20.11.11

An Introduction to DJ Equipment Speakers and Mixers

By Eric James


DJ Equipment Speakers

Loudspeakers are, of course, an exceptionally critical portion of any DJ's setup, so you'll want to carefully consider your alternatives. And you will never find any kind of shortage of products. Online stores stock all the leading brands and models, and you'll typically learn a great deal just by researching the online descriptions. As expected, should you have any associates who are DJs you can get lots of tips from them.

For starters, there are two sorts of dj equipment speakers: active and passive. Active speakers have amplifiers built-in, and so all you need to do is deliver a signal from your mixer to each speaker. Needless to say, you have to adjust the loudspeakers before your function, and there exists the issue of getting electrical power to each speaker which means more wires run to where you position your loudspeakers. Still a lot of DJs opt for this system as well as simplicity it provides.

Passive loudspeakers have no built-in amp, therefore you require either an external amp or a powered mixer to feed your loudspeakers.

I have a preference for passive speakers hooked to an external amp. Though this is a topic of your own liking.

DJ Equipment Mixers

DJ Equipment Mixers are at the center of any DJ's setup. For the brand-new DJ your choices might be somewhat bewildering, however they don't have to be. A mixer is merely that - a component that lets you combine two or more inputs into one output that generally feeds your amplifier after which your speakers. It is much more that just a "switcher" that allows you to select inputs, although occasionally that's what it's used for. And it's way more than simply a volume control, even though, again, it does that, too. But it really does a whole lot more.

DJ equipment mixers mean you can have all those fantastic fades from one particular input to the other. Quite a few mixers include built-in effects in order to alter your audio in mind-boggling ways. Most all mixers include EQ controls which let you form the audio coming from the different channels by fine-tuning the bass, mid-range, and highs.

Another thing a mixer does for you is it enables you to employ a pair of headphones to listen to only one channel at any given time, or to listen to the whole mix. You will discover this to be particularly valuable.

The DJ won't have to have some big console mixer with 24 or more channels. Often four channels will sufficient. Stick with one of the top makes and honestly learn to use your DJ equipment mixer and you ought to be off to a fantastic start.

Summary

The key thing is always that all your equipment - from DJ equipment speakers to your DJ mixer to headphones and microphones all will work with each other properly so you get good sound - and happy customers.

- Craig is a former church sound tech and enjoys writing about audio topics at sites like DJ Equipment Speakers and Mixers.




About the Author: