Stereo line-level analog audio input?

Question

Stereo line-level analog audio input?

The analog audio input on my machine seems to be mono only. If I put in a stereo line-level signal it just duplicates the left channel on the right. Is there any way to input a stereo line-level signal through this jack?

ALFRED GUZZETTI

2.66gHz Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 1, 2009 1:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 2, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Alfred Guzzetti

Analog stereo line-level input and output minijacks.

The input is stereo minijack. If you are feeding two channels and using a stereo plug to Mac input it should work. I'd try a different cord first.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 3, 2009 5:33 PM in response to Peter Bannon

I know that it's a stereo mini-jack and have tried different cords. All I get is the left channel of the original recording onto both left and right channels. I suspect that the mini-jack has both wires connected to the left pin and nothing connected to the right.

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 4, 2009 9:17 AM in response to Alfred Guzzetti

You may know the basics but we must consider everyone else reading this thread.

Could you provide more information. What is your stereo input source? How do you know its just the left channel? What are you sending the input to on the Mac? Please tell us your Mac model and OS version. the information will help someone recognize your problem.

A mis-wired jack seems unlikely. A broken jack maybe. Is this problem new or has it always been a problem?

Reply

Answer 4

Aug 6, 2009 8:50 AM in response to Peter Bannon

The input source is a DV tape deck. At the head of finished tapes I record bars and tone. The first segment of the tone is on both channels. It is followed by tone on the left channel only, then the right channel only. When I monitor what the computer is getting either through headphones or direct the input to Soundtrack Pro, where the meters display left and right, I hear and see sound on both channels from both the stereo input and the left-channel input (which shows up on both channels in the computer). The right channel only input is not audible or visible on the meter. The computer has always been this way. I assumed, maybe wrongly, that the input uses a stereo jack since these are pretty universal, but that in effect, the input is mono.

Alfred Guzzetti
2.66gHz Mac Pro
OS 10.4.11

Reply

Answer 5

Aug 6, 2009 3:00 PM in response to Alfred Guzzetti

Alfred,

When you send stereo you get both channels. Left input only fills up both channels. Right input only doesn't show.

From my experience. Sending a left only signal is like sending mono - the Mac splits to both channels.
Mac doesn't know right channel only. Try sending different level signals on both channels and see what happens.

Now that you have described your problem so clearly, some real expert may be able to give you better help.

Reply