A DJ mixer lies at the heart of every DJ setup. All of the signals from your decks, CD players and external effects are fed through the mixer where they're tweaked, balanced and blended. Basically, the mixer is where all the magic happens.
Standard Mixers & DJ Mixers: What's the Difference?
On the face of it, DJ mixers have a lot in common with standard live or recording mixers. Just like a standard mixer, a DJ mixer will have a number of channels and fitted inputs for hooking up microphones, line signals, and phono signals. You can also mix all those different audio sources together to make one cohesive whole. You can also tweak the tone of the main-bus, but the magic ingredient that makes a DJ mixer a DJ mixer is the crossfader, which is what allows DJs to actually mix two different tracks to create something new. Another big difference between a standard analogue mixer and a DJ mixer is the layout. DJ mixers tend to have far less channels - often just two. However, four-channel mixers are getting popular. DJ mixers a usually pretty stripped back simply because DJs don't need so many channels and controls. While a big live mixer will have more channels and more options for shaping the tone and other parameters, DJ mixers tend to keep things simple so that the sound of the two to four channels can be tweaked quickly and easily.
Mixing Audio with an Analogue or Digital DJ Mixer
A really neat solution for contemporary DJs is the hardware based digital DJ mixer which features a built-in audio interface so it can be directly hooked up to a computer loaded with DJ software. In this situation, your computer also serves as your audio source. Analogue DJ mixers don't support audio or MIDI over USB, so they can't be connected to a computer in the same way. Classic analogue mixers only have analogue ports for connecting audio sources like turntables, tabletop media players and outputs for speakers.
Setting up a DJ Mixer
All of the external gear that serves as your audio sources is connected up to the inputs of your hardware-based DJ mixer. So, you might be plugging in a pair of media or CD players, or if you prefer vinyl, a set of turntables. Usually, you'll be working with two audio sources, e.g. your left and right deck, just like a traditional DJ setup, with your mixer nestled in the middle of two decks, one linked to the left channel, and one to the right.
Using a DJ Mixer
With a DJ mixer, you basically control the balance between your left and right audio sources. Sometimes both decks will be playing at the same time - maybe you're mixing the beat and bass of the track playing on the left with the vocals of the track playing on the right - but most of the time, you'll be playing tracks on each deck, one by one, with seamless transitions in between. This is where your crossfader comes in. This essential tool is what you use to blend you left and right decks, or flip from the left deck, to the right deck as the next track starts. Using a set of DJ headphones, you can check the 'Cue' of the track on one deck without your audience being able to hear it. You can also make sure the tempo of the track on one deck matches to the track currently playing on the other, and tweak the pitch so that, as you slowly flip from one track to the next, you basically create a new track and a seamless transition. You can also play around with the colour of your mix with the bass, mid, and treble controls or by adding effects.
Mixing with DJ Software & Apps
You can also mix tracks using software. Which is great if you're on the way somewhere and don't have access to your complete setup, but happen to have your tablet handy. Using an array of applications you can prep mixes and setlists before a gig, save a mix to the cloud and then load it up in your DJ gear later.
The Big Names: Pioneer DJ, Numark, Allen & Heath, Behringer
It won't be a surprise to anyone that Pioneer DJ currently sit on top of the DJ mixer pile. But Pioneer DJ mixers can be pricey, so this might narrow down your choices quite a bit. Behringer offer much more affordable alternatives at a lower price, especially for entry-level DJs, and for more technically-focussed DJs that want complete control over the sound, there are the more unique Allen & Heath offerings, which come with a lot of in-depth control features.
Frequently Asked Questions About DJ Mixers
How do you mix music on a computer?
To mix music on your computer, you'll need a digital DJ mixer and some DJ software. The best DJ software will depend on what you want to do - so your software is a really personal and subjective thing. Of course, you'll also need an audio source, which can be a turntable or media player, but you can also just mix the music files you already have on your computer, or integrate compatible streaming services like TIDAL.
What's the best DJ setup for beginners?
For a beginner DJ it'll often be overkill to go for the full-on mixer and two-deck setup, especially since you can get simple (and often cheaper) all-in-one DJ controllers to learn and hone your skills with. Basically, a DJ controller combines a mixer and two media players in one box which can be hooked up to your computer, and they're usually really beginner-friendly and don't cost too much.
Which DJ mixer should I go for?
Start by looking at the number and type of audio sources that you want to work with. Say you want to set up a pair of turntables that don't have an integrated preamp: then you'll need to get a mixer fitted with phono inputs. If you want to mix music via your computer: then you'll need a digital DJ mixer with a built-in USB audio interface. A lot of beginner DJs go for an all-in-one DJ controller instead of a separate mixer and decks.
What programmes do DJs use?
Most DJs use software like Traktor, Rekordbox, Serato, Virtual DJ or DJUCED. It's worth knowing that not all hardware is going to be compatible with every bit of DJ software. For example, Rekordbox is the official Pioneer DJ software, while Traktor is the standard Native Instruments software. Always double check that the mixer or controller you're thinking about investing in will be compatible with the software that you want to use.
