Spinning vinyl ipod app from Theodore Watson on Vimeo.

If you want to flaunt your DJ skills for real, but without resorting to anything so old school as an actual record

Virtual DJ and Virtual Vinyl give you the feel and functionality direct to mp3.

If you’re a DJ who’s used to the feel of vinyl, or a newcomer who can appreciate the intuitive tactile sense of spinning records, these are the toys for you.

Similarly, if you play a piano or similar instrument and want to expand into digital music sound, a Midi controller has the look and feel of a keyboard but is actually an elaborate USB production tool. Beginners, just hook it up to Garage Band and you’re halfway to your first single.

I like the Korg K49 and its siblings for home use. The portable M-AUDIO Oxygen 8 v2 is perfect for the DJ who want to add an edge to his set.

On the other hand, if there’s you are convinced there’s no substitute for the real thing, you can’t do better than the Goldmund Reference II, perhaps the most precise record player in the world. Unfortunately, on 25 are made each year. Fortunately, you won’t care, because they cost $300,000 each.