Missing menu “Use audio port for”

this is a ****** joke, been using my OS to record tracks from serato a 1500 euro computer ya and another couple of 100 on a controller, i used to record into it the whole time, havent been using it for a while, finally decide to pull it all out again and now it wont ****** let me record, i ****** swear i love my OS but its gonna go out the ****** window in a minute if this feature dont come back, dont worry boyz, ill ****** fix dis, i use this to develop on and everything! like this int on

It's been several years now since this discussion began, and I just upgraded to a MacBook Pro 2015 13" retina display and am quite disappointed. I was able to get around screen recordings (using QuickTime) on my old MBPro by using a 2-ring 3.5mm and going from the mic to headset ports so I wouldn't get poor recording and picking up the noise in the room.

Apple has not only taken away the DVD/CD drive, but also taken away the ability to record my CDs using my home BlueRay player which I had planned to at least plug into the Mac with an audio cable I have on-hand. I wanted to use some music from a disk I have and put into a PowerPoint presentation.

After testing things, I also came to the conclusion that you need 3 (aka 3.5mm 4 Pole), not 2 rings on your cable in order to use the headset jack as a microphone jack. I figured it works when I use the iPhone's headset on the Mac, which has 3 rings, but doesn't work with the two rings. This means I will have to purchase 3.5mm 4 Pole male to male cable or some kind of adapter, as others have mentioned. I am going to try these from Amazon: https://amazon.com/ARCHEER-Auxiliary-Smartphone-Tablets-Headphones/dp/B01MU3TY2O /ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510433123&sr=8-3&keywords=3.5mm+4+Pole

I am going to be sure to leave my feedback for Apple! http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

You may be thinking of an older OS/hardware version.

The audio ports works both as a headphone AND a microphone port, simultaneously, when used with the proper plug connection device, such as a 4 conductor mini plug for headset (e.g. an iPhone compatible headset). But will work fine with stereo headphone, if used. I've not yet tried a dedicated microphone (only) though.

This is what mine looks like.

I'm having the same problem, every help file/discussionon this subject says there ought to be a "Use Port For' menu when you connect an external audio device, but I get nothing. I've used this stereo/audio cable combination on a previous Mac and it worked fine, but that was back in the good old days when there was a dedicated line-in. Does anyone know why nothing is showing up?

I'm on OS 10.7.2 – this MacBook Air is only about three months old. The one that did the job before was a white MacBook running Leopard, about 4 years old. Currently I'm trying to connect a stereo, but I have an external microphone I might try, just to see if the menu appears. Just a sec . . .

Right, the Blue Snowflake mic shows up – but it's a USB device, so the problem of the audio port is still not solved. 😟

Seeing as how my USB audio device showed in the list but my jack device didn't, I'm going to try this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/LINDY-USB-2-0-Audio-Adapter/dp/B000QY2G2U/ref=pd_cp_comp uters_0

I'll let you know if it works!

etlingbergen,

I think you are right about the help file being incorrect. I don't know exactly when the Preference pane changed, but I think it was in 10.7.0. It has not affected me any, becaause I routinely plug my iPhone compatible headsets into the jack, and it operates just fine (for me), insofar as the transition is automatic. The Software and Hardware support near instant switchover, without me having to "tell" the computer, "hey I just plugged in an external speaker and mic, switchover please". Speaking as a user, I prefer it that way.

I am wondering what you are trying to do. Are you plugging in an external speaker or mic, yet do not want the input/output to change to that? Or do you just want to leave the jack in place, yet be able to switch back and forth at will?

To me, it's not unlike when Apple dumbed down the GPU controls on the MBP's to switch to whatever the system saw as best. It has it's good points, and bad ones.

I just purchased the new macbook pro 13" 2012 version. It does not have the use audio port for option. I've contacted apple support and basically from what I've researched the audio line will only detect certain headsets. I used my preamp and mixer setups for recording on older macs and had no problem but now without it detecting my preamp's line in audio and no option to change that I can't use my preamp to record. The usb quality I got wasn't very good so far. The apple support guy said that its functioning properly and that all we can do is send in a request to add the option back in the future OS updates.

Exactly the same problem here. I especially bought this computer to record a mix via pre amp and a mixer.

Apple made a mistake...

Apple removing this feature is quite frustrating.

Apple,If you're listening, please add this feature back to your next free update release. Please and thank you.