No External Microphone option

I don't know what's going on here, and when I go through System Preferences, to Sound, to Input, there's only one choice: Internal Microphone. I'm sure there used to be another, probably called External Microphone. How could there not be? How else could I import sound from outside the computer.
Anybody have any ideas? I mean, without this option, not only could I not bring in music sounds, I couldn't even do something like Skype, right?
thank you!

Hey, I am having the same problem. I use GB alot and have always plugged a mic cable straight into the line-in jack on the back. I have also plugged bass guitars and guitars. This always worked before, but now...nope. It is not a power issue b/c GB acts as an amplifier.
What I have now is that there is no option for selecting "line-in" under the pref pane in sound. Only "internal microphone" This is bogus b/c you can't record any good music live through the internal mic. There is too much atmospheric crappy gack-sound that interferes with the capture.
What is wrong? Is it that the jack has gone kaput, and has some sort of soldering problem or loose cable? I don't understand what to do. Is there supposed to be a red LED light that signifies when a plug is in the line-in jack, just as there is in the headphone jack? If so, I am getting no light at all. I have heard of the headphone jack not releasing the setting for an line-out, and thereby disallowing the internal speakers to sound. The solution to that was fiddling around with a matchstick or a qtip in the jack. This is the opposite. I can't jet the jack to recognize when a cable is plugged into it. HELP!!!

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I have an iMac G5 running OSX Leopard 10.5.6, how do I activate the external microphone port? In the Sound window there is no option for the external port.

I have an iMac G5 OS 10.5.6. How do I activate the external microphone port? In gen. pref. 'sound' there is no option for the external port.

Your audio settings may have been changed.
Open Audio MIDI Setup (/Applications/Utilities/), then check the Audio Output setting.
Change the Audio Output setting to 44100.0 Hz.
Quit Audio MIDI Setup.
More info here on no sound from built-in speakers:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1574?viewlocale=en_US
Any reason why you have not updated to the final verion of Leopard 10.5.8?

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 Input?

The iPhone headset's (or similar one plug headset) microphone and headphone can be used by plugging the headset into the headphone jack. In Mac OS X, the internal microphone option changes to external microphone.
Boot Camp doesn't seem to recognize this. All I get is the internal microphone, the line-in jack, and the digital input (SPDIF).
Is there a way or a driver to enable the use of the microphone input for the headphone jack?
Thanks!

first of all, i don't work for lenovo.
i'll try to find a specific answer for you. ( i will post here if i can find )

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

Newbie - use camera for video and external microphone?

Hi,
This is a totally newbie question, but I'm a total newbie to the video part of the mac universe.
I want to use a camcorder to "stream" live video into iMovie (which will record it to the hard drive), and use an EXTERNAL microphone, plugged into the microphone port of the computer, as the audio source (I want to use a good mic).
Will iMovie support doing this? Is it automatic that the external mic overrides the mic on the camcorder?
Thanks,
Dmitri
P.S. this is part of a bigger question, which is, how to get the best possible audio using a standard (cheap) camcorder. I haven't bought a camcorder yet, and am open to getting one that can take a good mic through a line-in. Any suggestions? - Thanks, D

I wrote a reply to your earlier post ..but either the system went offline, or some other glitch occurred, and the post didn't appear. So I'll try to answer your earlier message and the one just above.
Congratulations on getting the camera, by the way!
"..play video through camera" option in the preferences, which MUTES the sound in iMovie.." ..Yes, this has been standard in iMovie from the earliest versions. There may be a slight delay between the audio you hear straight from the camera and the audio coming out of your Mac. To stop the annoyance of hearing the audio separately and slightly out-of-sync (..you'll find that the video on the Mac lags very slightly, too, during import..) you can turn OFF the Mac's audio with that preference.
"..I assume this goes away if I unplug the firewire cable.." ..er..? You mean that the preference switches back when you unplug? I can't remember: try it. But don't unplug the FW cable in the middle of an import!
What I was previously trying to post was:
"..instructional/promotional videos to display online.." ..You don't say if you'll be walking around to do these demos, or if you're demonstrating computer software. If walking around you might want to use a "gun" mic to point at you, or a tie-clip mic, so that it's always clipped to your clothes ..but that will trail a cable to the camcorder unless you use a radio mic. [..And you've now bought a tie-clip mic; well done..]
If you're doing demos of computer software, then you probably wouldn't need a camcorder at all, but just a "screen-recorder" application like 'Snapz Pro' or 'iShowU'. In that case, you'd just want a simple mic to stand on your desk, to record your speech as you work your computer, and for adding extra narration afterwards.
I still don't understand why you want to capture directly to iMovie. If you're using a camcorder, surely you'd want to capture to tape, in case you need to do three or four "takes" of the same material ..and then you only need to import, and fill up your hard disc with, the best of those takes.
And if you're recording a computer screen, then you wouldn't capture with iMovie at all, but with one of those other programs, above..

