External microphone connected to B/W G3

I am using an iSight for video conferencing but for audio-only conversations, I find using the isight a bit loud and annoying to others in adjacent rooms. Can an external mike, such as a headset, be used in place of the iSight and where can it be connected?

Darrell,
The mic input jack on Macs has been a line in port forever. That means that it handles amplified sound. As long as the head phone mic has an amplified signal, it will work just fine. Otherwise, it will be too soft to be useful. Sound quality comes from proper amplification.
As for the place to plug it in? The mic port just needs the right adapter and you are in business. Take the mic you are using to a store like "Frys Electronics" and tell them you need a line-in capable headset mic and mini-din pin adapter.
Good luck.
Ji˜m

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How do I connect an external microphone to a Macbook Pro with Retina display ?

How do I connect an external microphone to a Macbook Pro with Retina display ?
Alternatively how do I connect an audio input at a level that would normally have gone into a 'line input' socket ?

Plug it into the linein/headphone jack if there's just one. It'll switch between the two modes automatically depending on what you plug into it.

How can I connect external microphone to MacBook Pro?

Hello!
I need to connect the external microphone to my MacBook Pro? How can I do it?

Some mikes have sufficient output to connect to this port, Alexey, but most don't. the solution, if you really want to use this particular mic, is to obtain a small battery or mains powered pre-amplifier to connect between the microphone and the line -in input. Alternatively there are devices which will allow you to connect your existing mic through the USB port. If you have an amplifier with a mic input already you could also use this as an intermediary, though it won't be very portable, of course!
You may find it cheaper to simply buy either a USB or "line level" mic, though.
Cheers
Rod
Cheers
Rod

MacBook Pro and external microphone

We bought a MacBook Pro 15" Retina a couple of weeks ago. We wanted to use it the same way as our current PC laptop: hook up an external camera via BlackMagic Shuttle Express Thunderbolt (through the Thunderbolt port), hook up an external Sennheiser Freeport wireless microphone (through the 3.5mm combination headphone/microphone jack), and hook up a set of regular headphones (through the USB port).
The idea is to videotape an event, getting good quality audio from the presenter via the wireless microphone (our space has big limitations in terms of using wired devices), and monitoring the audio through the headphones. This is a scenario and a set up where several PC units have worked perfectly well in the past.
However, after spending over $2,000 on the MacBook Pro, we found out that the 3.5mm combination port will not take input from any of the microphones we have. This YouTube video explains exactly our situation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaiYc9Cqpis (we did not create the video, but the video shows this is a common issue). On the video they explain the plug of a regular microphone has 3 rings or pins, while the plug needed for the 3.5mm combination has four rings or pins.
We spent about 45 minutes with Apple customer support, including a senior advisor, and we were told that as the Apple headphone/mic combination, the one you use with an iPhone (seen on the video above), works in the combination jack, both as a microphone and as a headphone, then there's no issue. Apple does not have any recommendation, solution, or adapter for using a regular 3.5mm microphone with the 3.5mm combination jack, so that an external microphone can be easily used. The senior advisor also suggested a USB microphone instead, but that means a) having a wired microphone, which is not possible in our space, b) buying more equipment, when we already have our equipment, and c) adapting all our setup to the MacBook Pro, instead of the machine being easily integrated into our existing setup (more likely, we will ship the MacBook Pro back instead).
A few discussions on the web (for example, https://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110505020946AA8izSV ) mention that this specific laptop expects a "line level" microphone signal, one that would come from a pre-amplifier, so that regular microphones would not be detected. The Apple senior advisor was not familiar with that claim, nor could he shed any light on it.
So our question is: has anyone successfully used an external 3.5mm microphone with the 3.5mm combination port on the MacBook Pro Retina 15"? If so, what kind of microphone did you use? Or, did you have to use any kind of adaptor or amplifier to make it work?
Thank you for any pointers you can give us.

We tried a number of 3.5mm splitters (to get separate headphone and microphone connections from the combo mic/headphone jack), and USB to 3.5mm converters (to get separate 3.5mm headphone and microphone connections from the USB port), but none of them worked.
The only solution we found to connect a microphone to a MacBook pro were the Shure XLR to USB convertor (http://www.shure.com/americas/products/accessories/microphones/microphone-proble m-solvers/x2u-xlr-to-usb-signal-adapter) and the Blue Icicle XLR to USB convertor (http://bluemic.com/icicle/). The Icicle is the cheaper back up for the more expensive Shure.
Both were recognized by the laptop, and both audio signals were detected properly. We are using them to capture voice only, so we don't know how they would fare when music and musical instruments are involved.

Why doesn't my external microphone work?

