Audio in/optical digital port

I just traded out my G4 PowerPC Tower for a 17" MacBook Pro. I kept my original accessories (cinema display, mouse, keyboard) and the round, clear Apple speakers that came with it. I'd like to use the speakers but there's no applicable port. Is there a convertor or external female-male plug available to connect my audio in/digital port on the MacBook to my mini jack on the speakers? JL

I never expected APPLE wouldn't make a mac that didn't have a proper mic jack?
It has a proper one, a good one, a professional one, not the toy that comes with most PCs. Apple has used line level analog audio input for years.
From Wikipedia;Line level is a term used to denote the strength of an audio signal used to transmit analog sound information between audio components such as CD and DVD players, TVs, audio amplifiers, and mixing consoles.
In contrast to line level, there are weaker audio signals, such as those from microphones and instrument pickups, and stronger signals, such as those used to drive headphones and loudspeakers. The strength of the various signals does not necessarily correlate with the output voltage of a device; it also depends on the source's output impedance, or the amount of current available to drive different loads.

Similar Messages

  • HT2844 iMac 27"(late 2009), Audio in/Optical digital audio out port, stopped recognizing my new Bose speaker system, previously working...

    Hello,
    My iMac 27"(late 2009), Audio in/Optical digital audio out port, stopped recognizing my new Bose speaker system, previously working through that port. I tested the speaker system through my iPhone, and it works fine. I hooked it up to the Headphone out/Optical digital audio in port, and it works through that port also. I did a computer restart, I also checked all wiring and did a system repair on the computer. I also restarted the computer in mode where I could use the system utility, and the computer still did not correct the matter, and it reported everything as being "ok". I wented into "sound", through system preferences, and the computer does not recognize anything I plug into the Audio in/Optical digital audio out port. When I plug the speaker sysytem into the headphone out/optical digital audio out port, it does recognize the Bose speaker system as being "headphones".
    Reading through a lot of forums, I hear everything from compatibility, to the port being stuck, and on and on. Since the port was working before, and just quit working one day, I wonder if there is a capacitor or fuse or some type of similar thing is blown, and causing the port to be unfunctionable. Maybe the port went bad, but before this time, I had never used it, and the computer does not move around, and I never plug in and pull wiring out unless needing to, and that being rare.
    Here is a link to Costco, where I bought the system, and the exact system I have, if this is any help:  http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku= A4092931&ST=pla&dgc=ST&cid=262075&lid=4742361&acd=1230980794501410
    By the way, I am running OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5). I upgraded to Mavericks about a month ago, and expeirienced a number of issues, and had to take my iMac into Apple. Talking with the tech, I decided to wait for a while more before I upgraded to Mavericks. I try and keep the computer maintained.
    If any of you have any ideas regadrding wear and tear, and fix I can do, etc., besides having to take my computer into Apple? Thank you, and potentially all of you, for your time and effort in helping me with this issue. Thank you kindly.
    davE

    Okay, davE, first, you have posted in the "Mac Pro" forum (not Macbook Pro), so we can't be super helpful
    but we help you. First, hold down the Option key while clicking on the speaker icon at the top of your screen. This should show you all the inputs and outputs you have. you could check in "About this Mac" then "More info" to see whatever's recognized. Then, maybe, fire up Audio MIDI. your speaker system should show up there. something might have gotten set incorrectly. You can test it there.  I guess you are using the good ol' analog cable for connection, and it works on your iPhone, so the cable isn't bad.  You could try this. it 's an adapter which might solve your problem
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HBWYQ6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
    depending on which model of Bose speaker you have, you might try doing a product reset
    turn off speakers...unplug power cord from outlet...wait 1 minute..plug cord into outlet..turn on speakers..
    \\turning off automatic standby||
    press and hold top of control pod for 6 seconds until you hear 2 tones that go from high to low
    other than that ,I  don't know
    John B

  • Question regarding mic plugged into audio in/optical digital audio in port

    So I have this external headset... headphone/mic set combo... I plug the headphone jack in the headphone slot and the mic jack in the audio in/optical digital audio in port slot in the back of my IMAC. I go to my system preferences select "sound" and "line in - Audio line in port". But when recording, it's still recording from the internal mic? How do I just record just from the external mic??? What am I doing wrong? I've read all the other questions regarding how to get the external mics to work, but it's still recording from the internal mic? Help?
      Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

