Line-in audio recording on Macbook Pro 16,1 ?

Forrest wrote:

I have a new Macbook Pro 16,1 that I want to use the audio input jack for, to record some old music from cassette, to digital. In the System Preferences, there is no line-in device available for selection from the Input, which is puzzling.

How can I fix this?

I am running MacOS Big Sur, which is up to date.

Thank you!

Macbook Pro, there is no audio input through the headphone port. You must use an audio interface (third-party) using the

USBC or USBC to USB

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

ref: For the kind of use you mentioned I’d consider getting

 Technical Pro USB2RCA digital/analog audio converter and it works perfectly out of the box or something similar.

a real microphone(?)

Audio MIDI Setup as I outline in A Tale of Two Microphones. That lets you control the gain of each mic.

Alternatively you can get a little more real by purchasing a USB audio interface—something like Focusrite’s two-input Scarlett 2i2 interface, for instance—and using it with real real microphones like Shure’s SM58 (vocals) and SM57(instrument).

[edited by leroydouglas]

Forrest wrote:

The cassette source I'm using is a simple walkman-style player -- that is, it uses a mini-rca jack. I could get a vintage cassette deck (inexpensive, on places like eBay) if that would grant better audio quality, then use the RCA outputs.

I think where I'm getting lost here is how to get MacOS Big Sur to recognize the source as an audio "Input" so that I can digitally record the inbound stream.

Yes. the hardware to connect the interfaces is one thing...

The "simple walkman-style player" is good, you need nothing more than that, as the source of your analogue out.

You need software that interprets the analogue as it comes in (into the MBP )and converts to digital format.

This happens in real time as you 'spin the cassette'. The output ( the headphone jack as output is typically quite adequate). This software converts/saves it as a digital format.

The software I use is Audio Hijack & it's sister app Fission to do all the "smart track breaks"/ editing if necessary/ clipping ends,/ etc

It is excellent software:

Audio Hijack: Record Any Audio on MacOS - Rogue Amoeba

down the page you see Fission: https://rogueamoeba.com/fission/

[edited by leroydouglas]

Forrest wrote:

The Macbook Pro 16, 1 has a mini-rca jack on the right-hand side.

I

remember installing something from Rogue Ameoba a long time ago and it messed up my system, but I would be willing to try again.

That Macbook Pro 16, 1 has a mini-rca jack on the right-hand side is audio out only.

I thought we solved that part of the equation early on...

"Macbook Pro, there is no audio input through the headphone port. "

I am sure there is other software out there. I never got the hang of GarageBand, or Audacity —both free.

I had a 9 shoeboxes full of cassettes to convert to digital— I needed easy and seamless. 🤣

Forrest wrote:

I bought a USB C to RCA connector -- but the question remains is how to get that audio "input" recognized and used by the system. I have Audacity, Adobe Audition, etc.

I'm not sure how the sound quality might be from the little cassette player I have (operates on one AAA battery!) versus a proper tape deck. BTW, that RCA to USB adapter you mentioned earlier is "sold out".

Does the Audio MIDI Setup.App get you any closer?

Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup.App use the +/-