Glossary

Amp – Short for amplifier.
Acapella – A track containing only vocals – no background music.
Anti-skating – A control to keep a turntables stylus centred within a records groove.
Balance Control – A control that adjusts the left/right balance of your sound.
Auto Warp – An Ableton Live function that allows the program to calculate and time stretch music.
Bass – The low frequency normally associated with the kick drum and bass, this can be controlled with your mixers EQ controls.
Battle – An event where DJs battle against each other, battles are usually associated with hip hop culture.
Battle Record – A 12” vinyl filled with samples and loops usually used for scratching.
Beat Matching – A mixing technique used to establish a similar tempo with two or more tracks.
Beats Per Minute (BPM) – The number of beats per minute, a standard measure of tempo.
Belt Drive – A turntable driven by a belt using a pulley system to rotate its platter.
Booking agent – A person who deals with all the details of your DJ bookings and manages your DJ Diary.
Booth – The area where the DJ & their equipment are in an event or club.
BPM Counter – A device used to automatically calculate the BMP of a track.
Cartridge – The part that holds the stylus in place on your turntable.
Channel – Referring to the channel within which audio is to be played on your DJ mixer.
Counterbalance (counterweight) – The adjustable weight mounted at the rear end of the tonearm on a turntable.
Crossfader – A transitional slide control on a mixer for fading in one channel while simultaneously fading out another.
Crossfader Curve Control – A control that allows adjustment of the crossfaders fade curvature.
Cuing – A term referring to when a DJ listens to a track through headphones while playing another through the sound system.
Demo – A promotional mix sent to potential bookings.
Direct Drive – A motor system used to rotate a turntables platter.
Effects Unit – An external device added to your audio stream to add effects to your mixes.
EQ Controls – Controls that allow the filtering of differing frequencies on your DJ mixer.
EQing – Altering the colour of sound from EQ control manipulation.
Fade – A gradual increase or reduction in the level of the audio signal.
Fader – On a DJ mixer this refers to a sliding control used to adjust the volume of your tracks.
Flight case – A light weight, hard wearing carry case for a DJs equipment, vinyls and CDs.
Gain Control – A control which increases or reduces the output level of your tracks giving extra movement in volume.
Genre – A category of music e.g. Techno, House, Hip Hop, D&B, Trance, Hard House etc.
Hamster Switch – A reverse feature for a crossfader on DJ mixer. Scratching hamster style is to scratch with a reversed crossfader.
Headshell – The adaptor used to hold the cartridge in place on the tonearm of a turntable.
High Frequencies – The high frequencies of your track controlled by your EQ controls.
Indie Label – A non commercial record label separate from the big corporate companies.
Kill Switch – A switch or button to turn on and off output or individual frequency ranges within a channel, i.e. treble, mid and bass.
Line Input – An input used by an audio devise.
Master – The master (main) volume control of your mixer.
MC – In DJ terms, referring to a person rapping.
Mid-Range Frequencies – Frequencies that fit between the bass and high frequencies. These are also controlled by your EQ controls.
MIDI – A communication signal used by electronic instruments to broadcast information to each other.
Monitor – A speaker in the DJ booth that allows the DJ to hear without the delays or echoes caused by space in a large room.
Needle – A term referring to a turntables stylus.
Phono Connection – A connection used by turntables.
Pitch control – The control on your DJ equipment used to alter the speed of your tracks.
Platter or Plate – The top section of a turntable driven by its motor or belt.
Promo – A pre-released version of a track.
Sampler – A device used to record samples of music.
Slipmat – A felt-type material used to reduce friction between the turntables plate and the vinyl.
Stylus – The part of a turntables arm that makes contact with the vinyl being played.
Tempo – The speed of your music.
Time Code – The time structure within which music is created.
Time Coded Vinyl – Special 12” vinyl used with systems to allow a computer to play music file directly from your turntables movements.
Tone Arm – The pivoting arm on a turntable.
Tracking – The ability of a stylus to follow the grooves of a vinyl.