View Full Version : Old mic question
gabeja
08-21-2009, 07:46 AM
Hi guys, this is my first time posting on this forum, and I'm sorry I produced a whole new thread as I'm sure this could've fit in to a dozen others. In any case, I was looking for a mic, and happened to find one in a drawer. Unfortunatly, it was an unopened mac mic from 1991. Curiously, I tried plugging it in to my computer (the current macbook pro) however, it only seemed to register as headphones. It only seemed to fit into one jack though. Is there any way I can use this mic? Thanks
Gabe
revision3fan
08-21-2009, 08:33 AM
The Apple PlainTalk microphone produces a line-level output, not a low-level or mic output. Its longer plug connects to the power source for the preamp.
revision3fan
08-22-2009, 02:23 PM
The preamp in my above post is located inside the PlainTalk microphone. The PlainTalk microphone is triangular in shape with holes in it. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11BFu8ibV4L._SL500_AA150_.jpg
Here is a product called the imic (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/) that converts various mics and other inputs for different signals.
If your mic isn't the imic, try Apple's support website.
ArmpitOfDeath
08-22-2009, 10:52 PM
I remember that Mic well. I shouted at it rather a lot.
"Computer, for the hundredth time will you do as I ******* say and Open File!!!!.... nodon'tcrashdon'tcrash... oh you little *BONG*"
gabeja
08-24-2009, 02:20 AM
um, the mic I've got is round and has only one hole. Would that imic thing work for that? Thanks guys.
Also, if I wanted to just replace the mic, what should I get? I'm looking for something for podcast recording, and possibly interviews. Anything handheld, or a clip on type a deal would be great.
revision3fan
08-24-2009, 09:38 PM
I think you have the microphone that came with the Macintosh Classic II (and maybe other Macs). The box was about the size of a box for a medium-size tube of toothpaste.
I think that this mic will produce a mic-level signal and not a line-level signal. The Macbook Pro's audio jack requires a line-level input. The imic should work for this microphone.
Did you plug it into the input jack and not the output jack? The input jack's icon looks like a circle with two triangles on the side. The output jack's icon is headphones.
Check to see if the mic's plug is a standard 1/8" stereo plug. If it is a monaural plug (one ring on the plug), then i'm not sure what to do.
There was a Tekzilla episode maybe one to two months ago concerning podcast mics. If you're in Los Angeles, try and see some mics at a music store.
revision3fan
08-25-2009, 05:05 PM
Check to see if the mic's plug is a standard 1/8" stereo plug. If it is a monaural plug (one ring on the plug), then i'm not sure what to do.
Sorry, the mic should have the monaural plug, not stereo.
gabeja
08-26-2009, 04:06 AM
now my macbook does not appear to have any sort of input jack, only the one with the headphone symbol on it. Could I use any mic, plugging it in to that jack? would this work if I wanted to record a phone conversation?
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-TP-7-Telephone-Recording-Device/dp/B000GU88CQ/ref=pd_sim_e_1
revision3fan
08-27-2009, 12:41 AM
If that's the case, you may be able to configure that jack for audio input by selecting "Sound" in System Preferences. Then go to the input tab.
gabeja
08-27-2009, 02:18 AM
If that's the case, you may be able to configure that jack for audio input by selecting "Sound" in System Preferences. Then go to the input tab.
No, it recodnizes them as headphones.
revision3fan
08-28-2009, 12:03 AM
I'm afraid your MacBook Pro requires a line level input and not a mic level input. Check the specifications.
revision3fan
08-28-2009, 06:14 PM
now my macbook does not appear to have any sort of input jack, only the one with the headphone symbol on it. Could I use any mic, plugging it in to that jack? would this work if I wanted to record a phone conversation?
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-TP-7-Telephone-Recording-Device/dp/B000GU88CQ/ref=pd_sim_e_1
The Olympus TP-7 earpiece has a microphone on its outer side. The speaker of the phone is placed against it. It records both parties because some of the recording person's voice is sent from his microphone to his receiver thus into the TP-7, along with the party 's voice from the other end.
It probably produces a mic level signal.
What model of MacBook Pro do you have?
gabeja
08-29-2009, 02:56 AM
The Olympus TP-7 earpiece has a microphone on its outer side. The speaker of the phone is placed against it. It records both parties because some of the recording person's voice is sent from his microphone to his receiver thus into the TP-7, along with the party 's voice from the other end.
It probably produces a mic level signal.
What model of MacBook Pro do you have?
The 13 inch, the most recent model. the regular one with 4 gb of memory
revision3fan
09-01-2009, 12:44 AM
That model has one audio jack. It is supposed to be selectable in System Preferences to allow analog line-level inputs. The microphone that you found produces the lower level or mic-level input. Also, the Olympus TP-7 probably produces a mic-level signal.
someaudioguy
09-01-2009, 11:29 PM
You may just want to consider a USB mic or interface. I think it would give a much higher level of quality than the line in built into your macbook.
I engineer and direct commercial voice over in LA, so let me know if you wanna chat recording some time.
You can shoot me an email off my profile.