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 Posted 7/29/2009 9:21:49 PM |
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I am wondering how to best fix my dilemma? I have to use a laptop to play my DVD through for Sing & play and a projector puts it on the screen. Last year we had a problem because we couldn't figure out a good way to get a loud sound. We used the speakers that plug into the laptop. That didn't work out too well. I love the musical part of VBS & would like it loud so everyone can hear it. I have thought of mics for the speakers to run it through the sound system does anyone have a better idea that is more tech savvy than me? Please help if you can we start VBS Aug 3rd.
Let's Rock The Dock!!
Child of God
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| Posted 7/30/2009 7:10:12 AM |
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| I use my laptop to play the dvd and my husband has it weith the projector and hooked to the sound system . you get great sound and it workded really well. GOd bless Doreen
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| Posted 7/30/2009 7:21:42 AM |
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| Hi: We used the laptop for a lot of our stuff. All we do is plug in a set of computer speakers into the earphone jack of the computer and run the video cable to the projector. When we use a dvd player and run the video cable from the dvd player to the projector and the audio cables from the DVD to a stereo system and use the auxillary channel. Works great, even with a cheap cd player. Glen
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| Posted 7/30/2009 7:51:06 AM |
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The easiest way to solve your problem is with the purchase of one cable: 1/8" to RCA. You can find these at almost any regular store. No need to run to Radio Shack.
This cable should be able to hook up directly to your sound system. I have worked with a lot of system and it is pretty much standard to RCA connection on them in some form. The other end of the cable plugs directly in to your laptop headphone out.
If your laptop is not close to the sound system, you may need to connect another way. Let me know if this works or not and I can always guide you in another direction.
BTW, I have been running sound for around 25 years in various church (and the rare occasional professional) situations. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Just let me know what you got and there is definitely a way to hook you up.
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| Posted 7/31/2009 5:08:46 AM |
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Thank you to all of you who have responded so far. I am not sure I have this figured out even with your help. I am not great with tech stuff. I do however understand the 1/8" to rca plug idea, but my laptop will be in the front of the church & the sound system is in the back. I/m not sure of the footage, I will be going there this morning to start decorating, so I will measure. I know it is over 50'. Thanks again for all your help.
Let's Rock The Dock!!
Child of God
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| Posted 7/31/2009 6:33:56 AM |
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| ask your sound person to help If you system is done right you will be able to connect in the front of your church . We have connectors to the system under the pews in the front and on the sides of the stage . God bless Doreen
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| Posted 7/31/2009 10:23:09 AM |
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| ChildofGod, definitely second Doreen's suggestion to ask your sound guy (or girl)! BUT we hook ours into the sound system but do it from the front using a cord similiar to the RCA one, but it goes 1/8" to 1/4" jacks (same shape, but different sizes). Then we have a mic jack that has the 1/4" hole on the back. 
This plugs in just as a microphone would. You can also hook up any CD player with an earphone jack this way in the future! Go to Radio Shack and take a couple of pics of what you need to plug in with you! they will be very helpful. Expect to spend $40-50 BUT it will be a one time investment that the church can use to show video clips, run music through the laptop, etc. for many other events. Well worth it.
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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| Posted 8/1/2009 2:24:56 AM |
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Since your VBS starts on Monday, in the interest of time, I will give you exact instructions to follow:
HERE IS A DIAGRAM I DREW (Click me)
1. Go to Radio Shack and buy either ONE of the following ($7.50), does not matter which:
1/8" Stereo (male) to Dual RCA (male), Cable
1/8" Stereo (male) to Dual RCA (male), Alternate Cable
2. At Radio Shack, also buy ONE of the following ($6):
2-pack of RCA (female) to 1/4" mono (male) adapters
3. Take the two parts that came in the package of #2, and connect them to the end of #1 (there's only one possible way they connect, so it is impossible to mess up).
4. Call your church sound tech, and say the exact sentence:
"Can you please provide a direct box,
located at [[wherever you wish to put the laptop]];
and connect it to the sound system?"
SUPPLEMENTAL
5. If your church does not have a sound technician, or he/she has no idea what you are talking about, then you need to go to the closest Guitar Center or Sam Ash, and buy one of these ($40):
Whirwind IMP2 Direct Box at Sam Ash
Whirlwind IMP2 Direct Box at Guitar Center
6. Call your church sound tech and confirm: "Do we have any extra microphone cables?". If the answer is no, then also pick up a microphone cable at Sam Ash or Guitar Center.
Exact words: "Can you please show me the cheapest microphone cable I can get that is about 15 feet or longer?"... (after he/she hands one to you): "I'm sorry, I don't know anything about microphone cables. But I just want to be completely certain: Can you confirm for me that this is XLR-Male on one side, and XLR-Female on the other side? Sorry for the stupid question."
7. Up onstage / close to the stage / around the stage, there should be spare microphone jacks somewhere... they look like this:
Picture of a stage box with microphone jacks
If you are a portable church (meet in a school, etc.), then the spare microphone jacks are likely at the end of an "audio snake", located somewhere onstage:
Picture of an audio snake
8. Take the cable from #3. Connect one end to your laptop (impossible to mess up; only one part will fit)... make sure it is in the laptop's headphone port, not the microphone port.
9. On the cable from #3, connect only ONE of the two remaining plugs (doesn't matter which) to the direct box ($40 part you bought in Step #5).
10. Take the microphone cable (Step #6), and use it to connect the direct box (Step #5) to the microphone jacks onstage (#7). There is only one way this could interconnect, so don't worry, you can't mess it up.
DONE!
This only sounds complicated because I am typing literally every step. It is actually trivially easy. I just typed it in a way such that, if you print out these directions and follow them step-by-step, there is no way you can possibly mess it up.
HERE IS A DIAGRAM I DREW
HERE IS A DIAGRAM I DREW
HERE IS A DIAGRAM I DREW
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