I am trying to pass audio from a laptop to a desktop via a headphone jack from the laptop to a line in on the desktop but it provides constant static. I have tried two different aux cords (new). I currently think I might need an USB to Audio Jack Sound Card Adapter but don’t want to buy this too and have to return both if it does not work. Do I need it to be a line out and not a “Headphone Jack” or a sound card?
Thanks
Generally yeah you should pair line-level i/o together: line out to line in.
Can you share audio with the “static”? That might help us figure out the cause. Sometimes audio hardware is poorly shielded, so ssd/CPU/GPU activity generates noise on the audio lines. I’ve experienced that with many laptops over the years. Does the static get worse if you’re actively using the computer and it’s under load? Which computer or both? Do you hear it with headphones or speakers connected with the volume set high?
It’s a headphone jack so also make sure you have the output volume set pretty high so that the gain on the input side can be lower.
Why are you doing this? If you’re capturing audio to record, and the static is consistent, you might just be able to filter it out.
Yes the audio works even with the static. The static is there when both PCs are about as idle as they get. There is a lot of other tech around (mesh router is basically right next to the laptop) in general though. I am doing this not to record or stream but instead be able to listen to music/video off of one while using the other.
My current thought is I need some kind of sound card or as you said pair the line in of the desktop with something from the laptop that works as a line out and not a headphone jack.