CD Players -- If you want to scratch, then make sure your cd player is scratch compatible. Just because a cd player has a jog wheel on top does not make it scratch compatible. Check the descriptions and know what you're buying. If you buy rack mountable cd players, make sure you have a rack case to put them in.
• Turntables -- You want pitch control on your turntable. No questions asked, if a turntable does not have this, then you really won't want it. A good rule of thumb is a pitch control of + or -8% at the very minimum. Of course, the higher the pitch control, the better. The biggest thing to take into consideration when buying turntables is whether to get belt driven or direct drive. It is advisable to get direct drive. They have more torque and quicker start and stop. Also, scratching on belt driven is not advisable because the belts will wear down and can break. If you plan on mixing, belt driven will be more acceptable, but direct drive is always recommended first.
• Mixers -- When choosing a mixer, make sure you get one that has the number of channels you desire. Since mixers are where you get the effects for your mixing/scratching, it is crucial you pick one that has the effects that you want.
• Headphones -- Many people under estimate the importance of a good pair of headphones. When there is a noisy crowd, your noise cancellation headphones will help tons to get the beats down properly. Lightweight, noise cancelling headphones are ideal. Also, check the frequency response -- the higher the better.
• Amplifiers -- Choosing your amp depends on what kind of speakers you have. You will want an amp that is strong enough to push the speakers, but not too strong so as to not blow your speakers. For example: Your speakers combined Wattage is 1200w. You will want an amp that is up to 1200w, but not higher. You could get a 1000w amp, and while this will not use your speakers maximum potential, you also don't run the risk of blowing them

• Turntables
  Your turntable will have two Phone/RCA jacks and another thinner wire. The RCA jacks will be of two different colors -- one red and one that is usually either white or yellow or sometimes black. The red is for your right input and the other is for the left. It is fairly easy to remember as R = Red = Right.
  On your mixer, you'll notice that in each channel there is an input for "Phono" and one for "Line". Turntables always go in "Phono" -- everything else goes into "Line" The left turntable will connect into into Channel 1 and the right into Channel 2. Match your colors up from the turntable to the mixer, making sure you have the correct side with the correct channel.
  The third smaller wire coming out of your turntable is your ground wire. You must hook this to your mixer by the Ground connector found on the back.
  The final step is to make sure you have the voltage selector switched to the proper voltage on your turntables. Not all turntables are dual voltage, but if yours is, make sure you have the proper voltage selected. Check your manual for more details.
• Cartridges/Needles
  Making sure your tonearm/cartridge is properly set up is of the utmost importance for sound and performane. Some cartridges are installed directly to your turntable's headshell with mouting brackets and screws. Others come with their own mounting system that bypasses the turntables headshell and is wired internally.
  
  1)After putting the cartridge into the headsheel, you must mount the headshell into the tonearm. Hold the tonearm and insert the headshell into the lock with. Turn the lock ring clockwise (from the rear of the tonearm) untill it is locked tightly in place. Make sure the needle is perpendicular to the surface of the record. If it is not, you can loosen the lock ring and adjust the headshell untill it is where you need it, then retighten the lock ring.
  
  2)Now you have to balance your tonearm. With a needle in the headshell, and a record on the turntable, set the "Anti-skate dial" to 0. Keeping the tone arm free, rotate the rear section of the counterweight untill the tone arm is parallel to the record. Once the tone arm is balanced set the stylus pressure indicator ring to 0. Do this by holding the rear rubber grip in place and rotate the rear section of the counterweight untill the stylus pressure reading is matched with the line on the top of the tone arm.
  
  3)Anti-skating is what keeps the needle centered in the groove of the record. If you are using a straight-arm turntable or scratching, leave the anti-skate at 0. Otherwise turn the anti-skate dial to the same setting as the stylus pressure reading.
  
  4)The last adjustment for turntables is the tonearm height. Usually you want the tone-arm to be parallel with the record. However, if you need this changed, rotate the height adjustment ring to the correct reading for your cartridge.
• CD -- Tape -- MD -- MP3
  Hooking up other applications to your mixer is basically the same as hooking up a turntable except that these go into the "Line" jack and not the "Phono". Also, only turntables have a ground wire to worry about.
• Mixers
  Make sure the "Phono/Line" switch on your mixer is switched to the correct one for each channel. Make sure the gain conrol and the Maser conrol aren't at 0, then move the channel faders up, and the cross-faders from side to side. Check the LED's to make sure they are lighting up to let you know that you have a signal. If nothing is lighting up, then something is hooked up wrong and double check your connections.
  
  Most mixers have a "Master", "Rec" and "Booth" outputs. The Master output goes to the amplifier, the Record goes to tape recorders, MiniDiscs or CD burners and the Booth goes to seperate monitor speakers in the DJ booth. The Booth can also go to recording devices, if needed.
  
  Hooking your mixer up to your amp depends on what kind of amplication device you are using. If you are using the amp/speaker set up, then you will want to plug your mixer into the "Line" input on the amp. If you are using a stereo system, then you will want to plug into the "AUX/TV" or "Line In" on it. If your stereo has neither of these, then you will have to use the "CD" jack. For powered speakers you just hook the speakers straight into the Master output of the mixer. Many powered speakers have an 1/8 inch jack and you may need to get cables. Check your speakers for what you need

Q -- Everything is hooked up, but I still cannot hear out of the mixer to the headphones

A -- Make sure the headphones are plugged in or turned up. Make sure the monitor is switched to the proper channel. Make sure you have "Line" or "Phono" set to your correct setting. Double check that the mixer is on. Make sure all of your connection are good, and that you have your input device (turntable/cd player..etc..) plugged into the right input.

Q -- Everything is playing fine on the mixer, but I cannot hear through the amp.

A -- Double check that the amp is on and the volume is up and the it is switched to the correct mode. Check to see that the speakers are connected to the amp, and that they are hooked into the proper mixer outputs. Make sure the Master control on the mixer is up.

Q -- My sound is badly distorted on my cd player.

A -- If your cd player is hooked into the "Phono" input instead of the "Line" you will hear major distortion. Make sure you're hooked into the proper input.

Q -- When I use my turntables, all the sound is very quiet, even when I have everything turned all the way up.

A -- Double check that you have your turntables hooked into the proper input. If they are hooked into "Line" the sound will be really quiet.

Q -- The sound is great through the mixer, but is distorted going through my amp.

A -- Try turning the input level on your amp down a bit and see if that helps. Do the same for the mixer output. Make sure the amp is plugged into "Line In" inputs, and not a different one