Scratch Your Bits: A Digital DJ Guide

iPod Classic 160GB, $349

It’s simple and reliable, and you can fill it with tons of hi-res music files so most fans will never know you’ve gone digital. It’s like having the biggest box of vinyl you could imagine, but in your pocket — and you can search it by keyword. It’s also compatible with an increasing array of digital DJ gear. (Check Prices)

Cortex HDTT-5000 Media Controller DJ, $1499.95

This recently firmware-upgraded digital media controller has 5 USB ports for hooking up your iPod, USB drive, QWERTY keyboard and accessing them all at the same time. The 45-size scratching/controller platter and LCD (for visual cueing) helps you create loops, match beats, drop the needle, and raise the roof. (Check Prices)

Pioneer CDJ-400, $629

You can spin and scratch CDs or MP3s (on disc or via USB), and we dig the scratch effects jog wheel and loop divider. It also works as a MIDI controller with computer-based DJ software like Serato Scratch Live. And no, the price is not a typo. (Check Prices)  

Numark iDJ2, $599.95

Numark’s updated pro iPod DJ station replaces the original’s dual iPod decks with the ability to play (and manipulate the heck out of) 2 songs simultaneously from a single iPod. It doesn’t have on-board effects, and scratch DJs might not love it, but this is still as good as it currently gets for iPod DJs. (Check Prices)

Rane Serato Scratch Live 1.8, $539.99

This frequently updated DJ software package gives you computer-based control over analog and digital audio (with full iTunes compatibility) as well as video (via the Video-SL plug-in, $199). It comes with a bus-powered USB hardware interface box plus a pair each of control records and CDs, and it works with a handful of hardware controllers. Good enough for Jazzy Jeff, good enough for us. (Check Prices)

Rane TTM 57SL Mixer, $1449.99

Based on the DJ favorite TTM 56 mixer, the 57 lets you control analog turntables (via included control vinyl or CD) as well as digital sources simultaneously. It has on-board effects, but most importantly it connects via USB to a Mac or PC running Rane’s Serato Scratch Live software, so you can control audio and video via computer. (Check Prices)

Sennheiser HD 25-1 II, $199.99

Although we’re still waiting for the jewel-encrusted version, these are our current fave for serious DJing. You can rotate the earcups for single-ear use, and they’re very comfy and lightweight, which is a relief on long gigs. They also block out the noise of a hundred screaming fans — or your mom’s voice if you’re a bedroom DJ. (Check Prices)

Technics SL-1210M5G, $599.95

Even die-hard analog fans will appreciate the SL-1210M5G’s digital pitch control (+/-8% and +/-16%), which helps you avoid mismatched pitch ranges. The rest of the innards are based on the all-time king, the SL-1200 series.(Check Prices)

Numark PT01, $99.99

This portable belt-drive player fits in your DJ box (it measures 12 by 12 by 3.9 inches) and can tell you whether that moldy album cover holds vinyl gold before you plunk down cash. It runs on batteries or AC and has 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch headphone jacks. (Check Prices)