DJ Turntables

DJ turntables are an example of electronic devices designed with the intent to control the playback of vinyl records to an audience or listener by DJs. From the time of emergence of DJing, they have undergone core evolution and they normally include features in relation to digital technologies. Some of the main features and components of modern DJ Turntables include:

1. Platter or Turntable: This is actually a rotating part of a turntable on which a vinyl record is placed. It is the part a DJ uses to manipulate the playback of a record through techniques such as scratching, backspinning, and curing.
2. Tonearm: The arm holds the stylus, and a needle, and keeps on track with the grooves of a vinyl. A DJ would use this to lift and drop the stylus on a record.
3. Stylus and Cartridge: The stylus, as discussed earlier, is that small, microscopic needle that platens on the grooves of the vinyl record. It is attached to a cartridge, which converts the analog signal from the stylus to an electron signal, which can be amplified and played by a sound system.
4. Pitch Control: This is used by a DJ to change the speed (tempo) at which the song plays. The feature is very essential in helping to match beats and tunes.
5. Start/Stop Button: This ability is given to the DJ to know the correct start and stop.
6. Reverse Play: Well, this is a feature in some turntables that allows one to have the turntable play the record backward. DJs love it for creative effects.
7. Anti-Skate and Counterweight: These can be better understood as braking mechanisms in terms of maintaining the correct tracking force and the balancing of the tonearm; hence, they reduce wear on the stylus and record to improve quality sound.
8. Adjustable Torque: A DJ is able to adjust the torque of the turntable to how fast he or she wishes the platter to run at top speed. More importantly, this is critical for scratch DJs who require a very high level of control for the movement of their platter.
9. Pitch Range Selector: This allows a DJ to select the range over which the pitch control will be operating. This comes in handy when changing the sensitivity of how pitch adjustments work.
10. Built-in Phono Preamp: Some new-age turntables are equipped with a built-in phono preamp, meaning they can hook straight up to a mixer or audio interface. With that, it would readily connect to any computer for digital recording and integration with DJ software.
11. DVS (Digital Vinyl System) Compatibility: Most DJ turntables are designed to work alongside DVS setups, with DJs controlling the digital audio files using timecode vinyl records or compact discs.
12. USB Connectivity: This is a feature that is accommodated in some models of DJ turntables to enable them to be plugged into a computer for use in digital recording or to interface with DJ software.

Some of the popular brands of DJ turntables are Technics, Pioneer DJ, Stanton, Numark, and Reloop. In most cases, the DJ will work with a pair of turntables and a DJ mixer to create a working system for mixing and performing.