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powered mic in mac pro?
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Forum Regular
Join Date: May 2000
Location: USA
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I'm having a rather silly problem -- a normal microphone doesn't seem to work when plugged into the mic in port of my mac pro. Is this unique to me? Someone told me that it needed to be a powered microphone (something I've never hard of) -- is this true?
thanks,
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someone who loves Macs
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
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No idea, I use a USB mic that works well for Skype which is about all I use it for.
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Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Aug 2006
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You will need a USB mic. The mic ports in Macs aren't powered, so you need something that is. Minor detail with large consequences
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Dedicated MacNNer
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Originally Posted by Biest 
You will need a USB mic. The mic ports in Macs aren't powered, so you need something that is. Minor detail with large consequences
Wow, I never knew that. I have also never seen a powered mic. Why do such a thing?
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Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
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Dedicated MacNNer
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Well by powered we mean that there is electricity coming from the comp, else it doesn't work (explanation is a bit long winded). The input in macs isn't powered. Dunno why really, I am guessing either because of the optical out/in duality, but they aren't. Or apple, not surprising, thought that it was not worthwhile anyway... like they git ride of Floppy and PS/2 ports first....
$20 buys you what you need:
Newegg.com - Logitech 980186-0403 Silver USB Connector USB Desktop Microphone - Retail
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Forum Regular
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wait -- i'm sorry, then what IS the mic port used for?
what does a non-USB powered mic look like?
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someone who loves Macs
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Dedicated MacNNer
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What i mean is that you can only use USB mics, there is no other option. I am guessing the port is for some other form of input. I am not too sure what it.
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Dedicated MacNNer
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It could be for audio (non mic) input.
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Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Originally Posted by someone
wait -- i'm sorry, then what IS the mic port used for?
what does a non-USB powered mic look like?
It's NOT a mic port, it's a line level in audio port as stated on Apple's techical specs page ( Apple - Mac Pro - Technical Specifications ). You can hook audio devices like stereos, TVs, CD players, etc. to the port and record the audio. Since your mic is not amplified, it doesn't work in a line level in port.
More info:
Line level - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Especially note this part "Acoustic sounds (such as voices or a musical instruments) are often recorded with transducers (microphones and pickups) that produce weak electrical signals. These signals must be amplified to line level, where they are more easily manipulated by other devices such as mixing consoles and tape recorders. Such amplification is performed by a device known as a preamplifier or "preamp"."
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Last edited by Leonard; Jul 12, 2007 at 11:00 AM.
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Mac Pro Dual 3.0 Dual-Core
MacBook Pro
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