Cable Connections and how to connect up DJ Equipment
IMPORTANT - use anything on this page at your own risk. Always disconnect everything first, and read all manuals. This is just intended to give you a basic guide to the cable types out there.
USE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
RCA and Phono
Often in the HiFi world the term "RCA" and "Phono" cable are interchangable. Not here! You will see why in a couple of sections down
RCA
(Ignore shaded out yellow one - that can be used for video (ie, tv etc) - i just couldn't get a better shot.
RCA cables are used everywhere. They connect audio and video bits together. You will use one to go from your mixer to your amplifier normally.
Turntables
Connecting turntables can be a bit confusing at first. Remember these key points when connecting up turn tables:
- Turntables go in the PHONO input (other devices, such as cd decks will almost always go in the LINE input
- Turntables need to be grounded. That is what that third cable is from your decks with a metal end, and what the metal screw in thing is on your mixer
- Then once its all connected, make sure that you change the switch on your mixer that says "LINE/PHONO" to phono - for obvious reasons (so the mixer uses the input from the phono input for that channel).
CD Decks, Computer input, MP3 players, etc
This is what the LINE input is for.
These devices won't need to be grounded, either. Make sure you select LINE on the LINE/PHONO switch on your mixer.
Connecting 4 devices on a 2 channel mixer
You can do this quite easily, for example having two turntables, and two cd decks (or mp3 players, whatever else works on the LINE input).
Plug the 2 turn tables into the phono inputs (one on each channel), ground them, and then put the cd decks in the LINE input.
Now all you need to do is switch that line/phono switch to switch between each input on each channel.
Of course having a four channel mixer is better, but this way is cheaper...
Plugging in headphones
In most cases you just plug the headphone jack into the female jack socket on your mixer...
You may need an adaptor incase the headphones have the small jack on the end (as 99% of mixers have the large jack size). You probably won't need to worry about this if your headphones are propper dj ones. If you are using little headphones ear pieces that came with your iPod or whatever though, you will almost certainly need a converter. They're only a few quid for a cheap one.
Connecting your mixer to your amp
So everything is connected, apart from your mixer to your amp...
You should have several outputs on the back of your mixer, including MASTER and REC. Some often also have BOOTH.
Connect, with an RCA cable, to your amp from the MASTER output. Make sure to connect it to a LINE input on your mixer (not PHONO input) [even if you're using turntables, as you're connecting the mixer to the amp, it doesn't matter if you're using turntables].
What is BOOTH and REC then?
If you have monitor speakers, then if you were playing in a club or party you'd connect these to the Booth. Master output would go to the party, and be on the dance floor. REC is for recording. Most mixers won't change the volume to this even if you change the master volume, so if you're recording and get a phone call and need to turn it down for a bit your recording won't make any difference.
