Stereo in/out from sub on laptop ... ???

[xtal_01]

OK, my wife wanted to play something on one program .... mix it with her voice .... then put it back into the computer on a zoom session.

So .... she had an external mixer a few decent powered microphones ....

I bought a cheap USB to audio adapter ... think it was $10

It had a USB plug to go into the laptop.

The small enclosure had two 3.5mm plugs.

I took one (output) to an open channel on the mixer.

I took the other from the mixer out put (that had now combined the computer output with a microphone) and fed that back into the other jack on the adapter.

It works ...well I bought two or three and one worked.

**** I was going to post a picture of the site I got it from but it is gone and looking at other sites I see some are 3 pole and some are 4 pole inputs ***** I just wanted a three pole stereo jack (or RCA jacks or ...) **********

I also might have made a mistake in that they are all marked microphone input .... I am putting in line level ( I always thought this was about 0-1 volt) from the mixer.

She used it several times.

Problem .... I am sure the audio is not great quality.

She wants to do this again ... maybe even more microphones so the mixer idea is still great.

Is there a better adapter I can get ?

I am guessing (you are talking to a none electronics guy) there is an a/d and d/a converter in there (don't know how since it is soooooo small).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks .... Mike

 

[AnalogSteph]

She wants to do this again ... maybe even more microphones so the mixer idea is still great.

Is there a better adapter I can get ?

Sure, what's your budget and what model mixer is this (so we have an idea of the inputs and outputs available and the potential for ground loops)?

As a first step, I would suggest downloading Voicemeeter and using that for mixing the recording from the mic input with the background track "in the box". Then you'll save the D/A-A/D roundtrip at least.

I also might have made a mistake in that they are all marked microphone input .... I am putting in line level ( I always thought this was about 0-1 volt) from the mixer.

Assuming it's a typical compact mixer from the likes of Behringer or Mackie, those can generally handle much higher levels than a ca. 1 Vrms input (which such a mic input should handle as long as preamplification is disabled, check recording device properties). For a decent match, I'd suggest setting the main output fader to -9 to -16 dB.

I am guessing (you are talking to a none electronics guy) there is an a/d and d/a converter in there (don't know how since it is soooooo small).

Well, have you seen USB-C dongles? Or how big do you think the sound codec in your phone is?

In these inexpensive USB sound sticks you'll generally find a single chip solution like this one. It's probably a good idea to use 48 kHz in/out, although YMMV with these things.

 

[xtal_01]

Sure, what's your budget and what model mixer is this (so we have an idea of the inputs and outputs available and the potential for ground loops)?

As a first step, I would suggest downloading Micrometer and using that for mixing the recording from the mic input with the background track "in the box". Then you'll save the D/A-A/D roundtrip at least.

Assuming it's a typical compact mixer from the likes of Behringer or Mackie, those can generally handle much higher levels than a ca. 1 Vrms input (which such a mic input should handle as long as preamplification is disabled, check recording device properties). For a decent match, I'd suggest setting the main output fader to -9 to -16 dB.


Well, have you seen USB-C dongles? Or how big do you think the sound codec in your phone is?

In these inexpensive USB sound sticks you'll generally find a single chip solution like this one. It's probably a good idea to use 48 kHz in/out, although YMMV with these things.

Actually the mixers are the best part of the system. She has two Yamaha units ... EMX2000 powered mixer and a MG10XU.

She was just using a cheap dongle plugged into the USB port on the laptop to get two audio jacks (mic and headphones).

I simply used the mic to go the the mixer and then took the mixer line out and put into the mic jack.

I "think" I found what I am looking for .... it is a "USB external sound card". It has a USB, mic in, line in, and output (front, center and rear). For what I am doing, I only need the front out ... is that correct? There are several out there ... $15 - $25

I don't know if one is better than any other?

Here is a link to one: adapter on amazon

Thanks so much ... Mike