How to Convert Digital Audio to Analog Audio
Converting digital audio to analog audio is a relatively easy procedure, as long as you’ve got the right connections. All you'll need is an audio out on your digital source, in input to your analog device and the proper cables.
#1RCA (male) cable connectors.
RCA (male) cable connectors.
Double check the cable. For a desktop computer, you'll need either a mini-plug (male) to 2 RCA (male) -or- a 2 RCA (male) to 2 RCA (male) cable. This will depend on your choice of output from your computer. If you decide to use your computers headphone port you'll need the mini-plug and RCA cable. If you use the sound-card output port around back on your desktop, you'll need the one with the RCA plugs on both ends of the cable. For a laptop, you'll need mini-plug male to RCA connectors. Make sure you know exactly what you'll need before you invest or go looking for a cable.#
2. Locate your analog audio output on your digital device. On most desktop computers you will have an option of either using a small mini-plug output on the front of the computer or the sound-card output connections. The mini-plug output is the same port you use to plug your headphones. Many desktop computers will also have two RCA analog output jacks on the back of the computer as part of their internal sound-card. For an MP3 player, a mini-plug jack is the universal standard. It’s the same port that you use to plug in your headphones.#
3Depending on the type of audio cable that you will be using, plug the cable end into the output of your digital device analog "sound out" port. If you are using the headphone port, you will need the mini-plug to RCA. If you're using the sound output ports from your computers sound card on the back of your desktop, you will need to have a cable with 2 (male) RCA connectors on each end. Laptops all use mini-plug connectors.#
4RCA (female) audio input port. RCA (female) audio input port.Find the input ports for the audio on your analog device. The standard input for almost all unbalanced, consumer analog devices is the (female) RCA audio port. Simply plug in the RCA (male) output cables into the (female) RCA inputs on your analog device. Double check to make sure they are plugged into the input jacks, as the input and output jacks on all analog devices look very similar. It should say “in” or “input” next to the port.#
5 VU Meter.Double check on your computer that your sound card is properly set up to feed audio from the output jacks on the sound-card or headphone port, and you should be good to go. Check your levels on your analog input device so that they don’t “peak” or go above the red marks on the input monitor or VU meters and enable record on the analog device.
