[odkfn]

Nerds assemble!

I was wondering what the best way to connect my Early 2012 MBP to a PA system is? Currently I use a guitar lead with an adaptor so the jack can plug straight into the headphone slot of the MBP - unfortunately the quality here isn't the best, and as it's an adaptor whenever the wire moves there's horrendous crackling! Are there any pre-amps, or better suited cables I could use? Cheers.

[odkfn]

Is this what I would need? Anyone know?

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-mobile-pre-usb/4133

[mfaxford]

Depends on your amp and how many channels you're using (mono or Stereo).

Part of the Quality might be down to what you're playing as well, low bitrate mp3's are going to sound poor whatever you do.

[odkfn]

(Original post by mfaxford)
Depends on your amp and how many channels you're using (mono or Stereo).

Part of the Quality might be down to what you're playing as well, low bitrate mp3's are going to sound poor whatever you do.

Made some very high quality tracks in Ableton live, going to use them in conjunction with my band at gigs so want to plug my MBP into the venues PA system. So, do I need a USB Pre-amp and I can use the stereo 1/4inch jack headphone output but put a lead in there? Or?

[mfaxford]

(Original post by odkfn)
Made some very high quality tracks in Ableton live, going to use them in conjunction with my band at gigs so want to plug my MBP into the venues PA system. So, do I need a USB Pre-amp and I can use the stereo 1/4inch jack headphone output but put a lead in there? Or?

So are you going straight into the amp or are you going into a mixing desk?

[odkfn]

(Original post by mfaxford)
So are you going straight into the amp or are you going into a mixing desk?

A mixing desk I'd imagine! I've never done it before so I'm not sure how it'd work. For our guitar amps, etc, they're mic'd up and the mics go into the mixing desk which goes into the PA

[mfaxford]

(Original post by odkfn)
A mixing desk I'd imagine! I've never done it before so I'm not sure how it'd work. For our guitar amps, etc, they're mic'd up and the mics go into the mixing desk which goes into the PA

That would be the standard way of doing it. Usually guitars use their own amps which are either mic'd up like that or you use the line out into a mixer (can depend on kit and quality of the guitar amps and speakers). Other things (keyboards) get plugged directly into the mixer.

The mixer can then send some of the audio back to you on the monitors (potentially with a different monitor mix for different people) and the complete mix goes to the front of house speakers.

Best thing is to talk to the person operating the mixer as the best option might depend on what channels he has free and how long the run is.

You might get away with running a 3.5mm plug to 2x 6.3 Jack (or similar) from the headphone output on the laptop into a stereo in on the mixer. If there's no stereo in you might need to line level channels (potentially one paned left and one panned right). If it's a longer run you might want to do something different, probably using a balanced audio feed. For that you're likely to either need a DI or a soundcard with balanced outputs. You also need a suitable balanced input on the mixer.

If your sound tech doesn't know whats best post details of the mixer (model number) and the length of run you need to do between laptop and mixer and I might be able to give a better idea of whats needed.

[odkfn]

(Original post by mfaxford)
That would be the standard way of doing it. Usually guitars use their own amps which are either mic'd up like that or you use the line out into a mixer (can depend on kit and quality of the guitar amps and speakers). Other things (keyboards) get plugged directly into the mixer.

The mixer can then send some of the audio back to you on the monitors (potentially with a different monitor mix for different people) and the complete mix goes to the front of house speakers.

Best thing is to talk to the person operating the mixer as the best option might depend on what channels he has free and how long the run is.

You might get away with running a 3.5mm plug to 2x 6.3 Jack (or similar) from the headphone output on the laptop into a stereo in on the mixer. If there's no stereo in you might need to line level channels (potentially one paned left and one panned right). If it's a longer run you might want to do something different, probably using a balanced audio feed. For that you're likely to either need a DI or a soundcard with balanced outputs. You also need a suitable balanced input on the mixer.

If your sound tech doesn't know whats best post details of the mixer (model number) and the length of run you need to do between laptop and mixer and I might be able to give a better idea of whats needed.

Cheers for that advice and I can get that info for you, but I was hoping to get a solution that could work at many gigs/venues, i.e. so if I had a means of connecting my MBP to a PA I could say to the sound guy "this is what I've got" and they could deal with it from there! What do you think of that usb pre-amp I linked up there ^^^^ do you think that would serve the purpose or is that not what they're for at all?

Cheers again!

[mfaxford]

(Original post by odkfn)
Cheers for that advice and I can get that info for you, but I was hoping to get a solution that could work at many gigs/venues, i.e. so if I had a means of connecting my MBP to a PA I could say to the sound guy "this is what I've got" and they could deal with it from there! What do you think of that usb pre-amp I linked up there ^^^^ do you think that would serve the purpose or is that not what they're for at all?

