Need help running sound from tv through laptop to speakers

[BuMMiE]

I would just run the RCA cable directly to the pc speakers, but it doesn't use RCA cables as an input source.

I'm using a Dell M1330. I send the RCA cable to my laptop microphone input port and put the pc speaker cord into my headphone output port.

My laptop says that the tv sound is successfully sent to my laptop but I can't get the tv sound to output in my pc speakers. However I can get sound from my laptop to output sound to the pc speakers.

Can anyone help me route the tv sound through my laptop to my pc speakers? Thanks

 

[corkyg]

Via microphone to heaphone? Not at all good - a total impedance mismatch. What you need is a patch cable with 2 RCA females to one stereo mini-jack. Then plug that into the heaphone out port.

 

[BuMMiE]

I think I worded my question poorly. The better way to ask it is...

Is there a way to output, through my laptop speakers, whatever is inputted through a microphone in? The laptop hears the input, but doesn't output what it hears through the speakers.

I'm using Vista x64

 

[corkyg]

The problem with that is, the microphone is for recording sound. When it is used, the speakers are turned off so as not to cause acoustic feedback in the recording. What you need is a LINE IN port, not microphone. I had a similar problem trying to dub cassettes and reel tapes to CDs. I needed to monitor the product as it was created. Since my lappy had no LINE IN port, I had to use a small Creative external sound device that had such ports.

There may be some connector that will convert a microphone input port to a line in port, but I haven't found it yet.

This discussion seems to parallel the issue:

Mic

 

[corkyg]

Just found this - looks like a solution!

USB Line In

 

[BuMMiE]

Thanks for your help corkyg.
My M1330 allows me to configure the mic in port into a line in port. So even if I did have the USB Line In peripheral, wouldn't I still have the same problem?

 

[BuMMiE]

After some more searching on the internet, I found the solution:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/s...&c=us&l=en&cs=04&s=bsd

Now that I have sound working, the problem that I am now having is that there is a slight buzzing noise that comes through speakers. Any solutions for that?

 

[corkyg]

That is probably EMI. Better shielding and cables might resolve that. Is the buzzing sound what you might term A/C hum?

 

[BuMMiE]

I realized that the buzzing starts when I unmute the input monitor (regardless of whether something is plugged into the line in port or not). So I don't think it is a cable problem. It seems there are only two solutions. An upgraded firmware that would fix the buzzing noise or a new sound card. Any suggestions on any other solutions?

 

[corkyg]

If you are using run of the mill computer speakers, they often contain their own amplifier, and are subject tio A/C hum or buzz. If the buzzing sound comes from the sound card, that should be easy to isolate because it would happen without any external connections. It could be a lack of shielding in the monitoring circuit. Laptops really are not well designed for audio performance.

I solved a similar audio problem with a HP dv1000 laptop by using an external Creative Audigy device. Very compact - full array of ports in and out, and great sound. It was the Audigy 2NX.

2NX

 

[BuMMiE]

Thanks for all your help corkyg. The buzzing isn't noticeable when there is sound coming out of the speakers. I guess as long as I'm not watching a movie or playing a game with a lot of silence I should be fine.