DJ GEAR: MIXERS

Owning a pair of vinyl or CD decks is not enough if you want to start DJing as you will also need a suitable mixer to link everything together and sit at the heart of your set-up. Because the mixer is unlikely to affect how well you can mix, I would say that it is more important to get a decent pair of decks, rather than splashing your budget on a super all-singing, all-dancing mixer and only having enough left over for a pair of poor decks (the exception to this case is scratch DJs who will need something sturdy with a smooth crossfader to complement some decent decks). However, the mixer is likely to have a lot to do with the sound quality of your mixes, as well as determining how many turntables you can connect and mix from at once, and some mixers may even includes additional creative features such as built-in effects and sample recorders/loopers.

MIXER RECOMMENDATIONS

At Absolute Music, we stock a range of DJ mixers from Allen & Heath and Pioneer, which in my opinion are the two best DJ mixer manufacturers out there. In fact, I can’t think of an instance where I have played in a club that has had something other than one of these mixers! The only other type of mixer that I would consider is a Vestax mixer if I were a scratch DJ as Vestax make some excellent quality, simple mixers that are designed for turntablists. If you are a club DJ though, my advice would be to go for an Allen & Heath or a Pioneer as you really can’t go wrong with either of these!

Allen & Heath’s Xone series provides a mixer for all skill and budget levels. The Xone:22 is the cheapest in the range, providing all the basic controls that you will need to perform a mix. It has 2 channels, each with 3-band EQ and on top of this it even features a filter to add some dramatic sweeps to your performances.

[caption id="attachment_3213" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Allen & Heath Xone:22"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/allen-and-heath-xone-22-dj-mixer-4053)[/caption]

For more information on the Allen & Heath Xone:22, click the link below:

Allen & Heath Xone:22 - More Info/Buy

Moving further up the Xone range, there is the Xone:02, which is a top quality turntablist/scratch mixer that has been designed to make scratching as simple as possible with its smooth faders and uncluttered layout. If you are a scratch DJ, this mixer is definitely worth considering because it has such a great feel to it, which will contribute to a more comfortable, natural performance.

[caption id="attachment_3214" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Allen & Heath Xone:02"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/allen-heath-xone-02-dj-mixer-200)[/caption]

For more information on the Allen & Heath Xone:02, click the link below:

Allen & Heath Xone:02 - More Info/Buy

The Xone:32 adds a third channel to the Allen & Heath Xone series of club mixers and again, features some of those fantastic sounding Allen & Heath filters...

[caption id="attachment_3216" align="aligncenter" width="765" caption="Allen & Heath Xone:32"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/allen-heath-xone-32-dj-mixer-198)[/caption]

For more information on the Allen & Heath Xone:32, click the link below:

Allen & Heath Xone:32 - More Info/Buy

The Xone:42 adds a fourth channel to the Xone series of mixers, along with a few other features...

[caption id="attachment_3217" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Allen & Heath Xone:42"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/allen-heath-xone-42-dj-mixer-2359)[/caption]

For more information on the Allen & Heath Xone:42, click the link below:

Allen & Heath Xone:42 - More Info/Buy

Of course, there is also the Xone:92, which which takes things to the next level with its 4-band EQ, selection of filters, LFOs, MIDI output, dual headphone output, silky smooth faders and loads more!

[caption id="attachment_3218" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Allen & Heath Xone:92"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/allen-heath-xone-92-dj-mixer-196)[/caption]

For more information on the Allen & Heath Xone:92, click the link below:

Allen & Heath Xone:92 - More Info/Buy

If you would prefer to get a Pioneer mixer and you are a club DJ, then the DJM series is the way to go. This popular range of mixers also offers a number of different models to cater for different needs and budgets. The Pioneer DJM-250 is the entry mixer into the DJM series, offering 2 channels, 3-band EQ and a filter.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Pioneer DJM-250"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/pioneer-djm-250-2-channel-mixer-with-filters-and-xlr-output-46493)[/caption]

For more information on the Pioneer DJM-250, click the link below:

Pioneer DJM-250 - More Info/Buy

The DJM-350 (available in black or white) is a little more expensive, but it offers in-built effects and a USB WAV recorder to create on-the-fly mash-ups!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Pioneer DJM-350 (White)"]](https://www.absolutemusic.co.uk/store/dj-gear-30/dj-mixers-301/pioneer-djm-350-w-2-channel-mixer-with-usb-record-and-effects-white-46503)[/caption]

For more information on the Pioneer DJM-350, click the links below:

Pioneer DJM-350 (Black) - More Info/Buy

Pioneer DJM-350 (White) - More Info/Buy

The DJM range extends even further to include models such as the DJM-700 (a highly popular mixer with club DJs due to its logical set-up, 4 channels and built-in effects), the DJM-800, the DJM-5000 rackmount mixer and the amazing DJM-900Nexus (a 4 channel digital mixer with a touchpad strip, loads of controls, top quality sound and a whole lot more). For more information on any of these products as well as questions about availability, give us a call on 01202 597180 or use our Live Chat Service.

[caption id="attachment_3219" align="aligncenter" width="542" caption="Pioneer DJM-900 Nexus"]]({static}/uploads/2012/03/Pioneer-DJM-900-Nexus.png)[/caption]