Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need a lavish and expensive arsenal of equipment to start DJing at home. And with restrictions on public events expected to continue for some time to come, there’s never been a better time to do just that.

Whether planning on entertaining yourself or showcasing your talents online, home DJing can be seriously satisfying.

But what exactly do you need to get things up and running for the first time? Assuming you’ve basically no gear at all (shy of a laptop and a library of music), which devices should you be setting your sights on as a first-timer?

Ask almost any pro and they’re tell you there’s one piece of kit you cannot and will not go wrong with.

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-200

One of the top-selling controllers of recent years, the DDJ-200 combines a whole bunch of industry-standard features with an almost impossibly low price. Right off the bat, the fact that the design of the DDJ-200 is based on that of the flagship DDJ-1000 gives a good indication of its appeal. Elements ported directly from its top-shelf sibling include jog wheels, performance pads, cue buttons, EQ knobs, faders and so much more besides.

The difference being that with the Pioneer DDJ-200, you’re looking at a price of less than £150 – more than £1,000 less than the DDJ-1000. For this, you’re taking home a fantastically capable and surprisingly versatile controller, which is compact enough for mobile DJing but tough enough to withstand life on the road.

Extensive Software and Smart Device Compatibility

Another point of appeal with the DDJ-200 being its broad compatibility with a wide variety of high-end software suites and popular mobile devices. Examples of which include Pioneer DJ’s WeDJ app for iPhone and Android, along with industry-leading platforms such as Djay, edjing Mix and rekordbox DJ software.

All of which means you simply need to pair the DDJ-200 with a compatible device and a decent pair of headphones and you’re good to go. Importantly, put the DDJ-200 to the test and you’ll find it’s perfectly capable of rivalling the sound quality of controllers in exponentially higher price brackets.

The added bonus with the DDJ-200 being that it’s much easier to get to grips with than some of the more complex controllers on the market – a simply unbeatable entry point for newcomers on the lookout for a bargain.

Practice Makes Perfect

Long story short – you can cover the hardware and software requirements needed to start DJing at home for no more than around £200. At which point, it’s simply a case of putting in the necessary time and effort.

The good news being that much of the software the DDJ-200 is compatible with – such as WeDJ – comes complete with all manner of helpful tutorials and beginners’ guides to their various features and functionalities. This means that even if you don’t have a day’s DJing experience, you’ll be churning out masterful mixes in no time.

Check out the full details of the Pioneer DDJ-200 and current pricing information on the official djkit website.