Audio Input quality on MBP?

My wife's iBook is dying, so I am about to jump into a new MacBookPro which will now be "our" computer.
I currently have a US-122 that has always worked well on my iMac (G4) and the iBook. I understand that the drivers for the US-122 do not support the current 10.5 OS that I will get with the MBP.
So, how good is the audio input on the MBP? The "tech specs" just says it has one, not how many bits or anything. I suppose down the line I will get an interface/midi input, but for now I have plenty of pre-amp-like thingies (pre-amps and mixers) that I can use to get a signal into the thing.
Any thoughts?

Keith Barkley wrote:
So, how good is the audio input on the MBP? The "tech specs" just says it has one, not how many bits or anything. I suppose down the line I will get an interface/midi input, but for now I have plenty of pre-amp-like thingies (pre-amps and mixers) that I can use to get a signal into the thing.
Any thoughts?
I'd recommend getting an interface, even a cheap one as a stopgap until you want to get something more robust. Cheap audio interfaces are so cheap, that one would only be a fraction of the cost of the MBP, but would be more than worth it.
I've done some work on a new MBP and the audio jacks are... well... they work, but I think you'd be well served to get even a modest USB interface and then plug all your preamps and mixer things into that.

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Audio input quality when skyping with Nokia BH200 BT headset

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I should also say that I have a MBP with Skype installed and running as well at the same time but I usually take calls on my iMac. I have this configuration so that I can pick up/make calls on my MBP when I am in the living room as opposed to my study where my iMac is. I am not sure if that has affected the audio in quality.

I can confirm this workaround is possible, I managed to do it the first try:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12242463
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Audio Input Quality - Desktop vs. Laptop

I want to record quality sound through my new iBook USB when using iMovie 5 but have been unable to do so even with the top microphones available, including a Samson C01U.
Although the sound input level shows high in both the Sound control panel and in iMovie the volume just isn't there. Put it up any higher and I'm in the red and it distorts.
Even when I speak loudly AND crank the sound volume up 150% in iMovie the sound level is low when exported (the sound quality seems ok, when I play it loud on my stereo...the sound LEVEL is poor.)
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I was able to reproduce this at home on my desktop dual G4...the sensitivity was so much greater when recording via the USB. I could speak at normal volume and it would sound great, loud, on playback.
Why?

The use of a "compressor" makes no sense to me.
Why...woudln't I want to reduce the dynamic range so I can talk loudly without it being clipped and quieter and still be heard?
The folks who sell the Samson line are not Apple savy. I suggest you take a look at the various devices offered by Griffen including the iMic if you are going to try to use your laptop in the field as your audio recording device.
Well I have an iMic and a the Griffin laveleer mic. The mic is worth the $15 it cost. It's basically the same quality as a radio shack lavaleer...which means not too good for what I need.
The Samson mic is a pro-level mic and you can clearly hear that quality...when recording on a desktop. It's only $80 and it;s better than the $175 Audio-Technica lavaleer I previously mentioned.
But when you record on the laptop the sound levels aren't there so he suggestion compression so I can get a signal going from 60-80% (as best I understand) instead of 50-85%.
I'm finding it very hard to talk loud enough to get a nice signal...and then you get loss when you export it for the web.
Of course, like the rest of us, you are starting to save money so you can buy one of the swoopy FW interfaces for field use, right?
Yes, I am now looking for a pre-amp compressor but it can't be a $500 one. I'd have to try one to see if it's better than the Samson's built in pre-amp.

Tech Specs of the audio input jack? (which is better, an iMic, or the MBP?)

Well because the iMic has such a cheap sounding/terrible audio output....
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2132385&tstart=0
....I am trying to figure out which would be better for the audio INPUT?
I am surprised to see that both the iMic and the combined jack on the 13" MacBook Pro seem to record in stereo, but technical wise, which is better? I DO know that the iMic is better for non-amped mics, that the iMic will pre-amp the signal where as the MBP will only accept line-in signals. So other then that, which is better?
Thanks,
Scott

Well, I sent back the iCrap...I mean iMic. I had to take a loss of $10 but oh well. (stupid apple return policy.)
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New MBP with iPhone-like audio inputs. Do I need special adaptor?

I have a brand new MBP with the iPhone audio inputs/outputs. Do I need a special adaptor to use the speakers I was using before or can I just plug them in? How about for a microphone. IIRC those old ones were RCA plugs?

just realized i had made another post here long time back and it has a reply that covers what i need.

