Computer to PA Connection

[Don Mogle]

Can someone tell me how they connect their PC (for BIAB and/or midi files) to a PA sound mixer. I'm sure there must be some kind of adapter or interface that goes from a USB plug to quarter inch phone plug.

Thanks,

Don

[Richard Sinkler]

Doesn't your laptop have an 1/8" jack to plug powered speakers or headphones into? If it does, just take a standard 1/8" stereo plug to whatever you need on the other end type of cord. Most PA's have stereo RCA jacks for one or more channels. That would be the easiest way. I have never seen a laptop yet that didn't have a headphone out jack.

[Dave Potter]

Can someone tell me how they connect their PC (for BIAB and/or midi files) to a PA sound mixer. I'm sure there must be some kind of adapter or interface that goes from a USB plug to quarter inch phone plug.

First thing you need to consider is that you need an analog output to feed a 1/4" audio plug, and USB is digital. Digital audio needs to be converted to analog before it can be input to a mixer, unless said mixer has digital (e.g., USB) inputs.

The simplest way to get analog audio from a PC is to use the output jacks on the sound card, or other similar jacks on the PC case which do the same thing, and which come from digital to analog converters in the sound card, to get line level analog audio for whatever your needs are.

An alternate way to get the same result is to use an external digital/analog device (D/A converter), and there are many available, which connects to the PC's USB connector, and has options including analog line-level outputs. One such item I'm familiar with is the Roland Quad-Capture, which also includes high and low impedance inputs for recording from mics and guitars.

I'd be surprised if you can find any "USB to 1/4" adapters - they wouldn't work.

[Jack Bowman]

In order to get my band in a box tracts to play into a recordable device, I come from the line-out computer soundcard to a realistic Radio/casette player that has an aux. in RCA plug-in. Turn the radio selector to phono and use it's lineout line into a Tascam Portastudio where I can laydown the recorded trac. Then you can play into the adjacent trac ans many times as you want and choose the one you are happy with. You can add any other instrument to another track and so on.

[Don Mogle]

Thanks for the help guys!

Yes, my computer had the 1/8" plug for headphones.

Appreciate the assistance.

Don

[Jack Stoner]

If you have a "line out" use that rather than the headphone out. On some PC systems the headphone out is compensated for headphones where the line out is the "pure" sound.

[Scott Duckworth]

Here is a diagram I did that is in our sound system SOP at church...