Hazen Ducey

As per which way to go,,,you have two choices,,as also mentioned in above post from another gentleman..
Use an ext soundcard or a controller.
Ext Soundcard – Cheaper then controller and also offers the better bal ouputs (XLR/1/4trs)
– Also smaller and easier to tout around. You would be using usb audio into the interface (asio).This will give you a decent quality sound from the lappie. Then use the bal output of the ext soundcard/interface to give a clean link to your mixer or even straight to the amp,,pending your need. I was using a “Prosonus” unit before I got my controler.
Midi controller – More expensive,,bigger, and requires software to work with it..Also has more functions aval then you likely want in your situation. However you would then have something to use for real Djing,,if you had to do that type of function..! Also the better units will have the XLR outputs in them.
Over all the Balanced outputs are the way to go in whatever config you may run.
You will also notice you don’t need to run the audio levels high into the mixer when using a balanced output.
This is something that most (90%) of them just don’t get. Running audio levels into the red is just showing ignorance to their gear and their sound.