How to Make a Laptop Work With a Sound Amplifier

Audio production and editing often requires high-definition sound that standard computer speakers and headphones don't deliver. With a simple hardware interface, however, you can configure your laptop computer to send audio to a power amplifier, which can push the sound through a speaker array. This basic setup can be used for studio sound monitoring, live music performances or multimedia presentations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hardware audio interface with line output Audio production software Amplifier with line input Speaker system

1. Obtain a hardware audio interface with digital-to-analogue conversion abilities. Find an interface that is compatible with your laptop's connections. USB, PCMCIA and FireWire connectors are among the most common.

2. Install drivers for your hardware and configure your system accordingly. Make sure your audio software recognizes the new hardware.

3. Connect the audio output of your hardware interface to the signal input on an amplifier using a 1/4-inch audio cable. Use two cables to connect stereo signals, one for each signal path.

4. Switch on your amplifier and let it warm up, if necessary. Dial in an appropriate volume level.

5. Play music on your laptop using your audio production software that you configured in Step 2. Your music should be sent to the amplifier by the hardware interface, then amplified to speakers.

Tips & Warnings

• Many audio interfaces include a software mixer that virtually controls any inputs and outputs. Use the software mixer to connect to audio software and correctly route the digital signal to the output you use in Step 3. Your interface and amplifier may accept various audio cables, or even digital connectors. Experiment with different configurations to find what works best for your system.

Resources

• Open source audio production software
• A guide to choosing an audio interface