Apart from a few rare exceptions, getting a DJ controller is a no-brainer place to start for any beginner DJ.

In this post, I’ll quickly make the case of why that is, while addressing the two questions you’ll want to ask yourself before you actually buy one.

By the end of this, you should have everything you need to make a buying decision!

Why you should start with a DJ Controller?

From an innovation perspective, the rise of DJ Controllers is simply defined: they’re smaller, lighter/more portable, and have more capability than any other DJ hardware setup on the market for the price.

Because they run through updatable computer software, controller DJs now find themselves at the forefront of tech & innovation in the comfort of their own bedrooms, for a relatively small investment. In other words, when you have your laptop connected, you’re going to enjoy more FX, performance technology, and other convenient DJ tools all in one unit.

And whilst there’s nothing wrong with getting a set of turntables – or, if you’ve got a spare 5 or 6 grand to spend (and the rest) you could get some pro gear, i.e. 2 x CDJs and a club mixer – for most beginners, it’s probably not a very practical starting point…

Besides, you can always expand into a more expensive or extravagant setup later on if that’s what you want to do.

For reference, some of the key players/manufacturers in the DJ controller market include Pioneer DJ, Denon DJ, Traktor (a brand of Native Instruments), Rane, Roland, and Reloop.

The difference between a ‘DJ controller’ and an ‘all-in-one DJ system’
A DJ controller is simply an all-in-one unit that hooks up to your laptop via a USB connection. They’ve come an awful long way in the last decade or so, with many units on the market for a number of years now, which, in addition to working as a regular ‘DJ controller’ would, also have a ‘standalone mode’ – which simply means you don’t need a connected laptop to operate it.

These systems (which, by definition, are still ”DJ controllers”) are usually referred to as either ‘standalone DJ systems’ or ‘all-in-one DJ systems’.

What’s probably most important to understand though, is that regardless of whether you choose a DJ controller or an all-in-one DJ system, you’ll still need a reliable laptop as a base to organize your music.

The two questions to ask yourself before buying one
There are just a couple of simple questions you’ll want to ask yourself before investing in a DJ Controller:

Question 1: What’s the purpose of it?

Is your controller going to be for home use and house parties only, or is it a stepping-stone to playing out? If you’re eventually looking to play out professionally, you might also want to ask yourself “What kind of a DJ am I aspiring to be, exactly?’’ – A Club DJ, a Mobile DJ, a DJ/Producer, perhaps?

Whilst I’m not suggesting you need to map out a detailed five-year plan or anything like that, you should hopefully have some idea of the answers to these questions.

Question 2: What’s my overall budget?

Once you’ve roughly established the purpose of your controller, you’ll need to figure out an approximate overall budget.

If you’re a beginner of some sort, whilst it’s best not to go overboard straight away, you’ll still want to get a controller that allows room for your progression. After all, you don’t want to be upgrading to a better setup 6 months down the track!

Remember also, in addition to your DJ controller you’re going to need the following:

DJ Headphones (I’d say don’t go any cheaper than around $30 USD, although spend a bit more than that if you can.) (I am a great fan of Vmoda headphones, you must give them a try)

A decent laptop if you don’t already have one or if your current one isn’t powerful enough (Note: you wouldn’t want to drift much below $500 USD!) (I prefer to use Mac Book Pro )

Ideally, a couple of monitor speakers (these days $150 USD for a pair might be a good starting point!) ( I’m using KRK Rokit 5 )
Whether you get speakers or not will probably depend on your current living arrangements. For instance, if you stay somewhere that you can’t make much noise you may have to just mix in the headphones, which is completely fine if you’ve got no other option. They’re not an absolute necessity to get started! Playing loud music at my place has put me in trouble a few times. Watch out – neighbors may call 911.

Although DJ controllers can cost anywhere from $80-$3,000 (USD), you’ll find an excellent selection for beginners in the 200 to 300-dollar range, with upwards of about $700 getting you some solid professional kit!

An important note on DJ software
If you haven’t already, we’d recommend getting a better idea of which DJ software might best suit your situation. You’ll ideally want to do this BEFORE you choose a DJ Controller.

You can usually download a free trial version (or similar) of the software to see if you like it first. I am on Traktor Pro 3 ( You will get a 50% off on the total price if you are an exiting used of Traktor Pro older versions.)

Ready to choose a DJ Controller?

At the same time, there are also lots of different options and things to consider and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Still confused?

Reach out to me via Instagram @karanjcliff, I will be more than happy to assist you with any further queries.

About the Author, Karan Joseph Cliff is one of the mainstream DJs in Dubai.

DJ Karan Dubai