Cheers again!

Do you as a band not have your own mixer and at least some PA. Depending on what venues you go to they may not have much in terms of kit or a dedicated sound person and might expect you to bring your own stuff. You might just get a couple of line level inputs to plug your FOH mix into. monitors etc. you'd want to sort yourself.

In terms of buying something I've used bits of m-audio gear before (I have the Fast Track Ultra) and it's pretty good stuff. I would probably go with the Fast Track Pro or Fast Track Ultra for preference as they have balanced outputs meaning they pick up less noise over longer runs. You'll need a mixer with balanced line level inputs and the right cables (balanced cables have three conductors rather than two). A standard guitar lead would work but won't be balanced so you don't get the benefit. Each cable only carries one channel of sound so you need two for stereo.

[odkfn]

We do have a PA but its ****e, plus every venue we've played so far has it's own and just expects us to bring whatever we want mic'd up / plugged in to their PA.

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-fast-track-usb-v2/30573

That is more in my price range, and I will only ever need it to plug my laptop into the PA. What is a good make of cable you would recommend then?

[mfaxford]

(Original post by odkfn)
We do have a PA but its ****e, plus every venue we've played so far has it's own and just expects us to bring whatever we want mic'd up / plugged in to their PA.

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-fast-track-usb-v2/30573

That is more in my price range, and I will only ever need it to plug my laptop into the PA. What is a good make of cable you would recommend then?

I take it the venue has provided the microphones as well then. In that case one option might be to burn the tracks onto an audio CD with instructions of when to play which track (even if it's only a backup if you can't connect the laptop).

Assuming it's a fair distance from where you want the laptop to where the mixer is (>5m) then you want balanced audio - especially if there are lights around as well. Otherwise you're likely to have mains hum and other interference.

The only m-audio devices in that range that look to have balanced audio outputs are the ones I mentioned.

The alternative would be to get a DI box. I dont have much experience with them but something like http://www.gak.co.uk/en/peavey-sti-s...e-di-box/26232 might be worth having. You'd have a short 3.5mm -3.5mm lead to go to the headphone output on the laptop and a choice of connections for the venue. If the venue is providing mics and everything else then I'd hope they had DI's as well so you might not need anythiing.

[odkfn]

(Original post by mfaxford)
I take it the venue has provided the microphones as well then. In that case one option might be to burn the tracks onto an audio CD with instructions of when to play which track (even if it's only a backup if you can't connect the laptop).

Assuming it's a fair distance from where you want the laptop to where the mixer is (>5m) then you want balanced audio - especially if there are lights around as well. Otherwise you're likely to have mains hum and other interference.

The only m-audio devices in that range that look to have balanced audio outputs are the ones I mentioned.

The alternative would be to get a DI box. I dont have much experience with them but something like http://www.gak.co.uk/en/peavey-sti-s...e-di-box/26232 might be worth having. You'd have a short 3.5mm -3.5mm lead to go to the headphone output on the laptop and a choice of connections for the venue. If the venue is providing mics and everything else then I'd hope they had DI's as well so you might not need anythiing.

It's their mics aswell, yes. Man I'm in over my head here! I've seen bands on their stage with their MBP's before so I'm guessing these venues do have the capability for it, I'll give them an email and let you know what they say!

[drummer]

You could have a audio interface with high quality pre amps connected to your MBP via USB or Firewire and then have the L/R monitor outputs of the interface into each PA. Are you using Guitar Rig 5 or something?

[odkfn]

(Original post by drummer)
You could have a audio interface with high quality pre amps connected to your MBP via USB or Firewire and then have the L/R monitor outputs of the interface into each PA. Are you using Guitar Rig 5 or something?

Using ABLETON Live with several plugins (Massive etc) and an M-Audio trigger finger.

What I want to know is, if there are already leads on stage that lead back to the mixing desk (which there must be) if I buy a preamp, like the ones I've linked above, and connect it to my MBP via usb or firewire, can I then plug the leads from the mixing desk into the output of the preamp to play high quality audio from my MBP via ableton?

I'm a noob, explain in laymans terms why this would/wouldnt work, please.

[drummer]

(Original post by odkfn)
Using ABLETON Live with several plugins (Massive etc) and an M-Audio trigger finger.

What I want to know is, if there are already leads on stage that lead back to the mixing desk (which there must be) if I buy a preamp, like the ones I've linked above, and connect it to my MBP via usb or firewire, can I then plug the leads from the mixing desk into the output of the preamp to play high quality audio from my MBP via ableton?

