From Data Controllers to Music, today, we're going to be looking at what kind of gear and equipment that you need to get started in becoming a DJ.
Data Controllers
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There are plenty of options on the market at the moment. The DDJ 400 and the SB3 by Pioneer, Traktor Kontrol S2 by Native Instruments, and Realoop Beatmix 2 are all great options. The DDJ SB3 gives you a great layout that isn't too daunting, nice yet simple, and gives you everything you need to get started. Its layout has got everything you need to learn the fundamentals of DJing.
DJ Software
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We've got four primary apps - Rekordbox, Serato DJ, Virtual DJ and Traktor. If you've got a preference for your software, you might want to keep this in mind when looking at what kind of controller you want to buy as most controllers will come with a license for the software of the company. For example, Rekordbox is going to come with Pioneer products. Traktor will come with Native Instruments products and Serato does a bit of mixture. Some Pioneer products use them. All of these products will have a license in the box or on the product itself. For SB3, you can find that on the little tag.
Laptop/Computer
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Next, if you're using a controller, you will need a laptop or a computer. There's no hard and fast rule about this. Any Windows or Mac computer is going to be compatible with pretty much any controller on the market. Most computers and laptops will run your software just by investing a little bit more in something more powerful is always going to be beneficial to yourself later on.
Studio Monitors
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For starting and learning in the bedroom, a good set of studio monitors will go a long way. When you're DJing for gigs, a good set of speakers will be better for live events. The Audio Fusions are a great entry-level option. Keep your eyes out for the JBL LSR range and Yamaha HS.
Headphones
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Any headphones will work for this. However, DJ headphones specifically are recommended. They provide you with better and more accurate low end DJing and they will cancel external noise better. The AIAIAI TMA 2s are a great pick. The Sennheiser HD 20 Fives also have a lite version of those if you're on a budget.
Music
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Lastly, you can't DJ without any music. You may already have some mp3 as a collection already so they can be imported into your software straight away. You will want to expand on this collection so places like iTunes and Beatport are great places to buy your music. There are also DJ pools online such as digitaldjpool.com where you can pay a certain fee per month and have access to unlimited downloads for mp3 is for you to DJ with. These usually have intros and outros which make it easy to transition between tracks smoothly.
So that pretty much covers it for all the gear you'll need to get started.