Missing menu “Use audio port for”

Glad to see this thread is still active - I'm sure many Mac users share the same concern.

I hope to add to the discussion with the following: recently I invested in a fancy headset (mostly for Skype and gaming purposes, no 'serious' audio), with the intention to use it on my Macbook Pro OS X 10.6.2. by using the Y cable / cable buddy similiar to the one SP Forsythe recommended. Even though now both audio in and out are connected, my headset is only recognised for audio output and the internal mic remains the only option listed in the input menu in System Prefs. Moral of the story: an easy enough solution it may seem, the external mic remains unrecognised.

Armed with an expensive headset and a Y cable that I cannot use, and having plenty of research hours on this issue behind me, I am deeply dissapointed to say the least. I'm guessing now the last option is to invest in a USB soundcard or converter, what are your thoughts? It seems that the iMic (mentioned often in related discussions) has more negative reviews than positive ones.

Funnily enough, I tried some crummy cheap headset with the Y cable, and lo and behold - we find the external microphone! Truly my Macbook is mocking me.

Same here. I have no idea why they removed this feature.

Same here, I´m in 10.8.3 and still not solved. Really ****** about this. Hope they´ll fix it soon...

Just purchased a a new 2012 MacBook Pro and installed my trusty Amadeous Sound Editing Software. Wanted to record a favorite band's performance segment from my TV. Went to find the audio line in and found that there wasn't one! Searched online amongst the forums hoping to find a solution... got excited when I saw that I SHOULD be able to manually switch the audio port (headphones) to an audio line in!

But, no.... turns out that for some reason that option is not available on the latest MacBook OS.

What the wha????

I'm really not excited about having to shell out extra $ for some equipment that I previously didn't ever have to have in order to record decent quality sound. I seriously hope that this can be fixed in a future software update...

I've owned three previous Macs and NEVER had this problem (obviousy, these laptops all had dedicated line in ports, but still, come on!).

PLEASE fix,

thanks,

I would like this issue addressed as well. Just bought a mic and adapter and can't get it to work. Seems like I already wasted some money and effort trying to figure this stuff out.

Still no line in support for OS X 10.9

I have no use for a headset, all I want to do is to be able to play audio from any standard headphone jack through my MacBook (13" mid-2012 Air).

Hey guys

This is an issue that cannot be now resolved easily without additional purchase. I recently bought a MacBook Air for use when streaming from an XBox, The air has the single line In/Out but this only works with certain types of Microphones and jacks, thanks Apple!

Becuse my headset (A Turtle Beach X32 connected to an Earforce DSS2 Dolby Surround Sound Processor) has Wifi capabilities I though I would go down that route but no joy there either)

I will be switching back to my MacBook Pro which has Line In and out connections.

For those asking about the missing menu, it simply doesn't exist under the new OS as the mac should automatically detect a compatible device.

I love Apple but sometime they really break things that worked perfectly fine in their updates!

Hi Mad Dog - and everyone else who, like me, feels somewhat conned by the "Mac is better than Windoze" hype.

One of the reasons I bought the shiny new Macbook 'pro' that I'm typing on is because I'd intended to use it to get my old vinyl into digital format. I too read that it was possible to reconfigure the single audio hole to be an input. And when I try it, guess what - you have to use a jack plug with 4 connections for the Mac to realise there's a microphone plugged in.

I don't want a microphone - I want stereo line in!

So I guess it'll have to be a phono-to-USB adapter.

Still, at least Mac's don't freeze like Windoze machines do... This one has only gone into sulk mode three times in the 6 days I've had it. Funny thing is, I thought about buying a 299 special and putting Linux on it. But the case wouldn't be as nice as the Mac...

I have the same issue. I got Macbook Pro (late 2013 model) with OS X 10.9.3 on it. I cannot get Line In or external Mic to work. I used 2 different adapaters (including Rockit splitter), I used other external mics (to be hones they were dynamic), and I used stereo line in feed from my audio mixer. I can't make it work! When I plug in the Apple headset that came with iPhone 5S, the Input port siwtches automatically to external mic, and it works just fine, but it doesn't work with any other type of input. I would like to force it programmatically (via OS X settings) or figure out what needs ot be done electronically. Perhaps it's a level of resistance/impedenace or some other nuance that I don't get.

The same issue. I cannot change the output device, so I cannot use virtual dj with headphone and internal speaker at the same time.

Need to solve, please.