Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!

Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: LisaDreams
LisaDreams Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

External vs built-in mic (MacBook)

Hello everyone,

I have been playing with my buit-in mic in my new MacBook and it sounds really pretty good. I decided to advance to an external mic. The problem I'm having is that the built-in sounds MUCH better than the external.

After much research on the net and in this forum, I thought I had everything worked out ... I have a shure microphone, and iMic interface, I have the preferences set for the iMic in my system preferences etc., and if I listen to playback in garage band or iMovie with headphones, the recording with the external mic sounds okay. Listening with the MacBook speakers, not so good. The recordings with the built-in sound significantly better than with the external ... louder, crisper, nice blend with music tracks, etc. To sum up:

I have an external mic and iMic, iMic set correctly to "mic."
My system preferences are set to take input from the iMic device.
Garage band is set to take input from the iMic device.
Input volume levels are in the middle - same for either external or built-in.

I know there are a lot of questions on this, and I have spent nearly two hours reading posts on this. I would appreciate any help you can offer.

thanks,
Lisa

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Jul 6, 2007 3:56 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: HangTime
HangTime
User level: Level 9
53,841 points

Posted on Jul 6, 2007 4:05 PM

Which Shure mic?

The bottom line for a pro mic like most of the Shure mics, is that you can't use it with an iMic without an impedance matching transformer. Most of the signal never makes it to the computer. If you want much better sound, you really need a good interface:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Interfaces.html
View in context
11 replies
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: HangTime
HangTime
User level: Level 9
53,841 points

Jul 6, 2007 4:05 PM in response to LisaDreams

Which Shure mic?

The bottom line for a pro mic like most of the Shure mics, is that you can't use it with an iMic without an impedance matching transformer. Most of the signal never makes it to the computer. If you want much better sound, you really need a good interface:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Interfaces.html
Reply
User profile for user: LisaDreams
LisaDreams Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 6, 2007 4:49 PM in response to HangTime

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I bought a Shure 8900WD.

I'm wondering if I should return the shure for a different mic, buy a different interface, or return the shure and just use the built-in. While the built-in mic sounds really good, I though that buying an external mic would give me a more professional sound. I guess I'm wondering now if I do buy a new interface, how much better will it sound versus the built-in.

I want to produce my own voice recordings for meditations, classes, podcasts, etc. The meditations include music and so far they sound surprisingly good with the built-in. The shure mic cost my around 40 bucks, but if I need to spend hundreds of dollars on an interface, I'm wondering how much better is this $40 mic going to sound versus my built-in.

Will buying an expensive interface and using this $40 mic sound much better than my built-in or would I have to buy an even more expensive mic?

How expensive of an interface do I need to use the shure 8900? Clearly the iMIc isn't enough, but what would be enough?

I'm open to opinions and advice.

thanks,
Lisa
Reply
User profile for user: Christoph Drösser
Christoph Drösser
User level: Level 6
11,318 points

Jul 6, 2007 4:56 PM in response to LisaDreams

You might alternatively look into a USB microphone that doesn't need any interface at all. I have the Samson C01U mic (for around 70 dollars) that really is a good condenser microphone (and you wouldn't dare to compare it with the internal mic), good for speech and vocals A cheaper, but still decent option (around 35 $) is the MicFlex, if it's still offerend somewhere. For around 20 $ you'll get the Logitech USB mic, but it's classes below the others that I mentioned.
Reply
User profile for user: HangTime
HangTime
User level: Level 9
53,841 points

Jul 6, 2007 4:59 PM in response to LisaDreams

It really depends on how much better you want the recording, and that includes learning the techniques involved in recording.

Teh biggest problem with the internal mic is that it will pick up all the sounds emanating from the computer (hard disc spinning, fans, etc)

If money was an obstacle, but I were looking for better quality recording, I would probably get a better mic (the SM57 is a great, tried and true mic), and if the digital interface's price were out of reach, I'd consider a small mixing console (like the one in the center of the bottom row in the above link.

Here are some mics:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Microphones.html

You might also consider using the Samson USB mic which many have said has a good sound.

Hope this helps some and doesn't muddy things up further! ~~Hang
Reply
User profile for user: LisaDreams
LisaDreams Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 6, 2007 6:10 PM in response to HangTime

Big thanks to both of you for answering me. I'm new, and I wanted to give both of you credit for solving this, but once I clicked solved on one, it was no longer an option. I appreciate all the help.

I think I am going to return the shure mic and go for a USB mic. I may want to upgrade to something more in the future, but for now I think I want to move up a notch from the built-in, but not invest a lot of money. Once I'm more experienced and know more about what I need, then I could make a bigger investment.

thanks,
Lisa

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)
Reply
User profile for user: isteveus
isteveus
User level: Level 5
4,334 points

Jul 6, 2007 10:25 PM in response to LisaDreams

The USB mic chris suggested is a great choice you should be very happy with it.

But I couldn't help wondering if your shure/imic was set up correctly. The mic imic combo should produce satisfactory results. Did you have the mic/line switch on the imic set to mic? And are you sure you selected the usb imic as input? These are both easily overlooked and can cause result similar to yours.
Reply
User profile for user: HangTime
HangTime
User level: Level 9
53,841 points

Jul 6, 2007 10:38 PM in response to isteveus

The mic imic combo should produce satisfactory results.


I believe that the mic she used is low impedance (3 pin XLR style connector on the mic), and the bottom line is that it will not work well directly plugged into an iMic with a simple cable adaptor. I have two test files I did a couple of years ago online, if there is interest I could try to find them. The difference with and without a matching transformer is slightly more than staggering.
Reply

External vs built-in mic (MacBook)

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.
Learn more Sign up