It seems that modern culture has found a replacement for the guitar in the form of the DJ turntable. Not long ago, pop bands featuring guitars and drums were the most popular form of musical entertainment. People would go to clubs and bars in order to hear these bands play original music as well as the popular hits of the day. These days, DJs have replaced bands and solo musicians as the most popular sources of live musical entertainment. Much of the popularity can be attributed to an increased demand for electronic music, but the evolution of the DJ turntable might be the most important reason for the emergence of the DJ as the most common provider of musical entertainment.
The Early Days of DJ-ing
Many years ago, disk jockeys, or DJs, would use standard turntables to play records. In most cases, the DJs would use two turntables so a track could be queued while another song was playing over the P.A. system. These songs were played straight through from beginning to end, and the start of the next song would occur once the previous song ended.
After some time, DJs began to demand more from their equipment. This was because they began to change the formats of their performances to include scratching records and operating the turntables as if they were musical instruments. DJs started to create their own works by manipulating the records of other artists, but they required turntables that could handle constant manipulation while also providing great sound quality.
Hip Hop and the Importance of Turntable Drive Systems
The first DJ turntable choices were standard record players. These machines were not much different from the turntables used commonly in family homes. While these turntables performed adequately for DJs throughout the majority of the 20th century, new innovations were needed as the hip hop musical style began to emerge in the 1970s. Fortunately, turntable drive systems had been improving steadily up to that point. Older turntables made use of idler-wheel drive systems, which were not always accurate at reproducing sounds. Also, they contributed unwanted noise. Additionally, these turntables were not suitable for the hip hop turntable techniques which were becoming popular.

The DJ turntable advanced significantly when belt-driven models were introduced in the 1960s. These machines were more accurate, less noisy and better suited to DJ performances. However, the most important innovation was the introduction of direct drive turntables in the late 1960s. These machines started to become affordable as the hip hop movement gained steam, and a new musical style was born.
Turntables in the Modern Age
These days, turntable traditionalists still prefer to use direct drive turntables. Though these models are expensive, they offer great sound, plus they are built to be able to handle modern DJ techniques without strain. While direct drive turntables are the standard, new technology is starting to become more popular. The newest DJ turntables are completely electronic, and they allow for users to play MP3s and other electronic audio files while manipulating the sounds using common DJ techniques. Although some people refuse to acknowledge the turntable as a musical instrument, the evolution of the DJ turntable is very similar to the development of many other beloved musical instruments. The turntable has a very rich history, and DJs have used the machines to create some of the world’s best-loved music.
