{"id":8518,"date":"2022-04-07T21:40:17","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T13:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flowtaipei.com\/?page_id=8518"},"modified":"2024-06-27T01:10:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T17:10:54","slug":"dj-intro-cables","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/flowtaipei.com\/en\/dj-intro-cables\/","title":{"rendered":"DJ Intro- Cables"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many types of cables we use to connect equipment to our controllers and to the mixer.\u00a0 You must know what kind of cables you can use to connect your controller to a mixer.\u00a0 Usually, for an inexpensive controller like the DDJ-400, you will only have RCA outputs.\u00a0 Higher-end controllers will have 6.35mm and\/or XLR outputs.<\/p>\n

Audio cables can be unbalanced or balanced.\u00a0 Unbalanced cables are more affected by electrical interference. They can pick up noise from electrical devices around them, especially as the cable gets longer.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 So balanced cables can have a cleaner signal and can be much longer.\u00a0 Use balanced cables when possible.\u00a0 Note that if either the input or output jack is unbalanced, then your signal will be unbalanced no matter what cables you use<\/p>\n

RCA cables are unbalanced.
\n6.35mm cables have two types:
\nTS- unbalanced mono
\nTRS- balanced mono or unbalanced stereo.
\nXLR cables are all balanced. Controllers use 3 pin XLR balanced mono.<\/p>\n

If you have XLR outputs, use XLR cables
\nIf you have 6.35mm balanced outputs, use 6.35mm TRS cables
\nIf you have only have RCA outputs then you just use RCA cables<\/p>\n

You never know how far away you will be from the mixer!\u00a0 Don’t make the mistake of bringing cables that are too short.
\nCables should be at least 2 meters.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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
\nI also carry cheap spare RCA cables<\/p>\n

Even if you only have RCA outputs, you might have to connect to a mixer that only has available 6.35mm or XLR.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

<\/h3>\n

Audio Cables<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Two types- Unbalanced and balanced<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unbalanced<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Only two conductors (wires). Live and ground.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Will pick up noise from radio waves and electrical devices<\/span><\/li>\n
  • No ability to cancel out noise (interference) so cables should be short<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    RCA<\/strong>
    \nMost common outputs for entry level controllers.\u00a0 Keep the cable short to avoid picking up excess noise.\u00a0 No more than 3 meters.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Male
    \n\"\"<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    TS (Tip Sleeve)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    One ring
    \nMale<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Female (Port)
    \n\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    Balanced<\/strong><\/h4>\n
      \n
    • 3 conductors (wires)- Ground, Hot, and Cold<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Can cancel noise picked up from radio and electrical devices<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Cold wire sends the same signal as Hot but the polarity is reversed<\/span><\/li>\n
    • At the receiving end, the signal is flipped, and all the noise picked up is canceled<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Cables can be longer and audio quality will be better<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      XLR<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      TRS Cable (Tip Ring Sleeve)<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • 2 rings<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Balanced mono (one cable for left, one cable for right channel) OR<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Unbalanced stereo (one cable for left and right channels)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        6.35mm (1\/4″)
        \nused for professional audio devices<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        3.5mm (1\/8″ mini stereo)<\/strong>
        \nUsed for headphones and consumer audio devices like phones<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Adapters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        3.5mm – 6.35mm<\/strong>
        \nUseful for headphones and plugging in phones to a mixer or controller<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

        3.5mm splitter<\/strong>
        \nUseful for letting two people listen to the same audio source when practicing together
        \n<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        XLR – TRS, XLR – RCA, RCA – TRS<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

        Useful when the mixer doesn’t have an empty jack for your cable
        \nYou should carry a few adapters that will let you plug in your controller to several different jacks
        \n<\/span><\/p>\n

        XLR M – TRS M<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        XLR F – TRS M<\/strong>
        \n\"\"<\/p>\n

        6.35mm TRS M – RCA M<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        6.35mm TS (unbalanced) – RCA M<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        6.35mm TRS M – RCA F<\/strong>
        \n<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

        RCA Male to 3.5mm female<\/strong>
        \n\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

        USB<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        All the current USB types<\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        USB A to USB B cable<\/strong>
        \nUsed for connecting your controller to your computer.\u00a0 Carry an extra with you.\u00a0 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!<\/p>\n

        \"\"
        \nUSB-A Ports<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        USB Ports<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        USB-C<\/strong>
        \nUsed for USB hubs and laptop\/phone charging<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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