Sludd

Any PA mixer worth it’s money either lets you use the XLR input on the mixer channels and attenuate (dampen) the signal to line level with a so-called pad or mic/line button or switch or it will have both an XLR and a Jack, where the jack will be balanced line input. The only set of rca inputs is usually the 2TR in or record in. You are stuck with no meters, no PFL and just one rotary knob for volume control.Most mixers will feature one or more stereo channels that typically come with balanced jack inputs. So all you’d need is to take an XLR to jack cable per channel and off you go.

This describes out PA input options exactly

So my first advice would be to check out a controller (MC2000, Mixtrack Pro 2 or 3, Beatmix 2 for example)

If I’m correct, these controllers, which have all been on my radar, provide only unbalanced outputs. Would I be better with something like a Terminal mix 2, Traktor S2 (although I’d have to map this to the software) or the like, in order to provide balanced output?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Sludd.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Sludd.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Sludd.

Thankyou Bob

This gives me something else to think about and might be a good solution, especially as the 2i4 gives me the benefits of a balanced output whether I “need” it or not.

My main thoughts were about whether balanced outputs are inherently louder, but your solution does away with that problem but also, because of the various instruments/mics etc and all the associated cables for the band I wondered about possible interference in the dj setup.

If I went down this route with an audio interface can I still use headphones for cueing tracks etc and if I find in the future that I’d like to use a hardware controller, is it possible to combine the two in the same setup?