Well, that is easily solved.
There are really only 2 kinds of outputs, one of which has two types of connectors:
1) Balanced – either jack or XLR on either end. Can be mixed and matched. So if your controller has balanced jack and you are going to balanced xlr PA, a jack to xlr balanced cable or a jack-jack or xlr-xlr cable with a convering plug on one end will work just fine.
2) Unbalanced – although sometimes available as jack (especially in live sound mixers, much less as outputs – although I have seen them on some low end controllers too) generally in RCA format. Can NOT be run straight into balanced inputs. For one, the signal levels are significantly different (much higher on balanced outputs). For another, running anything over 6 feet (approx.) of unbalanced cable and/or running the cable next to high distortion sources (old lighting dimmer packs are the worst here) will cause humm, distortion and all kinds of other side effects.
We know this now and we know your controller has RCA. I would create the following cabling set:
1) XLR male to XLR female cable (1 or 2 sizes depending on the venues you play in) – 2 each for stereo 😀
2) XLR female to balanced jack converter – 2 each for stereo
3) 6ft stereo RCA cable (get a high quality, sturdy cable with good strong connectors (don’t worry about gold-plated though!)
5) get a little box like the one I link to below. At one end you can stick in all kinds of unbalanced signals (in your case you run the RCA cable from your controller to the RCA inputs of the box) and you have a pair of XLR BALANCED outputs.
If you play at a venue that accepts RCA (usually if you plug in the house DJ mixer), you just plug in your RCA cable and done.
If you play at a venue that needs balanced (often a live sound mixer or straight into the PA), you use your RCA cable, the little box and the XLR cable (with the jack converter if the inputs are jack instead of XLR.
Seems a lot easier than switching controllers, especially if this is the only thing you dislike about your current controller.
Here’s the link: http://artproaudio.com/artcessories/audio_solutions/product/cleanbox_pro/
Hope that helps.
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