MBP 15" w/USB headset - buzz in audio input w/power cord attached

My wife's MacBookPro 15" seems to have a problem with USB audio input (both left & right side ports); if the power cord is attached, the microphone generates a hum. Pop out the power cord and the hum stops. I'm testing this using GarageBand.
The headset is a VXI "Parrot"; it works fine with an iMac G5 17", a MacBook G3 and an Intel iMac 20" (2.16GHz core Duo).
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MacBookPro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2GB, Core Duo 2.16GHz

I am also having a similar problem.
It works fine when iBook is unplugged but hums horribly when I plug in the iBook.
Hum is also produced when I am using my iMac.
Were you able to solve your problem?
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Lack of audio in on a MBP

A processor failure has forced me to buy a new MBP. I make films and used my old MBP for editing and most importantly, capturing audio real time in stereo (live music) and mono for key interviews. Interviews often in remote places so I cannot cart the MBP around and use the built in mic - wind noise also a problem. New MBP cannot do this. Apple support suggest I spend $200 on Logic-Pro. any other solutions?

I've used the "audio in" to determine a fan's RPM, using a microphone. The problem I see with your application idea is the slow sample rate required. I believe choices are 11K, 22K or 44.1K samples per second for the audio input drivers - at least the version I've used. An example of an ocilloscope using the audio sound card drivers can be found at:
http://www.yelmtel.com/~joej/vis/scsco.zip
Perhaps you can modify this to suit.
Joe Jasniewski

Can I use HDMI port on my Macbook Pro for digital audio INPUT?

Trying to find a way to get digital audio input to my new MBP with retina. HDMI supports audio and video, so can I use that port as an input?

It is not recommenced to use TimeMachine in a partition, either on the boot drive or externals because of problems in the past with that arrangement.
You also need hardware protection in addition to software protection.
If you want to do what I do, which is have a second 50% partition bootable clone of the first.
1: Use BootCamp software to create yourself a 50% sized partition, then exit the program. (you also can do it in Disk Utility, but it's tricky)
2: Head to Disk Utility and select the BOOTCAMP partition and change it's name and format to OS X Extended Journaled.
(To map off bad sectors in advance, use Disk Utility Erase with the next to last on the right selection, improves reliability and makes for faster reads)
3: Download Carbon Copy Cloner, now select your Macintosh HD partition and clone it to the second partition.
4: Whenever you want to boot from the second partition, just hold the option key down on the keyboard to select it to boot from.
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Digital Audio Input Specs

I'm looking for detailed specs or info about the digital audio input (mini 1/8" hybrid input) on the MBP. More specifically, I would like to know if the audio passed through (at up to 24 bit/192kHz) is free at the receiving end (within Logic) from sample rate conversion and work length truncation as well as handled "transparently" (without going through internal level control, dithering or noise shaping of any kind).
In other words, Is the 1/8" spdif audio input "transparent" and suitable for professional audio recording via a high end AD converter?
Thanks to anyone who has some info on the subject.

thanks for the link to that doc, actually had seen it already. it's good but it doesn't really give exactly the information audio pros are looking for.
as for the wordclock via BNC, that is not necessarily true. word clock is also a part of the spdif spec, it can be included in the stream. back in the day, eons ago when I had a DAT recorder and a yamaha 03D digital mixer, I would always make sure that the DAT recorder was the clock master, and the 03D synced to it. there was never any need for a BNC connection, it all went through the spdif itself. sending wordclock through BNC cables is really for when you have many digital devices and you need to chain them together to sync wordclock, it's not necessary for just going between two devices.
but, do you know for a fact that somehow the spdif on the MBP simply leaves out wordclock data? if that's the case, then why does it give you options for choosing which source to use as the clock? if it were only possible via BNC cables, then having that option would be pointless unless there were BNC ports on the MBP, last time I checked there weren't any.
...I guess we really need proper info on this..

Audio input for guitar

Hello,
The intro video says that I need to connect my guitar to an audio input. For now I'm just interested in using the Macbook for producing songs with my electric guitar. What devices do I need? What if I want to play the electric bass (instead of the electric guitar)?
Thanks!

it depends what kind of quality you're expecting. you could try just plugging the guitar straight in:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#pluginguitar
anyone looking for a high quality recording would want a digital interface:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Interfaces.html

Audio Input Output on MacBook Pro 13 inch

I want to buy a MacBook Pro 13 inch but the problem is the audio input output port.
I usually need to use both jacks because in one I record my guitar and in the other I use my headphones.
Is it possible to get a splitter and to make from one jack, two, input and output or do I need to buy USB headphones?
A splitter would be the best solution

