Using a laptop for audio/video

oxphatxo · Post by **oxphatxo** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:52 pm

Would anybody know if it's possible to use a laptop as a head end? Using nothing else but the laptop. No deck what so ever... The only hurdle i'm wondering about is how to send right channel, left channel and subs through the RCA's to the amps from a laptop. Maybe someone knows of a device that'll work with a laptop. Just a question, don't ask why.

Here's hoping.

thedeal7235 · Post by **thedeal7235** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:15 pm

i use 2 source units, old sony cdx c90 for audio, and then i use the sony xav-w1 for dvd when my daughter rides in the audi- i get my audio thru the c90 while the dvd plays via the sony xa300 aux input via the bus audio in -what im getting at , is that the xa300 has 4 aux inputs, one happens to be usb-dont think this will help you, but its worth mentioning????!!!!

Post by **stipud** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:18 pm

Sure, you just need an RCA -> Mini cable. For better SQ, if your laptop has an external card of some kind, you can look into a soundcard with RCA, balanced or optical outputs.

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:28 pm

... like a Terratec Phase26 USB, or a Gigaport AG, or an M-Audio transit, or....

icehole · Post by **icehole** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:57 am

If you're open to using an in-dash eq, that would be a great pre-amp that you could plug straight into.

dwnrodeo · Post by **dwnrodeo** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:01 pm

Heck, plug your mini to RCA cable straight into a line driver then an EQ 215/230 or just the EQ. I have used just my ipod and a mini to RCA cable to test amps before and it works, only it could definitely benefit from a linedriver because the output was quite low with the gains turned down.

Zarnov · Post by **Zarnov** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:13 pm

I'm using a Turtle Beach Roadie (now the SRM) as an external sound card on my laptop to hook it up to my home system...can't see why it wouldn't work in a car too. The Roadie (SRM) is nice cause you can output in 7.1 analog or SPDIF and input either an analog or SPDIF signal as well.

I always wanted to use a Mac Mini as a source unit with a touch screen interface... but funds have been too limited to try it yet

oxphatxo · Post by **oxphatxo** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:44 pm

Thanks guys.. I didn't think i'd actually get that many answers. I'll look into all your opinions and choose something. Thanks for the help.

naughty · Post by **naughty** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:46 pm

icehole wrote:If you're open to using an in-dash eq, that would be a great pre-amp that you could plug straight into.

yeah most of these would have a set of inputs as well probably an aux input as well and then would probably give you front and rear as well sub outputs from the source inputs - and they are mostly not very expensive

here in south africa we have a large variety of these tpe of devices - im sure you could find something similar wherever you live

heres an example of what i would use for this purpose

http://www.autostyle.co.za/prodview.php ... dstr=&str=

or something even simpler

http://www.autostyle.co.za/prodview.php ... dstr=&str=

these are cheap chinese items - but something like that will do the job easily note that the prices are in south african rands - so these things are cheap

thedeal7235 · Post by **thedeal7235** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:38 pm

i guarantee you, if theres a will theres a way-cant wait to see your completed project( hope u can video so we can see the walls/ceilings bow out from those subs!!!!!!

oxphatxo · Post by **oxphatxo** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:48 pm

Yeah, the van is beyond rattling now. It's making sounds that it never has before when I had just the 6 of the TiElites in it. I can hear all the metal panels on the van, the roof and doors all make lots of noise. I'm going to have to tend to that eventually. I am in the masonry business, so thats always an easy option for me... but I kind of like rolling my windows down.

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:11 am

Zarnov wrote:I always wanted to use a Mac Mini as a source unit with a touch screen interface... but funds have been too limited to try it yet

We did this set-up in a show car. It wasn't planned but added after the fact and I had no real knowledge of it's capabilities. As it was, there is only an 1/8" mini jack on it for audio output. I ended up using it as a source input to a switching system(with 8 differnet sources) then used the head unit and it's aux input as the main source. Sounded like ass but it was cooooooooollllllll.

Post by **stipud** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:18 am

Greg, all it would need is a good USB or Firewire soundcard.

Zarnov · Post by **Zarnov** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:28 am

stipud wrote:Greg, all it would need is a good USB or Firewire soundcard.

Just a matter of finding Mac drivers for whichever card you choose

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:34 am

Zarnov wrote:
stipud wrote:Greg, all it would need is a good USB or Firewire soundcard.
Just a matter of finding Mac drivers for whichever card you choose

OS X drivers for pro level sound hardware is pretty standard these days

Zarnov · Post by **Zarnov** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:44 am

fuzzysnuggleduck wrote:
Zarnov wrote:
stipud wrote:Greg, all it would need is a good USB or Firewire soundcard.
Just a matter of finding Mac drivers for whichever card you choose
OS X drivers for pro level sound hardware is pretty standard these days

True enough...I just have had little luck finding Mac drivers for the one I have.

