The best hardware to use

As said before, resident DJs have it easy and just have to bring along their tunes; lighting and sound is provided. If you are planning on going on the road to do wedding parties, etc. you'll need everything, including decks, amps, speakers, microphone, lights, and possibly fog machines and projectors.

You have to speak to the client and establish the amount of kit you will need before going. A good idea is to have a decent sized pair of speakers for most occasions and speaker stands so they won't get in the way and, more importantly, the sound will carry to the back of the room.

A good pair of record decks is very important and the industry-standard Technics SL1200/1210s are unbeatable (the 1210s are the black option). They are expensive but worth every penny. Reliability comes with a price and the direct-driven SLs are a breeze to work with. Any serious nightclub will have a pair. Belt-driven turntables are cheaper but if that belt breaks during a mix or when you’re in the middle of choosing the next record, you're finished!

Now you have the Technics, you have to be able to beat mix two tunes together to maintain the energy and rhythm in the venue. You do this by playing one tune though the speakers and playing the other through a pair of headphones and then match the beats with the two. Bring in the monitored tune over the speakers for a check that the beats are level and then when you're ready and at the appropriate part of the playing tune, fade the monitored one in.

For lighting, a standard set of pin spots on two stands controlled by a four-way light controller is a good way to go, together with a lighting screen at the front and below the record decks. If you don't have a built in amplifier on your record decks, you'll need a sound mixer to control the levels of each deck. Don't forget a pair of slip mats!

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