Why doesn't my audio input work?

Question

Level 1

2 points

Why doesn't my audio input work?

I have a Macbook with OS X and have never been able to get an external microphone to produce sound on the computer. I was using an old pair of headphones but the brand new pair I bought also do not produce any sound. They are the basic headphones with a mic attached and plug into the Macbook using two mini-plugs in the two audio ports (one for input, one for output). I can hear sounds in the headphones just fine. But I'm only able to talk if I use the internal microphone on the Macbook, which is inconvenient as it picks up too much background noise. I'd rather use the external mic.

When I got into my preferences > sound > input, there are two choices there:

Internal microphone -- type: Built-In

Line In -- type: Audio Line-in Port

I select the second option and nothing works. Am I missing something here?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jan 21, 2013 11:32 AM

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Answer 1

yodadoe Author

Level 1

2 points

Jan 21, 2013 12:23 PM in response to yodadoe

Well, FWIW, I did a lot of searching on here and it seems that this type of basic, unpowered mic will not work with my Macbook Pro (OS 10.7.5) and that any audio input has to be powered in some way -- a cd player for example that provides a powered signal into a pair of headphones or into the computer. I bought one of those very basic $15 headsets with microphone from Wal-Mart. Two different brands failed to produce any sound. (though the sound OUTPUT to the headphones works just fine)

Oddly enough, I did call Apple Tech Support and they were confused and unaware of why the headset' mic shouldn't work just fine. So apparently, this is not a "known" issue. So I'm just going to pay a little more and go buy a Bluetooth or USB headset.

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Answer 2

sanjampet

Level 5

7,982 points

Jan 21, 2013 12:40 PM in response to yodadoe

You have a MBP with the input option, as it's gone now. It is a line in level, not a mic level. You need some kind of little mixer/preamp to get the level up for it to "see" it. Mic level is approx -60db lower than line level (not enough level) Cheap mixers can be had from Mackie, Berrhinger, and a host of others. Do a web search.

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