Sound from laptop to amplifier

[iangb]

Hi would appreciate it if anyone can tell me how to output from my laptop to an standard jack input amplifier?

 

[Pyree]

If your amplifier has a 3.5mm jack, then get an audio cable with 3.5mm audio plug on both end (they are cheap and available on local computer store, ebay, electronic store, etc) and connect where you plug your headphone on your laptop to the jack of the amplifier with the cable.

If the amplifier has a 2.5mm or 6.5mm jack, then use a size adapter as well.

 

[iangb]

thanks for your reply, I tried this but the noise from it was horrendous as I use the output as backing tracks ie quite loud, unless its just the quality of the cable!

 

[Pyree]

yeah, amplifier amplifies anything including static and imperfection on the audio source. Do you have a microphone on your computer and did you disable it/unplug it? Just one thing that will reduce background noise.

 

[iangb]

no, mic was di'd to amp, i just took feed from headphone socket on laptop and used adaptor to input to std jack on amp. I could just try better cables I suppose but just wondered if there was a better way of doing it like via hdmi or usb ports etc?

 

[Pyree]

If your amp is only standard audio jack then you will need more expensive equipment to convert HDMI or USB signal for audio.

Better check the cheapest thing first- the cable. Get another one, may be more expensive on with better insulation.

Better insulation helps. Although my personal experience is not on audio cable.

I used cheap cable to connect from antenna to TV and it just can't get all of the channel due to interference. Cable length was about 5m.

Then I change to cable of the next higher level of insulation, I get all of the channel.

 

[iangb]

thanks for your advice, I'll try that and if its no better Ill get back to you to see if youve got any further advice you can give. once again thanks very much Pyree.

 

[shadamus]

You might also experiment with the levels. The volume setting on the laptop will greatly impact what the amp has to deal with.

 

[festerovic]

+1^. Set the level at 50% as a start. Also, while in the audio CP, try to Mute any inputs that aren't used. If quality is important, you can step up to a USB audio device, which may give you line level output (not amplified Headphone output).

 

[iangb]

thanks guys I appreciate the input, can I ask though what you mean by a usb audio device, do you mean a sound card? Any ideas about the type that I can look into?

 

[frozenlead]

...what kind of amplifier are you plugging this into? Different types of amplifiers expect different input impedance.

 

[iangb]

its a laney theatre 120x4 amp ie 4 channels (thats all I can tell you... sorry), the other channels used for di mic (sm58) and di yamaha apx 6 guitar with peavey speakers. always worked fine with my playback unit (until it blew up live) so used the laptop to get me through the gig however this buzzing noise wasnt good! as was mentioned earlier, the cables I was using werent particularly good as it was last minute fix but now want to go on using the laptop and not sure of the best way to do it. Hope this helps and thanks for your reply

 

[cotydlux]

Use the shortest cable that you can use and buy a decent quality one. You don't need to buy the most expensive Monster Cable you can find but make sure it's a nicely insulated one as Pyree said. If you go to a music instrument or Pro Audio shop there should be a good selection to choose from.
Make sure your computer is plugged into the same power strip at the amp so they will have a common ground. there are also some external USB sound cards you can purchase for better than CD quality output.

 

[iangb]

thats great advice thanks so much, will try asap let you know result. if I do have to buy the sound card what should I be looking for?

 

[cotydlux]

Without getting to complicated, you should look for a good driver or software to be bundled. Crappy drivers will make things frustrating. Look at some from Presonus and Maudio. Both should have some lower and high end models. Compare the specs and then use that as a reference to compare by. I would stay away from the no name brands.
I user a Maudio card in my desktop but I would think the USB or Firewire interfaces.