Audio Input Output on MacBook Pro 13 inch

A Griffin iMic is what you need.

Sorry, can't be done. The port can be used for in or out, but not both at once - there's no splitter that can accomplish that (it would need to be a switch, not a splitter, but even that's not feasible because the in/out is a setting in software).

So, eww's solution or similar is the only real option.

The iMic offers one input and one output, simultaneously. You select in System Prefs and that disables the internal mic and speakers.

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.

Bear in mind, though, that a good pair of USB headphones may cost more than the iMic does. A good pair of ordinary headphones certainly would.

You might consider this very small and inexpensive USB audio device (only $11 USD):

http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-CM-UAUD-Adapter-C-Media-Chipset/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref= sr11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244877612&sr=1-1

It's only $8 at NewEgg.

Note, however, that this appears to have a mono microphone input, not a stereo line-in. However, it has a stereo headphone output.

Thats wrong. if you use the iPhone headset (with a 4 pin minijack) it uses the microphone on the headset and not on the computer.

So you can have both as long as you use the iPhone headset or the new in-ear.

What we would need is a 4 pin minijack to 3 pin jack + 2 pin mic adapter. (3 pin jack for stereo sound ouput and 2 pin jack for mic input where as 2 channels + ground and 1 channel + ground).

If you are good with a soldering iron maybe you could try making it your self with off the shelf parts as I haven't seen anything like that on the internet (yet)

not quite, you can use the iphone headset on the 13" for a mic or a stereo, but not both, no matter which headset you get

Have you tried? I have. And I can confirm it's working.

on which MBP???

Most likely it used the mic on the mac and the speakers on the headset, and you just didnt know it, the OS will automatically use the mic on the mac if there is anything playing.

it is also different for the 13" versus the others, is my understanding

Message was edited by: Shurtugal1005