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James HancockFlag for United States of America

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Will my Macbook 1/8 inch audio jack be able to send decent sound output to a live performance mixer?

Hi

I'll probably be performing my music live in not too long, and I'm concerned that my Macbook can't send decent outage to a mixer. I'll also need the ability for some Pearl Jam type or RATM intensity.
I have a Delta 1010 for my PC, a rack mountable pro audio unit, that can send perfect 1/4 inch cable sound to a mixer, but what about a Macbook? I have an 1/8 in to 1/4 inch stick, but I doubt that is good enough for decent sound transmission? - I am also concerned about losing stereo with one cable, since my sounds could be moving.
I'll be sending the sounds that Shreddage digital/software instruments produce. The keyboardist in Duran Duran has a MacBook on top of his synthesizer.
Ideas?

Thanks
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dbrunton
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Thanks,
My 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch stick does send audio to the speaker, but it didn't sound loud/perfect, and it wasn't in stereo (1 cable), and it was a short cable, 5 foot cable. I'll probably want 2 regular instrument length cables for live performances.
My Macbook is a:

OS X El Capitan
Version 10.11.6

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
Processor 2.3 Ghz Intel Core i7
Memory 8GB 1600 Mhz DDR3
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB
Serial Number . . . private
Suggestions?
Thanks
Can you check the outport ports on your Macbook and see if it supports optical output?

May look like this https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Headphone_jack_3.5mm.jpg/220px-Headphone_jack_3.5mm.jpg or consult your manual or specifications.  Such a socket can supply digital output.
Thanks,
Mine does have that, but isn't that an audio output, 3.5mm - those are headphones?
Both.

See http://babcuvpisecek.com/htpc/do-i-have-optical-out-apple-toslink-spdif-compatibility-list/

Also

    Open "About This Mac"
    Open "More Info..." (skip this step on macOS Sierra)
    Open "System Report..."
    From the left pane choose Hardware > Audio
    Check if Optical Digital Audio Output is present
This cable below does instrument to computer, via USB, picking up decently, apparently,

but what about Macbook to mixer?

I'd like to send my Macbook sound output to a mixer well enough for live band performances, and it has to be strong enough!

here

Thanks
thanks
Apologies for not replying earlier.

I don't know what the sound output levels of the Macbook are.

If you try a cable connection to the mixer and it is not sufficient then you need a pre-amplifier to go before the mixer.