Meet the DJ Mixer

The DJ performance mixer is also very different from a conventional audio mixer. They usually feature two or three vertical channel faders for controlling the individual stereo volumes of your turntable, CD, sampler, etc., and one or more horizontal crossfaders, which either isolates one of the channels at a time (the extreme left or right position), or gradually mixes them together as you move toward the middle position, where their volumes are equal. As you sweep the crossfader from one side to the other, you "transform" the mix gradually from one source to another. (So-called "hamster" switches automatically reverse the right/left relationship of your channels on the crossfader; some mixers have hamster controls for the channel faders as well.) Some newer DJ mixers include multiple crossfaders that deal only with certain frequency ranges, the same way that EQ knobs on a mixing desk only deal with certain frequency ranges. On these, the DJ can crossfade between the kick and bass line of two records, for instance, while the remainder of one track plays continuously.

Red Sound's digital Infader ($599) works the multiple-crossfader angle.

DJ mixers also have a "cue" volume control for setting the level that goes into your headphones, input gain controls, EQ knobs (some feature "kill" switches for knocking out certain frequencies on a dime), and a "master" volume for setting the level sent to the house. As a musician, I find it frustrating that only very expensive mixers tend to have a dedicated effects send, although these are becoming more popular as DJs start pushing the boundaries of live mixing.

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