    I never expected APPLE wouldn't make a mac that didn't have a proper mic jack?
    It has a proper one, a good one, a professional one, not the toy that comes with most PCs. Apple has used line level analog audio input for years.
    From Wikipedia;Line level is a term used to denote the strength of an audio signal used to transmit analog sound information between audio components such as CD and DVD players, TVs, audio amplifiers, and mixing consoles.
    In contrast to line level, there are weaker audio signals, such as those from microphones and instrument pickups, and stronger signals, such as those used to drive headphones and loudspeakers. The strength of the various signals does not necessarily correlate with the output voltage of a device; it also depends on the source's output impedance, or the amount of current available to drive different loads.

  • TS1574 optic digital port can't be shut off and the sound of speakers not working! what to do?

    optic digital port can't be shut off and the sound of speakers not working! what to do?
    this happened after taking out the head-phones. Now even after pressing CMD+ALT+P+R when booting - the sound of booting appeares BUT after the desktop is ready the sound doesn't work and sound buttons show the sign "circle with crossed line"

    If there is a red light visible in the audio output port, the switch id stuck.  Insert the earphone jack a few times.  If that fails to trip the switch, try a toothpick or similar device and jiggle it inside the port.  If that fails, try a shot or two of compressed air.  If still no success, go to a repair facility.
    Ciao.

  • Audio In/Optical Digital Audio In

    I have a pair of JBL Duet computer speakers connected to the Headphone Out port of my Mac mini. They work fine.
    QUESTION: Is it possible to play a 5-disc carousel CD player (Sony/JVC/Sherwood) through the Mac mini & those speakers WITHOUT first going through an amplifier?
    On the CD players, I see three (3) possibilities using an adapter cable into the mini's Audio In/Optical Digital Audio In port:
    1. Headphone Jack w/Volume Control > Could an analog cable be used to go from the CD player's front 1/4" headphone jack to a 3.5mm stereo mini-phono jack into the mini? Would a CD player's front panel headphone jack provide sufficient volume, or just enough for headphones?
    2. Analog > Use the CD player's rear L/R analog out (RCA-type) into the mini's 3.5mm stereo mini-phono jack. Would there be sufficient volume without an amplifier?
    3. Digital > Use the CD player's rear Digital Audio (Optical) Out to the mini's Optical Digital Audio In. Would there be sufficient volume without an amplifier?
    Any advice/recommendation with specific info on appropriate adapter cable would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
    Mac mini Intel   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

    Thanks, good thought.
    I believe this variation will work also: I see your idea requires Quicktime Pro for that new recording (monitoring) function. I only have Quicktime Player (no recording), but I do have Toast 8's CD Spin Doctor, which will provide the same monitor/output function (select "Play Input through Speakers" and slide speaker icon to the right).
    Other readers-- If any other cable connections work, please add to the discussion. Thanks.

  • Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor - recording audio from optical digital in - sound drops

