Disc jockey

A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include <a href="/facts/Radio_personality/9PNvpLtm">radio DJs</a> (who host programs on <a href="/facts/Music_radio/XGCh0P9X">music radio</a> stations), club DJs (who work at <a href="/facts/Nightclub/krTvUzaj">nightclubs</a> or <a href="/facts/Music_festival/JSIH6XAM">music festivals</a>), <a href="/facts/Mobile_DJs/rKXqGMuD">mobile DJs</a> (who are hired to work at public and private events such as weddings, parties, or festivals), and <a href="/facts/Turntablism/4fboh9Hz">turntablists</a> (who use record players, usually <a href="/facts/Turntable/KTWmuL2k">turntables</a>, to manipulate sounds on <a href="/facts/Phonograph_record/ccuFV9Af">phonograph records</a>). Originally, the "disc" in "disc jockey" referred to <a href="/facts/Shellac/VNRrGF0r">shellac</a> and later <a href="/facts/Vinyl_records/ccuFV9Af">vinyl records</a>, but nowadays DJ is used as an all-encompassing term to also describe persons who <a href="/facts/DJ_mix/JMqoHRFA">mix</a> music from other recording media such as <a href="/facts/Compact_cassette/w8I5uyfs">cassettes</a>, <a href="/facts/Compact_disc/g51GRloc">CDs</a> or <a href="/facts/Digital_audio_file/hLgkfATf">digital audio files</a> on a <a href="/facts/CDJ/GvJzzyxW">CDJ</a>, controller, or even a laptop. DJs may adopt the title "DJ" in front of their real names, adopted pseudonyms, or stage names.
DJs commonly use audio equipment that can play at least two sources of recorded music simultaneously. This enables them to <a href="/facts/Audio_mixing/s15GuoKQ">blend tracks together</a> to create transitions between recordings and develop unique <a href="/facts/DJ_mix/JMqoHRFA">mixes</a> of songs. This can involve <a href="/facts/Beatmatching/vEmkTuAb">aligning the beats</a> of the music sources so their rhythms and tempos do not clash when played together and enable a smooth transition from one song to another. DJs often use specialized <a href="/facts/DJ_mixer/LLVHY3Ys">DJ mixers</a>, small <a href="/facts/Audio_console/APIwbRBg">audio mixers</a> with <a href="/facts/Crossfader/d9jlcTa2">crossfader</a> and <a href="/facts/Cue_(audio)/ctUMjYVU">cue</a> functions to blend or transition from one song to another. Mixers are also used to pre-listen to sources of recorded music in <a href="/facts/Headphones/hLd5e4Kv">headphones</a> and adjust upcoming tracks to mix with currently playing music. DJ software can be used with a <a href="/facts/DJ_controller/0cmkumSR">DJ controller</a> device to mix audio files on a computer instead of a console mixer. DJs may also use a <a href="/facts/Microphone/7YWGlXCl">microphone</a> to speak to the audience; <a href="/facts/Effects_unit/XhTKhJQC">effects units</a> such as <a href="/facts/Reverb/188vPg1A">reverb</a> to create sound effects and <a href="/facts/Electronic_musical_instrument/dQSuuYtF">electronic musical instruments</a> such as <a href="/facts/Drum_machine/ltR2xFt3">drum machines</a> and <a href="/facts/Synthesizer/NrmdVrPa">synthesizers</a>.
Notable DJs include <a href="/facts/Skrillex/1vKq3PCE">Skrillex</a>, <a href="/facts/David_Guetta/FjJkhx4I">David Guetta</a>, <a href="/facts/Porter_Robinson/qA3b4sem">Porter Robinson</a>, <a href="/facts/Deadmau5/maz1fdMs">deadmau5</a>, <a href="/facts/Avicii/2Kb0uWpt">Avicii</a>, <a href="/facts/Calvin_Harris/puxKCh4b">Calvin Harris</a>, <a href="/facts/Martin_Garrix/kFR5llrr">Martin Garrix</a>, <a href="/facts/Marshmello/MTpBdoxB">Marshmello</a>, <a href="/facts/Zedd/B57atn7Q">Zedd</a>, <a href="/facts/Eric_Prydz/VoQVDSkr">Eric Prydz</a>, <a href="/facts/DJ_Snake/wFpMHVGg">DJ Snake</a>, <a href="/facts/R3HAB/0QMTWr6b">R3HAB</a>, <a href="/facts/Timmy_Trumpet/hs7JfX8E">Timmy Trumpet</a>, <a href="/facts/Ti%25C3%25ABsto/HGAWLHV7">Tiësto</a>, <a href="/facts/Steve_Aoki/4ETfK45Q">Steve Aoki</a>, <a href="/facts/Diplo/LGPPhKCs">Diplo</a>, <a href="/facts/Nicky_Romero/6YdJ5oVr">Nicky Romero</a>, <a href="/facts/Lost_Frequencies/syVzsq51">Lost Frequencies</a>, and <a href="/facts/Daft_Punk/cC1aTQjY">Daft Punk</a>.

Disc jockey open-in-new

Disc jockey