The 10 essential pieces to test your turntables Technics

Getting your hands on a pair of Technics SL-1210 MK2 turntables means treating yourself to one of the most legendary instruments in DJ culture. But to reveal their full potential, you still need to feed them with the right discs. Certain pieces have become real references for testing the precision of the timing, the quality of the sound reproduction and the raw pleasure of the vinyl mix. Here is our selection of ten essential titles, which cover a broad spectrum of electronic music and will thrill both your turntables and your audience.

Why song choice matters as much as hardware

A legendary turntable only reaches its full potential with a well-thought-out repertoire. A good test track reveals several things at once: the sharpness of the kick, the depth of the bass, the clarity of the highs and the regularity of the tempo, essential for practicing beatmatching. By varying genres and eras, you also explore all facets of vinyl mixing, from disco groove to the most cutting-edge techno. It is by playing on this diversity that we really progress.

Timeless classics

1. Daft Punk – Around The World

An emblem of the French Touch, carried by a hypnotic loop ideal for practicing wedging. The perfectly defined kick allows you to check your bass tuning at a glance, while the consistent groove makes it a great warm-up track.

2. Frankie Knuckles – Your Love

A pillar of Chicago house. Its airy synthetic pads and deep bass line sound divine on vinyl and offer a great test to evaluate the frequency reproduction of your system.

3. Cerrone – Supernature

French disco in all its splendor. The richness of its orchestral arrangement puts the audio quality of your entire setup to the test, from turntables to speakers.

Dancefloor bombs

4. The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats

Powerful breaks and massive sound that push the material to its limits. Ideal for checking that everything is holding at high volume, and for practicing clean transitions between sections.

5. Armand Van Helden – You Don’t Know Me

A house hit with a catchy vocal sample, whose tempo lends itself wonderfully to smooth sequences. Perfect for working on the finesse of your transitions.

6. Carl Cox – I Want You (Forever)

Melodic techno from one of the greatest DJs on the planet. A song that makes you want to extend the set for hours and which honors the characteristic sound of Technics.

Technical pieces to progress

7. Jeff Mills – The Bells

A monument of Detroit techno, minimalist but extremely effective. Its repetitive structure makes it a real stylistic exercise for perfecting beat timing.

8. Laurent Garnier – The Man With The Red Face

An epic track from the most respected French DJ in the world. Its dynamic changes are perfect for working on dramatic build-ups and transitions at the heart of a set.

9. Fatboy Slim – Right Here, Right Now

A progressive piece that builds to a crescendo. Excellent for learning how to adjust the volume and patiently build an atmosphere before the climax.

10. Inner City – Big Fun

Pure and luminous house, ideal for ending a set on a happy note. A feel-good track that brings the audience together on the dancefloor and enhances the grain of the vinyl.

Some tips for training well

To get the most out of these titles, keep a few simple principles in mind:

• Start with pieces with a stable tempo before tackling more complex structures.
• First work on the pitch by ear, then refine it with the pitch fader.
• Listen to each song in its entirety to spot breaks and highlights.
• Vary the genres to accustom your ear to different grooves and energies.

Rotate the patties with Fox Rider

These ten tracks, all available on vinyl, will allow you to test the quality of your turntables, explore different mixing techniques and, above all, take intense pleasure at the controls. And if you don't yet have turntables, there's no need to invest a fortune: renting gives you access to legendary, perfectly maintained equipment for an evening or a weekend.

At Fox Rider, the turntables Technics SL-1210 MK2 can be rented with delivery throughout France and cover against breakage and theft included. You can even complete your setup with a controller Pioneer XDJ-RX3 to get the best of both worlds. Discover all the DJ equipment for rent on Fox Rider and get started.