Image via Complex Original
With the rise of DJ culture in the 1990s, we saw the turntable outsell the guitar. Kids were wanting to learn how to mix (or how to scratch ala DJs like Craze and A-Trak), and in the UK and Japan, DJ gear could be found EVERYWHERE. Over the years, we've seen the number of DJs rise, but the actual number of DJs who know how to operate turntables dwindles every year. Why? The rise of the CDJ is one, but once the ability to mix digital files came into play, it went from operating vinyl "control" discs on turntables to being able to use an assortment of different gadgets and equipment, making turntables unnecessary (for good or ill). We love Technics just like the rest of you, but wanted to highlight the different ways DJs are getting their mix on sans turntables.
CDJs
CDJs rose to prominence in the late 1990s, and made sense from a consumer standpoint. More people were buying CDs, and CD burners were also in high demand, making it easier for producers to bounce a tune in progress, burn it to CD, and play it in their next set, getting a pretty quick turnaround for their sounds. As the CDJ evolved over the years, the ability to set more cue points and the infamous sync button have expanded how easy it was for novice DJs to get accustomed to spinning, for good or ill.
Digital DJ controllers
Digital controllers look to mimic the feel of spinning on turntables, but are much smaller, making them a must for mobile DJs who want portability. They connect to laptops, and effectively remove the need for CDJs and turntables. Some find issues with latency, which can be caused by issues with your laptop, soundcard, or MIDI setup, but the time between the shift of the dial and the response to the music can be minimal.
Ableton Live
While normally seen as a DAW for music production, Ableton Live's ability to beatmatch and crossfade have transformed the way that some DJs have approached their live sets. Legends like Plastikman have been utilizing the software since 2001, and the ability to manipulate loops and sounds as opposed to full songs can potentially turn every set into a new, improvisational experience. Even DJs like Flosstradamus regularly use the Novation Launchpad to trigger a multitude of songs, samples, and effects during their live shows.
Traktor
Traktor's great for giving you a more traditional set of options for your live mixing in a digital realm. Everything from setting up cue points and mashing up beats give you a feel for what many people find on the more popular CDJ units, but Traktor also gives you the ability to "see" the music via the waveforms for each file, which line up on grids and make cueing up a particular section of a track easier. Native Instruments is always perfecting their line of digital controllers as well, so if you want some variety in your live sets, your best bet would be to learn Traktor, then find out which controller works well for your needs. Or you can use Traktor's iPad program, which can work as both a stand-alone product as well as be integrated with your DJ setup to syncrhonize loops, cue points, and much, much more.
Virtual DJ
Virtual DJ was an intriguing piece of software when it dropped in 2003. As it's grown, one of the more interesting features was that the software allowed you to mix audio and video. It might be difficult to get what you're doing when your cueing up tracks at a computer desk with a mouse, but if you're trying to get the idea of basic DJing, this might be something to get your feet wet with.
Tapes
That is, assuming you still have tapes. And tape decks. And the time to learn how to manipulate tapes in the same manner that a vinyl DJ would. It might take a lot to build up a proper batch of tunes, but you could be a novelty act in some circles.
An old CD-ROM
This is strictly for scratch DJs; we're not even going to ask how he came up with this.
