I have a lot of midi clips I'd like to use for a show. How can I route large speakers and a microphone to a laptop?

My laptop has a headphone socket that can be used to connect to an amplifier. If you do not have this, there are USB products that can "create" a headphone socket for you.

Thanks for the advice on that. I went out, picked it up, got excellent sound, now I just need to figure out how to get a mic to work.

Lol, well this answer probably won't help much, but right next to my headpone socket is a mic input! Did you buy a product that converted the USB into a headphone socket? If so it can probably be used in reverse as a mic.

Good luck,

Saxon

Try a 3rd party product.
Edirol is a good company:
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua1a.html
for example.
2 in/outs
RCA

If you got a recent computer you should have some connection with your sound card, such as input (or mic), output, joystick for games, etc... If it's a recent computer, you should have some connections. Hope this helps.

The best way to do it professionally is to purchase a mixer board from a pro audio store or even Radio Shack. They have some cool inexpensive units. The mixer has a mic input, and line level audio inputs. Use a 1/8" headphone jack to left and right RCA plug cable to plug in the laptop to the mixer. (audio out on the PC to line level in on the mixer). Then get a power amp. 100 watts is plenty for a magic performance. Connect the mixer amp out to the amp (usually 1/4" plug cables). Then connect the speakers to the amp (usually PA speakers also have a 1/4" plug. You are all set. The whole set up from scratch should cost $200-$300 if you already have good speakers. You now have the ability to add CD players and other audio units as well.


S. Patrick