How to make a DJ splitter cable

Just starting out as a DJ? Don’t have a dedicated sound card and don’t want to buy one until you’re sure DJing is for you? Or maybe you’re DJing from your iPod or iPad using one of Algoriddim’s djay software programs? Or maybe you have a sound card, but it has technical problems just when you have an important event scheduled.

Whatever the reason, there are times when you don’t have access to a sound card or DJ controller, but you still need to do a professional job as a DJ. And to do that, you obviously need to have two audio outputs from your music player: one that the audience is listening to, and one for just your headphones, which is usually the next track so you can find the right one. starting place and check the track for speed, equalization and other factors.

Fortunately, there is a relatively cheap and simple solution to this problem. If you have dedicated DJ software like Virtual DJ, Traktor Pro, DJ for iPhone, DJ for iPod Touch, or DJ for iPad, it’s fairly easy to find splitter cables that allow your DJ software to send the audience signal (also known as teacher). signal) through the left-hand channel of the music player’s stereo headphone output, while sending the signal for the next track (also known as a monitor, input, or headphone signal) through the right-hand channel.

Once the signal is split, it uses a special cable to take the left-hand master output and connect it to your speakers for the audience to enjoy, while at the same time sending the right-hand monitor output to your headphones. so you can make a sign. the next track correctly. In other words, you are using a single stereo audio output to provide 2 separate mono outputs.

You can easily buy a dedicated splitter cable for DJing from Amazon or other music sites. Or, if you’re handy, you can also make your own splitter cable using one 1/8″ stereo phone jack (TRS) to two 1/8″ mono phone jack (TRS) cables and then two 1/8″ jacks. ” Mono (TRS) headphone plug to 1/8 stereo headphone TRS plug cables, for a total of three cables.

The main downside to this setup is that it depends on the quality of your music player’s built-in sound, whether that player is an iPad, a computer, an iPhone, or another device. So of course, if the player is producing poor quality sound, your DJ’s sound quality will obviously be sub-par as well.

Another possible problem is that the audience signal you are generating using a splitter is mono instead of stereo. However, this is less of an issue than you might expect because most club and bar PA systems are actually mono anyway.

Finally, you have to keep in mind that the audience signal will only have half power due to splitting. If possible, you would like to have a mixer or PA system available to boost your signal again and give the audience the best music experience.

However, even with these limitations, a splitter cable is certainly a practical and inexpensive tool that every DJ should consider for those situations where a dedicated DJ controller or sound card just isn’t available.