I am using my lower-end Compaq laptop at my Church's services to run the projector and play videos during the service.
I use the headphone out jack on the laptop through a 1/8 mini-plug to XLR cable to connect it to our sound system.
This method results in noise over the sound system, I have been able to minimize the noise by adjusting the output level on the laptop and putting in in "power saver" mode. I really don't know what power saver has to do with this, but it helps a lot.
I can eliminate the noise by running the laptop on the battery, but being a low end laptop, I don't think that the battery will last for the entire service.
So what is the best way to hook the laptop to the sound system? I am likely paying for this myself, as there is very little in the Church budget for stuff like this. I would like to get out for less than $50 or so.
power laptop on another loop
Have you tried powering the laptop from another electrical loop if available? From discussions I've had with people who know about this type of thing, it seems that might help. The only problem would be laying the extension cable so others won't trip up on it.
Noise from power
It sounds like there is noise coming in from the power system. If switching to a different electrical outlet doesn't work you need a external device (maybe some usb device) that separates the signal from the noise.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
I had the same problem
I had the same problem with my laptop... it was the cheap sound card that came with the laptop making the noise. I tried plugging it in everywhere, and I got the same noise. It made no difference what circuit it was on. For some reason, the way everything is set up, when there is power coming in, the sound card made noise... must have been the internal wiring in the laptop. It's a very compact area. Your only options are to run off the battery (which is what I started doing), or buy an external sound card that runs off the usb or firewire hub. Check out http://www.zzounds.com/item--B... This runs for $30. It's Behringer, but if you want under $50, than this is what you need.
Anthony Pero
Minister of Music
Lima First Assembly of God
http://www.limafirstmedia.com/
http://www.anthonypero.com/boo...
http://www.worshipnexus.org
I am registered now, Thanks
I am registered now, Thanks everyone for your assistance. I have ordered the Behringer USB device that Anthony suggested, price was right and I think that it will work. After our Sunday service I will come back here and post the results.
Please note
Please note that I am in no way endorsing Behringer or any of their products. Don't want audio snobs laughing me off the forum *wink*
Behringer makes very cheap products that work. That's the best endorsement I can give. I only suggested it because it's the only audio card I know of under $50. It will certainly be better than what you have now.
Blessings,
Tony
Anthony Pero
Minister of Music
Lima First Assembly of God
http://www.limafirstmedia.com/
http://www.anthonypero.com/boo...
http://www.worshipnexus.org
Don't Fear The Snobs
Don't fear the audio snobs. In all likelihood you could beat any of them up. :)
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
lol
Maybe if they tripped themselves laughing at the guy who uses behringer equipment as often as possible in his church ; ) In all seriousness, I'd rather spend half the price and get a decent quality of sound, than blow money on expensive equipment that could be used to inoculate and feed missionaries and the people they reach.
Anthony Pero
Minister of Music
Lima First Assembly of God
http://www.limafirstmedia.com/
http://www.anthonypero.com/boo...
http://www.worshipnexus.org
Still noise
I tried out the Behringer box today and their was as much noise as we had before. I also tried the laptop with my home stereo and that setup also had noise.
Now instead of sending the box back I think that I will try to beef up the filtering circuity. The device is based on a Burr Brown USB stereo audio codec. I will see what I can do.
It's possible...
I still think the noise you are getting is based on the power supply. It's possible that the configuration of your laptop is such that the USB bus is picking up the hum as well. Just to confirm... the buzz goes away when the laptop is running on battery? Another thing to try is hooking up a direct box between your sound card and your sound system and lifting the ground. The problem with that is you would either need to sum to mono pre - DI or have two direct boxes. This didn't work in my case, which is why I didnt' suggest it in the first place.
Anthony Pero
Minister of Music
Lima First Assembly of God
http://www.limafirstmedia.com/
http://www.anthonypero.com/boo...
http://www.worshipnexus.org
I agree
I, too, think it sounds like the laptop power supply. It seems to have a lot of noise in it.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
noise through laptop and sound system at church
hey guys, i've been experiencing the same symptoms as this thread raises - noise in sound system only when laptop is connected to power supply. i've tried quite a few fixes before stumbling upon this forum. first, our assistant minister has a lenovo laptop ($2k) which makes no noise; i have tried toshiba A200 and LG E500 laptops, which have exactly the same soundcards, and have exactly the same problem. another lg has a less severe problem but it is still unacceptable level of noise. so i bought a creative digital music LX usb sound blaster, which connects the sound system to the computer via a digital signal. i was hoping to eliminate in-line interference (noise?). anyway, no joy. the noise was just as loud. my conclusion? the noise was entering the system through the external power supply for the laptop. cheapest balanced power supply for the sound system is about $220. i assume this would fix that particular problem.
i tried a generic 90W power supply - same problem.
next attempt at fix will be using a desktop computer to use as the sound source and use a thumb drive to transport and deliver the persentation files. not ideal, but the idea is to get the sound working. will let you know how it goes.
A good question
You might want to see if you can get a power connection from a different circuit in the building. Maybe just try an extension cord.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
I already tried that...
I had already tried that on my setup... didn't matter where I hooked it up. I think it's the problem is ACTUALLY with the cheap power supply.
Anthony Pero
Minister of Music
Lima First Assembly of God
http://www.limafirstmedia.com/
http://www.anthonypero.com/boo...
http://www.worshipnexus.org
try hooking your computer up
try hooking your computer up to the sound system through a direct box (a cheap good one costs about $25). You would run 1/8" to 1/4" from your laptop to the the direct box, and then xlr to xlr right to your mixer. I didn't get to try this yet, but i've been told that it cleans a lot of the noise up.
If it's grounding...
That can help clean up grounding noise by flipping the ground switch on the DI, but we're thining the problem is noise made by the actual power supply. I tried the DI trick first on my system, didn't change anything, neither did running an extension cord to a separate building. That's what convinced me it had nothing to do with a ground loop.
Anthony Pero
Minister of Music
Lima First Assembly of God
http://www.limafirstmedia.com/
http://www.anthonypero.com/boo...
http://www.worshipnexus.org
New Here but....
Hey just wanted to say Hi and that I have had this issue before, like many of you have experienced. Power is probably the issue but also is the hardest to track down. I find that the direct box helps 90% of the time. Another option is to get a ground plug or UPS, this again moves your power away from the sound interference and helps filter the power signals from bouncing back into the sound card.
TechDad AKA DJ-MC
Michael C. Hastings
Media and Arts Professional
http://www.techministry.com
http://www.benefitstm.com
http://www.gowhidbey.com