Let's face it, 23 years ago being a DJ wasn't the hippest thing in the world. There was no Internet, no MTV and Rock N' Roll barely existed (Rap? What's that?). Yet Gemini's founder saw that his son enjoyed playing records for his friends in the basement of their home. Eventually, he came to realize that DJs required professional, user-friendly equipment to master their craft at prices that anyone could afford. The rest (as they say) is history.

Over the past 23 years, Gemini has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of DJ products,

Gemini's PT-1000 High Torque Direct Drive Turntable

as well as lighting equipment. But becoming the biggest isn't an easy task (as we here at Sweetwater can tell you): It takes a lot of listening to your customers to continually produce the products they demand, at the best possible prices.

Currently, Gemini employs over 150 people in facilities all over the globe with worldwide headquarters located in New Jersey. Gemini's USA-based engineering/imagineering staff is second to none. Compromised of a half dozen full time, in-house engineers and over a half million dollars worth of Pentium computers, these people listen to the feedback from DJs all over the country (and the world), and design every single product that Gemini markets.

From turntables to mixers to CD players to speakers, Gemini makes the stuff that makes a DJ's job easier. Aside from being affordable, the products this company builds have all sorts of useful - though sometimes nearly invisible - innovations. Take for instance their "Dust Away" design: Specially redesigned rubber buttons and transport doors to protect units from dust and smoke. It's a small thing, but over the years, it means your equipment will perform as if it were new, instead of having to be replaced over and over again.

One of Gemini's latest products is the PT-Series Turntables. Of course, the company builds rock-solid beltdrive and direct drive turntables starting at just $159

Looks cool, sounds great: The CD 9500 PRO II from Gemini

list, but their new PT-1000 High Torque Direct Drive Turntable ($519 list) sets a new standard for pro quality. Weighing in at a rock-solid 25 pounds, the unit is loaded with high-end features like adjustable pitch control, ultra-fast start-up time, strobe illuminator, an XLR lamp adapter, anti-skate adjustment, removable cartridge shell, aluminum diecast platter, quartz lock, plus a specially weighted base for feedback prevention. What more could you ask for?

If you prefer playing your music via disc rather than vinyl, maybe a Gemini CD player is right for you. One of the company's best sellers is the CD9500 PRO II ($999 list) with features like Instant Start - that's right, no more waiting, thanks to Gemini's digital technology: Your music starts instantly when the PLAY button is pressed. The CD9500 is also frame accurate which allows you to search music frame by frame (1/75 second step). A jog wheel allows you to search forward or reverse at six different speeds and the unit's exclusive Pitch Control/Pitch Bend function makes beat mixing easy.

Gemini also makes powerful self-contained speaker systems (starting at $129 list) that can really dish out the music with tight, well-defined bass response (which, as you might expect, is kinda important). Everything from their custom crossovers to the actual speaker elements to the cabinets are developed in highly controlled environments, simulating anything from a high-output dance club to a weekend DJ gig. And all Gemini speakers are made right here in the U.S.A.

Then there's the company's superb mixers which include the PDM-1012 10" Rack Mixer with built in 12-second digital sampler ($239 list) and the top-of-the-line PDM-7024 19" Rack Mixer ($549) with built-in 24-second sampler (including battery backup to retain memory), speed control for sampling playback and integral 14-band equalizer.

There's also amps, roadcases, wireless systems and... whoa, we're out of space. That means now's the perfect time to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for complete information and your special pricing on the entire Gemini line!