Entry Level DJ Controller | How to connect to speakers or sound system 

Product Links: CABLES RCA to RCA cables amzn.to/2NEyBni RCA to 1/4inch cables amzn.to/2O3qXSx XLR female to XLR male amzn.to/2qIhND4 ADAPTERS RCA female to 1/4inch male amzn.to/2NFuirM RCA female to XLR amzn.to/2NJLnRH ACTIVE DUAL DIRECT BOXES Behringer Ultra-DI DI20 amzn.to/33HBCZM Art Dualxdirect amzn.to/32JProZ DBX DI4 (4 Channel) amzn.to/2Q7UPQm SMALL PA MIXER Behringer Xenyx Q802USB amzn.to/2QiNv4e MEDIUM PA MIXER Mackie ProFX 16 V3 amzn.to/2rvFq1R POWER SPEAKER Pioneer Pro Audio XPRS15 amzn.to/36YXa63 STUDIO MONITOR Pioneer DJ Bulit8 amzn.to/2CAor0z ENTRY LEVEL DJ CONTROLLERS DDJ-SB3 amzn.to/370yUAm DDJ-400 www.zzounds.com/a--3970758/item--PIODDJ400 2 CHANNEL PORTABLE DJ CONTROLLERS DDJ-SR2 amzn.to/33IFDgr DDJ-800 amzn.to/34VEKkM 4 CHANNEL DJ CONTROLLERS DDJ-1000 amzn.to/2rFpU3P DDJ-1000SRT amzn.to/2Kdaaey ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEM XDJ-XZ amzn.to/2XmNdex 4 CHANNEL DJ MIXER DJM-900NXS2 amzn.to/2KfS8bP 2 CHANNEL BATTLE MIXER DJM-S9 amzn.to/36YPwbX

Spent so much money on random cables because I had 0 idea of what I was doing and even when I asked the guys at guitar center they had no clue. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Finally some detailed info on how to ACTUALLY make these connections, instead of just saying "connect with RCA" etc.. thanks!

I’ve been looking for this information since I started DJING a year ago thank you

Great post, I mixed from 78 to 88 in Sarasota on techniques back when you listed to the mix that’s old School. Very interesting and informative on balanced and unbalanced. Thank you brother

The best video I've ever seen about this in my life, thanks again from Brazil

By far the most clear and concise explanation of how to setup for live streaming and mixing. THANK YOU!!!!

This was excellent. I’m getting the direct box. Brilliant

This is the best advice I've had so far 👌🏿

THIS VIDEO IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. THANK YOU!

Thanks for all the info. Learn a lot of great information. We need more people out here like you!!!

This is the best video of the century!!!!!!! 7 Years ago after a DJset in the 2000 people nightclub with my controllers, I decided to invest in CDJ2000s and DJM because the other DJ had a much louder and clearer sound than me with the CDJs. I didn't understand why till today! Fortunately, I totally master CDJs and DJM now :D Thank you very much for your amazing video!

Awesome and thorough instruction. Thank you!

I like how you help so many Djs. You do know so much about Controlers , I know you. Know alot. When are you going to talk about the way we did it in the beginning of DJ ing . One time you said a real DJ could dj with just about any cheap or expensive equipment witch it's true .Trust me am 60 years old back then most turntables had no speed control. You had to have and know the selection of records you was going to play ,or look at the groves for your cues. Mixers where ok if you was lucky I had a uncle in Germany and came with 2 Mixers Like Bozak or Uri , and macintosh amps had tubes, Then he had those Thorens turntables like they had in all the Major clubs how I wanted those .Then he purchased some Phillips Turntables for me I sold them and purchase Technics 1800 I thought I had the best no belt moter, it's what I wanted I held on till the 1200 mk2 came around bought a display and a new one still have them got rid of the 1800, CDJS started coming out it took me years but I gave in and bought a pair of Cdjs 1000 I used Cds for years Then I seen some guy selling the silver Cdjs 1000 I gave him $350 for the pair and he took it so now I have 4 pioneers CDJS players bought me the Denon Serato pro with the interface 2 disc ,2 records all the wires I need so I use a old Bozak Mixer it don't have a USB port that's why I purchased the Serato pro only 2 channels so I still have 2 more channels for the other cdj players. Any way thanks for your info .Your the best ,you must be a hell of a perfectionist till you next post love them

One of the best videos on the internet.

Awesome, informative video!!! Just what I was looking for!

This video is GOLD!!!! Thank you!

Thanks a million for sharing your knowledge and experience bro.

Thanks Pri. This was a big help. Season greetings and best wishes.

Awesome videos, even better than what I've seen from Digital DJ Tips!

