Tips for choosing a DJ mixer

The DJ mixer is a key piece of DJ equipment. Choosing a DJ mixer can be a little confusing at first. I have aimed this buyers guide at the novice DJ who is doesn't have a strong grasp of what features are important in their DJ mixer.

There is a huge variety of DJ equipment out there so I have boiled it down to three mixers that I have used and rate highly.

I'll take you through the best features and I have also recommended what I think are the best DJ mixers at 3 different price ranges.

Cheap DJ Mixer:

I think for your first mixer you should spend around $100. At this price I recommend the Numark DM1050 which is on special at the moment only $79!.

This mixer is fine for practicing on and playing out at parties. But I found cheaper mixers often have a buzzing noize coming out of the mixer over really powerful sound systems. This is why you pay for a better mixer if you will be playing over big systems.

Numark DM1050 2-Channel Mixer This basic DJ mixer has all the essentials for an easy price. 2 line inputs, 2 phono inputs which are switchable to line level, and one mic input. Master and record outputs. 3-band EQ and gain on each channel. EQ on mic channel. Master and PFL metering. Replaceable crossfader with reverse and slope control. Slider-style cueing.

As you can see it is also compact for easy transportation. This is quite good value even though it is a 2 channel mixer. It has a mic input as well so you can mix two turntables/CD players and a MC on a mic together all at once and adjust all three levels so it sounds good.

If you've got a mate that fancies themselves as an MC then you can have some fun practicing your mixing while they practice their rhymes.

Another important feature is that this mixer has 3-band Eqs. This is a requirement for DJing. You must be able to cut the bass separately in the mix so that it sounds smooth.

This mixer also lets you listen to each channel in the headphones independently of the main output so that you can beat mix properly (get the next track in time).

The problem with this type of cheap mixer is that the crossfaders are of low quality. After a few months you may get some clicking noises from the crossfader and of course this mixer is not high enough quality to use with a big sound system.

Middle price DJ mixer:

If you want to get a DJ mixer that will let you do a lot more live stuff in your sets then I recommend you get the Vestax VMC-180 3-Channel House / Techno Mixer. This mixer retails for less than $400. This is another compact 3 channel mixer. But also lets you adjust the level of 4 mics.

Having more features in one mixer is a good idea. You can always chain mixers together but you will quickly degrade the sound quality and increase the complexity of your setup.

Vestax VMC-180 3-Channel House / Techno Mixer Vestax's VMC-180 is a mixer designed to give a beginner DJ all the tools they need to learn their craft. The 3 channel music mixer is built on their previous successful platforms with some updated features and sturdier construction. Features the Vestax PCV crossfader as used on their PMC-05 Pro II scratch mixer.

This would be great if you wanted lives drums MC and vocals. The channels can also be sent to an effects unit for even more interesting sounds.

It has 3 channel Eqs and kill switches on each Eq. Kill switches let you kill the bass, middle or trebles instantly and are fun to play with and can create some interesting effects.

I have used one of these and they have amazingly quiet and smooth crossfaders. This mixer would be perfect for playing over a big sound system in a club.

Top of the line DJ mixer:

If you can afford a little over a grand, then get the Pioneer DJM-600 Pro. I have used this mixer a few times and love it. This is a four channel mixer plus 2 mic levels. One thing it has is the ability to mix the signal running into the headphones.

Pioneer DJM-600 Pro DJ Mixer If you want the mixer that 9 out of 10 DJs use, you'll want the Pioneer DJM-600 Pro DJ Mixer. It's a 4-channel, crossfader mixer with CD/line, mic, phono, and return inputs; send, RCA master, XLR master, record, phones, and booth monitor outs; 3 bands of EQ on each channel; channel peak meters; track faders and trims; an independent monitor switch (enables independent or simultaneous monitoring of channels, mic, master, and effects); and more. Automatic functions include auto BPM measurement, auto beat sampler, and auto beat effector. Other functions include fader start play, headphone monitor split, a choice of 3 crossfader curves, and talk over.

The fantastic thing is the built in effects and BPM counter. I have used some cheap mixers with beat counters and they were completely worthless. I have used this mixer and the DJM-500 beat counters are good enough to mix with.

So if you can't beat mix (don't know how or are too smashed) then this DJ mixer will calculate the BPM of each track to you can get them in time with no effort.

The other fantastic thing is that the built in effects can be synchronized with the BPM of your tracks so that you get delays in time. This is really effective for vocals.

This mixer has all the other required features for DJing. 3 band Eqs high quality faders and LED level indicators. It is also a great DJ mixer for using CD players.

You can also assign the crossfader to any of the 4 channels so that you can effortlessly change from mixing off CD or vinyl. It has a Fader Start Play function that overrides the pause control to start the music when the fader is increased.

Of course if you want what I think is the best mixer for reasonable money then take at look at the Pioneer DJM-800. This is a serious piece of DJ equipment.

Pioneer DJM-800 Professional DJ Mixer Pioneer's DJ music mixers have a reputation for providing high-quality audio and reliability. The DJM-800 incorporates features recommended by many professional DJs and club engineers, raising the bar on sound fidelity and ease of mixer operation. Most important are its high-quality 24-bit/96kHz sampling and effect capabilities.High Quality Audio The analog signal from the player passes through the shortest signal route, first digitized at 24-bit/96kHz through a pro A/D converter where it reaches the digital mixing stage with the best sound possible. The mixing is carried out by 32-bit DSP with minimal deterioration of sound quality. A highly rigid chassis minimizes unnecessary vibration, which could adversely affect sound quality. The mixer also incorporates a dual-shield structure for eliminating entry of digital noise and a high performance power supply for noise-free power.Sound Color Effects For A New Style of DJ Mixing The world's first pro DJ mixer with Auto Harmonic Tuning detects the key of song and automatically corrects to the closest true key. In music theory terms, when a DJ raises the pitch of a song in the key of C by three percent, the song is no longer in the key of C, but somewhere between C and C sharp. This makes it impossible to perform a perfect harmonic mix. Pioneer's new Harmonic Tuning feature takes the key of the source audio and adjusts the pitch until it is that of a standard...