• Understand the Basics of DJ Gear

• Identify the Right DJ Gear for You

• Select Essential DJ Accessories

• Find DJ Gear on eBay

• Buy DJ Gear With Confidence

Understand the Basics of DJ Gear

Understand the Basics of DJ Gear

Being a DJ requires hardware. The following DJ equipment explains the basics, but a rig can be as varied and extensive as you desire.

• DJ turntables: DJ turntables are the backbone of any DJ setup. At least two turntables are required to scratch, mix, or just play music.

• DJ slipmats: DJ slipmats let you spin and scratch the records smoothly while the turntable still spins. You’ll need one fore each turntable.

• Cartridges: A cartridge houses the record player’s needle. Cartridges are designed to provide different levels of skip-resistance and output. You’ll need one for each turntable.

• DJ mixer: DJ mixers let you blend two audio signals into one output. A crossfader controls which signal you hear more. The mixer is used for mixing and beat matching.

• DJ headphones: DJ headphones are used to cue up the next song for mixing.

If you want to use CDs as your primary source, instead of spinning records, simply replace the turntables, slipmats, and cartridges with a dual-deck CD player.

Identify the Right DJ Gear for You

Identify the Right DJ Gear for You

The variety and complexity of DJ equipment can be daunting, but with a little background information, it’s easy to find the right equipment at the right price.

DJ turntables

Without DJ turntables (also called decks), there’d be no DJs. belt drive turntables attach the platter (where the record goes) to the motor with an elastic band. This works fine for playing music, but is inadequate if you’re planning on doing any scratching. Direct drive turntables mount the platter to the motor for better torque.

Turntables come with a variety of features, including variable speeds, LCD screens, and “S”-shaped arms. Choose features based on what you need and your budget. A good rule is to get the best turntables you can afford, since the turntables are the most important part of any setup.

Quality DJ turntables include Technics turntables, Numark turntables, and Vestax turntables.

Cartridges

Cartridges house the stylus (the needle) that turns a record’s ridges into sound. Cartridges come in different weights (a 3-gram cartridge is ideal for beginners). A dirty or worn-down stylus can cause a lot of wear and tear, so make sure you always have a well-maintained, clean cartridge.

Shure, Stanton, Ortofon make popular cartridges.

DJ mixers

A DJ mixer takes two signals and blends them. All DJ mixers should have at least two inputs (you can connect two sources to it), but some high-end models can have more. The crossfader controls the mix. Sliding it to the left gives you 100% of one input and 0% of the other. Sliding it right does the same thing, but for the other input. Dead centre will give you a 50/50 blend from both inputs.

DJ mixers employ several control systems. Gain control adjusts the levels of each input and EQ controls adjust the tone of the input. Curve controls are important to scratch DJs, who use them to determine how fast the crossfader changes from one source to the other. The hamster switch reverses the channels across the crossfader.

Popular DJ mixers include Numark mixers, Pioneer mixers, and Technics mixers.

DJ headphones

DJ headphones are a personal choice. Make sure they fit you comfortably, accurately represent the music you’re playing, and block outside noise.

Many companies make quality DJ headphones. Some of the most popular are Ministry of Sound, Sennheiser, and Numark.

Select Essential DJ Accessories

Select Essential DJ Accessories

There are enough DJ accessories to create a system that is perfect for you. The equipment you need to DJ for a small gathering of friends is different from what you’d need to blow the roof off a nightclub.

Speakers

There are two kinds of speakers, powered and unpowered. Powered speakers have built-in amplifiers while unpowered speakers don’t. Powered speakers sacrifice versatility for mobility. Unpowered speakers need to be hooked into a system with an amplifier to produce sound.

Popular speakers include Gemini speakers, Numark speakers, and Behringer speakers.

Amplifiers

If you’re running a DJ system with powered speakers, you won’t need an amplifier. It’s simpler to use powered speakers, but if you want versatility, get an amplifier. Amplifiers adjust different bandwidths of sound, letting you boost the low end for bone-rattling bass or raise the high end to accent certain parts of a song.

Denon, Skytec, and Numark all make popular amplifiers for DJs.

CD player

A CD player is a useful addition. Simple CD players can be plugged in to your mixer and played through your system. More complex CD players can be scratched and mixed, just like records.

Gemini, Pioneer, and Technics are makers of popular CD players.

Lights, video, and smoke machines

Almost anything can be hooked into your system to provide the kind of show you want. Laser lights that pulse with the beat, monitors to show videos, or even smoke machines to increase ambiance.

Find DJ Gear on eBay

Find DJ Gear on eBay

Once you know what type of DJ gear you want, go to the Musical Instruments portal, click DJ Gear & Lighting, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You’ll find links for CD Players, DJ Mixers, Turntables, and more. As you dig deeper into the site, you’ll also be able to narrow down your choice by additional attributes, such as brand.

• Keyword Search: Search eBay title listings for specific words. For example, if you want to find cross faders, type “cross faders” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click “Search title and description” to expand your results. Visit eBay’s Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy DJ Gear With Confidence

Buy DJ Gear With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to C$1,250.

• eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.