PC+Projector+Sound

toc The Planar PC Display projector also supports sound input and output. For relatively small events in the Sanctuary, video and audio may be setup without requiring the Soundroom and large Sanctuary audio system. The first part of this page describes two common ways to setup audio and video in the Sanctuary without Soundroom assistance. The rest of the page discusses options that require Soundroom team assistance. The best reference to setup of the projector for use when sound is desired is the manual packed with the projector, or this online copy if the manual is no longer available.

Connecting to a Powered Speaker
The Planar projector, or a PC, can be connected directly to a set of powered speakers such as many people have with their home PCs. The small powered speakers, typically 5 to 10 watts, that most people use at home are excellent for a small room or for a few people sitting near the speakers. For events in a large room like the C3HUU Sanctuary where a projector is used, the sound levels required call for a setup as shown in the figures PCS1 and PCS2 below. In both setups, an audio amplifier is placed between the audio signal from the laptop or media player and the high power speakers.

Setup for up to 30 people in Sanctuary
Appended below in Figure PCS1 is a connection diagram we have setup for up to 30 people clustered in the front on one side or another of the Sanctuary. This option connects a PC laptop or Macbook to the Planar projector and to one or two church owned guitar amplifers which can provide 30 to 50 watts of sound output. This configuration is very well suited to use in one of the church meeting rooms as well. It is NOT advisable to run long cables from the laptop directly to the speakers as those low signals and unshielded cables often pick up noise and audio hum. It there is sufficient demand, custom cables which are labeled with color connections can be built for ease of setup at events requiring audio and video. Let the soundroom team know if you require such cables.



Setup for up to 100 people in Sanctuary
An alternative configuration for a larger audience, again using either side of the Sanctuary, uses the higher power church-owned (200W) JBL speakers that have custom tripods is shown in Figure PCS2. The connections are the same as above, but depending on the configuration will require matching cable lengths to the presenter's desired configuration. Let the soundroom team know if you elect to have this configuration setup.

Setup for up more than 100 people in Sanctuary
For more than 100 people, the current single 6' x 8' projection screen may not provide adequate display, outside of the center of the Sanctuary. The Planar projector is capable of creating an image that is up to 27 feet across, but such a display screen is not readily available for rental. The church owned 4' by 6' screen works well at dusk or later at night. Setting up multiple screens in the sanctuary for larger events is certainly a possibility if there is a second projector available. The Planar projector is capable of "daisy chaining" output to a second projector to keep such a display in synch using output from one laptop or media player. Using such a configuration, integrating the Sanctuary sound system for audio is likely to have better quality audio than using the JBL speakers.

**Connecting to the Sanctuary Sound System**

//THIS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE BY TRAINED C3HUU SOUND SYSTEM STAFF, please schedule preparation for an event by sending a note to Soundroom@c3huu.org at least two weeks in advance of the event.//

The output of the Planar PC projector can be connected to the XLR inputs on the Sanctuary stage area and use the soundboard controls and Sanctuary audio system to amplify the sound as one would use for directly attached microphones. In this configuration, a projector may be in the middle of the aisle with PC or whatever playback device next to it or multiple projectors may be placed right and left of center to allow a large audience to view the event. The connection requires additional connections that are still being documented and require assistance from soundroom staff.

Once connected, a PC or video playback device will work with the Planar projector and either the integrated projector audio isolation amplifier or an isolation box. The manual for the Planar is in the bag with the projector and cables (stored in the Straley room closet on the left). Whoever is scheduling the event should also schedule the projector through the office manager ( [|office@c3huu.org]) along with contacting one of the trained Soundroom volunteers ( [|soundroom@c3huu.org] )

The audio output from the Planar projector uses a 1/8" stereo phone plug through an adapter to XLR cables on the stage. That way the Planar projector does the impedance matching and eliminates noise that is often is picked up when a laptop or portable media player is directly connected to the sound system. Cables have been reorganized in late 3Q2010 and there was a cable with a 1/4" stereo phone jack on one end and an XLR plug on the other. The cable alone doesn't match the output of the laptop or media player, for that an audio impedance matcher is required if the projector amp is not used. A passive audio impedance matching adapter to take 1/4" stereo phone adapter to XLR and a dual RCA jack to XLR is in the box on the Soundroom floor and several our C3H Soundroom team have their own "lift" or "DI" boxes which can be loaned out given sufficient advance notice.

Direct connection to the Sound System XLR Ports
Direct connection is possible using a phone/phono cable to XLR adapter and audio matching box. The church owns two of these boxes which have been tested with laptop PC audio output. As in the "Connecting to Sanctuary Soundsystem" section above, this option requires trained Soundroom staff to work on the sound setup for the event.

Some questions before setup for an event
> The source of audio & video determines what connectors are needed and whether audio level matching is required (it usually is). > This is a determining factor both for which room to use at the church and for how much audio power you will need. > If live video is desired, a higher performing internet connection may be required than the church's business class DSL connection. Many church members have mobile phones that can be turned into hot spots with higher bandwidth than the DSL connection can provide. The C3H IT Tech Guy also has a dedicated 4G hot spot and an account that can be activated for a day at a time for just such events.
 * Is the video going to be shown from a laptop (Mac or Window$) or from a DVD or VHS player?
 * How many people will likely attend the event?
 * Is Internet connectivity required to show mostly still frame (presentations like PowerPoint) or live, streaming video?

Direct connection FROM Sound System to Recorder
During special events, our Soundroom team has had several requests to have direct connection to Soundroom audio OUTPUT for recording devices. In prior events, there have been separately owned or rented audio amplifiers were used to buffer and amplify signals from the Soundboard to a video or audio recorder whenever the recorder used more than 2 meter (6.6 feet) of cable from the Soundboard to the recording device. This is a special setup and requires Soundroom team to work with the event team and put in place.