HI END CABLES question?

Heyo.

Would appreciate some help with couple questions please.

First experience with the best cables to hook my Akai MPK-mini to the Sample?
Second wish to incorporate the Sample into my DJ setup (Pioneer DJS-11) mixer for I/Os.
Know I can do it.
Just if n e one has beat me to it and has n e tips?
Thankyou

If you are using an MPK mini mk4, connect the MPK’s MIDI OUT to the Sample’s MIDI IN using a Type-A TRS-to-DIN MIDI cable.

Earlier versions of the MPK mini (mk3 and older) do not have MIDI ports, so they cannot be connected directly to the Sample.

To connect the Sample to your DJ mixer, use a dual 1/4" TS to RCA cable.

TRS* -ballanced. TS is unballanced and not "high quality" at all. Do not use RCA... Use TRS with 1/4 inch jacks. Or XLR to TRS.

Ultros wrote:TRS* -ballanced. TS is unballanced and not "high quality" at all. Do not use RCA... Use TRS with 1/4 inch jacks. Or XLR to TRS.

Unfortunately, the DJM-S11 only has RCA inputs, so TRS isn't an option.

Yeah... I suspect Ultros' reply was on "auto pilot"... while technically correct... the balanced/unbalanced TRS cable doesn't make sense in the context of a TRS/HPJ or whatever cable that's carrying a two stereo unbalanced signals... which is exactly what an RCA connection is likely to be.

To the OP... in general RCA cables (or most) that are advertised as "hi end" are just complete rip offs. If they talk about gold plating, twisted cabling, oxidized "whatever"... and the cables are 5x-20x the cost... they are just marketing hype to make you think you'll get a better signal.

What you want here is likely just a bog standard cable, that's not garbage... garbage cables tend to break easily and *this* is a real issue... as are junky connection points. I've got an RCA cable that went on so tight that it ripped off the RCA jack on a very expensive device because it wouldn't disconnect.

Personally I've had good luck lately with the Teenage Engineering cables myself... but the move was almost entirely due to getting a TX-6 which has very particular 1/8" jack width requirements. Most people here will tell you those cables are overpriced (they are 2-3x more than a similar HOSA cable)... but so far they've held up to my abuse of connecting various setups.

The thing to keep in mind is that a cable *will* suffer from metal fatigue over time as you bend them and reroute them, the plastic will likely harden (or soften) over time causing other fun issues... and as some gear has sharp edges sometimes the cables just get a nick or slice in them...

So... I'd just advise... get the right cable... limit how many adaptors you have to deal with to reduce connection point failures... and have a few spares in case a cable fails. Beyond that... there tends to be very little reason to find hi end cables...

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE RESPONSES & HELP!

First MPC EVER after manly using DAWs and Pads on now Pioneer S11 (back was dicers & SL) so learning EVERY TIME I power on.

Next is the NEED TO FIGURE how to erase EVERYTHING AND FACTORY FRESH.

Appreciation again.

Just a little extra info. I typically use Hosa cables. Just get the proper ends for the devices you’re connecting. If one device has RCA I/O and you’re connecting to a device with 3.5mm /1/4” I/O get a cable that has those connectors. The important thing is to match the cable ends to the connectors on your devices. I’ve never had an issue with Hosa cables and I’ve been doing music since before MIDI.

Example: Hosa CPR-201 Dual 1/4 Inch TS to Dual RCA Stereo Interconnect Cable, 3.3 Feet https://a.co/d/086fXtcA

In the late 1990's I worked for a small electronics company and was into "Hi-Fi" at the time I only had a modest set up, but that's when I found out about cables do matter. I did some testing of my own...

Cables supplied with Hi-Fi separates aren't good, but aren't really as bad as they say. But I bought a set of £30 cables and noticed a slight difference in treble compared to the boxed ones. But then, I decided to try a plaited set of my own making from the workshop cables I "borrowed"! These were simply three cables, plaited with one as a dummy. I can honestly say that they allowed a minor noticeable increase in bass sounds without muddying the mids/treble.

So when people tell me that cables don't matter, I get it, there's no point spending hundreds on cables, but at the same time, my experience tells me it does matter!

LOL yeah total auto-pilot dudes. my bad haha. hope the op got it rockin.