From the manual:
+"*Audio out port.* Connect external speakers, headphones (including iPhone), or digital audio equipment. You can specify audio analog line in functionality, to support line-level microphones and audio equipment, by selecting Audio In in the Sound pane of System Preferences."+
+"Choose Apple () > System Preferences, and open Sound preferences. Specify whether you want the port to be used for audio input or audio output."+
This means you must choose whether you want the single audio port on the 13" MBP to be input or output. It mentions iPhone headphones, but those will work only as headphones, not as a combined mic/headset when connected to the MBP.
(As in, "Oh, now I get it!")
Thinking on your comment, I see what you mean by 'an extra port' - the iMic has both in and out, meaning you'd actually have three counting the internal port on the MBP.
Looking back at your first post, you mention USB headphones. That would be fine as well - set the MBP's audio port to be used for input, and connect the USB headphones and use those for output. No 'extra' port that way, and USB headphones are cheaper than an iMic.
EDIT: The caveat there is that the audio in on the MBP (true for all MBPs, not just the 13") is a line-level input, not a microphone input. So, the MBP is expecting a line-level signal, meaning preamplified audio. If your guitar puts out a line-level signal or you're using a powered mic, fine. Else, you may need the iMic, which can take either line-level or microphone (non-preamplified) input.

Why MBA (Mid - 2013) doesn't support with Bose Headphones for Audio Input

I just bought two MBA 11(mid - 2013) and MBA 13 (mid - 2013) two week ago and I found out that it doesn't support bose audio headphone (MIE2i mobile headphone) for audio input. So I am having experience for audio input with it. When I am having skype or recording, the voice go slient if i use that headphone as external microphone. All of my friends who are skyping with me can't heard my voice if i am doing skype with my MBA. Audio output is fine though, you can hear as usual in headphones. Internal microphone works though, but it is not good for privacy though.
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The MacBook Air has a single headphone port. The microphone or headset in question must be of the three-ring variety, just like Apple’s headsets ......, the Macbook Air has the “headset” port, not a conventional 2-ring mic and speaker port.
Many are using this,
http://store.griffintechnology.com/imic
Youre likely going to need to get a USB headset to use with your Air. OR, standard headphones plus a USB Mic.

Any way to boost audio input when recording?

Hi; I have been recording speech interviews with Audio-Technica mics on a ProTools set-up and they've sounded great.
I've recently tried recording using the mics in Garageband using a M-Audio Mobile Pre USB, but the audio levels are always too low unless the subject is an inch or two from the mic, which isn't the best way to get quality audio.
Is there any way to boost the audio input when recording in GB or any other tricks people know of?
thx, Charlie

I'm actually having the same problem, except I'm recording straight into the computer (no interface).
I tried using an MBox, but the computer won't even recognize it...(if anyone's got suggestions for why that is, I'll gladly take them...).
My main question is the same as Charles's, however - how come the input level is so soft when recording using the "Built-In Input" (where I can use a mic, and have mobility) as opposed to the "Built-In Microphone"?

No built-in audio input on TiBook. What to use?

Hello,
My PowerBook 667 has no built-in audio input. How should I get audio in (for digitizing vinyl records for example)?
It has USB, FireWire, PC Cardslot.
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Andrew

Creative Soundblaster MP3+ (USB) costs around $30
and
works in OS X. And has RCA inputs, for a record
player. No drivers or software needed.
That sounds and looks excellent. But they don't make
it anymore. The replacement is $50 and is Windows
only (per their website). Actually, the requirements
for the MP3+ say Windows only also.
That iMic thing is fairly overpriced crap, as far
as
a sound card.
I thinks it's only $35, but I would like something
that is good quality in the <$80 range. I guess I'll
look around. Thanks</div>
I know the website says Windows only, but it works in OS X (and Linux) with no drivers needed.
Check out http://www.m-audio.com or http://www.sweetwater.com

Is there a reason why no one uses the built in audio inputs on the Mac?

I'm curious.... I've heard various things - but the sound did seem okay to me when I recorded straight into the Mac's input in the past. So... what is the problem with the Mac's inputs and outputs and why does everyone buy a sound card/device instead?

It seems rather odd that Mac fans generally take pride in owning high quality (expensive) machines but are happy ignore poor audio inputs and outputs.
It has nothing to do w/ taking pride in owning high quality machines - you don't buy the Mac because it has great Analog/Digital conversion (it doesn't). You buy a mac because of its stability, its out of the box compatibility with the two most proficient, professional DAWs out there (Pro Tools and Logic), its easy integration with most hardware, the way it handles audio processing. . . the list goes on and on and on. I don't really have the time to go into the intricacies of high quality audio processing, but NO COMPUTER has it. If a computer did come built in with Apogee master clocking, A/D/D/A conversion, and high quality analog mic preamps, you might be looking at your normal computer plus about $15,000 (at least.) Your machine is there for stabile, consistent, day to day recording and audio processing (whether it be editing, mixing, mastering or all three), and you purchase external audio interfaces for the dedicated function that they are made for.
With audio interfaces comes expandability and flexibility that NO system has right out of the box.

Audio Input quality on MBP?

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