OK I'll admit I haven't rsearched this at all so I'm hoping someone can answer this easily. I would like to plug my IBM T43 laptop directly into my PA system so I can play music via my Windows media player directly through the PA. All I have is the standard sound card card and the only audio outputs would be via the headphone output.
Can I just run a cable with the correct plugs (for PC and PA) and connec them directly or is the level coming out of the headphone outputs to low.
If so what would I need to get to make the connection.
Thanks!
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
Chris
I have a little converter 1/8" stereo to two RCA jacks, I use this to play CDs on my walkman through my PA. The 1/8" jack is the headphone jack and it works fine, you can pick this converter cable up at Radio Shack for a couple bucks. :D
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Thanks Wes that's what I was hoping and I actually think I have/had one around at one point.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
What you need is a USB to AUDIO interface. I use them on my ThinkPads and they work fine. I chose the entry level Edirol because it is both inexpensive and it uses generic drivers that are built into Windows. That way I can easily move it to any computer with Win2000 or newer OS.
The headphone jack of your computer will work, but the USB-AUDIO will sound better. The bandwidth on the headphone jack is medium fidelity the USB-AUDIO converter is high fidelity. I can hear the difference when playing my backing tracks through my PA set.
See: http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html
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Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com Add-on Styles for Band-in-a-Box and Microsoft SongSmith
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I feed a "line out" from my PC to the hi-fi "line in." Does the job nicely, and maybe a feed to the PA would be ok the same way.
A :-)
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I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
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I do the same that Alan with a minijack ot minijack stereo cable.
I have used the headphone jack for this without issue and have a USB interface as well. The interface was cheap, cost me $30, it's a Behringer. I actually bought the interface for recording as it has an in and out. The headphone jack will work just fine with the correct patch cable.
Oh, I saw Cheap Trick at a local county fair a couple of years back and was sitting next to the sound board. They were playing music from a laptop via Windows Media Player into the board and sound system.
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grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
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