Using a PA mike as input on phone

[Johndayward]

We use a phone with a directional mike to broadcast our church meetings.  Is there any way to hook our phone into the PA system in order to use that microphone as our input microphone?  We think that this will eliminate a lot of background noise, and smooth out our music volume.

[Ohkawa]

Hi, Johndayward

What is PA system?

Without knowing this, I don't know what you want to do, so I can't give you any advice.

[Johndayward]

PA stands for 'Public Address'.  It means the sound system in our church building with a microphone wired to speakers in the ceiling.

[Ohkawa]

If you know, what model of phone is it?

[Johndayward]

It is an unlocked Android.  We go through the building's wifi to Zoom.  We have a directional microphone plugged into the end, but it picks up every baby's cry or toddler's yell, and the music fades in and out as the automatic loudness regulator kicks in.  It might be that it is too good of a microphone.  But in Sunday School (with no kids and no music) it works great.  We were thinking that using the building's microphone as an input might fix those problems.  How would we try that?

[Ohkawa]

Oh, that's what you mean?

You want to do something like the diagram below, right?

[Johndayward]

Something like that, but I want to go from the church microphone to the Android phone to Zoom.  Am I going to need an amp, or a mixer board?

[Ohkawa]

If you can connect a church microphone to your Android, you don't need an amplifier.
I think you can use a conversion adapter to connect via USB.

[Rupert]

Yes - you will want a line-level output from your PA system, terminating to a 3.5mm jack.

And then something like this 

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8

with one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/AuviPal-Micro-USB-Cable-Power/dp/B07FY9Z9GD

and one of these - if your phone has USB-C

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Adapter-Transfer-Resistor-MacBook/dp/B01AHKYIRS

[burlington328]

I have a similar question.  When we tried holding a hybrid zoom meeting at the church, the audience have to be muted to avoid feedback from the PA's microphone.  The PA speaker has a xlr male line out.  Can I connect with xlr female to 3.5mm jack into the computer's mic port?

[Ohkawa]

yes.

A conversion cable can be used to make the connection.