    Hi guys
    I've had an audigy 2 zs video editor for a couple of months now and it's greatly improved my audio output from my computer.
    But the other day I started trying to record vinyl onto my computer directly.
    In the past I've always used my hifi cd recorder deck, then ripped the audio off the cd.
    So I have my turntable connected to my amp, and I use my minidisc deck as a DAC, then record using an optical from my minidisc DAC, to the optical input on the front of the audigy.
    So I fire up the creative smart recorder software and start messing with the levels.
    I also use a free bit of software from
    http://www.darkwood.demon.co.uk/PC/meter.html
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    I then fine tune the output level on my DAC.
    I have the stereo line out sockets on my audigy connected to an input on my hifi amplifier for listening to digital music etc.
    So I start the vinyl and the sound starts coming through my DAC into my soundcard, the level readings start going, and the sound comes out of my hifi speakers.
    My amp's switched to the audigy input - not the turntable
    The problem is... every 30 seconds or so, the sound cuts out for 2-3 seconds and then resumes.
    But the sound doesn't drop off on the level meters, or on the actual recording (recording 44.khz, 6bit wav file).
    Only on the stereo line out of the audigy.
    I ran the following test to see if the sound also cut out on the optical and coax outputs...
    Whilst recording from the optical input, I've also tried recording to a minidisc portable from the optical out at the same time.
    And the sound cuts out the same as when listening to the stereo line outs.
    So the sound cuts off on the line out, the optical out, and also the coax out.
    But this only happens when recording from the optical input.
    When recording from the stereo line in - the sound doesn't cut out on any output!!!
    The input selected in creative smart recorder is SPDIF.
    This problem happens when smart recorder isn't even running - if I'm just listening to the line outs the sound cuts out.
    But if I'm just playing back an MP3 or any sound, and there's nothing coming into the inputs, then playback is fine!!
    So it's not a connection issue!
    It doesn't seem to be triggered by sound frequencies - it seems to happen every 30-40 seconds no matter what is being recorded (it does the same thing when playing a CD so it's not just when using a turntable)
    I've tried restarting the computer several times.
    All the connections are properly seated.
    I've had task manager loaded whilst this is happening to check CPU usage, and nothing - it just continues in a fairly straight line as normal. No spikes in CPU usage (I would have thought it unlikely that the video editor would be affected by such things anyway being an external box).
    There is nothing else connected to USB - other than an internal memory card reader attached to a motherboard USB header.
    And a wireless adaptor also connected to the motherboard - but the problem still happens when the wireless adaptor is disabled.
    There's also nothing else connected to the USB ports on the Video Editor box.
    Machine spec:
    Shuttle SN4G2-v3
    AMD Athlon XP 3000+
    GB memory
    80GB IDE HDD, 2 x external Lacie FireWire 250GB dri'ves
    LG dual layer dvd/rw/ram
    Win XP Pro SP2
    I've not upgraded firmware or drivers - just used the installation from the CD.
    What confuses me is why this only happens when recording from the optical input, and it affects all outputs but the recording and the level monitor show no trace of the temporary loss in sound!
    So the audigy is receiving the sound, but it just drops off the outputs for some reason!
    Any ideas?
    I hope the above explanation is clear.
    Thanks
    Ben

    batfastad wrote:
    Sorry for not replying - have been away for the past few days.
    Ok, so I go to Creative Device Control, and on the PCI/USB tab I've changed the sampling rate to 48khz.
    It was previously at 44.kHz
    The bit depth is still at 6bit
    Now the problem seems to be solved.
    The problem was only with the output from the device. And now there are no skips!!
    Excellent!
    Why has that solved it though?
    I've read on other forums (head-fi) that the audigy cards do not run at 44.kHz nati'vely so the sound has to be downsampled.
    Is that skipping an artefact of that downsampling process?
    Will having that set at 48kHz, but recording to a 44.kHz 6bit wav file theoretically reduce the quality of the recording - compared to having it set at 44.kHz and recording a wav at 44.kHz?
    On the SPDIF tab the input sample rate is shown as 44.kHz - as that's what is output by the DAC in my minidisc deck.
    But when I changed the sampling rate on the PCI/USB tab, the SPDIF output sampling rate also changed to 48kHz.
    This means if I wanted to record from the optical output, whilst also recording to the computer, and that device only supported 44.kHz - I can't do that?
    You listed some main reasons to the truth, why Creative SB cards are not very popular on serious use (DAW). I.e. need for resampling. X-Fi's in creation mode are (least said to be) the only ones not resample everything.
    There is a setting for "Bit-Accurate-Recording" (digital modes only) --> have you tried if that works on your recordings?
    jutapa

  • No Digital Decoder or option to use optical digital ports X-FI PCIe sound blas

    Hi,I'm new to this board and I just got the new Soundblaster X-FI PCI express card. I'm dual booting both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows XP and I don't seem to have any access to my digital optical ports. I dont have the doby digital decoder tabs in the sound settings on either windows or the Creative software. I'm a bit confused as I thought that would have installed when I ran the setup from the disk. I feel kind of dumb since im going to assume something either didnt install right or I might have to download something. I know the card has to support digital audio as it has the ports so maybe something is not set right? I tried doing a search but couldnt find anything specific to my problem. Thanks in adavance,SDB

    Well, after a more detailed search I have found out that the Creative Labs PCI express X-Fi xtreem audio sound card can not decode DTS or Dolby. I was confused as I didnt know it didnt have that ability. Poop. I have to say that it might behoove Creative to make that clear on their website as I would have bought a better one had I known. Otherwise the card is awsome and I'm just going to have to pay the restocking fee but at least I can get most of my money back from where I got it. Seriously, I should have done a better job at doing my homework. I'll probably get another X-Fi card cux it sounds awsome with my new creative 7. speakers. Just wish I had known before hand. Anyway, maybe this will be helpful to other people.

