How to use Neewer external microphone with Macbook Pro

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Level 1

13 points

How to use Neewer external microphone with Macbook Pro

I have a 13" Macbook Pro with retina display with the OS X El Capitan operating system. So I have a Neewer external microphone that I plug into a 48V Phantom Power box that ends in a jack that fits into the headphone jack. I purchased a 3.5mm M/F adapter in order to be able to have the mic and headphones plugged in at the same time. I want to use the microphone with garageband, but,when plugged in, the only input showing up in system preferences is the built-in internal microphone. Please help me figure out how to get my microphone to work! I have searched all over for answers!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 18, 2016 1:38 PM

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Answer 1

May 18, 2016 2:34 PM in response to tiffwats

The MacBook Pro headphone jack has stereo audio out and mono microphone in. A special 3.5 mm 4-contact plug is needed to use the microphone:

http://www.vetco.net/catalog/images/PH-70-047B-1.jpg

The jack is intended for a phone headset and the microphone input may not be compatible with other microphones even if you have the right plug adapters.

You could connect your microphone via USB with the iMic:

https://griffintechnology.com/us/imic

or use a microphone with a built-in USB connection, such as:

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/H8309ZM/D/apogee-mic-digital-microphone

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HF130ZM/A/blue-microphones-spark-digital-micro phone-with-lightning-connector http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HC432ZM/A/blue-microphones-nessie-adaptive-usb -microphone

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/TY115ZM/A/blue-microphones-yeti-usb-microphone

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HHRM2ZM/B/shure-motiv-mv5-digital-condenser-mi crophone

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/TF238LL/A/blue-microphones-snowball-usb-microp hone

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Answer 2

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

May 18, 2016 2:02 PM in response to tiffwats

The OSX version is not relevant. The model MacBook Pro is what determine it.

Did you following the instructions in the link I provided to determine it the headphone supports a mic?

Also, if the headphone jack has a mic contact it is made for mics with a low level output like those in a set of earphones with mic. Some Macs have a line-in audio input made for amplified mics.

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Answer 3

tiffwats Author

Level 1

13 points

May 18, 2016 2:14 PM in response to lllaass

I'm sorry, I'm really not technologically savvy, so I don't know what that means. When I plug my apple headphones in, it switches to "external microphone microphone port," so i do believe it should work. Should i purchase like a USB to plug the mic into?

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