The Turntable And DJ Equipment In The Digital Age

By: Dominic Donaldson

What goes around comes around. Was there ever a more appropriate phrase to describe the resurgence in the popularity of the humble turntable? The turntable has always been associated with Disc Jockey's and DJ equipment but in recent years, with the advent of downloads, iPods and other MP3 players, for a time it looked as though the turntable had run it's course and would spend the rest of it's days in a glass display case in a museum somewhere, next to eight-track tape players and reel to reel recorders.

Recently though the turntable has re-established itself as the most important piece of DJ equipment in any good spin-meister's arsenal and as a result the sale of vinyl, which was also considered to be on it's last legs, has received a much needed shot in the arm.

There are many types of DJ specialising in all genres of music; radio, club, disco, rave. All share the same thing in common; they play music on a turntable. Although the idea for the phonograph was patented by Charles Cros in France it was Thomas Edison, in America, who built the first 'phonograph cylinder' which was able to play back recorded sound. In 1892 Emile Berliner started producing the first commercially available recordings and in 1906 the first radio broadcast of a record was transmitted and DJing was born.

Ray Newby of Stockton California became the world's first radio DJ when, in 1909 while still a 16 year old college student, he began regularly playing records on an early wireless transmitter, although it wasn't until 1935 that the term 'Disc Jockey' was coined. In the following decades the phenomenon spread worldwide, fueled by changes in culture and society. Music was obviously the biggest driver in the popularity of the DJ. Genres like Jazz, Be-Bop and Big Band created the first DJ's who were as popular as the records they played and when Elvis Presley and Rock 'n' Roll burst onto the scene at the end of the 1950's the first 'Superstar' DJ's emerged.

As with all technology, DJ equipment got smaller, lighter and more portable in the following decades and becoming a DJ became a relatively painless experience. During this period relatively little changed in the make-up of DJ equipment. With a good collection of records, a turntable and speakers you could be a DJ. It wasn't until the 90's that this definition was challenged.

The 80's and 90's saw the rise in popularity of synthetic and digitally created music which in turn influenced the technology that the music was played on. Hot on the heels of the first MP3 digital audio player in 1998 came the first digital DJ system. Digital DJ equipment had arrived. Many saw it as the dawn of a completely new era and the death of vinyl, which had struggled for years after CDs were introduced. In fact it had the opposite effect. As well as the emergence of digital DJs there has also been a resurgence in vinyl sales.

New generations are discovering the unique qualities of vinyl while at the same time choosing to listen to MP3 players while they are out and about. This has led to an increased demand in turntables and DJ equipment specialists have seen increased demand for USB turntables that can be connected to home computers. It would seem that rumors of the death of vinyl have been greatly exaggerated.

Article Source: http://www.myhotarticles.com

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in DJ equipment and music technology.

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