Could somebody point me in the right direction for connecting a laptop to my tv/home theatre system...ie, what connections go where, what leads to I need etc.
Also, I only have Gold version - do I need Platinum to do this...
thanks
Steve
Connecting G-Force to tv & stereo
Moderators: BTT, andy55, b.dwall, juxtiphi
Steve,
I assume you are trying to get sound into the computer not out, right?
2nd question 1st. I had to go look that one up. Yes, you need Platinum to get the standalone vesion which accepts external audio.
Now to answer the 1st question, it depends. A theater system has 5 or more channels. An old timer like me is content with 2 even tho my Yahama reciever can handle more. Now, what does your system have for outputs? It probably has RCA type 1/4 inch phono jacks, one for each channel. It may also have digital or optical out. What does your laptop have for input? It should have at least line in with a jack for 1/8 inch headphone type connector. It may have a digital input, I don't know.
I have for years used a 'patch cord' consisting of the 1/8 inch heaphone type plug on one end with two 1/4 inch RCA phono plugs on the other. I have used it to run sound from the computer into a stereo. The same cord could also be used to connect auxillary out or 'video out' (the red and black connectors NOT the yellow) to line input of the computer. There are also 'extension cords' for 1/8 to 1/8 inch so you can have the laptop away from the theater system.
With that you would be getting at least two channels to the computer. The so called video out would have one actual video (yellow) and two or more other jacks. If only two it might be combining channels for you into stereo and you're set. If more, you will only get the main two which will work but G-Force might not show anything if you're watching a movie and all you hear is footsteps behind you. But for music it should be fine.
Now if your laptop does have a digital audio in that would be the way to go. I don't know that much about them but they do make connecting wires for them. You'd have to ask at the store what to get.
I assume you are trying to get sound into the computer not out, right?
2nd question 1st. I had to go look that one up. Yes, you need Platinum to get the standalone vesion which accepts external audio.
Now to answer the 1st question, it depends. A theater system has 5 or more channels. An old timer like me is content with 2 even tho my Yahama reciever can handle more. Now, what does your system have for outputs? It probably has RCA type 1/4 inch phono jacks, one for each channel. It may also have digital or optical out. What does your laptop have for input? It should have at least line in with a jack for 1/8 inch headphone type connector. It may have a digital input, I don't know.
I have for years used a 'patch cord' consisting of the 1/8 inch heaphone type plug on one end with two 1/4 inch RCA phono plugs on the other. I have used it to run sound from the computer into a stereo. The same cord could also be used to connect auxillary out or 'video out' (the red and black connectors NOT the yellow) to line input of the computer. There are also 'extension cords' for 1/8 to 1/8 inch so you can have the laptop away from the theater system.
With that you would be getting at least two channels to the computer. The so called video out would have one actual video (yellow) and two or more other jacks. If only two it might be combining channels for you into stereo and you're set. If more, you will only get the main two which will work but G-Force might not show anything if you're watching a movie and all you hear is footsteps behind you. But for music it should be fine.
Now if your laptop does have a digital audio in that would be the way to go. I don't know that much about them but they do make connecting wires for them. You'd have to ask at the store what to get.
Oh, I assumed wrong.
You can use the audio patch cord that I spoke of to connect line out of the computer into an 'aux' or video input to the amplifier. Now, does the laptop have video out? On tower computers I have had an RCA type video out as well as the S-video connection. It has a bunch of holes on the jack on the computer and matching pins on the plug of the wire. Or it might have the optical type connection. Most laptops do have a video out that you can use with a standard computer monitor. How or if that connects to a theater system, I don't know.
I hate to discourage you from upgrading to Platinum, but to be honest, you would only need it for receiving external sound into the computer to display with G-Force (the standalone, which also has a built in wave generator). The Platinum also has the screen saver and support for multiple media players. That's what I have but you don't necessarily need it for what you are doing.
You can use the audio patch cord that I spoke of to connect line out of the computer into an 'aux' or video input to the amplifier. Now, does the laptop have video out? On tower computers I have had an RCA type video out as well as the S-video connection. It has a bunch of holes on the jack on the computer and matching pins on the plug of the wire. Or it might have the optical type connection. Most laptops do have a video out that you can use with a standard computer monitor. How or if that connects to a theater system, I don't know.
I hate to discourage you from upgrading to Platinum, but to be honest, you would only need it for receiving external sound into the computer to display with G-Force (the standalone, which also has a built in wave generator). The Platinum also has the screen saver and support for multiple media players. That's what I have but you don't necessarily need it for what you are doing.