How Much Does it Cost to Become a DJ?
It can depend on what type of DJ you want to be. Do you want to be a party DJ, club DJ, or even a bedroom DJ? Maybe you want to be all three. I am here to help you find out how much it costs to be a DJ.
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How Much Does it Cost to Become a DJ?
The main thing that will affect the cost of becoming a DJ will be the equipment. Again this will be down to the type of DJ you want to be.
Dj equipment varies so much in costs. From entry-level equipment to premium decks you are talking thousands of dollars in the difference. Anyway, I will do my best to break it down for you.
Assuming you want to DJ using a laptop, you will need the following equipment.
- A Good Laptop
- DJ Controller or Mixer
- DJ Software
- Headphones
- Microphone
DJ Laptop
You will need a good laptop that has plenty of ram and a good processor. I would check your own laptop first to see what spec you have, before you run off to buy a new one.
Most Dj’s nowadays will likely use a laptop for djing. They are reliable, convenient, and you can manage your whole music library using the DJ software.
I would suggest a minimum of 8GB of ram (ideally 16gb) and an i5 processor. If you have 8gb ram, you should be able to upgrade to 16Gb for a small fee.
It’s completely up to you whether you want a PC or mac for djing, they are both perfect for djing with a laptop.
This is where it’s difficult to tell you how much it costs to become a DJ, as you might pay $500 or $2000 for a laptop.
I Would Recommend these as some of the best laptops for Djing:
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You can also find some refurbished or used versions of these laptops on eBay & Amazon. I did a full post on djing with a laptop here.
How Much Does a DJ Mixer Cost?
If you want to be a DJ, you will at least need a DJ mixer. I am going to assume if you are reading this post, you are just starting.
How much does a DJ mixer cost? You can spend anything from $100 – $2500 on a DJ mixer. If you are starting, do not spend top dollar.
The main reason is you do not need to do this. You can get a high-quality DJ mixer for about $300 or so, and that will be perfect for you. This can connect to a laptop, turntables or CD decks.
However, you will need decks to attach to the mixer. These cost a lot of money also.
For example, a pair of Pioneer CDj Pros cost $2199 per player. So that’s $4,398 not including the mixer.
The mixer that ideally goes with this set up is the DJM-900NXS2; and it will set you back another $2,199.
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How Much Does a DJ Set Cost?
Well, inexpensive or expensive as you like. Unless you are planning on leasing the equipment to clients or starting a youtube channel at home for dedicated mixing, I wouldn’t buy the Pioneer CDJ set up.
Why? Well, the main reason is, you don’t need it. The second is, any decent club will have a similar set up in a club anyway for you. So you don’t need to buy it. Just buy a high-end Dj controller that has a similar layout.
If you are just starting out and want to keep things simple, and your costs down, you should get a DJ controller.
What is a Dj Controller? A DJ controller is an all in one unit that has decks and a mixer all rolled into one device that connects to your laptop & DJ software.
What is the Best DJ controller For a Beginner?
Again it will depend on what kind of DJ you want to be. For example a club or party DJ. Luckily, there’s a couple of models available that can do both extremely well.
There’s a couple of models I think are good Dj controllers for beginners. They also come with free software so you can simply plug and play right away.
I would recommend any of these:
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How Much Does DJ Software Cost?
Finding the right DJ software for beginners can all be about preference. I started out with Virtual DJ and just got so used to it. I eventually moved to Traktor due to more advanced capabilities.
The Main 3 options you will have are:
However, I actually wouldn’t go out and buy a software if you are just starting out.
If you have not bought a DJ mixer yet, you should buy a DJ controller instead. The reason being is that these all include some DJ software.
In saying that I would only buy a good controller that comes with the premium version of each software.
Most Native Instruments mixers come with their latest version of Traktor Pro. You are saving yourself over $100 by doing this.
For example, you can pick up the TRAKTOR KONTROL Z1 for around $220.
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How Much Do DJ Headphones Cost?
Don’t go out and spend $400 on the latest DJ headphones. In my opinion they are a waste of money. I did that before, and found they just brake too easily.
It used to piss me off so much when people would come up to the DJ booth and put the headphones on, and being drunk idiots won’t take them off (rant over).
I wouldn’t spend more than $150 on headphones if I were you. If you have a set at home, they will work fine.
What I started doing and found more people doing it was using their own iPhone headphones.
You don’t necessarily need over-ear headphones. I noticed Laidback Luke doing this a couple of years ago. However, I do know these are custom fit molds to his ear.
Side Note: Check Out Laidback Luke’s Videos. He is a gifted DJ with some amazing mixing skills are creativity. He’s not the biggest name in the world (Main Stage DJ), but an excellent DJ you should check out.
How Much Does A DJ MicroPhone Cost?
A DJ microphone is more important if you are a party or a wedding DJ. I find this more so for wedding DJs.
Wedding DJ’s are more like entertainers in a way. I find there’s often two types of DJ, the mixers and the entertainers. If you are an entertainer, get a good mic.
If you plan on doing parties and wedding, you need to invest in a good microphone.
Do NOT, I repeat, do not buy a shitty cheap microphone. You are better off buying an expensive mic vs expensive headphones.
You need to sound good while speaking. A good clear DJ mic is important. If you are a club DJ, it’s not as important because you’ll barely use it.
I always found from working with musicians and other DJs, the advice I used to get was to get a SHURE BETA.
Don’t be afraid to invest in a mic. It will last you for years. I bought my DJ mic in 2009 and I still have it.
Just so I don’t overcomplicate it, I’d get this one The SHURE Beta58A.
You can read the reviews for more in-depth info but at the time of this blog, it has nearly 5 stars and over 250 written reviews. It’s one of the best microphones for DJs to start off with.
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How Much Does it Cost to Become a DJ?
As I have mentioned, the amount it costs to be a DJ will depend on the equipment you need and the spec you buy.
I will assume you are buying all the equipment below new and within a beginners spec.
You should check out my post on Djing with a laptop HERE. It goes into more detail becoming a DJ with a laptop.
- A Good Laptop ($500-$1200)
- DJ Controller or Mixer ($300 – $1000)
- DJ Software ($0.00 Included with Dj controller)
- Headphones ($100 – $150)
- Microphone ($150 – $250)
If you would like to know more about how to DJ using some of the software mentioned above; you should check out DJ Courses Online HERE.
Diclaimer
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