Learning to DJ (w/ the 3345 Team)
Equipment : turntables
When deciding to mix Vinyl Records, turntables are the most
important part of the systems. You see, a good pair of turntables
will allow you to become a skilled DJ, while a bad pair of
decks will simply cramp your style. Let us explain.
DJ turntable:
When selecting a turntable, the first thing you must ensure,
is that the turntable is suitable for DJing purposes. The decks
need to have a pitch fader, with a minimum range of +/- 8%.
The 33/45 speed selector is not a pitch fader, so don’t
make the mistake of confusing the two. The pitch fader will
allow you to make course, as well as, fine adjustments to the
speed of the plate, allowing you to beat match tracks.
Drive mechanism:
The second issue of any turntable is its drive mechanism.
Let us tell you the best arrangement first. A top quality turntable
will have a direct drive, with the motor directly driving the
plate. A good quality deck, will also have a strong motor with
plenty of torque (usually + 3Kg/cm), allowing the DJ to slip-cue,
or in other words, hold the record still, while the plate continues
to spin beneath it. A good quality deck will have a fast start
up time, for cold starts, when using cut-in mix styles.
Now, lets look at the opposite. A cheap pair of decks will
use a belt-drive, which means that the plate receives torque
from a remote motor, interconnected by a rubber belt. This
is usually a very weak arrangement, firstly because the belt
simply can’t transfer torque effectively which means
poor start up times and definitely no slip-cueing. Secondly,
the belt in a belt-drive will simply wear out, resulting in
pitch-waves (accelerating, then decelerating pitch). Generally
speaking, it is almost impossible to be a good DJ on a belt
drive, so try to avoid them either now or in the future.
Examples:
A good pair of direct-drive decks, include the Technics SL-1200
range or the Numark TTX. We say this, because we’ve tried
both and they are excellent. In terms of bank-for-buck, the
Numark TTX is miles ahead and is also feature packed.
When you first setup your turntable, be sure to remove the
factory fitted factory-mat and re-place it with your slip-mats.
© 3345 Team
3345, the Vinyl Records Home.
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