What’s up ladies and gentlemen Dj Gogo here. Professional dj since 1996, with 24 years in the game in 2020. Over the course of my career I have seen many companies making turntables, cdjs, and controllers. Many come and go. Today we are comparing Turntables setups, Cdjs setups, and controllers. This is just my personal and professional opinion and does not reflect each and every situation that you are facing. Maybe you are thinking of getting into this industry and/or you are looking to upgrade, maybe you’re just an enthusiast and this is just a hobby. Maybe you are looking at being the best and greatest dj in the world. That looks differently to many people because this is the beautiful part of this industry; each dj is unique in their own way. I am going to point to the pros and cons of each piece of equipment and provide with you my personal preference or opinion. Each one is catered and preferred by individual people and circumstances. Now, I do not represent any company and I have not been bought out by any agency. Lets dive right in. I apologize but this is not a blog of why you should get into djing. Obviously you are past that stage and are now deciding on your equipment of choice.
First lets look at turntables and why they continue to be relevant in 2020. The dj industry standard turntable since as early documented in 1972, is the Technics 1200 turntable. This turntable is a direct drive turntable that offers a very sturdy design. This piece of equipment is the weapon of choice for battles and for people that would like to take their skills to the next level. Djs choose turntables because they are able to manipulate beat matching, scratching, transitions, and beat juggling with more precision then any other piece of equipment. Although many manufacturers of Cdjs and dj controllers have come very close to manipulate the feel and the precision of the turntable, the reality is, it has not being able to match it, and this is a FACT! In 2020, when djs enter battles and other competition, 9/10 djs will choose 2 turntables and a battle mixer. Competitions like the DMC Championships, Red Bull 3Style, are among the most popular and I have yet to see a dj with a Cdj or a controller even make it on their stage, let alone win one of these competitions. The Dj game changed when Rane introduced their turntables, Rane Twelve Turntable. The Rane Twelve came with no needles and had all the bells and whistles that every dj dreamed of. Cost can be an issue, with each Rane Twelve turntable price of $799/each then add a mixer, which if you do choose to buy the Rane 72 ($1800), that will run you roughly over $3000 total for the whole Rane setup. There are other djs that prefer the Pioneer S9 battle mixer, which is an excellent choice too. Many djs, like myself, were willing to cough up the money for the Rane system because it is the Ferrari of a dj setup. This was a no brainer for a dj with regular gigs because it will pay for itself. The cons are that each turntable can weigh up to 17 lbs each. You typically will need 2 turntables, plus a mixer where you will hook up your turntables. If you plan on playing vinyl and use a computer, this is not the system for you because the Rane Twelve has no way to play regular vinyl. Instead you can stick to the Technics 1200s turntables. If you stick to the Technics 1200s, then you will need to buy 2 needles, and additional cost; you will need to replace the stylus over time. You can spend the extra money and purchase a Phase system that eliminates the need for needles and many djs including myself are very happy with this investment option, yet the phase system will not play regular vinyl. You will also need to purchase Serato control vinyl. It is a bit early, but something to consider is that the Rane Twelves are digital; lets knock on wood, but they may run into software and hardware issues. I have yet to see this issue and I’ve had this setup for about a year. If you are planning to take these out on mobile gigs, then you can also purchase the cases for them, which is an extra cost. I personally enjoy the turntables because they are lots of fun. This especially true when you avoid turntables that jump or skip if you’re scratching or beat juggling. I do have a set of Technics 1200 MK3D, and they are probably older then 25 years old. Yet they still work and possibly will continue to work for a very long time. I am using the Rane Setup because there are no limits on how I use them. It also looks awesome when taking pictures or playing at gigs. People are typically very impressed by them because a Dj is typically seen using turntables. There is an added professionalism when you bring these bad boys with you.
