DJ, which stands for disc jockey, is someone who mixes recorded music for an audience at locations like club events or raves.
History of DJ’s
The history of DJ-ing dates back to the 19th century. In 1857, Leon Scott invented the phonoautograph, which was the first device to be able to record sound. Later in 1878, Thomas Edison invented the phonographic cylinder, the first that allowed for playback of recorded songs. In 1906, the first audio radio was broadcasted and in 1909, the first ever dis-jockey took his place in history. This was Ray Newby, who played records from a small transmitter. Since the 1900s, disc jockeys were prevalent and by 1910, radio broadcasting became a normal part of life. However, the term “disc jockey” wasn’t coined until the 1930s. As time passed and as technology improved, more equipment and different styles of DJing developing.
Types of DJ’s
Equipment and Technique
History of DJ’s
The history of DJ-ing dates back to the 19th century. In 1857, Leon Scott invented the phonoautograph, which was the first device to be able to record sound. Later in 1878, Thomas Edison invented the phonographic cylinder, the first that allowed for playback of recorded songs. In 1906, the first audio radio was broadcasted and in 1909, the first ever dis-jockey took his place in history. This was Ray Newby, who played records from a small transmitter. Since the 1900s, disc jockeys were prevalent and by 1910, radio broadcasting became a normal part of life. However, the term “disc jockey” wasn’t coined until the 1930s. As time passed and as technology improved, more equipment and different styles of DJing developing.
Types of DJ’s
- Radio DJs: introdue and play music broadcasted on AM, FM, digital or internet radio stations
- Club DJs: mix music in bars, night clubs, parties, raves, etc.
- Some have a pre made set list of tracks that they play and don’t touch the decks at all.
- Others constantly change what they are playing to get the crowd moving, perform mixes, beat matches, control speed and volume of the track.
- Other types of DJ use musical performance techniques categorizes them as performing musicians
- Hip hop DJ’s: select and play beats to back up one or more MCs/rappers
Equipment and Technique
- Sound recordings (vinyl records, CDs, computer media files, etc.)
- Combination of two devices to play sound recordings- in order to alternate back and forth to create a continuous playback
- Multi-sequencer: mixes MIDI tracks with Digital Audio
- Sound system: to amplify recordings
- DJ mixer
- Headphones: used to listen to one recording while another recording is begin played to the audience; or to listen to both recordings simultaneously
- Electronic effect units: delay, reverb, octave, equalizer, chorus, etc.