For help and guidance with your purchase click one of the links below:

Mixers:

1.Kill switches allow you to extract totally the bass, mid or table frequencies from the music. Some mixers have these as straight forward buttons or actual switches.

2.Rotary EQ. Allows you to adjust the bass, mid or treble frequencies of the music on each channel. This way you can match up both inputs so they do not sound indifferent when you mix the music together.

3.Crossfader Reverse (also known as a hamster switch) is used usually for scratching allowing you to reverse the inputs on the crossfader instantly.

4.Master. This control is the volume overall going out to your hi-fi or amplifier.

5.Cue Level / PFL Level. This is the headphone volume control.

6.Input / Line Fader Switches. These are the input selectors allowing you to select either a CD or turntable (for example) to a channel.

7.PFL / Cue. This is the channel that you want to hear in the headphones. Usually the one which you want to hear waiting to be mixed in.

8.Punch Buttons used to 'drop in' or 'cut out' one channel. (saves wear on the crossfader).

Crossfader Curve Control (also known as slope adjust). This function allows you to adjust the 'cut in' to the next tune either instantly or gradual. There can be either a rotary control allowing you to tune to fader exactly as you desire or a switch (soft/sharp).

Line Fader Curve Controls allow you to adjust the how quick or slow the volume will increase on the 'up faders'. (usually used for scratching).

Booth output is the control (very similar to the master) that you can use separately to go to either a separate amplifier or to powered booth monitor speakers.

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Turntables:

There are two types of turntable, direct drive and belt drive. Belt drive decks are usually for beginners as they are more in the budget end price. The direct drive turntables are stronger and quicker as the platter (which the record sits on) is mounted directly on the motor. This makes it faster in starting and makes the platter sit much stronger and more sturdy for scratching.

1. Start / Stop. used to start or stop the platter turning.

2. Platter. This sits directly on the motor to allow you to put the slipmat and record on the top.

3. Spindle. This fits through the centre of the platter.

4. 33/45/RPM. These buttons allow you to select the desired speed of the record. Some turntables will allow you to press both at the same time to get 78 RPM.

5. Target Light. This will light up the groove in the record in order to see more clearly where to put the styli (needle).

6. Reverse. This allows you to reverse the polarity of the motor to make it go backwards.

7. Pitch Control. This allows you to 'speed up' or 'slow down' the record.

8. Tone Arm. This is to support the headshell / cartridge. Some decks have a straight arm and some a 's' arm. Straight arms are better for scratching as there is no need to adjust the the anti-scratching.

9. Headshell. This screws on the front end of the arm to hold the cartridge / styli.

10. BPM / Pitch Display. Not all turntables have these, it shows the exact percentage of pitch that you are on. Usually can also 'double up' as a bpm counter.

11. Pitch Bend. This is a gradual slow or speed up of the platter. Can be used instead of manually nudging the record to get it in time to the beat.

12. Start / Brake. This allows you to adjust the start time of the platter and also how quickly or slowly the platter stops.

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CD Players:

There are two types of CD player to choose from, Single or Double. Double CD players are commonly used for mobile disco's as they can be conveniently fitted into a case with a mixer. You have with the twin CD player two parts, the part which contains the trays to put the CD in and the controller to operate each CD. The single CD players are designed to go either side of your mixer as would your mixer.

Some useful Terminology

Pitch Bend. This helps to get tempo in time with the other one. By pressing the + or - button will slightly bend up or down the speed of the CD similarly to nudging a record to set it in time. Some CD players will have these on buttons and some will have a jog wheel.
Scratch Play will allow you to turn your CD player into a turntable ! (not literally). by moving the platter on your CD player backwards or forwards will emualate scratching.
Master Tempo allows you to speed up the tempo but not the vocal on your CD.
Pitch Range. Most CD players have a selectable pitch range so that you can have the pitch control go from + / - 6% -10-12-25-50 or even 100%.
Loop. Will allow you to repeat a part of a song. Some CD players have seamless loop which means you can repeat that part of the track over and over again without a gap. This is useful with beats or easy riffs.

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