“Why won’t my external mic work on my MacBook Pro?”

Click to enlarge

About a week ago I was recording a Skype phone-interview using Call Recorder on my MacBook Pro for a client podcast episode. I was using an excellent Plantronics analog, noise-canceling microphone/headset.

After I finished, I listened to the playback and overall it was fine, except for the occasional sound of my papers shuffling on top of the computer keyboard. It was as if the on-board mic was recording and not the headset. So I began investigating and discovered my Plantronics was not registering a signal on the Mac’s VU meter.  Probably should have checked that first.  Right?  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

Anyway automatically I assumed it was a faulty sound port or card.  But a few clicks on Google later I discovered via several forums that the problem was that the input is a “Line-in” audio.  Not the same as a more common “Mic-in” (that’ll have the little microphone icon)

Here’s the issue though: In reality, all microphones capture analog signals. Analog signals are basically sound waves and in speech recognition these sound waves are our voice.  But, computers cannot recognize analog sound waves.  Therefore the signal has to converted to digital.

Bottom line, here are our options:

Griffin Technologies iMic (click to enlarge)

1. Get an ADC or analog to digital converter.  There are several, but the Griffin iMic ($49) is one you’ll see pop up a lot on podcasting blogs. iMic allows you to connect many microphones and sound input devices to your iBook, PowerBook, PowerMac or other Mac or PC systems with a USB port.

2.Get a USB mic or USB Headset.  Popular headsets are made by Plantronics (about $70).  Good enough USB mics are made by Snowball, Samson and others.  Another option in this category I have gone to is the Zoom H2.  I chose it because it is a multi-tasking digital workhorse offering a lot of options:

a. The H2 can be used via USB cable as a stand-alone mic

The H2 Zoom is an .mp3, .wav recorder that can also double as a very good USB mic on a Mac. Win Win!

b. It can record 2 or 4 channel stereo onto an SD card or

c. You can use an analog mic via it’s mic-in port to record onto an SD card or to digitally pass-through your signal to your computer.

All for about the same price ($150) as a good quality, stand alone USB mic.

In any event,  if you’ve had this problem hope this post helps ease your anxiety.  Your computer is probably fine.  You just need the right equipment!

One Response to “External Mics and MacBook Pro”

1. markbult Says:
   April 1st, 2009 at 7:56 pm

   Thanks for explaining the difference between line-in and mic-in. Very helpful.

   And I think you mean 501-c3, not 3c.

   [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

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