Hi Alan, Peter H & I covered iMic and CD Spin Doctor (Spin Doctor) in posts to WAMUG on 16/10/2012 Subject: Cassette Transfer.
>> I guess "Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone" probably >> precludes just plugging in a brand 'X' headset from Dick Smith. Yes., I certainly wouldn't try just plugging in a "X" brand Dick Smith headset! The MacBook Air & the NEW iMac has a single headphone port, which should be more accurately called the “headset” port. Like the headphone port on iOS devices, this jack supports audio input as well as output – with this caveat: The microphone or headset in question must be of the three-ring variety, just like Apple’s headsets. You should be able to use the USB Griffin Technology iMic USB Audio Interface - GC16035 <http://store.griffintechnology.com/imic> <http://www.streetwise.com.au/griffin-imic-usb-audio-interface.html> <http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Griffin-GC16035-iMic-USB-Audio-Interface-Sound-Card-New-/200812396682> <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2929> Other Method: Using an Audio Interface to Connect a Tape Player to a Computer: An audio interface is an external piece of hardware that enables you to connect a tape player to a computer. You’re going to need an audio interface that features “line-level” inputs, which is the type of audio signal that a cassette tape player sends through its outputs. Line-level inputs are found on most audio interfaces, but they’re not universal on every model, so be sure that the one you plan on using has them. Most audio interfaces connect to computers through standard USB ports, but some models connect with FireWire ports, ExpressCard slots and PCI. It may be a good idea to get a little more acquainted with audio interfaces before you purchase one. You can learn everything you need to know about them in the B&H InDepth Audio Interface Buying Guide. <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/audio/buying-guides/audio-interfaces> The basic idea behind this method is to connect either the headphone output or the main output of a tape player to the line-level inputs on an audio interface. The audio interface will be connected to the computer, and the computer must have audio recording software loaded on it. When everything is connected and ready to go, you start recording in the audio software, and then hit PLAY on the tape player. I know nothing about this product other than what is on the web links: <http://www.ionaudio.com/products/details/tape-2-pc> <http://www.ionaudio.com/ezvc> The kind of audio cable that you need to connect either the headphone output or the main output to the audio interface will vary. Some headphone outputs are 1/8" stereo jacks, and others are 1/4" stereo. Most tape decks feature red and white RCA jacks as their main outputs, but it’s possible that it could be another kind of connector. The kind of line-level inputs you will find on various audio interfaces are diverse as well. Cheers, Ronni On 28/10/2012, at 2:46 PM, Alan Smith <sma...@iinet.net.au> wrote: > Hi Ronni > > Thanks for response. Your comment on audio interfacing agrees with my > learnings back when digital was for fingers and analogue was for HiFi. > > I guess "Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone" probably precludes > just plugging in a brand 'X' headset from Dick Smith. > > Now I will need a new collection of adapters and USB devices for current > needs and to retain backward compatibility! (What was the point of > transferring data from floppy discs to CD's?) I trust Apple marketing > department has prepared a response for GarageBand enthusiasts who will lose a > simple external input. > > The iMic USB audio interface from Griffin Technology at US$40 seems about > best for switchable mic/line inputs. Any comment, or knowledge of locally > available devices? Not even Logitech market a device for the Australian > market. > > Cheers > Alan > > On 28/10/2012, at 1:58 PM, Ronni Brown <ro...@mac.com> wrote: > > Hi Alan, > > <http://www.apple.com/au/imac/specs/> > Headphone port > > • Headphone/optical digital audio output (minijack) > • Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone > > MacBook Air computers, the 'NEW' released iMacs, iPhones, iPads and iPods > don’t have a line-level input. > > Normally, each of the following audio interfaces are different and (at least > for quality reasons) should not be mixed up > > • line-in and line-out > • headphone out > • microphone in > Each interface is electrically different. > > Line-in is explicitly designed to be connected to line-out (on a different > device usually) and vice versa. These are high-impedance, low-current signal > interfaces. > > Microphone-in is designed for connecting microphones, these produce much > weaker signals than line-out and normally need pre-amplification before being > fed to a line-in interface. > > Headphone outputs are designed for relatively low-impedance devices that use > a much higher signal level. It would normally be a bad idea to connect a > headphone-output to a microphone-input, at best you should expect clipping > and distortion. > > Cheers, > Ronni > > 17" MacBook Pro 2.3GHz Quad-Core i7 “Thunderbolt" > 2.3GHz / 8GB / 750GB @ 7200rpm HD > > OS X 10.8.2 Mountain Lion > Windows 7 Ultimate (under sufferance) > > > On 28/10/2012, at 11:48 AM, Alan Smith <sma...@iinet.net.au> wrote: > >> The new iMacs (soon!) do not have Audio line in (and out) jacks, but do have >> a Headphone jack. This may also apply to current MacBook Airs. I assume an >> external mic could be plugged into the headphone jack, and that any audio >> source could similarly be connected the same way. >> >> However, I am concerned with input levels. Normally a microphone is a >> low-level device and uses a pre-amp, whereas the output of an audio device >> (such as a cassette tape player) is normally connected to Line In at a much >> higher level. >> >> Have WAMUGgers any comment on the technical aspects of using a mic input for >> (relatively) high level audio? Are there compromises with the physical >> safety of the iMac input electronics plus audio sound quality? Any MacBook >> Air users tried using the headphone jack as a line in port? >> >> Regards, Alan >> >> Alan Smith >> Late 2009 iMac 21.5" Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz 12G RAM - OSX 10.8.2 >> iPad2; ATV2 -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
