Q: Audio input through external microphone not 'heard' by computer
I can record audio with any app through the builtin mic. And I know the system 'hears' sound through the builtin mic when I go to SystemPreferences->Sound->Input.
I have an external microphone that I want to record through. I went to SystemPreferences->Sound->Input and chose 'Line In' and plugged in the microphone's lead into the 'in' jack. However the SystemPreferences->Sound->Input Input Level sensor/detector is dead -- it shows no audio input. Nor does iMovie pick up any audio input when the mic is plugged in.
I know the input jack works by plugging in the output pin from a cassette-player, choosing 'Line In', and playing a cassette. The Input Level sensor/detector comes on and the sound is available to apps.
I know the external microphone works by plugging it into the cassette-player and recording from it and tapping and rubbing on its pick-up. The sounds are captured on cassette tape.
So why is audio input through external microphone not 'heard' by the computer? Is there some trick to making it work?
Mac OS X (10.4.11)
Posted on Nov 7, 2011 9:55 AM
Everyone's informative responses made a light-bulb go on and the problem is solved without any additional expense.
I plugged the new mic into my handheld cassette-recorder's mic socket, and connected its earphone socket to the laptop's input socket via a two-pin cable. I set SystemPreferences->Sound->Input to 'Line In' and pushed the record button on the cassette-recorder and paused it and kept it quite far away. I saw SystemPreferences->Sound->Input's sensor/detector picking up a big signal and started Audacity to record. I simply breathed onto the mic's pickup and rubbed it to ensure that the cassette-recorder's mic would not pick up any sound. Sure enough, the breathing and rubbing registered and were recorded exactly as one would expect.
If the system will let me mark my own reply as 'Solved' I'll do so with the intention being that others with the same problem can easily locate this cheap and easy workaround.
Posted on Nov 10, 2011 9:18 AM