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:12 am

Obviuosly I'm no computer guru .. but when I hear 'sound card' I think of the open circuit board thingy that plugs into a tower's extra slots. I assume there are USB type? And are they housed in something? Run on USB power or 120v?

I would like to know more about this subject for my own needs. I have no intention of touching that ^ turd again. But I've been interested in some Pro Audio applications with the computer. Mostly multi-track recording. I have analog multi track recorders but would like to 'get with the times' and start building a digital studio.

I'm sure there are libraries of info .. any heads up on good info?

Zarnov · Post by **Zarnov** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:25 am

gkitching wrote:Obviuosly I'm no computer guru .. but when I hear 'sound card' I think of the open circuit board thingy that plugs into a tower's extra slots. I assume there are USB type? And are they housed in something? Run on USB power or 120v?

I would like to know more about this subject for my own needs. I have no intention of touching that ^ turd again. But I've been interested in some Pro Audio applications with the computer. Mostly multi-track recording. I have analog multi track recorders but would like to 'get with the times' and start building a digital studio.

I'm sure there are libraries of info .. any heads up on good info?

Can't tell you whether it would be adequate for Pro Audio applications, but what I've used for the last year or so can be found here:

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/aud ... /home.aspx

It's worked well with my XP machine. I just like being able to use its' optical outputs for all my digital media

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:29 am

The big boys are going to have their own power supplies and won't expect that you have a DC source like in a Car, they expect A/C. They'll either have an internal PSU like a computer turning A/C into DC or it's going to be an external power brick. But yes, most will be commercially setup to plug into a wall outlet of some kind (unless it's a dinky thing).

There are a lot of hardware audio interfaces out there. Although not strictly the case, you're going to have to think about what software you plan on using when selecting hardware. For instance, Pro Tools only works with a very specific number of interfaces because that's the way Digidesign likes it. We use Logic 8 with a Digi02 (used to use ProTools) for the apartment studio that my buddy has setup at his place. He owns most of the shit, I down the yamaha e-drums. The Digi02 is a firewire device if I recall correctly, probably runs in the $1500 range. Does MIDI and a bunch of line-ins with internal preamps.

He's also got this wicked little hardware mixer board that controls Logic with MIDI. Logic also controls it too (the sliders and what not) so they are always "in sync". It's dope. Effectively what you end up with is similar to a big hardware mixing console but you get all the nice digital toys too. And of course the ability to record as part of the whole package. Back in the days you'd need your ADAC or straight up tape for that.

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:06 am

you don't need to go that complex.

google any of those names... if you have USB, you can use a Gigaport or a phase 26. Don't bother with a 6Fire, as it needs 12V AC. Gigaport also has 8 RCA outputs, so you don't need a head unit. Allocator (google!) for channel allocation and EQ... sorted.

OTOH, there's a powersupply for the Behringer DCX2496... so lots is possible if enough need it.

It doesn't have to be expensive, but please avoid Creative - they resample which is not good.

Bret

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:08 am

Thanks guys!

Fuzzy .. that's right in line with what I was thinking. I may have to bug you if and when that happens.

Z .. that device looks like an inexpensive way to get some analog recordings to my computer. The site says 'good for recording' does that mean it comes with some form of recording software? I have some 'tapes' I'd like to convert.

Zarnov · Post by **Zarnov** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:19 am

gkitching wrote:Thanks guys!

Fuzzy .. that's right in line with what I was thinking. I may have to bug you if and when that happens.

Z .. that device looks like an inexpensive way to get some analog recordings to my computer. The site says 'good for recording' does that mean it comes with some form of recording software? I have some 'tapes' I'd like to convert.

Yeah..it comes with a light suite of programs for recording/playback.

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:46 am

Sorry! I totally highjacked this thread. Maybe good info on the same lines though.

Brett .. That Gigaport looks like a good solution for outputs using the Mac as a source. How bout inputs? I'm just thinking in terms of that vehicle ^ that had 6 different DVDs. Not that every install will be as rediculous. .. just wondering.

Post by **stipud** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:18 am

Want to record tapes on a computer? Hook up a tape player with an RCA->mini connector, and hook that into your microphone input... or a mini->mini cable if you use a walkman. I think pretty much all platforms come with some sort of recording device now. Windows would probably give you a WAV file, which you would then convert to MP3.

Post by **Rold Gold** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:23 am

What is a tape?????

j/k.......