What’s the Best DJ Controller for Me? |
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Back in the day, things were a lot easier for DJs – simply set up your two turntables and your mixer. With the emergence of DJ controllers and other modern gear, picking out your set up has got a lot tougher. It’s only logical that you can’t see the woods for the trees, so here’s a little guidance. If you can’t see the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us! What is it? | What Can I Do with It? | Decks | Mixer | Connections | More 1. What is a DJ Controller?A DJ controller is essentially a full DJ-set in one piece of equipment: two players with a mixer in between. While you can’t insert a CD or play vinyl with them, you can connect them up to your computer, and use DJ software combined with your digital music collection to make it work. You don’t need any more than that! Via a USB cable, the controller sends MIDI information to the DJ software on your computer (this software is almost always included with the controller) and every button and knob of the controller adjusts a function within the software. For example, press the play button on the controller and the track loaded into the DJ software on your computer will start to play. Sometimes, you can even use a tablet or smartphone in place of a laptop or computer. Tip: If you’d prefer to use a complete system that doesn’t need a computer at all, then take a look at the ‘all-in-one players’. All DJ Controllers
2. What Can I Do with a DJ Controller?It’s pretty simple: play records! Using the DJ controller, you select a track and play it back. While the music plays, you select a second track on the other deck, then you can play the track over the first one so that they blend – this is what’s meant by ‘mixing’. You can mix tracks endlessly, one after the other and pack the whole night with fat beats. It’s important to analyse every track using the DJ software first. This ensures that the programme knows the correct BPM and that the beat grid is right. In the beatgrid, every measure and beat is precisely mapped out. You can also set cues and hot cues. These are important points in the track where, during playback, you can immediately jump to – for example, the very start of the track, or the chorus.
3. What Can I Do with the Decks of a DJ Controller?Instead of a pair of separate turntables or tabletop players, a DJ controller has two built-in ‘decks’. Sometimes, you can even switch to an extra two decks at the flip of a switch. With most controllers, you’’ll see the following features: Jogwheel: This looks a lot like the platter of a turntable. This wheel can be rotated to fast forward or rewind a track to specific point, adjust it, search through it, or scratch. Using the pitch-fader you can make the track play slightly slower or faster. Pads: These are usually a group of square-shaped buttons that can be used for a number of things. They can be used for hot-cues to jump to a specific point in a track, or can be used to create a sweeping stutter effect or ‘roll’ which repeats a bar or part of a bar. You also have a slicer effect (that plays a small snippet of the track), sampler (that can be used to pre-record little bits of audio and play them back later), and loop (where a snippet is played back on a loop). Play/Pauze and Cue: When the cue button is pushed, the music will play back as long as the button is held down. This is useful when monitoring a track (without the audience being able to hear it before it’s been mixed in).
4. What Does a DJ Controller Mixer Do?The mixer built into a DJ controller usually has two or four channels. Normally, the sound runs from each deck to their own channel. Use the level or gain control knobs to adjust the volume of any track being played on either deck. Try to make sure that the volume is as loud as it can be without turning red. Using the channel faders, you can make smaller volume adjustments while playing, so that the tracks are kept nicely balanced. With the cross fader, the sound can be made to flow from one channel to the other, so one deck or track to the other so – for example, when the cross fader is set in the middle, both tracks can be heard at the same time. If your mixer has filter controls, you can also add some creative effects by filtering out the high or low frequencies. With the EQ (equaliser) controls, you can make much smaller adjustments. Here, you can make sure that the bass, treble, and mid-range frequencies of a track are well balanced. The total volume, or master volume can also be controlled, as well as the microphone sound and level (if you have one or can connect one). Also, so that you can scroll through your music library, there might be a big rotary knob included.
5. What Can I Connect to a DJ Controller?A DJ controller will almost always come fitted with a USB port for connecting it to your computer. Sometimes, you can also connect the controller to a tablet or smartphone, depending on the model. Always read the specifications of a controller in detail to check if you’ll need to buy any special cables. With cheaper models, you’ll need to connect your speakers or headphones to the headphone/line-output of your computer. But, if the controller has a built-in audio interface, then you can connect your speakers and headphones directly to the controller. A big advtantage of this is that you can already listen to a track through your headphones (so preview or monitor the track) while another track is playing over your speakers. This is essential for the serious DJ! A controller with a built-in audio interface normally comes fitted with RCA sockets for connecting active speakers or an amplifier. More expensive models will have professional XLR sockets. Your headphones can be plugged in using a 3.5mm mini-jack or 6.3mm jack. There are somtimes sockets included for turntables or tabletop players (RCA), and a microphone (XLR or 6.3mm jack). A power cable is not always included since some controllers are USB powered. DJ Controllers with Built-In Audio Interface
6. What Else Do I Need to Know?With most controllers, you’ll also get DJ software. It’s worth noting that in some cases this is the light version of the software, so you won’t get the full functionality of the whole package. If you want more, than you can pick up the full version separately. The easiest way to go is to use the DJ software that the DJ controller was actually made for. If your controller and your favourite software aren’t totally compatible, then you could always solve the problem by ‘MIDI mapping’ your device. This way, you choose which function the knobs and buttons control within the software. While this sounds great, be aware that it’s very time-consuming and not that easy to do. Finally, always check if you’ll need to install any extra drivers or firmware on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, and that you have all the right system requirements.
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