Playing dub on a sound system means reworking records or versions live, with an isolator to cut frequencies, a delay for echoes and a siren to lift the track. It is not the same as mixing a dub track in a studio. In the studio, you rework the separate tracks of a recording. On a sound system, you play the finished track, in front of people, with whatever your machine lets you grab.
This page answers one question: what you need to get started, and in what order.
What do you need to start playing dub?
You need a chain of five links. First a source: turntables, CD players or a computer. Then something to mix and shape the sound: a mixer, and above all frequency control, the isolator, which lets you cut the bass, the mids or the highs in one move. Then a delay, because echo is the signature of dub. A siren completes the set, but you do not need one at the start. Finally, something to play through: active speakers at home, or the input of an existing sound system. You can build this chain in two ways. Either you stack one device per job, which lets you choose every link. Or you use a single machine that brings together the mixer, the isolator, the delay and the siren. Both work. What changes is the number of cables, the space and the setup time.
Two ways to build your dub setup
| Stacking devices | One all-in-one machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices to connect | 4 to 5: mixer, preamp or isolator, delay, siren, sometimes a reverb | 1 |
| Power supplies | one per device | 1 |
| Cables between devices | around ten: effect sends and returns, links | none between the effects, just your sources and your output |
| Setup | rewire and readjust every time you move | a few minutes |
| Space | a whole table or a rack | a small box that fits between two turntables |
| Growing it | swap one link whenever you want | add external effects through a send/return loop |
Stacking devices is the historic route. You pick every piece, you can start small and build over time, and some devices have a character you will not find elsewhere, like a real tape echo. The downside: each device adds a power supply, two or three cables and one more level to watch.
One all-in-one machine is the short route. The KLEMENTZ Dub Mixer brings together a stereo mixer, a preamp, a 3-band isolator, a sound generator for the siren and a delay, in 31 × 15 × 6.5 cm and under 1 kg. Your sources go in one side, your sound system comes out the other: nothing to wire between the effects. If you already have an echo or a reverb you love, keep them: they plug into the effects loop.
No more heavy rack, and no need to invest several thousand euros.
Where do you start, in practice?
Start with what you already have. Turntables and a hi-fi, or a computer and active speakers: that is enough to learn. You do not need a wall of speakers to begin.
Add frequency control first. Cutting the bass and bringing it back is the first move in dub, even before echo. Depending on the model, a DJ mixer does not always cut a band completely, and it rarely has effect sends. See why a standard DJ mixer isn’t enough for playing dub.
Then add a delay. The basic move is to send a word or a snare hit into the echo, then cut the send and let the repeats fade. That is where the track starts to breathe. Set the echo time to the tempo: see how to set the timing for a musical delay in dub.
The siren comes later. Use it sparingly, on transitions and lifts. See how to use a dub siren in a sound system.
Finally, the output. At home, a pair of active speakers or a hi-fi is enough: see setting up a sound system for dub at home. On a real sound system, your output goes into the operator’s preamp or active crossover.
What people who started say
A 39-year-old vinyl player plays at home on two turntables, an amp and two speaker boxes, and sometimes plays outdoors. What decided them: the machine fits between their two turntables, and the whole rig stays portable.
A DJ who plays rocksteady and vocal reggae in pubs had no setup before. They played on the venues’ gear. For them, the question was not “which sound system” but “how do I play anywhere with one device”.
An operator who has run a sound system for thirty years found it easy to use straight away, because they compare it with a rack of preamps to set up. A beginner needs more than an hour to find their bearings. That is normal: the step-by-step guide is there for that.
Common mistakes when you start
Bringing the bass back too loud. When the bass comes back after a cut, the level jumps. Keep headroom on your output so you do not clip. See adjusting the levels on a dub sound system without clipping.
Letting the delay run away. Pushing the echo feedback builds a dramatic oscillation. Left alone, it overloads everything. You play it, you do not let it run.
Ignoring mono and stereo. Many sound systems run in mono. A stereo machine can often output mono, but check before you plug in. See stereo or mono mixer: which one to choose for playing dub.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a real sound system to play dub?
No. You can learn very well at home with active speakers or a hi-fi. The sound system is the step where you play for other people.
Can you play dub with a DJ controller?
Yes, to mix from one track to the next. It often lacks a real isolator and effect sends, which are the heart of dub playing. See a mixer or a controller for playing dub.
Do you need a siren to start?
No. Start with the isolator and the delay. Add the siren once you have found your way of playing.
Built-in effects or separate pedals?
They work together. A machine with built-in effects gets you started fast, and you add your pedals through the effects loop. See built-in effects or pedals for your dub setup.
Mono or stereo to start?
Choose a stereo machine that can output mono: you play in stereo at home, and you adapt to the system when you play out.
Going further
Make a list of what you already have, and look for the link that is missing. That is where you start.