Yesterday I opened up Garage Band to do a recording. I have been using my Blue SnowBall microphone, and in the past, even as recently as the day before, Garage Band always recognized that mic by name, and would ask me if I wanted to use it. Now the only option it gives me is “USB Advanced Audio Device”. Obviously an automatic update had changed the way it handled recognition of my microphone. As I selected this option, I found that wasn’t the only change that occurred. The instant I made the selection all audio functions within Garage Band immediately failed, not just recording, but playing audio as well. Once I reverted back to “built in microphone” then my audio functions returned. So my Blu Snowball is no longer compatable with Garage Band. Coincidently, seconds later Garage Band advised me of the newest version of Garage Band, and asked me if I would like to update. I have seen that question before, and the answer is no. I have had too many problems before with updating. Most recently I updated to Yosemite OS X and all my projects in i-Movie became corrupted. I also read on the net that the new Garage Band frequently causes older Macs to crash. So how do I return functionality to my microphone? If it worked before it should work now. Functions should not be taken away from me. I should not be forced into updates that bring me more headaches.

Today I found that when I select "USB Advanced Audio Device" for my "input source" that if I go to garage band "preferences" and check my "audio output" it has also been automatically changed to "USB Advanced Audio Device". I'm not sure what kind devices this update was designed to accomodate , but my device is nothing more than a microphone, thence the reason I have no sound. This will happen every time I turn on or plug in the microphone, but I can still use the microphone by manually going into preferences and changing the audio output to either "system setting" or "built-in output" every time I connect my external microphone. I thought I checked all my settings and preferences before when I was trying to figure out why I had no sound, but either I missed it before or there has been another update.

External microphone won't work on Macbook Pro

My external microphone won't work on my Macbook Pro.
My mic is an SE2200 A, and I'm pluggin that into a Behringer Eurorack UB802 (with Phantom power). This is then connected to a 1/4 inch to 3.5mm adapter so I can plug it into my Macbook Pro.
If I plug this directly into my Macbook Pro into the headphone socket (which I've been told doubles up as a mic socket), and go to Settings -> Sound -> Input, the mic does not appear on screen at all.
If I plug it into a 3.5mm to USB adapter, and plug it into a USB port on my mac, then the USB PnP Sound Device appears on the Settings -> Sound -> Input, but no sound is picked up.
Could any suggest why this isn't working?
thanks

You have to use a cable that will break out the 3.5 mm TRRS jack into mic, L, and R.
I haven't found the right wiring yet and the cables I have tried don't seem to work.
See this post: What is the wiring digram on the MacBook Pro 3.5 mm TRRS jack?

External microphone

I can't get an external microphone to work on my HP Pavillion dv7 laptop. I have read through most of the posts and nothing has helped. However, I haven't seen anyone who has had my exact experience. When I plug in either of two external microphones, one a single mike and the other connected to a headset, I can record but it is recording with the built-in microphone, not recognizing that anything is plugged in. The reason I am sure of this is because if I tap lightly on the mike, there is little or no reponse on the vertical bars in the Sound Recorder program. But if I gently tap with my fingernail anywhere on the computer frame, the bars light up right to the top. Help anyone? Thanx.

Hello pobox518
Welcome to the HP Forums!
I understand you are unable to connect an external microphone to your computer. I will do my best to assist you! First, I require the following information:
1. The computer's model number. If you require assistance locating this information, please reference this website: Guide to finding your product number
2. The computer's operating system. If you require assistance locating this information, please reference this website to determine your Windows operating system.
3. Have you installed any new hardware on this computer, before the issue appeared?
4. Have you installed any new software or drivers on this computer, before the issue appeared?
Thanks for choosing the HP Forums. Have a great day!
Mario
I worked on behalf of HP.

External microphone in headphone jack on Hp envy 15-j160no ?

Hello! I just bought my Hp envy 15-j160no. I want to use my external microphone for better quality. I have plugged my microphone in to my headphone input(because I have remebered that on this computer the input is working for both headphones and microphone, right?)
But i can't get it to work, my computer only uses the microphone that is built in on the computer instead.
I use an Audyssey that was included when I bought my receiver(Onkyo nr262)
Appreciate help!
Thank you!

Hi,
Please read:
This integrated headphone / microphone port uses a 4 section plug (identified with 3 black / colored rings).
You can plug a standard headphone in, and it should work by itself. A spliter cable may be required to support a stand alone microphone properly.
Please try:
Use a headset or
Use a "Y" adapter that can connect a separate microphone
Hope this helps
Regards.
BH
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Linking external microphone to ThinkPad T430

Hello, we are trying to use our ThinkPad T430 to support an external microphone. The microphone is coming in via a mixing desk. Previously our laptops have had two input points - audio and microphone and we have connected via the microphone input. However, on this new laptop we only have one audio input option and now cannot hear any sound when we use this. Is there another piece of kit we need (splitter?) or some changes to the settings on the laptop? Thanks for your help.

