audio out to a PA from a Mac
 

Im looking for a way to patch a Mac into a PA system and play music through it with iTunes. How do you do it? Is there a USB device for this or do I just used the head phone output jack?

TIA

No Mac here, but on my PC I run a standard cord with an 1/8" stereo jack on the computer end (speaker output) and two RCA jacks on the other. In my case, my computer is hooked up to an old home stereo, but any decent PA system will have at least one RCA stereo input.

Jim

I have a Tascam US 122. Good size, fits in a briefcase. Use it for VO work. XLR and standard jacks in. Supplies power for xlr mics. Entire rig is USB powered from the computer, in my case a laptop For me the ulitmate mobile recording box. New version is the US 144. Under $200.
Tascam stuff ships with CuBase.

You can run in pass through mode. Live and record at the same time.

There is also the m-box. Think that one ships with a stripped version of pro tools.

Do they have a line out option? That may be better than the headphone jack, but either should work.

I think thats what Im trying to ask. The only Mac I have access to is my Mini and I know it does not. Does a Powerbook or an iMac typically have a line out for music?

if you just want music to come out of a p.a. from itunes on your mac then you can use the headphone jack out to line-in on an amp no problem,
all macintosh towers have line outs at the back and headphone jacks at the front. either will go into an amp as above.
don't know if the latest imacs have line outs but headphone jack will be fine, your mini should have a headphone jack and that'll be fine too.
you can use an ipod also, best to bring the usb power plug, so battery doesnt die if you do.

Headphone jack is line out.

cool. thanks, guys.

The only difference between a headphone out and a line out (typically) is that the headphone out volume and eq (if applicable) can be changed at the source. The line-out is direct. So just make sure your itunes/system volume isn't cranked, and you're fine.