Get the Party Started

Interested in creating your own music with your iPad? Rana Sobhany shows you how in five easy steps.

Rana's YouTube video (posted by Scobleizer) got more than 500,000 views in just over a month.

1. Buy Two iPads: Two “turntables” are standard in any DJ setup, so be sure to purchase a pair. It will cost you $1,000.

2. Buy a Mixer: Choose a mixer. I really like Numark mixers, and I use a Numark M3 in my current setup.

3. Get Connected: My setup consists of three RCA-to-minijack cables. Two of the minijack inputs go into the iPads, and the RCA cables get plugged into the back of the mixer. The third cable is for audio-out, and I always keep a 1/8 inch–to–1/4 inch adapter handy in case the speaker system requires a different-sized cable.

4. Pick Your Poison: Decide what kind of music you want to make and download some apps that correspond to it. Fortunately, approximately 5,000 apps are available for download on the iPad store, and most iPhone apps work on the iPad as well, so the possibilities are endless. If you’re into hip-hop, for instance, download the IK Multimedia Groovemaker Hip-Hop app and start from there. You can always download and install new apps, so get creative with your arsenal of sounds and loops.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice!: If you’re already a DJ, practice using the touchscreen and adjust to the lack of hardware controls on the apps. If you’re a beginner, learn timing and matching beats per minute between the iPads. Becoming familiar with the sound libraries is paramount to controlling the sounds you’re creating. Spend the time incorporating various elements and testing out different apps. Then you’re ready to flex your iPad DJ muscles!

The Korg iElectribe app ($9.99) is one of Rana's favorites.

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