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How to Connect A Computer To A Church Sound System – Viral Believer
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How to Connect A Computer To A Church Sound System

How do I connect my computer to the church sound system It all depends on the reason you want to connect your computer. The connection can be used to play audio files via the PA system or to record sound. You will need to have the correct cables and computer software for both of these options.

black audio mixer

Connecting the Laptop and the PA to play Audio

First, purchase the right cables if you wish to connect your computer to the church audio system to play audio from your computer.

You are most likely connecting a laptop to a desktop computer with a soundcard unless you’re connecting it with a soundcard. A laptop usually has a 1/8-inch stereo jack. Most mixers don’t have the correct input for this connection.

You can use one of three types depending on what inputs you have on your soundboard. First, the stereo breakout cables. This cable features a 1/4-inch mono jack and a mini stereo speaker on one end.

The mini stereo jack plugs into your laptop’s audio output. The mono jacks plug into the 1/4-inch inputs of the mixer. Each mono jack will receive its own channel if the mixer doesn’t have stereo channels.

To recreate the stereo sound, pan one channel to the left and one channel to the right when the dual jacks need their own channel.

If the mixer doesn’t have 1/4-inch jacks, it might have RCA inputs. An RCA cable has a mini-stereo jack and dual RCA jacks at one end. The right and left channels should be controlled independently.

Direct injection (DI), if neither of these connections is available, may be required. The DIbox has an input for your laptop’s mini stereo jack. The signal is then split into two XLR outputs.

The XLR outputs can be used with most microphones. The XLR connectors are then connected to your mixer.

Use any one of these options to adjust the volume on your laptop.

To record audio, connect the laptop to the PA.

The cables required to connect your laptop to the PA for recording audio are the same as those used to connect the laptop to play audio. The direction of the connection is what makes the difference.

You need to send audio from the mixer to your laptop if you want to record it. Most laptops don’t have a line input port. This means your laptop does not have a line input port to receive incoming sound.

Modern laptops only have an audio out for connecting speakers or headphones. You may need an additional device to receive sound.

An affordable piece of equipment is a USB audio interface. It typically contains RCA inputs as well as a stereo output. The USB connection connects to the computer through RCA.

Dual-RCA cables may be required to connect the mixer and the USB audio interface. The RCA cables connect the mixer’s RCA output to the RCA cables.

Once the mixer is connected to your laptop, it should be recognized as a sound device by your computer. To establish the connection, your computer might need to install audio drivers. Your computer should automatically download the driver.

Next, you will need to select the appropriate recording software. You may find basic audio recording software already installed on some computers. You may need separate audio software if you require advanced settings or features, such as a digital workstation (DAW).

The same steps will work for all smartphones and tablets. They often come with a mini stereo headphone jack, just like laptops. This mini stereo jack can be connected to the correct input/output on the mixer to allow you to record or play music from your portable device.

Connecting a Mixer with a Desktop Computer Sound Card

You may have more options if you want to connect your mixer to a computer than if you were to connect a portable device or laptop. You don’t necessarily need to use the cables mentioned above, but you can still use high-quality sound cards.

Onboard sound is available on laptops and other portable devices. It’s not intended for recording music or using a sound system. You can add a high-end soundcard to your desktop computer to capture superior audio and enhance the sound quality of your mixer.

The connections for your PC sound card are different from the rest of your equipment. You can install the PCI/PCIe card internally within your computer. Firewire sound cards can also be installed externally.

USB audio interfaces have become more versatile and are now a viable alternative to internal sound cards in recent years.

You can also get soundcards with different amounts of inputs or outputs. You can send multiple channels via your computer’s audio interface instead of just one line-level input.

Basic sound cards have a pair of stereo inputs and outs. This eliminates the need to split one stereo input or output into two separate mono channels. You will get superior sound whether you record to your computer or listen to audio on the sound system.

Conclusion: How to connect a computer to a church sound system

You will need to identify the connections on your soundboard and your laptop to connect them. You can output sound from your laptop to the mixer using a mini-stereo jack to dual 1/4 inch jack cable or a mini-stereo jack to dual RCA cables. You will need a USB audio interface to connect in the opposite direction.

You may also need a digital workstation if you plan to record audio using your laptop. You will only have access to the left and right stereo channels. 

A sound card with multiple inputs and outputs is essential when connecting a desktop computer. These cards still connect via a mini-jack and can be used with any of these cables.

Sources

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.