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/W530-external-line-mic-input-possible/m-p/1162...
i think the above solution may also help you in your case.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

IMac i7 External Microphones not working

Out of the box, no external microphone will work!
I have tried many.
It seems the system does not even notice that something is plugged in to that port.
Is anybody else having this issue?
Could this be a factory hardware defect?
Tried Soundflower and many other things / settings. No Luck.
Normally I would not care, but I need Skype every day. The internal Mic works, but that is not good enough.

Hi DaBigness
The iMac's Audio Input is for Line- Level or amplified devices like (Stereo receivers, CD & DVD players, iPods, MP3 players, etc.) See > [Line- Level|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-level]
To connect a non-amplified microphone you will need to patch it thru an amplified stereo device such as a stereo receiver, a pre-amp, a tape player, an MXL iBoost or a Griffin iMic just to mention a few options. For example's see the > [MXL iBoost|http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-iBooster-Guitar-and-Mic rophone-Interface?sku=243800] or the > [Griffin iMic|http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic>
Dennis

I don't see a jack for an external microphone - hp notebook Pavilion m6

I have a headset I'd like to plug in, it has a better microphone but I don't see a jack for microphones, just for headsets. Is there a jack or how can I use my external microfphone

Ah - I have just run into this problem with a HP Pavilion m6. I have been trying to digitally record some precious archival material from tape cassettes over forty years old, and I thought to use a cassette deck as an external microphone, and connect the RCA jacks on the deck to a mini 3½mm phono jack plugged into the HP.
It won't work!! Bother!
In the first place, the mini jack has to have four poles, not the usual three.
One way around this to use an external microphone is to acquire an external sound card with the usual mini ports to plug into one of the USB ports in the HP. Such an external sound card is easily got, and they are inexpensive. However, whether or not one can get a good quality external sound card is another matter.
One other solution seems to partially work: I acquired from a television shop an interconnector with a 4-pole 3½ mini jack at one end and RCA plugs at the other, including a video plug. Using the one video plug in one of the cassette deck stereo plugs works, but converts the stereo of the cassette to mono when recorded by the HP m6.

Recording in iMovie with external microphone?

Is there a way to capture video in iMovie using the iSight and an external microphone? If so, how do I set that up? If not, what program records the best quality videos but also has this external mic option?

zgirl822 wrote:
Is there a way to capture video in iMovie using the iSight and an external microphone?
Yes
If so, how do I set that up?
Connect external mic. Then select it in the "Record From:" in the choices bar in Voiceover window.
If not, ... ?
N/A
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.3) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

Voice recording using external microphone

Hi,
I need to record my voice using an external microphone on my Pavilion 15-n097ea. There is only a combined headphone/mic jack and I have read that I need a 4 conductor connection. I can't seem to find any local shops that sell them and was advised to buy a USB sound card that has the pink and green ports, or a 3.5mm 4 pin to 2x3 headset splitter adapter - M/F. Any suggestions as to whether this will work, and if so can you recommend a headset that will give a good quality voice over, without costing the earth?
My control panel shows this in the sound section:
Mic in at front panel (black)
Realtek High Definition Audio
Not Plugged In
Microphone
Realtek High Definition Audio
Default Device
Stereo Mix
Realtek High Definition Audio
Ready
Many thanks in advance!

There's plenty of software you can use to record your voice to mp3 then just put the mp3 into your fla.

Record video directly into imovie with external microphone?

Here's what I am trying to, and I am just wondering if it is possible.
I like recording video covers/songs to put up on youtube. i don't have a video camera that takes good video AND sound, and the video quality provided by recording in imovie through the isight is perfectly fine. however, i would like better sound quality than i get with the internal microphone.
i own an mx audio pro system which allows me to connect external microphones to my computer through usb for higher quality recording (i've used it for garageband).
my question is whether i can simultaneously use the isight and external microphone when recording in imovie, and how i would do that??
thanks!

Click System Preferences/Sound/Input and select your USB mic.
I know this works for voiceovers, but it should work for iSight as well.

There is an external microphone input on my notebook?

Hi!
I'm not sure this is the right section where I can post this question.
Anyway: I bought a pair of headphones with a microphone to use on my ENVY m6, but when I tried to find the input for the external microphone jack... I dind't find it.
I tried to plug them both in the headphones jack with a '2 to 1' jack converter but the microphone still didn't work.
There's a solution or just I can't connect an external microphone to my notebook?
Thank you so much and sorry for my bad english.
Elisa

Hi @EllieInTheSky ,
Thank you for visiting the HP Support Forums and Welcome. I have looked into your issue about your HP ENVY m6 Notebook and issues with the microphone headset. Here is a link to troubleshoot the headset and microphone. Your notebook supports a plug in stereo headphone combo jack.
What make is the headset?
Press the Windows key, type microphone, under settings you will see setup a microphone. It will bring a wizard up and you just select which one you have.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
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External microphone connected to B/W G3

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