record levels too hot

[BassMan1963]

I'm the (wanna be) audio tech at my church, we have a Sound Craft Spirit 16 w/16 direct outs...
I've taken several direct outs, and sub out using a 1/4 Y cable going straight to the berhringer (wrong spelling?), tape out on the berhringer to the mic in on my laptop.
When I look at the meter on the berhringer, it doesn't show hot, as a matter or fact, it bearly shows any signals... but on the laptop it's very hot...
What am I doing wrong? Is it the berhringer or the Sound Craft? Or the idiot behind the faders

 

[Farview]

You need to go to a line input on your laptop. The mixer is putting out a line level signal and your laptop is expecting a (much smaller) mic level signal.

 

[BassMan1963]

The laptop only has mic in and audio out... do I have any other options?

 

[Farview]

There might be a way to turn off the internal mic preamp. Check the soundcard configuration.

the only other thing would be to buy a USB audio interface. This is what most people with laptops seem to have to do.

 

[BassMan1963]

usb interface? I don't know why I didn't research that option... Thanks

 

[Farview]

There are firewire interfaces also. But if you are only doing stereo, you might not need the extra bandwidth.