Next we will consider the Cdjs. Right now we will look at the industry standard Cdj, which is the Pioneer Cdj-2000 NXS2. They are Cdjs and can run software such as Serato, the industry standard dj software. You can also use Cds, and DVD, USB, Phones and SD cards. I’ve seen these used at clubs, music festivals, and mobile djs. They do have a weight of 12 lbs each and you will still need a dj mixer to plug them into. You will need to purchase 2 of these bad boys. Each Cdj will cost you a whooping $2000+ for each. When you buy 2 ($4398), plus put in a mixer ($700); you are looking at a very expensive investment. I personally do not see why anyone would want to make such an investment, when you have other options. Unless you are showing off your spending power or money is not a thing. I have never seen a dj use Cdjs for any battles or competitions. I have seen many djs use these for dance music and people djing EDM music festivals. Personally, I have never had any desire to purchase CDjs. Everything is now digital and for the price, you can comfortably get a controller plus some speakers. I can do so much more with 2 turntables and a mixer then with Cdjs. I have seen many top djs use Cdjs performing at music festivals, and do well. I just never needed them for my style of djing; scratching and beat juggling: they are just not what I am looking for. They do have a professional look to them and are pleasing to see, mainly because people can associate them with EDM music festivals. I just never liked how they feel.
Lastly, we will look at dj controllers. I actually do own a controller and I will say, controllers do have some functions that are functional and appealing. If you never had a desire to learn to scratch, if this is a hobby, or you are just trying to see if this is a business that you’re looking to explore; by all means buy one. The controller does give you the 2 turntables and mixer, all in one console. No need to buy additional equipment, besides your speaker(s) and a computer of course. They are slim/compact and weigh incredibly less then hauling around a set of turntable and a mixer. They also have all the bells and whistles of a traditional mixer (effects, cue points, extra channel, and mic input). The price can range from $79 for the Numark Dj2GO2 all the way up to Pioneer DDJ-RZX $3000. Something too good to be true usually is. Dj controllers do not get the respect from many djs and average people do not always take controller djs seriously. Most people see a controller as a toy, then as a professional piece of equipment. They might look cool with the neon colors and buttons, yet they are limited. I have yet to see a dj use one of these for a dj battle, let alone win one. Even though the Roland 808 got a lot of attention from many OG djs because of the history of the company, it still does not match up to what turntables and a mixer can do. I did see a bunch of dope djs do a demo on the Roland 808, yet those djs returned back to turntables. People look at controller djs as noobs or people that they can pay less. Like I mentioned, I do own a Numark NVII controller, but I only take this one with me if the customer does not want to pay or for small family functions. I have been able to perform well with a controller because every dj should learn to adjust to any piece of equipment, but there are limitations. You are not able to scratch as good and as accurate, as with a turntable setup. Any dj will tell you that the faders are nothing compared to that of the Rane 72, Pioneer S9, or Numark Scratch, top dj battle mixers. You are most definitely limited to the beat juggling and it is far more difficult if not impossible to do these tricks; compared to what you can do on a set of turntables. I do see how they are economical and fairly cheap and I am not trying to tell you to stay away from them. I see many djs including myself getting down and killing it at my gigs/events. Yet for professional djing, I will always choose turntables over a controller.
The choice between the 3 types of equipment is an individual choice. Every dj should be able to get down/perform in any type of equipment. There are a few minutes to learn and adjust to each individual piece of equipment, yet all are very similar in many ways. You will find limitations of what you can accomplish with each piece of equipment. In 2020, a controller and/or a Cdj is not able to match what a battle dj is able to do with turntables. The technology has come very close, yet battle djs and others with more technical skills, will perform better scratching and beat juggling on turntables and a mixer. Yet there is a market and a demand for each piece of equipment and that depends on each consumer choosing each based on their individual choice and need. If you are starting up, then a controller will make sense because of the cost, flexibility, weight, and how easy it is to transport & setup. As you dive more into djing and want to up your game, you will understand that you are limited by what a controller and a Cdj can do, compared to a turntable setup. Yet, for those of us whom like to scratch and beat juggle, we will always choose a turntable setup, vs a controller or Cdj setup. When I want to show off, entertain, and look professional, I will take my Rane system because there is a level of presentation that comes with it. If you do want to look more professional or you want to be the best dj, then do yourself a favor and invest in your profession. You will see that the choice will not be easy because the industry is saturated with so many djs, controllers, turntables, and mixers. Controllers and computers have opened up the possibility for many new djs, yet it is up to each dj to find their market. So good luck to everyone and keep djing. Please share if this has helped you in any way. Hope this has helped someone make a better decision on what to buy, I understand that there are many options.
Thank you,
Dj Gogo