Every DJ has their own setup, their own holy grail of gear that has to come to every gig. After twenty years I have optimised my bag down to exactly what I need - no more, no less. Here is a look behind the scenes at what I take and why.
The philosophy: reliability above all
Before I list my kit, let me make one thing clear: I do not go for the newest or the most expensive gear. I go for reliability. A DJ set cannot crash. No excuses, no "sorry, technical problems." When I am on a stage, everything has to work. Always.
That means I sometimes use gear other people consider "outdated". But that gear has proved itself. I know its quirks, I know what to expect, and I trust it with my career.
The headphones: Sennheiser HD 25
Let me start with perhaps the most important personal piece of gear: the headphones. For me that is the Sennheiser HD 25.
Why the HD 25?
- Isolation: In a loud club I hear my cue track crystal clear
- Durability: The thing is indestructible. Dropped, stood on, covered in beer - still going strong
- Replaceable parts: Broken cable? Need new ear pads? Everything is sold separately
- Weight: Light enough to wear for hours without neck ache
I have tried other headphones. V-Moda, Audio-Technica, even the Pioneer HDJ-X10. They all sound fine. But the HD 25 feels right. After thousands of hours I know exactly how my music sounds on them and I can translate that into how it will sound on the speakers.
Tip for new DJs
Buy one pair of headphones and stick with them. It is not about which pair you choose, but about how well you know them. Your reference point matters more than the specs.
USB sticks: the backbone of my sets
I always take three USB sticks. Always. This is not paranoia - this is preparation.
My USB strategy
- Primary stick: My complete library, organised in Rekordbox with all my playlists, cue points and energy levels
- Backup stick: An identical copy of the primary. Synced after every library update
- Emergency stick: Only my "can't fail" tracks - the records I can always work with
That third stick is my parachute. If both other sticks fail (which happened to me once through a corrupted database), I can still play a great set from those 200 tracks. It is not my whole arsenal, but they are proven weapons.
USB maintenance
What many DJs forget: USB sticks wear out. After a few years of heavy use they get slower and less reliable. I replace my primary sticks every two years, or sooner if I notice problems.
Also important: always format with FAT32 or exFAT (depending on your gear), and defragment regularly. CDJs can get slow with fragmented sticks.
Cables and adapters: the invisible heroes
This is where a lot of DJs go wrong. They invest thousands in controllers and headphones, and then bring the one cable they bought in a bargain shop five years ago.
What is in my cable bag?
- 2x RCA to RCA cable (1.5m) - For connecting to the mixer
- 1x RCA to jack cable - For older systems
- 1x 3.5mm to RCA cable - Emergency laptop connection
- USB-A to USB-B cable - For connecting to a CDJ
- USB-C to USB-A adapter - Modern laptops
- Extension lead (3m) - You never know where the socket is
- Power strip with surge protection - Protects my gear
All of these cables are good quality (Cordial, Neutrik connectors) and get checked before and after every gig. A crackling cable can ruin your set.
The golden rule
Every cable that goes in my bag has a backup. If my RCA cable fails, I grab the spare and the show goes on.
The small things that make the difference
Besides the big items, my bag is full of small things you only miss when you do not have them:
The survival kit
- Torch - DJ booths are dark, and you have to be able to find that USB port
- Tape (gaffer tape) - Taping cables down, making labels, everything
- Cleaning wipes - For jog wheels and faders
- Earplugs (Etymotic ER20) - Protecting my hearing during other people's sets
- Pen and paper - Track requests, contact details, setlist notes
- Power bank - My phone has to keep working for Shazam and communication
- Spare batteries - For my torch and any wireless gear
What I do NOT take
Just as important as what I do take is what I leave behind. My bag is optimised for mobility and essentials.
- Laptop - These days I play 95% of my gigs from USB. Laptops are an extra failure point
- Controller - Most venues have CDJs. Why would I drag my own gear along?
- Effects units - Pioneer mixers have enough onboard effects for my style
- Superfluous gadgets - That new MIDI controller I might use "one day"? Stays at home
My home studio setup (bonus)
For the curious: at home it is a different story. There I have the luxury of a fixed setup:
- 2x Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2 - The industry standard
- Pioneer DJM-900NXS2 mixer - More than enough options
- KRK Rokit 8 studio monitors - For accurate sound while preparing sets
I use this setup to prepare sets, practise, and record mixtapes. It mirrors what I find in clubs, so the transition is seamless.
The importance of preparation
The night before every gig I pack my bag. I check every item, test my headphones, verify my USB sticks. This ritual costs me fifteen minutes and has saved me countless times.
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin (and every DJ who ever stood there without a backup stick)
Discovering a broken cable at 23:00 in a club is a nightmare. Discovering that same cable at 19:00 at home is a minor annoyance and a quick trip to the music shop.
Invest sensibly
If I can give new DJs one piece of advice: do not spend all your money on flashy gear. Invest in reliable basics, get to know them, and build from there.
Good headphones, reliable USB sticks, decent cables - that is the core. The rest is luxury. You can play phenomenal sets on a simple setup. You can still leave an empty dancefloor with the most expensive gear in the world if you do not have the basics.
After twenty years my bag has been polished down to exactly what I need. No more, no less. And that is exactly how it should be.