  • CD player Toslink optical out to optical digital audio in port. Need  help

    Hello,
    I'm taking the Toslink Optical out of my Sony 707esD CD player into the Audio in/optical digital audio in port of my March 2009 iMac.
    In System preferences>Sound>Input>Digital in Optical digital-in port I see a signal occurring on the input level meter but I do not hear audio.
    Output is headphones port and is working fine from other sources.
    I see a signal input does anyone know how to hear the output.
    Thanks.

    You need the free LineIn app from Rogue Amoeba.
    http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/
    Dah•veed

  • No sound out of my MAC PRO Optical Digital audio port

    I own a Mac Pro early 2007, running MAC OS X Ver 10.6.7
    I also have  a set of Logitech Speakers Z5500 connected to the Optical digital port
    No problem ever until now
    Suddenly I am not getting any sound out my Mac Pro.
    The speaker are testing fine, the volume is set correctly and in the system preferences, in the Sound function the device is selected for Digital Out.
    I am at my rope's end.
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    Carlos

    sircolio:
    I took my apple to teh Apple Store and one of the geniuses analyzed to be a hardware problem.
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  • What is the audio in/optical audio port for ?

    I scan thru my iMac manual & found that I have not use my audio in/optical audio port.
    What is that port for ?
    Can I connect a mic to it & do a voice over in FCE ? If yes, then is this a better method or using a USB mic is better ?
    Thnaks

    MartinR wrote:
    The audio-in port supports both analog audio input & optical digital input. It can be used with almost any audio source including microphones, tape decks, cd players, dvd players, mixers, etc. including mic level and line level sources. The quality of the audio will be dependent on the quality of your audio source. It is neither better nor worse than a USB based audio source per se.
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    Thanks Martin for the answers !!
    Really appreciate it, thanks

  • Toslink Optical out of  Sony 707esD CD player into the Audio in/optical dig

    How's everyone? Been a while. I don't have a GB question per say but since this is the forum I know best I'm going to ask my audio question here.
    I'm taking the Toslink Optical out of my Sony 707esD CD player into the Audio in/optical digital audio in port of my March 2009 iMac.
    In System preferences>Sound>Input>Digital in Optical digital-in port I see a signal occurring on the input level meter but I do not hear audio.
    Output is headphones port and is working fine from other sources.
    I see a signal input does anyone know how to hear the output.
    Thanks.

    I found this free app that will let me pass thru.
    LineIn.
    http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/

  • Can I use the optical digital audio cable to connect INSTEAD of the hdmi?  My tv only has 2 hdmi ports, and they're both taken

    Can I use the optical digital audio cable to connect INSTEAD of the hdmi?  My tv only has 2 hdmi ports, and they're both taken

    I'm afraid that's very misleading and inaccurate.
    Firstly an adapter won't work, it would need to be a converter and then if it's a compliant converter it won't let you watch HDCP protected content such as that from netflix or from the iTunes Store.
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  • Combined optical digital audio port

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    It is a jack that does both standard analog, and optical digital, on the one connection.
    You can plug in a standard mini-headphone (1/8") like most iPod/music devices use, including 1/8" to two cable Y adapters for plugging into stereos, etc.
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  • I am aware that iMacs do not support Blu-ray. However could I use am   a Blu-ray player connected via the audio/optical digital in port to watch Blu-ray on my iMac screen ?

    I am aware that iMacs donot support Blu-ray. However, could I use a blu-ray player connected via the audio/optical digital in port to watch blu-ray on my iMac screen ?

    You could connect a FireWire Blu-Ray drive and use non-Apple player software.
    <http://eshop.macsales.com/search/external+blu+ray>
    <http://www.macblurayplayer.com>
    <http://www.macblurayplayer.com/download.htm>
    <http://www.mcetech.com/blu-ray/>

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    Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

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