Our Studio consists of two Technics SL-1210MkII Turntables, a Numark Mixer, two Technics SLZ-1200 CD Decks and a Midi Keyboard. These are connected to a Quad Core PC connected to an AKAI amplifier with a pair of Wharfdale Diamond Pro speakers and a JBL subwoofer. This may not sound like a lot to call a studio, but advances in PC and software areas over the years have made the possibility of making high quality music a reality in the home! We are the first DJs to utilise digital audio software running on the 64-bit RedHat Enterprise Linux platform for the PC. This provides the vital stability during our live performances and delivers an unsurpassed digital sound.

Below are some of the PC based software packages we use most often. We use a mixture of features from each package and collaborate them to produce the final mix/track. We have highlighted only a few packages, as there are thousands of variants out there for you to experiment with.

Xwax is open-source vinyl emulation software for Linux. It allows DJs and turntablists to playback digital audio files controlled using a normal pair of turntables via timecoded vinyls. It's designed for both beat mixing and scratch mixing. Needle drops, pitch changes, scratching, spinbacks and rewinds are all supported, and feel just like the audio is pressed onto the vinyl itself. The focus is on an accurate vinyl feel which is efficient, stable and fast.

Mixxx is a DJ tool that allows for the playback and mixing of digital music. Vinyl control allows a user to manipulate the playback of a song in Mixxx using a turntable as an interface. In effect, it simulates the sound and feel of having your MP3 collection on vinyl.

This is a versatile and comprehensive digital DJing solution designed to meet the most professional of standards. Its excellent 4-band EQ gives incredible depth to your mix. External turntables, CD-players and hardware effects can be patched seamlessly into the setup - the possibilities are endless.

The future of DJing, where you can cut, spin, scratch, and even needle drop MP3's or any audio source that can be played through a PC. Allows realtime manipulation of digital music by using the best and most flexible tool for the DJ . . . . the Turntable!

An excellent virtual mixing desk with an onboard sampler, graphic equalizer, automatic cross-fader, ripper and banks for your very own jingles & effects. Has microphone and line inputs as well as the monitor facility. Also has the ability to record whatever is output in real-time!

Mix MP3 and audio CD's like vinyl with this superb virtual twin deck player and mixer. Match beats to a fraction of a millisecond, automatic beat matching, unlimited songs in the record case, 20 cue points per song, and much, much more! Ideal for use at live functions along side traditional turntables.

This is the industry standard music sequencing application, seen in many professional studios as well. Its great for .wav sequencing and has the ability to use midi sounds in production. Its features include real time complex equalising of sounds, imports all compatible DirectX plugins, edits .wav files and many more.

This is an amazing piece of software that makes the production, arranging and editing of loop-based music easier than ever before. It even mixes beats and loops for you to good effect! Allows samples to be stretched and dynamically changed. A must for all beginners to music sequencing.

Brilliant for precise sample editing and manipulation with loads of built in effects to get the right sound. Provides support for most sample formats and full support for creating loops in the Acid app. Tools include Time Compress / Expand, Spectrum Analysis, Reverb & Pitch Bend. It is the only solution for all of your audio editing needs.

Wavelab acts as a real time sound processor, a 24-bit capable wave editor and can create CD's of your music. Any sample or live input can be transformed in real time via one of the DSP effects panels. Compressors, limiters & noise gates are just a few features to mention.

Synthesizers, samplers, drum machine, ReCycle-based loop player, mixer, effects, pattern sequencer and more. As many of each as your computer can handle. Reason is an infinitely expandable music workstation, complete with its own real-time sequencer.

This is DOS written software that also runs in Windows, and is one of my favourite music sequencing/tracking applications. Once the initial challenges of learning the software has been overcome, then its true capabilities can be unleashed. We use it mainly for creating beat loops or putting ideas into practise as its so versatile and quick to create patterns which might take longer in other packages. Effects like Portomento, Vibrato, Panning and Volume Slides can all be initialised to instruments or samples with a quick command. It can also import, export and edit .wav files. All this in just under a 600KB total package size!.

VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player and multimedia framework capable of reading most audio and video formats (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, DivX, MPEG-1, mp3, ogg, aac ...) as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.