If you are using turntables, there are specific set-up requirements that need to be taken care of. First, it is really important to set them up on a level, vibration-free surface.

Earth wires – Ensure that the earth wire (can also be known as a ground wire) from each turntable is connected to the dedicated earth points on the mixer.

Set the counterweight – So that the tone arm is counter-balanced and you are floating the tone arm. Once you have done this, put it back in the holder, and then lock it in with the clip. Take hold of the weight at the back with one hand and turn the front bit with the numbers on it so that the zero lines up with the line on the tone arm below.

TIP: You will know if the tone arm is not balanced properly because it will be difficult for you to hold beats and cue the record without it jumping.

Setting the height – This is done to give you precise movement when floating the tone arm so that it is perfectly parallel to the platter. To ensure that you do this correctly, read the instructions from both your needle and turntable manufacturers and check their recommended settings.

Note: Different manufacturers may even suggest you add some weight to the tone arm after you have floated it. This is done by rotating the weight again at the back, using the numbering system.

Connecting your turntables – Once you have completed all of the above, you are ready to connect your turntables to the mixer. Unlike any other input devices you may have experimented with, your turntables need to be plugged into the phono inputs on the mixer.

As mentioned above, they also have earth wires that need to be connected. When connecting the RCA leads from the turntables into the phono inputs (on line one of the mixer, for example), make sure you connect the red (right-hand side of the output signal) to the red, and the white (left-hand side of the output signal) to the white. Most if not all turntables’ RCA leads come hard-wired and just need to be connected to the mixer, but in the case that they aren’t, make sure you plug them into their corresponding colours.

TIP: If at this point you have no sound and are sure your speakers and amplifier are connected properly, check that the switch at the top of the mixer is turned from ‘line’ to ‘phono’ on whichever corresponding channel you just plugged it into.

Connecting your headphones – Most suitable DJ headphones need a 3.5mm adapter that basically converts the 3.5mm jack the headphones come with into a quarter-inch jack, so that it fits into the mixer. Once you have this sorted out, it’s a matter of plugging them in to the headphones’ input which will be clearly marked on your mixer.

Connecting your sound system – Whether you are using powered speakers or an amplifier with speakers or your home stereo hi-fi, you need to connect whatever leads they use into their corresponding output on the mixer. Depending which way you go the leads will be different, but don’t panic if your mixer only has RCA outputs (for example) and your powered speakers only have XLR inputs. All you need to do is get RCA to XLR leads and so on, depending on the individual circumstance. In the situation of your home hi-fi or stereo system, you can connect it from the mixer’s master output to any available input (except a phono input).

TIP: Make sure that you change the setting on the front of the stereo hi-fi to the corresponding channel setting you chose.

Most mixers have three outputs:

Master Output – Connects from the mixer to the amplifier. Depending on the mixer, it could require either RCA or XLR leads. Some of the better mixers have both options. After you have set the volume on the amplifier to a level you are happy with, the way to control the master output volume is with the master volume control, usually on the top right-hand side of your mixer.

Record Output – Is there for exactly what it states: to connect whatever it may be that you are using to record, such as a PC. It is there to ensure you get the best possible quality when recording. To connect the record output you simply connect the RCA leads into their corresponding inputs on the mixer.

Booth Output – This is the output used to connect the speaker you will be using to mix with in the DJ booth, known as the booth monitor or fold back speaker. Connecting the booth is the same as the master and record outputs. Remember though, when using RCA leads, always red to red and white to white.

Connecting your mixer – The mixer is the control centre for your mixing. Basically, all you need to do is plug the power supply in and connect all your hardware to it. Generally there are three inputs and three outputs. The outputs are explained above. The inputs are pretty easy to remember: the phono is for turntables, the mic is for a microphone, and the line is for everything else, such as your CD decks, MP3 players and mini disks.

TIP: The inputs on the back of the mixer will be marked as channels in relevance to the channels they feed. Remember, there are two types of inputs, phono and line, so make sure your turntables are in the phono and CD decks and other input devices are in the line inputs. Then set the phono/line switch on the front of the mixer accordingly.

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