I'm a noob, explain in laymans terms why this would/wouldnt work, please.

You practically answered your own question lol. Spot on. The pre amp can be routed to a channel on the mixing desk which the sound guy will take care of

[odkfn]

(Original post by drummer)
You practically answered your own question lol. Spot on. The pre amp can be routed to a channel on the mixing desk which the sound guy will take care of

Okay, next question: Do you know what Mfaxford was speaking about in terms of which preamp to get? The http://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-mobile-pre-usb/4133 suitable, or? This is all so confusing! Are firewire cables just like a faster version of usb? I.e. they can connect to a variety of different slots (well, to a MBP at one end)?

[mfaxford]

(Original post by odkfn)
It's their mics aswell, yes. Man I'm in over my head here! I've seen bands on their stage with their MBP's before so I'm guessing these venues do have the capability for it, I'll give them an email and let you know what they say!

Then they should have the right kit for it (Hopefully they're using a DI or similar).

I'm not sure how much benefit you'll get from buying a USB sound card. The ones you've mentioned aren't going to be much different to using the headphone output. The quality might be slightly better but probably not that you'll notice and as they don't have balanced outputs you'll still have ground loop/ mains hum issues.

If you're going to buy anything then I'd suggest something like the DI box I linked to and use the headphone output on the laptop. That DI Box looks to give the sorts of outputs a venue will like most and seems to be designed for exactly what you want.

[rmhumphries]

(Original post by odkfn)
Is this what I would need? Anyone know?

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-mobile-pre-usb/4133

Certainly not, that seems to be the wrong way round (for recording onto the mac, as opposed to mac sending sound to the PA). You shouldn't need to be spending a lot of money on this.

Questions:
- Do you ever get crackling when moving a wire around in the headphone socket on the mac?
- Can you change the headphone output from headphones to line out?
- What is the maximum distance the mac is going to be from the mixer?

Assuming that your wires and mac are not broken, headphone output can work fine, without any trouble with decent wiring upto maybe 2m, after that you may want to balance the signal with a DI box. The mac will be sending a stereo signal, so you want something like this:
- mini-jack to L/R RCA if you are working with cheap mixers without many free inputs
- mini-jack to L/R mini-jack and then mini-jack to jack adapter at the other end (x2) if the mixer will have 2 free input channels which can be paired.
- You can just run a mini-jack cable, and then use a mini-jack to jack adapter at the desk.

If you want a DI box, even a cheap Behringer one will do as the signal should be fairly large to begin with. Something like this on each channel would work, of course if you use a DI, you must have two mono channels.

You shouldn't need a pre-amp, as your mac should be perfectly capable of sending a amplified signal by itself, either have the mac on full volume and control the sound at the mixing desk, or sound-check with the mac on full volume, find the level on the mxing-desk which is the loudest you want to go up to, and then turn down the mac to the normal volume level. Usually though, you shouldn't be changing the sound level much on the mac - depends on if you have access to the sound desk / mixing desk.

[drummer]

(Original post by odkfn)
Okay, next question: Do you know what Mfaxford was speaking about in terms of which preamp to get? The http://www.gak.co.uk/en/m-audio-mobile-pre-usb/4133 suitable, or? This is all so confusing! Are firewire cables just like a faster version of usb? I.e. they can connect to a variety of different slots (well, to a MBP at one end)?

That M-Audio one is pretty neat and will do a simple job however you want you're pre-amps to be of great quality. Here, what you pay is what you get applies. Whilst that one will do the job there are many brands out there with high end stuff for a decent price. I'm assuming that you eventually want to record as well as on stage performance. If you want something simple then the M-Audio one would suit you well, as their pre-amps aren't bad and there are two on the front as you can see.

[mfaxford]

(Original post by rmhumphries)
If you want a DI box, even a cheap Behringer one will do as the signal should be fairly large to begin with. Something like this on each channel would work, of course if you use a DI, you must have two mono channels.

Eugh Behringer :P that said I've heard some reasonable things about their DI's and I think I've used those a couple of times and didn't hear any real issue with them. The one I linked to is stereo but only seems designed for the likes of MP3,laptop into a mixer (I'm also not sure if it's active or passive). The Behringer might be a better all round option.

(Original post by drummer)
That M-Audio one is pretty neat and will do a simple job however you want you're pre-amps to be of great quality. Here, what you pay is what you get applies.

M-Audio are into the better range of the market although the linked one is the cheap option. I've surprised people when I've told them the M-Audio sound card I've used on events is more expensive than the netbook driving it! These are sound cards not pre-amps. For what we're trying to do a pre-amp isn't needed (if anything you want attenuation if you're using a mic input into the mixer)