My mac is not detecting external microphone from headphone

my mac is not detecting external microphone from headphone

If your headphone doesn't work on your mac then I suggest you try this:
1. Is it plugged in properly? Don't try pushing it in hard. Thatis likely to break something
2. Call up Systems => Sounds then select the Output tab. Do you see your headphones as an output option? You should see "Headphones" Headphone Output". If you don't see it then you either have a software or a hardware problem. Don't panic yet
3. Leave the headphone plugged in. Close all your apps and shutdown the mac. Press the power button to restart. Hold down the following 4 keys: ALT CMD P R this could also be OPTION COMMAND P R
The mac screen should go blank and should restart again. When you've logged in, call up SYSTEMS => SOUNDS again. Check if you can see the headphone source this time. If you can't, now is the time to panic. You've reset your PRAM and it hasn't made a difference, so you probably have got a hardware problem.

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

Macbook Pro 13" and external microphone

Hi guys,
I have a problem with using my external microphone with my macbook pro 13"..
I have changed the 'use audio port for' options to 'audio input' in the system preference, but it is still not working..
I have tried it with two different microphones and both of them are not working. The mic that i tried was pretty basic stuff..
All helps and opinions are welcome. Thanks!

The audio input is a 'line level' input - it expect a greater signal level than most microphones deliver, such as the levels output by a mixer, preamp, or the headphone output on a music player.
There might be microphones which can drive that input, but they'd certainly have a battery driving some preamp circuitry.
For many users, the built-in microphone is all that's needed. The next step up would be a USB microphone - which has its own preamp and A/D (analog to digital) converter. The next step up would be a high quality audio interface, with inputs for professional mirophones.
USB microphones start at about $20, go up to about $200. I'd suggest a google or amazon search for 'usb podcast microphone'.

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

External Microphone Recommendations For Canon Vixia HF M50

Hello:
I have reviewed the microphone options for the mini-advanced shoe, and they don't work for my application. I need an external condenser microphone that can be on a wire 50 feet away from the camera. I tried a dynamic microphone but voices were much too soft.
Does anyone have a recommendation on what will work on a 50 foot wire, but provide good sound from an external microphone?
Regards,
Rich Locus

Nevermind, I got tired of waiting for some help and found one that will work perfect for what I need at campbell cameras..
Pretty neat wrap around alum. mount that will work perfect..

S10-2 external microphone problem

Hello!
My problem is that I can't seem to make my external microphone work on my S10-2. The microphone can be detected by my laptop (because a pop-up from the taskbar appears indicating this), but I don't know how to switch from the built-in mic to the external mic. I've tried changing the default voice recording device in the Sounds and Audio Devices section of the Control Panel, but there is no other option other than the Realtek HD Audio Input. I've also downloaded and installed the audio driver from the Lenovo website already.
How may I go about this issue?
Thanks and God bless!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Sorry for this late update, but the problem was solved when I downloaded and installed an audio driver from this website.

External microphones don't work with audio input

Tell me its not true that an ordinary mic won't work with the audio input....I have 2 mics which I know to work mini jack [tried both stereo and mono] and zip! nothing....what is wrong with this equation
any ideas from the floor? [do I really have to go and buy another usb headset or an iMic to resolve this??
please tell me there's another option!
thanks
Tony

I have been unable to get the microphone input with a Viewsonic 22" monitor with webcam to work with either iChat or iVisit with my Mac Pro. There have been other reports on the web about newer versions of the OS 10 inactivating the audio input for several programs. Is this why the microphone does not work or is it true that the audio input does not act as one? If the audio input does not work with an external microphone, what is it for?

External Microphone when using (external) iSight

I recently got an external iSight for my MacPro. I bought the iSight so I could record videos through iMovie directly on my computer. I usually do covers of music, or related to music videos, so I use an external microphone. It's a M-Audio Producer USB. It's plugged in into the side of my Apple Keyboard, and in every application, the external microphone works. Except for iMovie.
When I try to record a video directly from iMovie using my external iSight, iMove decides to use the iSight's built-in microphone to record the audio, even though I have an external microphone plugged in. In System Preferences, the Producer USB is chosen as the main input for audio coming in. And in iMovie, the Producer USB is also chosen as the microphone in the VoiceOver section. Even with these two options pointin to the Producer USB for audio, iMovie still records audio using the built-in microphone on the external iSight.
Does anyone know why this is happening? And how I may be able to fix it? My music covers have come to a halt because of this D:
Thanks!

Hi Appleman & David B.
Thanks for your answers. I think David has a point... - that the program could be secured against feedback - consequently! Since it's not made for music recording. (even though using headphones normally solves that problem, right?).
Not a word about this issue in the support menu, and I've checked the system preferences>sound several times.
I'll see if I can find a small mixer somewhere. That sounds like the right solution.
Yes, I ran into the same problem in GarageBand, but changing the feedback-settings at the right side, solved that problem
Kind regards
Kenneth Hermansen/Copenhagen NV.

New mac system external microphone bug (irig)

Hi,
my new mac (late 2013) is not able to recognize external microphones / headset.
My irig (a guitar jack connected as an external mic) is working with a 2011 mac pro and the iphone
Did apple notice this? Are they going to fix it? Any special tricks?
Regards,
Elio

If you need to restore everything to a new Mac, you simply have your TM drive connected when you start up the new Mac and during the Welcome routine that runs when you start up a new Mac for the first time you will be presented with the option of migrating your user info, settings, files, applications, etc., from a Time Machine backup. You just click "Yes" and all your backed-up info will be transferred to your new Mac.
Time Machine continuous "cleans up" backups so you do not need to worry about TM pushing a drive to its capacity limits, or even close to that.

No External Microphone option

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