This post covers the basics of the equipment you need for scratching including a video walkthrough:
Equipment you need:
- At least 1 turntable, 2 is the norm (direct drive with high torque if possible)
- Mixer (the crossfader needs a sharp cut in and preferably curve adjustment)
- Slipmats (I use butter rugs)
- Needles / cartridges (Try Shure m447 for a good scratch needle)
- Scratch vinyl e.g “Superseal”
- Amp + speakers / powered monitor speakers
Normally you play the music to scratch to on the second deck, but as you may have noticed in my tutorials sometimes, I use a line in to play an mp3 or similar off a computer or other device / serato scratch. I often get asked what equipment I personally use so here is the list:
- Technics 1200 (Silver colour) with chrome faceplates (google “technics chrome faceplate”)
- Rane TTM 57sl mixer
- Shure m447 needles
- Butterugs slipmats
- Serato scratch for playing beats and mixing
- My favourite scratch vinyl is Superseal by thudrumble
Happy Scratching! 🙂
– Emma Short-E
for needles the Ortofon Qbert or Scratch are pretty good, but I prefer Shure M44-7(or 44g) myself
for slipmats I like D-Styles Tablecloths
Hey Rima! I wanna try out those tablecloths for sure! Thanks for commenting. Maybe you could post a video of them?
Hi Short-E,
Im not able to make a video for you, I dont have a camera.
I gues I am the only one in the planet without one 🙂
Hey Rima, nah not the only one! thats ok, just an idea!
If I had one I made a vid for you of course.
Not sure if they still sell them, the shop I got them from was out of stock after my purchase and I haven’t seen them in alot of stores btw.
Short-E
http://www.hhv.de/index.php?action=advSearch&bandname=D-Styles%20presents
The table cloths are back in stock, they even have 3 new variations, I like HHV purchase most records there. I think you know the site already seeing you using a Crates record in one of your recent vids.
nice one rima! Might have to try those out! thanks for the link! – Short-E
Ordered that Superseal record and those Butter Rugs from thudrumble’s site, was just having a look and they have a code to get 35% off everything for the next couple days. Butterrugs came to less in dollars than they cost over here even before that discount!
where do you buy all this equipment and how expensive is it?
Hello, it really depends which country you are in.
Some stores I have used:
http://www.turntablelab.com
http://www.decks.co.uk
http://www.htfr.com
http://www.chemical-records.co.uk
http://www.juno.co.uk/dj-equipment/
Here is a brief breakdown of cost:
Decks – £400 – £600 each (decent set)
Mixer – £250 – £1000
Needles – £25 – £50 each
Slipmats – £25
Scratch Records – £10 – £20 each
Headphones or speakers etc – £20 upwards!
Hope that helps!
This is based in the UK where I live.
Hi Short-E!
Im planning to buy a pair of slipmats but dont know what to buy between TableCloth and Butter Rugs!Can you help me solve this?Much appreciated!
Hey Jin! I’ve only ever used butter rugs which i really love but I would definitely try out the tablecloths too if I had to get a new pair! I am sure you will not be dissapointed with either. Maybe try out the table cloths and let us know what you think?!
Boa Noite primeiramente meus parabéns pelos vídeos e por liberar algumas coisas pra nos amantes dos scratchs, valeu por compartilhar seus conhecimentos com a gente muitíssimo obrigado,um abraço.
Roughly translated “Good Night, first congratulations for videos and release some stuff for the lovers of scratchs, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us thank you very much, a hug.” – Thanks Carlos! Welcome to the site!
Hello! I have a question? I still have my old 1200mkII’s. Can I still use them with a PC for my music or do I have to upgrade to like mk5’s or something? I’m hoping that all I need to get is a new mixer. I’m not sure how all this digital stuff works yet I’m old school from the mid 80s. Can you help me get started.
Hey Sean! I am going to reach out to you via email. You can you mikes, thats why I have. You need a Digital Vinyl System – Serato or Traktor are popular. I use Serato. You can plug one of those boxes into your existing PC and you are good to go OR get a new mixer which has Serato / Traktor inbuilt. I detail it all here: https://studioscratches.com/scratch-dj-equipment-guide/ Let me know if that helps and if you need anything else. Thanks and good luck!
Thank you for the info. I have a Numark ns7 III controller because it was the closest controller to Technics out there in my opinion. I like it but my heart is with my 1200’s. If I had known all I had to do was get a mixer with Serato on it I would’ve just got a Rane t62 and pulled my 1200’s back out. Now I have to sell my controller.
I hear you. Now you know you can get back to using what you love. Have fun!
I am looking to become a member of your school and purchasing the monthly option. Will I still get the samples and beats download ?
(I’m using the 1200s with the DJM-S9 mixer and Serato DJ with control vinyl)
Cheers,
Marcus
Hey Marcus! You get a few yes! Not the whole collection but enough to get you started! Sorry for the delayed response, now you are with us anyway! YAY!