DJ Mixers
Summary: DJ mixers are a key component of any disc jockey’s gear. DJ mixers help DJs make smooth transitions between audio sources.
DJ Mixers keep the beats coming
DJ mixers are an important part of any disc jockey’s performance. Mastery of these important tools is essential to any serious DJ’s career as an entertainer.
Technical competence and performance is key to being a good DJ. You can look the part and act the part, but if you don’t have the technical chops and the right equipment, you’re going to fail. Charisma and stage presence can get you far, but if you drop beats or have messy transitions between tracks, you’re going to lose the crowd, and any chance you may have of becoming a successful DJ.
The best DJs use their equipment to guide the crowd, to pump them up and guide them down. That’s why picking the right equipment is so important.
Picking the right mixer
While they’re not as iconic as the turntable, DJ mixers are a key component of a DJ’s gear. Mixers are essentially electronic equipment that allow DJs to smooth transitions between musical tracks. Adjusting sound and speed to create a seamless transition.
The mixer can be used to cue a non-playing source to the DJ’s headphones, which he can then adjust to blend in with the playing audio. Mixers are basically used to creat mixes, which are a sequence of tracks put together to sound like an uninterrrupted musical track.
Most modern mixers use between two and six stereo channels to connect and mix audio and music. Each mixer channel will have a spot available for a phono input. They’ll also have RIAA equalization to be used with any turntables the DJ might use.
The mixer will also have about two line level inputs for CD players and other audio sources. The controls will be lined up in a vertical column, with an input selector at the top, then a gain control, then an equalizer section which is used to fade tracks in and out to help smooth the transition between audio tracks.
Selecting your mixer
When you purchase a DJ mixer, you want to buy a mixer that’s going to be dependable and user-friendly. It’s also going to need to be a device that fits your skill level.
For beginning, DJs, especially those playing small venues, you can start out using a lower end mixer that only costs about $50-$90. For larger speaker sets, you’ll need a better mixer to avoid a persistent buzzing noise that often happens when you match a low-end mixer with a large speaker. A good mixer will cost you about $100. For a solidly dependable DJ mixer, you’ll probably end up paying around $400.
