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Using laptop live- sound quality issue...

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  • 16-07-2007 8:00pm
    #1
    Beans_On
    Registered Users Posts: 319 ✭✭


    In regards to sound quality,what is the best way of using laptop through a PA.

    Is it a simple matter of going straight from earphone socket to mixing desk?


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    #2
    cornbb
    Registered Users Posts: 6,790 ✭✭✭cornbb


    It is a simple matter of going straight from socket to desk, although there are a few measures you could take to improve things.

    Firstly, your laptop's onboard soundcard is likely to be a bit crap (especially if its a PC laptop) so if you are regularly making music on it it would be well worth getting an external soundcard. This could be hooked up to the mixing desk with balanced cables, cutting down on the amplified hiss that would probably result from using the onboard card.

    Secondly, make sure the engineer or whoever is at the desk knows what they are doing. That way you can be sure you are not clipping, you are properly EQ'd, your stereo imaging is correct and so on.


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    #3
    david
    Registered Users Posts: 3,684 ✭✭✭david


    And if its run off mains, listen for a huge ground hum that all laptops have, a ticking sound. You can sort this by lifting the ground on the laptop, wire it for two prong mains only. Or just use it off of battery... Annoying as fúck imo.


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    #4
    Savman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,323 ✭✭✭Savman


    Beans_On wrote:
    In regards to sound quality,what is the best way of using laptop through a PA.

    Is it a simple matter of going straight from earphone socket to mixing desk?
    What are you trying to do? There are much better and sturdier alternatives to using laptops live, if you're using backing tracks you could look at MD or iPod.

    IMHO bog standard laptops aren't road ready, you have to spend a fair bit on a well made machine specifically designed for pro audio. You're run of the mill PC World machine will not survive very long.


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    #5
    Beans_On
    Registered Users Posts: 319 ✭✭Beans_On


    cheers for the replies folks.

    It is a bog standard Dell laptop.

    I aim to run "ableton live" through it for electronic based music.

    Prob will have Kaos pad between it and mixer aswell.

    set up will also include a synth alongside it through another channel on the mixer.


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    #6
    Neurojazz
    Registered Users Posts: 1,759 ✭✭✭Neurojazz


    you can get pcmcia cards for audio... def recommend going that way... and avoid playing mp3 out... it doesn't take much looking into to find out what your'e losing...

    I've had years of hassles with live digi music and its taken about 10 years to get it closer to sounding like DJ quality... absolute mare...


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