When i use dry yeast I add the packet to a cup of water for 15 minutes. You see the yeast swell up with water and it starts much faster. I create a real starter with liquid yeast(dme, water, airlock etc). Having said that, using no starter with dry still starts faster than using a starter with liquid. They say that liquid creates a better beer so ive been trying to use that more, but im still too unexperienced to taste a diffrence.