There are many types of cables we use to connect equipment to our controllers and to the mixer.  You must know what kind of cables you can use to connect your controller to a mixer.  Usually, for an inexpensive controller like the DDJ-400, you will only have RCA outputs.  Higher-end controllers will have 6.35mm and/or XLR outputs.

Audio cables can be unbalanced or balanced.  Unbalanced cables are more affected by electrical interference. They can pick up noise from electrical devices around them, especially as the cable gets longer.  Balanced cables have an extra wire inside and if the input and output jacks are also balanced, any noise that was picked up will be canceled.  So balanced cables can have a cleaner signal and can be much longer.  Use balanced cables when possible.  Note that if either the input or output jack is unbalanced, then your signal will be unbalanced no matter what cables you use

RCA cables are unbalanced.
6.35mm cables have two types:
TS- unbalanced mono
TRS- balanced mono or unbalanced stereo.
XLR cables are all balanced. Controllers use 3 pin XLR balanced mono.

If you have XLR outputs, use XLR cables
If you have 6.35mm balanced outputs, use 6.35mm TRS cables
If you have only have RCA outputs then you just use RCA cables

You never know how far away you will be from the mixer!  Don’t make the mistake of bringing cables that are too short.
Cables should be at least 2 meters.  The audio signal will start to degrade in unbalanced cables after 3 meters, so avoid RCA cables and unbalanced 6.35mm cables longer than 3 meters.

For my controller with XLR outputs, I carry 5mm XLR cables and adapters so that I can use 6.35mm or RCA inputs on the mixer if I have to
I also carry cheap spare RCA cables

Even if you only have RCA outputs, you might have to connect to a mixer that only has available 6.35mm or XLR.  Or you might want to connect with XLR, but the mixer only has available RCA inputs. So carry adapters so you can use your cables to plug into any available input.

Don’t expect anyone else to provide or lend you cables! Always carry your own cables and several adapters so you will be able to connect without stressing out yourself or another DJ or the organizer!

 

Audio Cables

Two types- Unbalanced and balanced

 

Unbalanced

  • Only two conductors (wires). Live and ground.
  • Will pick up noise from radio waves and electrical devices
  • No ability to cancel out noise (interference) so cables should be short

RCA
Most common outputs for entry level controllers.  Keep the cable short to avoid picking up excess noise.  No more than 3 meters.

Male

TS (Tip Sleeve)

One ring
Male

Female (Port)

 

 

Balanced

  • 3 conductors (wires)- Ground, Hot, and Cold
  • Can cancel noise picked up from radio and electrical devices
  • Cold wire sends the same signal as Hot but the polarity is reversed
  • At the receiving end, the signal is flipped, and all the noise picked up is canceled
  • Cables can be longer and audio quality will be better

XLR

TRS Cable (Tip Ring Sleeve)

  • 2 rings
  • Balanced mono (one cable for left, one cable for right channel) OR
  • Unbalanced stereo (one cable for left and right channels)

6.35mm (1/4″)
used for professional audio devices

3.5mm (1/8″ mini stereo)
Used for headphones and consumer audio devices like phones

 

Adapters

3.5mm – 6.35mm
Useful for headphones and plugging in phones to a mixer or controller

3.5mm splitter
Useful for letting two people listen to the same audio source when practicing together

XLR – TRS, XLR – RCA, RCA – TRS

Useful when the mixer doesn’t have an empty jack for your cable
You should carry a few adapters that will let you plug in your controller to several different jacks

XLR M – TRS M

XLR F – TRS M

6.35mm TRS M – RCA M

6.35mm TS (unbalanced) – RCA M

6.35mm TRS M – RCA F

RCA Male to 3.5mm female

USB

All the current USB types

USB A to USB B cable
Used for connecting your controller to your computer.  Carry an extra with you.  Note- this is the same as a printer cable, so if you find yourself with no USB cable, check if the venue has a printer!


USB-A Ports

USB Ports

USB-C
Used for USB hubs and laptop/phone charging

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