New Vs Old DJ Equipment: What’s The Difference?

Since its beginning, the art of DJing has been intimately linked to a range of technological developments, with DJ gear evolving in line with the latest audio engineering.

It’s enjoyed a rich and vibrant history from the early days of turntables and a DJ mixer to the latest digital DJing technology.

This article covers everything you need to know about old and new equipment used by DJs to deliver exciting sets and master the craft’s essential mixing techniques.

New Vs Old DJ Equipment: What’s The Difference?

Whether you’re a DJ focusing on the latest cutting-edge electronic music in clubs or a gigging mobile DJ, using the best possible equipment is vital for your sets.

Let’s dive into the core differences between old and new DJing equipment, from the classic turntable to the latest DJ controller technology used by professional DJs.

1. Turntables

The history of DJ equipment begins with the turntable and the release of the Technics SL-1200 back in 1972, which introduced the art form to a broad audience.

Taking the basic principles first outlined in the phonograph of the nineteenth century, which evolved into the belt drive turntable, it formed the backbone of DJing for decades.

One of the key differences between a turntable and a record player introduced by Technics was the direct drive mechanism, allowing DJs to alter the record’s speed.

This opened up the scope of seamlessly mixing two tracks DJs could blend together and the ability to scratch and perform other turntablism techniques.

Over the years, Technics turntables have undergone a series of subtle changes, improving the accuracy of the pitch slider and refining the internal circuitry.

Other notable brands, such as Vestax, have added new features, such as the ability to play records in reverse and the introduction of digital displays.

While the introduction of digital vinyl systems in the early 2000s allowed DJs to use digital audio files on turntables, the overall design has remained relatively consistent since the 1970s.

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2. DJ Mixers

Like turntables, DJ mixers have been an essential component of all DJ setups since the early years and were also introduced to the scene in the 1960s.

RCA released the earliest DJ mixer in 1963, offering two basic inputs and outputs for fading between two tracks and monitoring the incoming song.

In 1971, the release of the “Rosie” offered a more dedicated tool for DJs performing in New York’s Haven Club, with three channels and volume sliders.

This basic approach to technology and flexibility made it a popular option for all types of DJs, and for many years, the technology remained fundamentally the same.

By the mid-1990s, however, manufacturers had profoundly expanded the mixer’s potential, notably with the release of Pioneer’s four-channel DLM-500 mixer.

This release marked the first use of built-in samples and onboard effects, significantly expanding DJs’ creative potential.

Such features would become standard in mixers such as Allen and Heath’s Xone series, which dominated booths in clubs throughout the early 2000s.

While standalone mixers aren’t as popular as they once were due to the rise of DJ controllers, manufacturers continue to release unique models to the market.

Read more: Fascinating facts about DJing you won’t believe.

3. CDJs

The emergence of CDJs was another technological development that revolutionized the world of DJing, and the Japanese company Pioneer played a key role in it.

Pioneer DJ gear is widely used today, and the release of the Pioneer CDJ-500 in 1994 proved to be a pivotal event in the history of DJing.

This model included many fundamental features modern DJs are familiar with, from the jog wheel and cue points to buttons to initiate loops.

Its compact design is still echoed in modern CDJs, and its built-in effects resemble the cutting-edge mixer designs of that era.

Over the years, CDJs have moved away from the top-loaded design of the CDJ-500 and incorporated USB stick integration and new tools for advanced mixing techniques.

Pioneer, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary manufacturing DJ-friendly CD players, remains at the cutting edge of technology.

This is evident in the latest professional model, the CDJ-3000, which features the first-ever micro-processing unit and robust Cloud Analysis tools.

Other innovations, such as OLED touchscreens, are now standard for CD-based DJ sets, helping beginner bedroom DJs play music however they want.

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4. Microphones

Microphones are commonly used by mobile and wedding DJs to make announcements to the audience, but for many DJs, they’re viewed as an optional extra.

While some music trends, such as jungle and drum and bass, involve MCs using microphones, EDM, house, and techno sets typically eschew live vocals.

In terms of technological evolution, microphone design has remained relatively consistent over the decades, with condenser mics hitting the market in the early twentieth century.

Commercial microphones, such as those used by MCs, became affordable in the 1950s, and wireless mics also emerged around this time.

Since then, the core technology has been refined rather than revolutionized, with improved quality through better raw materials and engineering.

Today, high-quality microphones are more compact than ever, as evidenced by the significant audio upgrades to Apple’s iPhone 16, which features four studio-quality mics.

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5. Headphones

Like microphones, headphones have long been vital tools for music production and DJing, and their use extends far beyond their daily application for listening to music discreetly.

DJing isn’t possible without headphones, which allow the DJ to isolate the incoming track and ensure its tempo and other elements are aligned and ready to mix.

Early headphones first emerged in the 1890s, designed as single-sided speakers mounted around the ears and used by telephone switchboard operators.

The fundamental technology underpinning headphones has remained remarkably similar in the century since, with subtle changes and evolutions in design, such as the introduction of in-ear headphones.

Some innovations, such as Bluetooth compatibility and portable charging, have had little impact on DJing, with most using headphones connected by wire.

