I have found empirically that there is no need whatsoever to lug the extra outrigger sound device to the live gig.

Today's laptops have very good Audio Output and converters are frankly good enough for the live gig playback. Take the noise level of the typical live audience as one reason. The other reason is that any laptop sold since maybe around 2006 has come with output side audio that is pretty clean due to the wide customer base interest in playback of audio and video files.

So you can keep things simpler on the gig and just use the Earphone output of the laptop as a Line Output to a stereo line input on your pa. All you need is the proper 1/8" stereo plug Y cable that terminates in two RCA phono plug males at the other end, most PA systems today have at least one stereo pair input for tape decks or cd players and it works fine with this output.

Headphone Output IS Unbalanced Line Level Audio ("consumer level" at -10dBmm exactly the level those two red and white RCA jacks on the PA were designed to accept). Electrically speaking, there's a period at the end of that sentence. The only difference is the doggone label.

One thing, make sure you open the Windows Playback mixer on the lappy and turn the Volumes in use, including a Master Volume Fader if there is one for your onboard sound, ALL THE WAY UP. Drive the line hard like that for best signal to noise ratio and full sound. Set the level over at the PA.

One more thing, most laptops also have buttons for Volume on them that control the Master Fader. Make sure they are also all the way up and use them wisely on the gig. If the sound level should drop, think that one of those keys may have gotten hit inadvertantly and go for the UP arrow key first.

Works a treat here.

Of course, for *recording* soundfiles at home for use on the gig, an aftermarket sound device should be used, because the recording and input side of laptop internal soundcards just hasn't caught up yet. This is again driven by customer base. Not enough of us demanding recording quality inputs and converters for the laptop mfr's to take notice. More customers prefer paying less money for the laptop. Most laptops still don't have a proper stereo line input on the built in sound device, either. Boo.


--Mac

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