Vinyl Emulation Software (Serato) and CD Player Technology (CDJs) – DJ equipment changes
Question: What equipment do you need to be a DJ?
- Serato with Mac Laptop and CDJ – New Technology
Over the past 4-5 years, the answer to that question has changed drastically. The correct answer used to be 2 turntables, needles and a mixer along with records but that is not what a DJ will tell you right now. Technology has changed this answer in the form of 2 things: Vinyl Emulation Software and CD Player Technology.
Now, a DJ might suggest you at least get a laptop computer along with Serato, Rekordbox, Torq, Final Scratch or some other form of Vinyl Emulation Software and DJ oriented CD players. What Vinyl Emulation software does is allow a DJ to use a digital form of a song like a MP3 or a WAV file the same way you would use a vinyl record. This software can eliminate the task of carrying heavy milk crates of records. Most DJs will say records have a warmer sound and feel to them. However, carrying a laptop computer and an external hard drive is a small price to pay to have an arsenal of songs with the equivalent of 50+ milk crates of records. You might not need that much music but it does add that diversity that is needed for a DJ. DJ Jazzy Jeff used to have to pay extra for all the crates of music he used to bring on the airplane when he would travel but not anymore. He said he’s saved so much money in extra baggage fees due to him not having to carry records.
Most Vinyl emulation software works with turntables and DJ oriented CD Players. As far as CD player technology goes, that has changed drastically. DJ oriented CD Players, now called CDJs, have the feel and sound of turntables now. Scratching can be done on advanced CDJs that even makes the finickiest Turntablist feel comfortable with them. No more replacing needles every so often. The newer CDJs even have special sound effects and also have sound looping and anti-skip features built into them. DJing has been make so much easier due to the advancements in CD player technology.
Simply put… Before, to be a DJ, you needed 2 turntables, preferably Technics 1200, needles, a mixer and of course records. Now the preferable equipment to be a DJ is 2 CDJs ,a mixer and more than likely a laptop computer with vinyl emulation software running on it and an external hard drive for all of the music in digital format that you will be using. That is how Vinyl Emulation Software and CD player technology has changed the game!
If you have any discrepancies to what you just heard, comments on what you just heard or have new ideas on who or what changed hip hop and I will challenge your ideas too then send an email to patrick@patrickscientific.com
Until next time peace
Audio Verison as done originally on Strictly Hip Hop on WEAA 88.9 FM below.