Other innovations, notably much-improved noise cancellation technology, have improved the DJing process and helped distinguish incoming and outgoing tracks.

6. Sound Systems

Large-scale speaker rigs have been a dominant feature of the DJing world since the early days of nightclubs in cities such as Chicago, New York, and London.

They first became prominent in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, where promoters would hold parties reminiscent of the later raves in public spaces.

Over the years, rave organizers and free party collectives continued this trend, often building their own sound systems from available speaker parts.

For much of DJing’s history, sound systems were built around analog speakers, but more compact and portable designs have emerged over the years.

Perhaps the most significant evolutionary step in the history of the sound system was the emergence of digital speakers pioneered by the UK-based manufacturer Funktion-One.

With distinctive purple cabinets and punchy, precise audio reproduction that reproduced sounds with more clarity, Funktion-One eventually dominated high-profile venues.

Funktion-One sound systems have been involved in notable projects, including the Millennium Dome 2000 show and its relationship with Space in Ibiza.

These and similar digital speaker rigs remain widely used today, such as the introduction of the Vero series, a large-format touring rig released in 2016.

Digital audio technology also benefits home DJ setups, with brands such as KRK, M-Audio, IK Multimedia, and others offering compact monitors with impressive cross-frequency reproduction.

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7. Music Formats

Another aspect of technology that has had a profound impact on how DJs interact with their equipment has come from the changing music formats over the years.

For much of the early decades of DJing, vinyl records were the only format available to DJs, requiring lots of storage space and cumbersome to transport to gigs.

As the science of DJing evolved, the introduction of digital audio formats, notably MP3s in the mid-1990s, radically altered the industry.

This and other digital audio formats that followed allowed DJs to set aside their heavy vinyl record bags and store huge libraries of music on a pocket-sized USB stick.

Additionally, DJs who were venturing into music production could use USB sticks to transfer new tracks to ready to test them in clubs and gauge the audience’s response.

The digital revolution also had a profound impact on how DJs organized their music library, with more robust cataloging and search systems available through the relevant hardware.

Likewise, MP3s allowed DJ pools to thrive, delivering extensive libraries of content for DJs to explore through a monthly subscription, including radio-friendly edits.

Learn more: How to become a VR DJ.

8. DJ Lighting

Gigging DJs have long taken a cue from their rock band counterparts to put on impressive lighting displays that complement the music played.

The best DJ visuals began with extensive filament bulb lighting rigs with sequential patterns that are also present in affordable disco lights used by mobile DJs.

Over the years, such lighting rigs have expanded in scope and complexity, later joined by powerful laser lights that sweep over the dancefloor.

Using a complex array of mirrors and a laser diode, these lighting setups cost thousands of dollars and were prominent in major clubs and at international festivals.

Such rigs have continued to evolve in the years since, with the latest AI lighting technology offering another revolution in eye-catching visual displays.

This technology provides an instant response to the music for a dynamic light show that further enhances the audience’s engagement with a set.

At the same time, AI lighting rigs help venue owners deliver sustainable and energy-efficient performances, such as the ability to monitor room occupancy in clubs and turn lights off accordingly.

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9. DJing Software

The impact of artificial intelligence in music extends beyond how venues integrate lighting systems into their events, notably through the advent of DJ software.

From the early days of digital music files, DJ software came to dominate how DJs control their decks and the nature of equipment used in their setup.

Early DJ software, such as Final Scratch Pro, was designed to facilitate the performance of DJ sets using digital files with traditional turntables.

By the mid-2000s, dedicated software for DJing on controllers had entered the mainstream, offering robust music library management features for DJs to explore.

The release of Native Instruments Traktor Pro in 2008 marked a significant turning point in the role of software in DJing, incorporating a powerful GPU with other powerful features.

These included an effects interface, tools for cueing and looping, and additional features that DJs could marshal to capitalize on their extensive digital music libraries.

Today, DJ software, combined with powerful controllers, allows DJs to work with DJ stems and isolate vocals, drums, instrumentals, and other track elements.

They also assist with mixing techniques such as harmonic mixing by providing relevant information about a song’s key in their display.

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10. DJ Controllers

The DJ controller has become a core fixture in most DJ setups today, incorporating many of the technological advancements outlined above.

Platforms such as Rekordbox and Serato are integral to the format, allowing DJs to access extensive music libraries with complete control over a mix.

CDJs, digital audio file support, and robust mixing tools with numerous effects have become the standard in DJ controllers over the years since they were first launched in the early 2000s.

This includes the ability to perform complex transitions, such as DJ phrasing, assisted by crisp visual displays that streamline the process.

While early DJ controllers offer relatively basic features compared to today, DJs can now access everything from stem technology to auto BPM transitions and on-jog displays.

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Summary

Comparing old and new DJ equipment provides a great insight into how technology has allowed the art form to evolve over the years to deliver a range of new creative opportunities.

From the radical shift toward digital following decades of analog-based manufacturing, equipment is now branching out to encompass powerful artificial intelligence tools.

As manufacturers embrace these and other emerging technologies, DJ equipment will continue to deviate away from the classic design in new and exciting ways.