You're the goat bro u literally just saved me 🙏

Your a life saver man to a newbie like me!! Thank you.

The video I was looking Thank you!

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and found it helpful..

Thank you for your efforts, very useful video.

Again. You The Man!

Excellent thread

Great video and it came at a time when I needed to learn about just this. I've always plugged into DJMs in clubs but I'm going into a venue where that's not possible and even though my controller has balanced outputs, my backup does not. Very useful information here and confirms that the way I've handled things before was good, without knowing why. Thanks dude!

Thank you so much. I just got A DDJ 400 so I will have to get a PA mixer. Thanks

Very informative video... I got answers of my all questions 💯💯

Thank you ....very useful video🎉

Great advice! Thank you.😎

THIS WAS SO HELPFUL

Awesome explanations!!! Thanks

very informative, thank you so much!

Very helpful. Thank you!

Great tutorial!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!

WOW This was super helpful! TY!

Great explanation 👍🏾thanks!

What a great video thanks fo the info 👍🏽

Very informative! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I'm a super entry-level DJ and this video with super informative. I just bought the Pioneer DDJ sb3 and I needed help on how to hook the controller up to my focusrite 2i2 interface

You cover every question!

I needed this ✌

Really dope video. Appreciate all the very useful and detailed info! Need more like this! I use an Allen & Heath ZedFX-6. Really solid PA mixer!

Awesome vídeo! Thanks!

Great Vid. Thanks so much!

Nice sir....Very useful video. Super clear speech..

Thanks for the video, super helpful! So I have two 15in powered PA speakers that take in XLR only. I also have an 18in powered sub that takes a left and a right XLR input. I use a DDJ400. In the past, I would connect everything as follows: DDJ ---RCA to XLR ---> Left Speaker Left speaker -XLR to XLR ---> Right speaker Right speaker -XLR to XLR ---> subwoofer. There were multiple issues with this. First off, I know I’m not getting anywhere near the max volume out of my system because of all the signal loss. But more specifically, by only having a single input to the sub, it looses a lot of its oomph. Based on what you were saying in the video, it seems like I need either a dual direct box or a mixer. I think the dual direct box is going to be enough for me, however I wanted to check with you and see if you think that’s the best solution? I was thinking I would go ddj -> direct box -> l and r speakers (respectively) -> sub. Will this help? I was hoping to buy the cheaper behringer dual box but I’m worried it won’t be able to handle all of this gear. Thanks again!!

Thanks for you videos God bless you 🙏

Excellent - Thanks!!

Very good explanations of something many young djs don't know!

Very well explained video. Kudos! I often come across guys who think they know everything about this subject and would often find it difficult to explain why I need balanced inputs, etc... I'd just shut-up out of frustration. Specially about stereo imagery of which very few audio guys care about just for the sake of having all speakers connected and outputs sound. I hope these guys see this video and realize what they think they know but don't know. Keep it up bro.

Great info👍

Great video

I had a Behringer XENYX 302USB exactly for that to hook up my DDJ-400. But cheap certain comes at a price: noise on the line. Returned it and spend more money to pick up an Allen & Heath ZEDi-8 instead. Very happy with the clean signal (also looks better than Behringer's). Also has a 2-channel USB interface which is great for diving into how to use DAW's. Watched this video after the purchases. But still great to know my decision was in line with recommended solutions.

Great vid. Cheers to you.👍🥃🥃

Thanks !

Yup - that's what i did when I took my DDJ400 to the party 2 weeks ago. Took along my little allen&Heath Zed6

great video

Just wow Blah3 Again just wow 🤯 Ty3 🙏

Very helpful

You. Are. Awesome.

My small gigs ik have a old tall pioneer mixer from 02 luv it the venue has its own sound like speakers tht mixer and sim xlrs since I live upstairs I used to drag each 1200 down and my weak vinyl record selection but I made it work and back their get 150.00 11 til 2am i did not care in the slightestIt was winged so well I kept getting called back it a knock at my back door😂I’m glad when practiced I put my speakers out the windows and he knew I spun from tht

Thanks you, That explains why my sound is so bad coming out of my DDJ SB3 connected to a 15 ft RCA line.

You should get a Nobel prize for this

thanks a lot!

благодарю thank you

THANK YOU BRUHHHHHHHH

Great video. I have a DDJ-400 controller and I'm thinking of getting a pair of studio monitors, the active direct box seems like the best set up to connect these for me, but if I also wanted the option of connecting the monitors to a laptop/PC, would I be able to do this using the active direct box or would I need some other cables/equipment?

