Connecting to USB-C as input sound source w/mini-jack & USB-C adapter

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inknpaper Author

Level 1

31 points

Connecting to USB-C as input sound source w/mini-jack & USB-C adapter

I am trying to connect an external sound source to my MacBook M1 so it can used with GarageBand.

Guitar amp...

> headphone output

> mini-jack cable

> USB-C adapter

> MacBook USB-C input

> System Settings or GarageBand input sound source

> Record to a track in GarageBand

I don't see a sound input source for the USB-C. System Settings and GarageBand only show the internal mic and a set of bluetooth headphones that I regularly use.

How do I select any incoming sound source through the USB-C? Or won't the mini-jack cable and USB-C adapter idea work in this scenario? If not, what is the correct way to connect the amp using its headphone output using a mini-jack? It has to convert using an adapter, right? Or does Apple not allow this?

I thought that what I was doing would work, but alas...

Thanks in advance :)

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Feb 20, 2023 10:07 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

inknpaper Author

Level 1

31 points

Feb 27, 2023 9:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks for the heads up and the suggestion. I bought a few different cables and adapters to give me some choice in case some didn't work, but alas, none of them did.

I have since tried the cables and adapters on other devices, and they all work fine, so it's Apple playing silly yet again by wanting to control how and what *we* use on *our* machines that *we* paid for. It's very frustrating.

Anyway, thanks once again, and if I ever learn of a hack I will update you :)

btw, what machine and device were you successfully able to connect? And, do you still have the link to where you bought your cable and adapter? I should buy exactly the same.

Cheers

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 2

Feb 20, 2023 10:35 AM in response to inknpaper

Which USB-C adapter?

Concerning mini-jack inputs: there are different mini-jack plugs. The ones with only two rings won't work on a mac, but you can use a Y-adapter like this and connect a three-ringed minijack that works as both input and output.

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Answer 3

Feb 27, 2023 9:21 AM in response to inknpaper

I'd still like to know more about the USB-C adapter. It seems to me that many are output only - ie. they allow you to use regular headphones connected to a USB-C port.

Some, like the one Apple offers for the iPhone, support both input and output.

I don't recall when or where I got the adapter that I posted. Maybe it came with one table mic that I once bought.

It does work fine on my mac, connecting a pc microphone to the pink plug and common headphones to the green one.

Here is a similar one:

https://www.amazon.com/Headset-Separate-Microphone-Headphone-Adapter/dp/B01FNL3VA6

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Connecting to USB-C as input sound source w/mini-jack & USB-C adapter

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