Using a projector for the wii...what about sound?

[jme5343]

The high school here is having a guitar hero booth for one of the post prom activities. We've got the wii, projector, and all that, but how do we get the sound?

The projector does look like it has a speaker, but surely that's not loud enough to hear the game...what do I need?

I don't have the projector here, so I don't know what all outputs it has, but there's def. a set of RCAs for input.

Thanks, and sorry for the lack of info in this post. If more is needed, I can get it, but it will require me to run up to the school...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You can route audio straight from the wii to a speaker system. This may require a cheap adapter depending on what you might want to use.

For example, a set of decent computer speakers should be far superior to built-in projector speakers. With computer speakers, you'd likely need a little adapter to take the RCA connections from the wii and allow a 3.5mm connection from a standard set of computer speakers to plug in.

If you have a receiver / speaker system available, then no adapters should be needed.

What do you have available?

 

[jme5343]

Yoyo, thanks for the input. I have a set of Logitech Z560s I was thinking about taking, but I don't think I have anything to get the RCA's to the 3.5 and I live in the middle of nowhere. I'll scrounge through the cable drawer and see if I can't make something, though.

 

[s44]

You should be able to find a 3.5->stereo RCA cable in almost any store, as an ipod connector. Otherwise order one from Monoprice...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Will you be able to check on the projector's connections time time to spare leaving you time to buy an adapter if needed?

Some projectors that take audio input even have a 3.5mm output that you could plug into directly. (Audio to RCA input on projector, then plug the z-560 green connection into the projector and turn on M3D on the Logitechs to get all the speakers going... or just hook it up for 2.1)

Adapters are widely available, but just be careful about the gender of the cables. Often they'll be Male on one end on Female on the other. You might need a F/F coupler and a M/F cable unless you can find one that does RCA Female to 3.5mm Female.

Of course if the projector already has a 3.5mm output on it, then no need to worry about that.

Have you figured out the logistics of how the booth is going to be set up? (Projector high enough up that it's not blocked by people in front of it, cable lengths are long enough to get power to all devices and connections between them?)
I've actually used a mobile SP4805 projector + Logitech z-560 setup a few times before, and it was beneficial to plan ahead with extra cables and adapters in case the equipment I ended up connecting to was unexpected in terms of location or connection type.

 

[jme5343]

Hey Yoyo,

Thank you again for the input. I just got home and we made due with the speaker on the projector b/c I couldn't find an adapter...

It's still good info as I have hopes to someday use a projector setup in my own home

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Oh well. I hope it was still fun.

If you get a projector in your own home, you'd most likely be best off getting a receiver to help connect the audio unless a computer will be your only source and you want to keep using the z-560s.

The adapter stuff was mainly for a hopefully quick inexpensive solution to get things connected, I wouldn't recommend that for a permanent home setup.

 

[Rubycon]

Powered speakers and/or powered mixer with passive speakers. Size/power really depends on the size of the room or coverage you need. PC speakers being designed for close field monitoring are totally inadequate for the task particularly outdoors or in a large room!

RCA outputs from your wii can interface to a balanced converter to drive powered speakers or a powered mixer, for example. Such gear can be rented fairly inexpensively.

 

[funboy6942]

Mono price has the adapter your needing to make it work, I got one here at the house. I will do some digging for you and give you a link to it in a little bit to go from 3.5mm to rca audio from the wii.

Is it also possible that the projector might have headphones out on it, or line out on it since you said it has a speaker built in? I ask for since it has audio in I am assuming its a media presentation projector, and there may be a chance it has audio out jack, and if so, it may already have a 3.5mm audio output jack already on it you just have to plug the green lead on the Z540 set into and have decent sound then for your presentation. If you need longer cables, you can always buy an extention at radio shack or mono price for that very cheap.

But in either case I will find that adapter you need to hook the set to the z540 direct to the wii just in case.

 

[funboy6942]

OK, all you need is this coupler:
Linkage

And this wire you just take the red and white audio out from the Wii and plug it into this.
Linkage

Then the Green wire from the Z540 goes into the other end of the coupler and youre set, audio solved, and cant get much cheaper then this neither .
Hope the kids have fun! If you need anymore wire help lmk, Im a wire junkie, I will always find a way, and since Im always broke, I find a way to do it cheaply too

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

funboy6942, I think you're a little late to the party

Looks like he needed a solution on the 4th and it didn't happen

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
funboy6942, I think you're a little late to the party

Looks like he needed a solution on the 4th and it didn't happen

I knew that, I was testing you. BTW you passed, good job