When I got back into the hobby in 2013, I used a Mixtrack Pro Mk1 and later a DDJ SB2. Both great little devices, versatile and extremely portable. But, they still only got RCA outs. I knew that the signal was unbalanced and I would have troubles pairing them with active PA speakers, but I didn't want to spend several hundred dollars just for a mixer with balanced XLRs. That's when I found out about this crazy little invention called the DI box. The Behringer DI20 was only 25€ on Amazon, so it was a no-brainer. Now, I was finally able to plug my entry-level gear into pro speakers without looking (and sounding!) like a total noob. To this day, I'm using the Behringer DI20 to amp up the sound coming out of my backup controller, the Pioneer DDJ-REV1. For beginner DJs wanting to play their first big gigs, this thing is a 100% MUST-HAVE!! 👏

thx u

I use the dbx Gorack with my Traktor s2 MK3!

What would you recommend for hooking up more than 2 powered monitors? With that ProFX 6 in mind?

Hey man this helps a lot! Thanks!

Quick question - you recommend a Dual Active Direct Box to create the balanced output to the speakers, yet none of these that I've found have RCA inputs.....so the recommendation is to just use adaptors to the directbox? Thanks in advanced

I’m from Baltimore we have our own club music and I had a really gud plug in 99 I was his gopher but he paid me 50 smite and let me learn and taught me the last hour was the deal cuz this was a in the hood black bar with a very I mean mini dance floor and ofcourse they wud always say put on the white boi and when I first started I’d use excuses until i ran out then my homie said yea to tht deal we discussed if they wanna see you spin sim bmore club ez enough he thought me on 12s and a Gemini 626 platinum I mean big highlights in ur life u remember everything so we started getting well he stated getting somany of his old friends who turned promoter.I saying this stuff is if u get a chance like tht ik it sounds kinda lame but I’m so in love with a great set and making the crowd happy.that was my late 20s now I’m 49 My last set I bought was in 05 it was sim Stanton box special actually a great deal and very underestimated it was called the Stanton scratch pack 2?str8 150s😄and sum basic Stanton mixer the tables👌🏻✅seriously I catch qbert on twitch using them constantly

What a great great video friend. I have a Pioneer DDJ FLX6 and i want to make sure the signal and volume is alright when i play private parties. Is the Behringer Xenyx Q802USB mixer plus RCA cables all i need?

Does the mixer option offer any boost in signal output level, or is it just to convert from unbalanced to balanced?

Thanks a lot man! What if i used a subwoover? So monitors connect to the sub and the sub to the controller. Is it still unbalanced? 🤔 thanks

How do i connect a laptop to an amplifier or what sounds card do you recommend

Questions. Does a PA mixer boost the signal strength of a DDJ400 more or better than plugging into the channel of another DJs mixer? Will a PA mixer improve the volume capabilities of my monitors at home? I have the big KRK G4 and I find it easy to redline my controller, especially with my bassier music. I have RCA out to XLR into my monitors and the cords are about 6 feet long. Great videos👍

Great video, I have a ddj400 which when plugged into my pair of jbl partybox speakers is no where near as loud as if I plug my DJM750 mixer into speakers. If I used a small 802 pa mixer with my ddj400, how would be best to connect pa mixer to the party boxes ? The partybox’s have 1/8 inch aux input, red/white rca inputs, and also a 1/4 inch mic input and a 1/4 inch guitar input , the mic and guitar inputs have their own gain knobs.

Seems like you've made a good tutorial, and one to come back to, thanks :) As for those who make these systems, as ever the instructions show that they haven't got any idea whatsoever what the fuck they're doing. I've blown people away with my music for 29 years. I still don't understand why the easy thing has been made ridiculously complicated. And this is the simplest presentation of it I've ever found. My bet, sound technicians would be out of a job if musicians could just plug themselves in. So long as plugging in means you have to ballance a signal with a PQRST before DIing it to a boost interface with an HIV adaptor (so long as the signal doesn't have interference from the BBQ) and then switching the channel in the BJ to the quasimodular triceratops while adjusting the donkey flange so it realeases the right frequency of gecko farts.... then some nerds who can't make music will still get paid for sorting out all that crap 😂

Greetings friend. First of all thank you for a really good video that cleared a lot of questions out (at least for me). I'll explain what I use, and then you can answer what your opinion on the matter is. I use Traktor S2 MK3, pretty good controller but has a really quiet master output and only RCA (unb) outs. I would like to keep my unbalanced connection short and boost my signal output a bit more (I think it's weaker than on the SB3 out of the box), so what would you recommend using between Active Dual Direct Box (the Art one you linked) or that Small Behringer Xenyx Q802USB Mixer? Keep in mind that I should be able to boost the signal a little bit more than someone on the SB3. Thanks in advance, keep up the great work and amazing videos!

