"Two turntables and a microphone" is the basic concept of a DJ's equipment. Turntables ( aka. phonographs ) and a microphone are connected to a mixer. The DJ uses the mixer'scrossfader to fade between two songs playing on the turntables. Fading includes often beatmatching. Live hip hop music also often has an MCrapping into the microphone. In nightclubs the microphone is usually used only for announcements.