How do I use one audio jack as input and one as output?

Can't really answer your question but why not save up and purchase an audio interface, a decent one... in the end you will be infinitely happier and enjoy MUCH better audio quality.

I never understand why users have an expensive computer, professional level multi-track recording and editing software and then use an audio interface that costs at most a few dollars and has inferior sound. If music is the least bit important get an audio interface that matches the computer/software you're using.

If you're going to go ahead with your plan see if you can find someone who has successfully used a similar (if not exact) combination. Mavericks does not like older USB devices.

nategm wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I agree, but this little card would not be for my input, but just so I can monitor what I'm doing (plug my headphones in). I'm running a nice microphone through a nice preamp that is not an interface. So the audio should be actually very good, it's just that because it is an old preamp and runs in through 1/8" jack, it doesn't allow for me to monitor the computer, only to monitor from the preamp itself (and thus I would only hear what I'm recording, not what I've already recorded to the computer - multitracking would be impossible).

So it should actually be a cheap fix for monitoring, and still allow me to record high quality audio, no?

Yes and No, the preamp and mic combination sound good but the analog to digital/digital to analog converters in the MacBook are what's generally speaking, inferior, however it may be good enough.

Good luck with your experiment, at least it won't cost much if it doesn't work.

nategm wrote:

On my MacBook Pro, if I get a USB-headphone connector (to add another audio port), will I be able to set one audio port as input and the other as output?

Yes, either way round. In System Preferences>Sound you can set the input and output ports separately.

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:

nategm wrote:

On my MacBook Pro, if I get a USB-headphone connector (to add another audio port), will I be able to set one audio port as input and the other as output?

Yes, either way round. In System Preferences>Sound you can set the input and output ports separately.

Roger, the System setting have -Nothing- to do with the question being asked. Do you use Logic Pro audio software? If you did you would know Logic has it's own audio settings that run independently from the System audio. There's also the fact that Maverick has problems with "some" older USB 2.0 audio hardware. Basically, this is not a slam-dunk, that's why I suggested asking someone if they've used this combination before. Although... the USB audio device is cheap ($10) it might be worth it to try. Still.............**

** I question the wisdom of using cheap audio hardware on a computer that cost $1000+, software that costs $200 and then using the internal audio chip ($2) and an external monitoring device that costs $10. Defeats the whole purpose of using professional audio software.

Pancenter wrote:

Roger, the System setting have -Nothing- to do with the question being asked.

Fair enough, though this wasn't mentioned in the actual original message which is why I just answered the question as it stands.

There's also the fact that Maverick has problems with "some" older USB 2.0 audio hardware.

I'm using an old Edirol USB2 interface with Mavericks for input, and the headphone output for monitoring, which is all perfectly stable. I agree that the built-in output isn't top quality but I find it OK for monitoring and it doesn't add the possibility of digital glitches which I've had in the past when trying to use a USB interface both ways (though it might well be OK on this new Mac). For high quality output I would use a digital interface.