Hi i want to plan to buy pioneer ddj srt2 and i have presonus air 15. My question is do i need to direct to pa since there is output xlr to input xlr to pa or we need di box for each left and right channel.

Hello, thanks for the video but i could not understand this clearly. I have DDJ-FLX6 controller which has master and booth RCA outputs and 2 DJ S-50X5 monitor speakers. Speakers has Unbalanced RCA, Balanced TRS and XLR inputs. What is the best connection for this case to use both monitor speakers at the same time as left and right?

Hi, that video was very informative thank you. I do have a question I have a pioneer ddj sb3 gold edition and I tried to put it through a pioneer ddj 1000 rekordbox using the rca cables as advised. I was putting them though some Krk rokit series 5 but I’m getting no sound at all can you please help? Many thanks

hy there Pri yon Joni! I'v been looking for your videos sibce the begginning of my Dj mini carierr. Very usefull infos clear and easy to undestand videos! I like what you do. About this video i need your advice as an pro tech ! I have the follouing setup that i use: Hercules inpulse 500 controller (unbalanced output 6.3 jack) a mixer ( for now the Alto Zmx 862 main mix balanced or unbalanced 6.3 jack output) and from there active woofers (only balanced in/out) and active speakers that can handle balanced/unbalanced signal. I undestud that adding an active DI BOX after the controller the signal goes ballanced into the entire system, but it will that help increasing the overall strenght of the sound? (in the same gieven conditions, same settings) Does it makes a difference in sound Quality? I undestud that if a active speaker is built to work with balanced signal is better to use balanced signal for best performance, regardless of it's capacity to also handle unbalanced. Hope my english is good enough for you to undestand what i mean. Thanks alot! Respect

Very informative video Pri yon Joni. Would the xenyx 802 also send a balanced signal to the speaker? It's not very clear like you mention. Great video.

I was wondering how I could connect the Zone Out of a Denon DJ Prime 4 to a regular Denon AVR-X1200W AV receiver that does not have XLR or 1/4" inputs, knowing that the receiver is about 40 feet away, in another room. The RCA cables are not the best option, so I was thinking to maybe send a balanced signal via XLR or 1/4" cables to a Behringer Q802USB mixer that you recommended in one of your videos, and then use a 3 feet RCA cable from the OUT of the Behringer mixer to the RCA AUDIO IN of the Denon receiver. With the Denon Prime 4 you can dj in one room and send a playlist to another room, and this is what I am trying to achieve, while maintaining the quality of the sound in both rooms. Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Pri yon Joni is there a chance that you might do a video on the NUMARK mixtrack platinum? i've been a huge fan of your videos and since i've been watching your videos i hear you always say we don't need to use Pioneer right away unless i can afford it, but i don't think i can so is Numark still good though?

Appreciate this knowledge!! I have a 15in powered spkr with a passive. Bought an addtl passive thinking to run the controller thru an amp w/2 passive. The active one gets too hot and they clip. Now with the mixer can run the controller, mic and addt'l thru that without the need for an amp. Is that correct?

Very informative and useful video’s. Just a question about entry level controllers with RCA output. If that controller like the Traktor Kontrol S2 mk3 have a power supply and not USB powered, will the RCA output be the same as a better controller with XLR output.

Great video! Re DDJ200, can I use a 3.5mm from my output splitter to an RCA input on my PA mixer? From the mixer I’ve got 3/4 to XLR for speakers

I sent you link my speaker

Hi I'm currently using an SB3 rca to 1/4 in. To a xenyx 802. I also have 2 powered speakers and one powered sub. How would you wire it? I'm having trouble getting a good sound out of my system. Thanks in advance.

Just ordered a controller with master out RCA and 1/4in..any preference? My powered speakers have both.

Hii priyon✨need good advice..is it good thing frm mixer djm 900nxs2 rec out rca to presonus e3.5 powered speaker rca input? Next option advice..frm djm 900nxs2 mixer master out using splitter rca to presonus e3.5 rca input good?

I am currently using the DDJ SB3, which only has RCA output. However I have some good solid Behringer active speakers, which ONLY has an 1/4 Jack and XLR input. I am thinking of buying the Yamaha MG06 mixer, over the Behringer small mixers, due to the fact of the XLR output they have on the Yamaha Mixer. My set will go like this : DDJ SB3 (RCA to 1/4 JACK) ---> Yamaha MG06 (XLR to XLR) ---> Behringer B115D I will I have extra channels for an AUX to 1/4 Jack if needs be, but also an input for my Wired Mic or even my Wireless Mic. Is everything ok? Whats your opinion? I really love my SB3 and I do not feel the need to upgrade, as at the moment I am trying to improve my mobile DJ set up. Thanks for the great video man !