Starting from this edition of my diary entry, I am gonna touch on equipment. Basically, DJ equipment and wares to start the beginners up.

When I first started actually hunting for a good set of decks to start with, as mentioned in my earlier entry, I had a brush with the Stanton Skratchpak. I was told by my experienced friends that the package was recommended
more for scratch DJs. Okay, So that was definitely out for me, as I had decided on being a mix DJ, more than a scratch one. ( I mean, have you seen the acute maneuvers and highly skilled movements done by hip-hop jocks? That's hard stuff, man!!). In case any of you out there is actually interested in the 'Skratchpak'. you can get it from Audiosports @ The Heeren. They are the sole agents who bring in Vestax and Stanton DJ wares. I think it costs around SGD $1300++ and it consists of 2 Stanton STR-60 turntables, a SK5 Mixer, 2 500 AL II cartridges pre-mounted on head-shells, 2 slip-mats, a pair of DJ pro 50 stereo headphones and many other goodies. As you can see, its pretty much worth its price.

Let's talk about turntables first.

Failing in purchasing the Stanton Skratchpak, I then surfed faithfully into www.danceandsoul.com again and asked on the forum which turntables and equipment were highly recommended for a beginner like me ( See how useful forums can be? hehe). I got replies from many helpful folk and they all had one thing in common to say: Get a Technics turntable.  Many people would ask, 'Hey! I too, want to be a DJ, but how? What is my first step?' Actually, I feel that as a beginner, it is pretty important to have just one thing –, 'Initiative'.

Okay okay, so the story of Technics as I learnt from many useful sources is that these guys were the first ones to actually produce turntables for turntablists back in the 1970s. And their stuff is industry standard. Clubs worldwide use it, more than 75 % of DJs (from bedroomjocks to world renowned ones) use it, and even DJ battle competitions actually require you to use Technics turntables. Most importantly, this stuff lasts. I have friends who also had friends that have owned a Technics turntable since god knows when (the 1980s?) and are still using the same set-up now with no problems encountered at all. Gee, I was flabbergasted! 

I was asking myself, if Technics is so damn good, why are other DJ ware companies like Gemini, Numark and Stanton etc. even producing turntables at all? Won't those be futile efforts at trying to gain a market share of the
turntable industry? Then I came to a conclusion, there are still people like me, who perhaps do not want to spend so much as a beginner or are on a really tight budget. Thus, these brands offer you more choice and cheaper options. Which is pretty neat I might say.

Personally, I feel that almost every DJ here in Singapore wants a Technics SL1200 or an SL1210 ( These are the 2 famed models of turntables, now swoon!!!) and will not settle for any other brand. Advice was given to me that if I were to get another brand other than Technics, it wouldn't be worth it. Because one day, if I were to breakthrough from the ranks of bedroom DJs to spin in clubs, I would have to upgrade to a Technics, cause clubs in Singapore all use....*yawns*..Technics! And if I do not use a Technics now, I won't be able to get used to a Technics turntable, especially the pitching. So why not invest in one now? And I got comments like ' Technics has the best feel, man' or ' You need to have a Technics cause Technics is world class dude...no substitute! 

In the end, I did not get a Technics. My budget was not so high and I could not imagine myself upgrading from the ranks of bedroomjock yet. Not so soon. Thus, I purchased a pair of second hand Vestax PDX-D3 turntables from a friend. The set was about 2 years old and in good condition. Most importantly, it had a digital pitch counter which would be of great use for a beginner DJ like me to keep track of my pitching. Up to now, after more than one month of usage, I do not regret this buy. Why? Let me explain to you my stand:

It does not matter what turntable you use. Do not buy because of peer pressure or because of the ever-kiasu Singaporean attitude i.e. everyone is using a Technics, so I also must have one, or I will lose out! I am not putting
Technics down here. If you have the money, I strongly encourage you to get a Technics, by all means. It will be a good buy in terms of quality and durability. But most importantly, get a turntable because you like the feel of it and you are comfortable with it. My Vestax has not let me down in terms of performance so far. Its torque is great and the pitching is accurate. And even though I use a Vestax turntable at home, I do not find it any different (especially in terms of pitching) when I am using a Technics SL1200 MkII at a friend's place. I still manage to handle it pretty well. But please do not quote me here. I am only stating my personal view. The best thing for you to do might be to try out the different turntables. at shops This might be a little hard because the number of joints here that actually sell turntables can be counted on one hand. My recommendation would be to try it out at Audiosports. If they see that you are a genuine buyer, they would be more than willing to let you try out their wares. Or best, if your friend is a DJ ask him to let you try his turntable (he most probably has a Technics) and see how you like it.

I would recommend a Vestax besides a Technics for turntables. Not because I am using one and I am getting biased because of that but Vestax is the one brand that is catching up pretty fast with Technics in the worldwide market now. For e.g. Carl Cox swears by his Vestax PDX-2000 and clubs like Home and Cream have been so impressed by Vestax that they have replaced all their Technics SL1200s in their consoles with Vestax PDX-D3S (a newer model than mine). Vestax mixers are also high-end products that do not come cheap. ( I will touch on mixers in my next entry)

Touching on the point of second-hand turntables, it might be pretty hard to find a decent set of second-hand Technics. Firstly, because it is so good that I'd reckon not many would want to release their sets. And those that
are going on sale second-hand, are mostly (not all!!!) in shitty condition (like my friend who saw a set going for SGD$350 but the set was rusting and falling apart, in a dismal state) or they are sets that have major problems.
But if you are lucky, you might be able to find a second-hand Technics in good condition and at a reasonable price. (I hear that the standard price for a 6 -7 year old technics is about SGD $400?) If so, well done!

I have even heard from a friend that he knew someone who managed to purchase a Technics turntable at Sungei Road's karang guni flea market for $50!!! My God!!! But I wouldn't advise you guys to press your luck there, because I have, and I returned with terrible results.

One thing I must warn you all about for turntables. You can get any brand you and your pockets feel comfortable with, but do not get Belt Drive turntables!!! Turntables basically come in 2 types, Belt-driven ones and Direct-driven ones. Brands like Technics and Vestax do not produce Belt-driven ones, but the other brands do. Why can't you get belt-driven ones? One main reason being that it is, after all, driven by a belt , and once the belt gets loose, your pitching will screw up badly, reeaaaally badly. And you won't want that, would you? Direct-drive turntables are reliable, as long as the motor is maintained. Its torque should be good and it should spin smoothly with no problem at all. So remember, try to buy only DIRECT-DRIVE turntables. Even though belt-driven ones may be cheaper, for your own sake, think with you head, not your pockets. 

Some brands that carry turntables are KAM, Numark, Vestax, Technics, Stanton, Soundlab(may be hard to find in Singapore) and Gemini. And some shops that sell turntables or that can order for you are Audiosports and
Valentine Music Centre.

Purchasing turntables is a chore, I admit. Be it a brand new turntable or a second-hand one that you intend to buy, do choose carefully and weigh your options wisely. It is a heavy investment but when you do actually discover the marvels of DJ-ing, you will find it all that hassle and money spent, worthwhile after all.

*** The writer can be contacted at waynelee@purplemonkeymedia.com ***
 

• Underground Clubbing 06.08.01

• Our Local scene. Support? or Just easy Talk? 10.07.01

• Music Taste 18.06.01

• Equipment- the rest 13.06.01

• Equipment- Turntables, 26.05.2001

• Introduction to DJ-ing, 14.05.2001