That's great thank you very much! To verify, I have to use TS cables going from the dp sends into the mixer, and then TS cables going back into the dp?
The guy at the store said I should use all XLR going from the dp to the mixer and going from the mixer to the dp.
And the guy at the store has what kind of training/experience???
DP to Mixer:
The DP outputs are HiZ and either RCA/TS jacks out or 1/4" TRS (balanced) Monitor phone jacks out (if connecting via the DP Monitor out, keep in mind the Monitor out circuit puts out significantly more power than the RCA outs since the Monitor out is designed to connect to powered speakers or a power amp).
On the Mixer, the HiZ input could be a TS/RCA jack, a TS 1/4" Phone jack, or a TRS (balanced) 1/4" phone jack. You need to check the mixer specs.
Mixer to DP depends:
The mixer outputs will be HiZ**
- If TS/RCA jacks out on Mixer, then TS/RCA to TS 1/4" phone plug into DP.
- If mono (TS) 1/4" phone jack on Mixer, then 1/4" mono phone plugs to connect into DP.
- If balanced TRS 1/4" phone jack on Mixer then use TRS 1/4" phone plugs to connect into DP.
**The DP XLR LowZ mic inputs and the HiZ TRS Phone inputs are on separate circuits. You absolutely do not want to run a Mixer XLR out to a DP XLR mic input. The Mixer is not a microphone. Mixer XLR outs are meant for connecting long cable runs to power amplifiers or powered speakers that have XLR inputs.
AND, the only time a balanced cable is a better option than unbalanced is when the cable run needs to be longer than about
10 meters, or if there's a specific problem with R(adio) F(requency) I(nterference) - like florescent lighting may cause, or a computer may cause; or a pesky ground loop exists. Absent any RFI or ground loop problems, there's nothing wrong with using an unbalanced cable and connectors for short cable runs.
PLUS everything mjk has posted.
EDIT: I should have written "
about 4 meters" (13 feet), not "10 meters" (32 feet) for short unbalanced cable runs. A senior moment in the wee hours of the morning.