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Setting Up a DJ System

Being a DJ, or disc jockey, requires you to know how to choose music, blend songs and work with a fully equipped sound system. Practicing at home to be a DJ will enable you to hone your skills and prepare you for DJing for parties or other occasions. However, before learning the specifics of DJing, you need to understand how to situate and connect all the components of your system properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Power strip with surge protector
  • Mixer
  • CD player(s)
  • Headphones
  • CD collection
  • Amplifier
  • Speakers
  • 2 RCA cables
  • Computer with MP3 playlist
  • TRS headphone cable(s)
  • Line level cable
  • Speaker cables
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Instructions

  1. Setup of DJ Equipment

    • 1

      Situate the largest components first: Usually these will be your speakers. Ideally they should be close to a wall facing outward. This allows sound to spread evenly throughout the room. Ensure your speaker cables are long enough to reach the amplifier without stretching the cables.

    • 2

      Place your mixer and amp between the speakers. If one component is smaller, place it on top to save space.

    • 3

      Place your CD collection and headphones within easy reach of your chair. Ensure all your components are in the proper place and that your cables won't be stepped on if you leave your work area.

    • 4

      Take an inventory of your cables and check them before connection. If you see any frayed sections, use electrical tape for a temporary fix. Replace damaged cables as soon as possible, preferably before using your DJ equipment.

    Connecting DJ Equipment

    • 5

      Plug the ends of your 2 RCA cables into the output jacks on your CD players or other source of audio. Most commonly this is a CD player, but you can use a computer with an MP3 playlist. If you're using a computer to play music, you can connect the TRS cable to the headphone jack on your computer's sound card, according to the website Musician's Friend.

      Plug the free end of your first RCA into the mixer's "Input Channel 1." Plug the other cable into "Input Channel 2."

    • 6

      Plug one end of the line level cable into the jack on the mixer labeled "Line Out." Plug the other end into the amplifier's "Line In" jack.

    • 7

      Connect your speakers to the amplifier using the speaker cables. Plug the other end of the speaker cables into the output jacks on the amplifier. The channel numbers from input and output must match or you won't get any sound.

    • 8

      Plug all necessary components into the surge protector and then into a wall outlet.

    • 9

      Turn the volume and gain down on all channels of the mixer, turn the power on, and test your DJ system. If you connected everything properly, you should be able to hear the track you're playing.

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